Arizona Society of Certified Public Managers®

By Michelle Lowman
Michelle.Lowman@phoenix.gov

On September 21st local leaders from all levels of government gathered at the Herberger Theater Center, Arizona's premiere performance venue, located in the center of the nations fifth largest city, downtown Phoenix. The reason? The Arizona Society of Certified Public Manager’s® Annual conference.

The ASCPM 2006 conference titled Leading Public Service in the 21st Century, boasted such speakers as Betsey Bayless, former Secretary of State serving under recently re-elected Governor Janet Napolitano; Susan Gerard, former member of Arizona State Legislature, Amanda Aguirre, State Representative, Dick Bowers, former Scottsdale City Manager and currently the President of the Herberger; and national speaker Silver Rose, who recently made a presentation at the AACPM National conference in the Blue Grass State of Kentucky. Special Guest of Honor was Academy President Bill Herman who traveled from New Hampshire to deliver the welcome address to the attendees.
City of Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon kicked off the event with “Phoenix moving from vision to reality.” The city's first light rail system is currently under construction and with the recently renovated and expanded (now  two million square feet) Phoenix Convention Center; Phoenix is truly live up to being the nations  fifth largest city.
To put a little pizzazz into the normal hum drum of lunch, the conference offered all attendees Herberger's "Lunchtime Theater," as part of their registration. In the musical Dreamweavers the audience was provided with a boxed lunch while watching a fantastical performance, where the audience was taken "back to basics" and transformed into dreamland.

Nationally renowned speaker, Silver Rose, closed out the conference with her "Change Your Focus - Change Your Life" approach. Giving attendees the tools and guidance, while reminding that us that managing is a thing of the past and LEADING is the 21st century.

"What a great event, what a great venue, such a diverse group of speakers. I can't wait for next year's," touted conference-goer Marci Johnson.

Another attendee said, "It was a wonderful conference and I learned so much. I can't wait to get back to the office and put it all in to action."

Members of the Arizona Society’s delegation at the National Conference

© Copyright 2006, American Association of Certified Public Managers®