Public sector employees from state agencies and local governments were recognized for completing the rigorous North Carolina Certified Public Manager® Program (CPM) during the program’s commencement ceremony. The graduation was held at 3 p.m. in Daniels Auditorium of the NC Museum of History, with a reception immediately following to celebrate the 49 graduates from the class of 2022-23. Deputy Director, Department of Public Safety - Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, William Lassiter provided an encouraging keynote address, challenging graduates to provide leadership in their agencies. 

“With our agencies grappling with a 23 percent statewide vacancy rate, it is now more important than ever to build up talent from within our state government workforce and provide our state employees ample opportunities for professional growth and development,” said State Human Resources Director Barbara Gibson. “These 49 graduates have proven themselves as dedicated, hardworking individuals that can help ensure vital programs and services continue for the people of North Carolina. I am incredibly proud of each of our graduates for this monumental achievement.”

Managed by OSHR’s Talent Management Division, the North Carolina Public Manager Program was established in 1982 to enhance the effectiveness of public sector organizations across our state by developing the leadership capabilities of mid-level managers. This intensive 14-month program includes in-person and virtual instructor-led training days, asynchronous assignments and a capstone project totaling over 300 hours of effort.

Since its inception, 2,538 mid-level managers across federal, tribal, state and local governments have completed the program. Including today’s recipients, 1,739 of those graduates have been awarded the Certified Public Manager® designation following the program’s initial accreditation by the National Certified Public Manager Consortium in 1988.

Framed certificates, signed by Governor Roy Cooper, State Human Resources Director Barbara Gibson, Learning, Performance and Organizational Effectiveness Manager Joel Jordan, and CPM Program Director Dr. Reed Altman will be provided to each graduate.

All honorees are based in Wake County unless otherwise noted add locations for honorees below:

• Administrative Office of the Courts: Christopher R. Aman
• Department of Administration: Jody Lee Cleven
• Department of Adult Correction: Armen Armenakyan and Samuel R. Dotson (Burke)
• Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: Sharon Denning Woodard
• Department of Environmental Quality: Alan Bianchi (Carteret), Jacob Benjamin Boyd (Carteret), William Van Brantley, Jr. (Carteret), and Davis McCrackin Murphy (Forsyth)
• Department of Health and Human Services: Alana Bagley Brewer (Wayne), Carol Renita Burt, Shnaka Clark, Marcus H. Guy, Edward Earl Hall Jr. (Pitt), Melissa Loehr and Subhapratha Sridharan
• Department of Information Technology - Transportation: Jeffrey M. Garland
• Department of Justice: Olga Vysotskaya de Brito
• Department of Natural and Cultural Resources: J. Christopher Southerly (New Hanover)
• Department of Public Instruction: Susan Walz
• Department of Public Safety: Casandra L. Alexander (Mecklenburg), Emily Thomas Coltrane (Stanley), Jody D. Donaldson, Richard Griffin (Stanley), Sonynia Linae Leonard (Halifax), and Carolyn Dixon Locklear
• Department of Revenue: Cassandra Greenlee Caldwell, Felecia R. Perry, Jonathan William Puryear, Thomas Olyn Robbins and Jimmie Scott Stallings
• Department of State Treasurer: Leondra Evette Edwards
• Department of Transportation: Eric Daniell Arnold, Joseph D. Barbour, Trey H. Carroll III, Chad Coggins (Wilson), Michelene Evans, Craig A. Freeman Jr. (Cumberland), John Jamison, Joshua A. Law, Matti Lee McLamb, Judith Schmidinger (Nash), David Wasserman
• Durham Technical Community College: Justin Blake Long (Durham)
• Office of the State Controller: Kristen Kirk Cox
• Office of the State Human Resources: James A. Harris
• Secretary of State: Tina Dupree, Lora Sinigur
• Wildlife Resources Commission: Jason David Sellers (New Hanover)

The American Academy of Certified Public Managers® highest award recognizes professional excellence in public service. It is aptly named in honor of Kenneth K. Henning, the founding father of the Certified Public Manager® (CPM) concept. Mr. Henning’s vision was for the establishment of high-quality management development programs tailored to meet the specific needs of a state’s public employees. His Georgia CPM Program, along with several others, led to the creation of the National Certified Public Manager® Consortium (NCPMC). Graduates of these programs then formed the American Academy of Certified Public Managers® (AACPM). Today, the vision and leadership displayed by Mr. Henning remains embodied in the Academy, its Societies, its general membership, and the Consortium CPM Programs in state and regional jurisdictions. The first recipient was Nancy DeWitt of Louisiana in 1990. Since then, there have been 28 other recipients representing individuals from Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah, and Wisconsin.

The 2023 recipient will join a distinguished group of CPMs whose contributions to local and national public sector management have been exemplary of the CPM philosophy.

