Professional development program helps elevate public service by developing leadership skills of public sector employees 

Today, 34 state employees earn the title of Certified Public Manager during a graduation ceremony at the State Archives of North Carolina State Archives of North Carolina. The North Carolina Certified Public Manager® (CPM) Program is a nationally accredited, 300-hour curriculum designed to enhance the service and leadership skills of public sector managers. 

“Our CPM Program continues to be a standout offering for those advancing their careers in public service,” said State Human Resources Director Staci Meyer. “It is wonderful to see another cohort earn this unique distinction, and I’m excited for the continued impact they’ll make across our state.”  

Managed by the Office of State Human Resources (OSHR), the rigorous CPM Program takes approximately 14 months to complete and includes a hybrid of in-person and virtual instructor-led trainings, asynchronous self-paced assignments, and a final capstone project.  

“Our state employees are critical to the wellbeing of North Carolina,” said Governor Josh Stein. “It is great to see another group of state employees achieve this honor, and I am proud of their commitment to public service.”        

Since its inception in 1982, the CPM Program has produced 2,614 certified public managers across North Carolina’s state government.  

Christie McNeill, Governor Stein’s deputy chief of staff and chief operating officer, will join OSHR in celebrating these graduates, and serve as the ceremony’s keynote speaker.  

All honorees are based in Wake County unless otherwise noted: 

• Department of Commerce: Carrie Shortt and Sheryl D. Stevens (Rockingham County) 

• Department of Health and Human Services: Jason L. Dempsey  

• Department of Information Technology: Katherine Cotney, Jon Richard Nedell, and Cherolyn N. Thomas  

• Department of Justice: Kristopher M. Joyce, Sherri Horner Lawrence, and Kristin J. Uicker 

• Department of Natural and Cultural Resources: Nathan Etheridge and Kimberly P. Kenyon (Pitt County) 

• Department of Public Safety: Gayle E. Alston (Davidson County), Adrienne Becton-Marsh (Henderson County), Namika LaTrice Harley (Moore County), Shaketria Lindsey (Buncombe County), Brad C. Morris, and Charlie Edward Richards, III (Caldwell County) 

• Department of Revenue: Karen E. Bargsley (Mecklenburg County), Holly C. Browning, Tanya Jackson Dearmon, and Heidi Nolta  

• Department of State Treasurer: Anitha Narayanan  

• Department of Transportation: Lance Kent Byrd (Ashe County), Reba D. Clemmons, Christopher Connolly, Marissa Cox, Katrina M. Feltes, Arthur Paul Hyman, Suzana Matta (Guilford County), Jason S. Morris (Northampton County), Gregory D. Myrick (Randolph County), Eric Steven Sedlacek (Martin County), and Jeremy Lee Holleman Warren (Durham County) 

• University of North Carolina – Greensboro: Ross Rick (Guilford County) 

To learn more about North Carolina’s Certified Public Manager® Program, please visit: https://oshr.nc.gov/state-employee-resources/learning-and-development/nc-certified-public-manager-program

RALEIGH, NC – Public sector employees from state agencies and public institutions were recognized Monday for completing the rigorous North Carolina Certified Public Manager® Program (CPM) during the program’s commencement ceremony, March 10, 2025.

The graduation was held at 3 p.m. at the State Archives of North Carolina to celebrate the 43 graduates of the 2024 program. State Transportation Secretary J.R. “Joey” Hopkins joined the Office of State Human Resources (OSHR) in celebrating these graduates as the ceremony’s keynote speaker.

Managed by OSHR’s Learning and Development Program, the North Carolina Public Manager Program was established in 1982 to enhance the effectiveness of public sector organizations across North Carolina 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, more than 2,580 mid-level managers across federal, tribal, state and local governments have completed the program. Including today’s recipients, 1,798 of those graduates have been awarded the Certified Public Manager® designation following the program’s first accreditation by the National Certified Public Manager Consortium in 1988.

Framed certificates signed by former Governor Roy Cooper,; former State Human Resources Director Barbara Gibson; Learning, Performance and Organizational Effectiveness Manager Joel Jordan and CPM Program Director Dr. Reed Altman were provided to each graduate, as well as "swag-bags" and one free year of membership courtesy of the North Carolina Society of Certified Public Managers.

All honorees are based in Wake County unless otherwise noted:

·        Administrative Office of the Courts: Felicia Suzzan Kisselburg and La’Vonda C. Seafus

·        Central Carolina Community College: Jonathan Dalton White (Lee County)

·        Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: Billy D. Howell and Susan Leigh Vick Tyre (Martin County)

·        Department of Commerce: Jackie L. Gallion

·        Department of Environmental Quality: Stephanie C. Bolyard, Karyn Ann Kurek (Iredell County) and Dawn L. Reddix

·        Department of Health and Human Services: Ashley M. Arrington, Candice M. Bailey, Aretino JaShun Fluker, Stephanie Hanes, Deanna Jones (Chatham County), Alison M. Keisler and Jennifer S. Price

·        Department of Information Technology: Patrick M. Doran, Mallory V. Thomas and David B. Hartford (Rutherford County)

·        Department of Justice: Francisco Benzoni

·        Department of Labor: Hollis Yelverton and Neesia Johnson Hill

·        Department of Revenue: Cheryl E. Benedetto, Veronica M. Pace, Angelina Artis Harvey and Marcy Lee Liberatore

·        Department of Transportation: John A. Bailey, Steven J. Bolyard, Robert Wayne Bullock (Durham County), Zachary T. Clark, Adam Anderson Cole, Marshall B. Gill (Chowan County), Heather J. Hildebrandt, Christy Wright Huff (Cumberland County), Scott Andrew Jones (Forsyth County), Kerry Vallant Morrow, James Michael Nordan (Durham County), Adam Pearsall (Pender County), Nicholas A. Pierce, Robert Tyler Rogers (Henderson County), Ryan L. Shook (Chowan County), Alex David Stewart and Kenneth Charles Thornewell Jr.

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.”