Leaders from more than 100 Georgia cities and counties strengthened their knowledge of effective public service through training courses that Institute of Government faculty and others delivered at the Georgia City-County Management Association’s Spring Conference.

GCCMA members attended courses designed to enhance their understanding of a number of governance topics, including a workforce panel presentation with Joshua Frenzel of the Center for State and Local Government Excellence, Decatur City Manager Peggy Merriss and Johns Creek Assistant Manager Kimberly Greer. Other training topics at the conference, held March 22–24 in Athens, included cyber security, financial analysis, policy development and effective public presentations.

GCCMA President and Cobb County Manager David Hankerson joined Institute faculty member Gordon Maner for a special presentation for first-time attendees. In addition, new managers were able to attend a budget development session with Institute instructor John Culpepper, retired Athens-Clarke County government finance director.

The three-day conference in Athens also featured a keynote address by motivational speaker Keni Thomas, a recording artist and former U.S. Army Ranger. Thomas spoke on leadership development, drawing on examples from his experiences in the Battle of Mogadishu, the mission in Somalia that inspired the film “Black Hawk Down.”

The Institute collaborates with GCCMA leaders to develop continuing education sessions that reflect best management practices, emerging technologies and management theories.