Any Certified Public Manager® who is a member of the AACPM may be nominated by their local or regional organization or a fellow CPM. Self-nominations are not allowed for this prestigious recognition. Nomination guidelines are detailed in this packet. Please give thoughtful consideration to nominating a worthy candidate for the 2023 Henning Award.

Nominations must be RECEIVED by 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, October 14, 2023.  Henning Nomination Packet 2023 - Final.docx

The National CPM Consortium would like to extend our gratitude to Ms. Shannon Zweig of the Arizona CPM Program for her tremendous work on behalf of AZ CPM the last seven plus years! Shannon will be transition to a new position with ASU as of tomorrow, we send with her our best wishes on her new career! Shannon you will be missed!

We would also like to welcome on board Ms. Michelle Hill as she joins Arizona CPM Program Director Hector Zelaya to manage this highly successful program!

Public sector employees from state agencies and local governments will be recognized today for completing the rigorous North Carolina Certified Public Manager® Program (CPM) during the program’s first in-person commencement ceremony since the pandemic. The 40th anniversary event, which gets underway at 3 p.m. in the State Archives Auditorium, 109 E. Jones St., Raleigh, will celebrate the current 28-member cohort as well as graduates from the past two years.

“The challenging circumstances of the pandemic again required this year’s class to complete this highly collaborative program through fully online instruction,” said State Human Resources Director Barbara Gibson. “Graduates learned to be nimble in an evolving workplace, gaining extraordinary insight into the processes that ensure vital programs and services continue for the people of North Carolina.”

Administration Secretary Pamela Brewington Cashwell will deliver keynote remarks to CPM graduates.

Dr. Reed Altman, director of the state Certified Manager Program®, converted the blended in-person program to completely online instruction when the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020. The transition enabled participants to engage fully and safely in course work while developing networks to facilitate ongoing achievement. Best practices from the period are being applied to this year’s in-person instruction.

Managed by OSHR’s Talent Management Division, the program was established in 1982 as the North Carolina Public Manager Program to enhance the effectiveness of public sector organizations across our state by developing the leadership capabilities of mid-level managers. Since then, 2,505 mid-level managers across federal, tribal, state and local governments have completed the program. 

Including today’s recipients, 1,707 of those graduates have been awarded the Certified Public Manager® designation following the program’s accreditation by the National Certified Public Manager Consortium.

Framed certificates, signed by Governor Roy Cooper, State Human Resources Director Barbara Gibson, Joel Jordan, State Training and Development Manager and CPM Program Director Altman will be provided to each graduate.

All honorees are based in Wake County unless otherwise noted:

• Department of Administration: Michael Burgher and Keith Burris
• Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: John E. Hammond
• Department of Commerce: Gretchen Schultz
• Department of Environmental Quality: Robin Peele
• Department of Health and Human Services: Chanda Renea Armstrong, Sonya Butler Clark, Leighann Pressley Corbin (Asheville), Maher M. Gendy (Winston-Salem), Ella Lenora Jordan (Whiteville), Juanita Oats (Salisbury), Vandana Patel, Bonnie Katherine Rogers, Jennifer Anne Savage (Butner)
• Department of Information Technology: Carolyn L. Broadney
• Department of Justice: Jonie Renee Trevino
• Department of Labor: Jeremy Swain Smith
• Department of Revenue: April B. Day, Felecia Coley-Roberson, Nathan Chadwick McGhee and Elizabeth D. Ventura (Hickory)
• Department of Transportation: Mark Hill (Whittier), Marcus K. Kiser (Winston-Salem), Catherine Peele (Manns Harbor), Cameron D. Richards, Joni. S. Robbins and Stephen J. Robinson (Greensboro)
• Granville-Vance Public Health: Laura Aurora Tocci (Oxford)

Click here to learn more about 2021 and 2020 CPM honorees, who also will be recognized during today’s event.

The Certified Public Manager® Educational Foundation (CPMEF) administers the Phyllis Taylor Scholarship and is seeking to identify worthy recipient(s) for 2022.   The Phyllis Taylor Scholarship provides recognition of a CPM or CPM candidate with the financial assistance to complete a portion of their certification in CPM studies or to further continue their education in the field of public service at an institution of their choice. 

Attached, please see the attached letter and form with instruction for applicants. The completed application must be submitted no later than October 31, 2022.

CPMEF 2022 Phyllis Taylor Scholarship Letter.docx

CPMEF 20022 Phyllis Taylor Scholarship Application Form.doc

The Certified Public Manager® Educational Foundation (CPMEF) has established and administers the Jack Lemons Student Scholarship and is seeking to identify worthy recipient(s) for 2022. The Jack Lemon Scholarship is based on need to fund registration and or travel expenses and can range from $100 to $500 per recipient.

Attached is an application form with instruction for applicants. The completed application must be submitted no later than October 31, 2022.

