Ed Burt of North Carolina Receives 2006 Henning Award

By Ron Buchholz. CPM
rbuchholz@commerce.state.wi.us

A retired North Carolina public sector manager was recognized by the American Academy of Certified Public Managers® (AACPM) for his career accomplishments, community service and contributions to state and national public manager organizations.

Dr. Edward R. Burt III, retired as the Deputy Director of the of the Division of Radiation Protection, North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources in 2002, was presented the Henning Award at the AACPM’s 18th Annual Professional Development Conference in Louisville, Kentucky on September 12th.

Receiving his Certified Public Manager® credential in 1988 after completing the required CPM training offered by the North Carolina Human Resource Development Group, Personnel Development Center, Burt has served as Treasurer of both the North Carolina Society of Certified Public Managers® (NCSCPM) and the American Academy. He was a charter member of the AACPM when founded in 1989. In addition to serving as AACPM Treasurer, he had served as a member or chair of three different AACPM Committees since 1993. He has attended AACPM Conferences since from 1992-1994 and from 2000 to the present, in addition to serving as a North Carolina delegate to the AACPM’s governing body, the House of Delegates in 2000. Burt is the second longest serving Board Member in AACPM history was elected and has served as AACPM Treasurer from 1992 – 1994 and from 2002 – 2004.

At the state and national level, Burt has been instrumental in a number of capacities and committees. In North Carolina, he was a Charter member of the State Society, served as NCSCPM Treasurer, served on the State Society Logo Copyright Protection Committee, Archive Committee, Audit Committee and Membership Committee. During his tenure with the AACPM, he has chaired the AACPM Ways and Means Committee and has served on the Mentoring and Finance Committees. He also served on the Mentoring Committee and assisted Mississippi and Wisconsin in forming their State Societies, worked with the IRS to secure a 501 (c) (6) non profit organization status for the Academy, oversaw the upgrading of the Academy’s financial reports to be in compliance with accepted practices of the national Financial Accounting Standards Board and transferring the Academy’s financial records to Fund EZ accounting software. Burt collaborated in the development of the standard chart of accounts for annual AACPM Conference financial reporting and in posting of the Academy national membership on the Academy’s Web Site with password protection.

In addition to his CPM certification, Ed earned his Bachelor’s, and Masters degrees from the University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill and his Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Texas—Austin and served as an Assistant Professor in Geology before taking a position with the North Carolina State Government, serving with distinction for twenty-eight years. Ed was instrumental in developing legislation and working with the State Legislature to establish and fund a low-level radioactive waste disposal facility, including the presentation of a multi-million dollar budget proposal to a special Legislative committee. This was the first instance in the state’s history of legislative action to establish a program budget across Divisional and Departmental lines. He directed and led a diverse group of more than forty scientists, engineers, administrative staff and contractors in the review for licensure of the low-level radiation waste site. Ed has also served on his Department’s Pay Resolution Board to hear and resolve pay and performance disputes between employees and management.

During a 28-year career with the State of North Carolina, his professional service has witnessed a progression into positions of ever-increasing responsibilities and recognition. He was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine in 2002, the highest civilian honors the Governor can bestow to outstanding employees who have a proven record of service to the State.

Ed has served his community as a Sunday school teacher to adults for more than twenty years, a youth baseball coach for many years, an adult volunteer leader in the Boy Scouts of America and on the church board of directors for a large Methodist Church. He served on the Centennial Committee for his hometown and as the unofficial historian for the early history of the town. Burt has been a member of the Lions Club since 1985 serving multiple terms as President, Treasurer, First Vice President and Secretary.

Ron Buchholz of Wisconsin, a past AACPM President and Chairman of the Henning Award Committee, reports, “There was a very strong field of candidates this year for the Henning Award and Ed was selected for among that group. His career accomplishments, community activities and especially his dedication to and efforts on behalf of both the North Carolina CPM Society and the AACPM speak highly of Ed, his Society and the Academy and set a standard to which all of us can aspire. He has served and continues to serve as an excellent role model for every CPM and truly represents the very best in Certified Public Managers®.”

AACPM President Bill Herman of New Hampshire recognized Ed’s achievement and emphasized his willingness to “go the extra mile to help his peers, his professional organization, his state society and the American Academy. Ed’s efforts have been a tremendous contribution to the North Carolina Society and the American Academy, and have helped to strengthen the standing and prestige of the CPM public image.”

“The Henning Award is the most prestigious award presented by the AACPM to an outstanding member who has made the greatest contribution to the certified public management program at the state and/or national level,” Buchholz said. “Ken Henning’s vision and leadership remain to this day embodied in the Certified Public Manager® programs in nearly 30 states and in the American Academy of Certified Public Managers®.“

The Henning Award is named after Kenneth K. Henning of Athens, Georgia, whose vision of a quality management development program tailored to the needs of state and local government resulted in the design and implementation of the Certified Public Manager® concept. Ken’s vision, hard work and dedication in the mid-1970's in Georgia were responsible for the establishment of the Georgia Certified Public Manager® Program, the American Academy of Certified Public Managers®, and the movement of the Certified Public Manager® concept to other states.

Ed was one of eight AACPM fellows who were nominated for the 2006 AACPM Henning Award. The Henning Award was first presented by the AACPM in 1990. He is the 17th recipient of the annual recognition, and the fifth to be recognized from North Carolina. With the presentation of the Henning Award to Ed this year, all five charter officers of the original North Carolina CPM Society (Margaret Bailey – President; Haywood Poole – President-Elect; Patricia “Tish” Hagler – Secretary; Ed Burt – Treasurer; and Ed Phillips – Chairman of the Board) have now been recognized with the Henning Award.

2006 HENNING AWARD NOMINEES – Gathered around 2006 Henning Award Ed Burt, CPM, of North Carolina are the nominees for the prestigious award. From left are Dr. Ada Brunette, CPM, of Florida,  Paula Green, CPM, of Oklahoma, Greg Hyland, CPM, of Arizona, Ed Burt, Pamla Wood, CPM, of Kentucky, Debra Bourbeau, CPM, of New Hampshire, and Jeff Roemer, CPM, of Wisconsin.

© Copyright 2006, American Association of Certified Public Managers®