The University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government is launching a new Certified Public Manager program to strengthen leadership skills for local and state government managers in Georgia.
 
CPM is a 26-day program that engages participants in 300 hours of study focusing on areas such as self-awareness, collaboration and process improvement. The program offers professional development opportunities for local and state public employees while developing more productive staff who are better positioned to serve citizens. UGA is the sole provider of this CPM program in Georgia.
 
The inaugural class will begin this month with Fulton County. A state program will begin in October 2016. Both programs’ classes will take place at the UGA campus in Gwinnett.
 
“The institute’s Certified Public Manager program is filling a gap in training needs for public employees in Georgia,” said Institute of Government Director Laura Meadows. “Through these classes, employees can now develop their professional skills so they can serve their communities more effectively.”
 
The CPM program is associated with the National CPM Consortium and is designed to improve the quality and efficiency of government agencies by developing the effectiveness and professionalism of its managers. Individuals completing the program earn the prestigious Certified Public Manager credential from UGA.
 
Participants will learn how to manage work, maintain personal and organizational integrity, lead people, develop self, implement systemic integration, maintain a public service focus and enhance change leadership. Other topics include understanding governmental citizenship behaviors, managing business unit and follower performance, and building relationships.
 
“This certification will help managers support their teams and give them the tools they need to provide quality services and improve the lives of their citizens,” said Stacy Jones, associate director of the institute’s Governmental Training, Education, and Development division.
 
Enrollment for state employees is currently available online at www.cviog.uga.edu/cpm. For more information about the program or to find out how to bring this program to your local or state government division, contact Senior Public Service Associate Walt McBride at [email protected] or 770-503-4474, or Program Coordinator Susan Maxwell at [email protected] or 706-542-3887.