CPMEF 2022 Jack Lemons Scholarship Letter.docx

CPMEF 2022 Jack Lemons Scholarship Application Form.doc

If you have questions, please contact myself, or any other member of the CPMEF board.

Sincerely,

Stephen J. Mastro, Executive Director
CPM Education Foundation

A group of graduates from the Florida Certified Public Manager (CPM) program pose with their certificates after the July 21 ceremony at Ruby Diamond concert hall. (FSU Photography Services)
by Dan Vicker, The Florida Center for Public Management

The Florida Certified Public Manager (CPM) program this summer is honoring 335 graduates — about half of them in a ceremony that took place Thursday at Florida State University’s Ruby Diamond Concert Hall.

The CPM program, housed in FSU’s Florida Center for Public Management, is a nationally recognized leadership development program, currently delivered in 38 states. The program aims to develop more effective public managers and improve services to all Florida taxpayers.

Three CPM graduation ceremonies are taking place this summer, and each serves as the culmination of a three-day leadership conference:

• Thursday, July 21, in Tallahassee, at Ruby Diamond Concert Hall. There were 162 graduates.
• 1:15 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 18, via Zoom. There will be 88 graduates.
• 1:15 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1, via Zoom. There will be 85 graduates.

The Florida Center for Public Management of the Askew School of Public Administration and Policy at Florida State University administers the CPM program.

The 335 new graduates have completed a rigorous two-year program, including 31 days of classroom instruction, plus required projects and exams. Over 100 government agencies — including cities, counties, state, and constitutional offices — have participated in the Florida CPM program.

To learn more about the CPM program, visit fcpm.fsu.edu.

The William P. Hobby Center for Public Service at Texas State University graduated sixty-one new Texas Certified Public Managers® on June 6, 2022, in the first graduation ceremony back at the Texas State Capitol since the pandemic began. While living through a time of global pandemic, Texas CPM students showed tremendous tenacity in attending many online classes and completing course work, while serving the needs of their communities as professionals and meeting the challenges faced by their own families.

We were honored to have Dr. Jeremi Suri, Mack Brown Distinguished Chair for Leadership at the University of Texas at Austin, making the commencement address to graduates. Dr. Suri encouraged graduates to do more to increase community knowledge of public service. Not only what you do, but its value and commitment to your citizens.

The graduates participated in CPM Programs offered by Texas State University at Arlington, San Marcos, Round Rock locations, Stephen F. Austin University, University of Houston, and Texas Tech University. Pictured here are Graduates from the Arlington CPM Program with their Co-Directors James Earp and Howard Balanoff.

Congratulations to all the June Certified Public Manager® graduates!

For more information, contact Dr. Miha Vindis, the Director of the Texas Certified Public Manager® (CPM) Program, at mvindis@txstate.edu. Additional information about the William P. Hobby Center for Public Service and the Texas Certified Public Manager® (CPM) Program can be found at www.txstate.edu/cpm

The Alabama Insurance Department is pleased to announce the appointment of Sheila Travis as Chief Examiner. The appointment is effective immediately.

She will succeed former Chief Examiner Richard Ford, who recently retired from state service. Travis will head the Department’s Examination Division, responsible for the regulation of insurance company financial solvency and market conduct. The division performs its duties through monitoring, analysis, and examination in accordance with Alabama law, nationally recognized standards promulgated by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), and other regulatory and professional accounting agencies.

“I’m excited to make this appointment today,” Insurance Commissioner Jim Ridling said. “Sheila Travis is a true professional and seasoned insurance examiner who knows this job inside and out. I know she will do an outstanding job representing the ALDOI and serving the people of Alabama as this department’s Chief Examiner. Sheila is greatly respected by the insurance industry, her colleagues at insurance departments around the nation, and especially here at the Alabama Department.”

Originally from Forest Home, Alabama, Travis is a 27-year veteran insurance examiner. She has been an Insurance Examination Supervisor since 2000 and has spent her entire tenure at ALDOI in the Examinations Division. In 1995, Travis earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Troy University at Montgomery and is a Certified Financial Examiner and a member of the Society for Financial Examiners. She is also a Certified Public Manager. Prior to joining the ALDOI, Travis worked in the accounting division of the Montgomery Housing Authority.

“We know Sheila will serve in her new role with great distinction," Ridling said. "I hope everyone will join me in congratulating Sheila on this well-deserved promotion.”

NJ CPM Grad Named New Fire Chief of Atlantic Highlands

ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ – “My goals are to continue to provide the best possible service to this community and be as transparent as possible with the public, and to get the youth involved in our community so they can get to know our names and get comfortable with us.”

These are only two of the high standards that are important,  the borough’s newest Police Chief Scott Reinert said in his first interview after taking over the top post March 1 from retiring chief David Rossbach.

Nor does he look at either of his primary goals as anything difficult to achieve.  “I believe the former Chiefs of this department have laid a great foundation for this department,” he stressed, and added. “Chief Rossbach did a great job of preparing me for this position.  I moved up the ranks very quickly with the retirements of Captain Stone (Thomas) and Chief Rossbach so I suddenly collected many responsibilities.” Taking advantage of all the experience and lessons he has gained from predecessors the Chief added, “I am currently working on passing on the responsibilities that I had while completing the responsibilities I have now.”

That he comes to the position well qualified and enthusiastic cannot be denied. A native of Manalapan, the chief is a graduate of St. John Vianney High School before earning a degree in business administration from Iona College in New York. More recently, he also completed in-service Certified Public Manager training with Rutgers University.

His first taste of working in law enforcement  came in Sea Girt where he was hired as a Class II Special Officer. After attending the Cape May County Police Academy, and spending two summers on the job in Sea Girt, it was enough to convince the enthusiastic and dedicated officer he wanted to be in law enforcement all his life. 

Now as the head of the department, Reinert wants to continue the high standards that have been set by every previous chief as well as establish new ones of his own.  “I want to get the youth involved in our community by establishing a police explorer program so the teens can really get to know us. It can also serve as a great recruitment tool for future hiring processes and would be a great opportunity for the youth to see if they want to pursue a career in law enforcement.”

   But he has also set some pretty impressive goals for himself. “I want to be able to look back at my career and leave it feeling I contributed to making a difference in people’s lives.”

36 Public Sector Employees from 15 Agencies Earn Certified Public Manager Certificates

Raleigh – Public sector employees from state agencies and local government will be recognized today for completing the rigorous North Carolina Certified Public Manager® Program (CPM) during an informal virtual ceremony led by the Talent Management Division of the Office of State Human Resources (OSHR).

“This year’s cohort was the first to complete this demanding professional development curriculum entirely through virtual instruction due to the pandemic,” said State Human Resources Director Barbara Gibson. “Our graduates demonstrated remarkable focus and resilience in pushing beyond challenges to develop CPM projects that can be implemented immediately by their agencies to deliver greater efficiencies.”

Gibson credited Reed Altman, program manager of the state Certified Manager Program®, for quickly pivoting to provide online instruction when the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020. The transition enabled these participants and others who will complete the program next year to engage fully and safely in course work while developing networks to facilitate ongoing achievement.

Altman will convene a virtual gathering of graduates this afternoon, where they will be commended by Director Gibson and guest speaker Greg Richardson, Executive Director of the Commission of Indian Affairs. Richardson completed the program in 1988.

Managed by OSHR, the program was established in 1982 as the North Carolina Public Manager Program to enhance the effectiveness of public sector organizations across our state by developing the leadership capabilities of mid-level managers. Since then, 2,477 mid-level managers across state and local governments have completed the program. 

Including today’s recipients, 1,679 of those graduates have been awarded the Certified Public Manager designation following the program’s accreditation by the National Certified Public Manager Consortium.

Framed certificates, signed by Governor Roy Cooper, State Human Resources Director Barbara Gibson and CPM Program Director Reed Altman will be provided sent to each graduate.

All honorees are based in Wake County unless otherwise noted:

• Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: Walter Beal (Kittrell), Evan Davis
• Department of Commerce: Brenda T. Watkins (Fayetteville)
• Department of Environmental Quality: Jennifer M. Haynie, Derrick E. House, Ramesh Ravella (Greensboro), Melinda Wolanin (Concord)
• Department of Health and Human Services: Brittney Armstrong, Rebecca Evans (Burlington), Juanita Hooker (Sanford), Belinda Preacher, Lauren Satterwhite
• Department of Information Technology: Keith Aiken (Clayton), Rena E. Henry, Monica Olsen, Veena Shanmugham 
• Department of Labor: Fleda Anderson, Nancy R. Hall (Winston-Salem)
• Department of Public Instruction: Ivanna Mann Thrower Anderson (Chapel Hill), Dennis M. Hancock (Pilot Mountain), Xatli Stox
• Department of Public Safety: David Buchanan (Edenton), Shawana Gilliam (Windsor), Barbara Revels
• Department of Revenue: Brandon C. Bell (Youngsville), Ashley Cameron, LaToya Gardner, Joshua K. Jones, Joshua M. Ligon (Sanford)
• Guilford County Government: David R. Pruitt (Greensboro)
• Office of State Budget and Management: Anca Grozav
• Office of State Human Resources: Dominick D ’Erasmo
• Raleigh Fire Department: Ian Toms
• Utilities Commission: Kim Campbell
• Wildlife Resources Commission: Fairley Mahlum, Travis J. Casper (Clayton)

For additional information about the North Carolina Certified Public Manager® Program, visit NC OSHR: North Carolina Certified Public Manager® (CPM) Program.