AACPM Board Members Participate in CPM Graduation Ceremonies

OHIO

By Becky Bryant, CPM
Member-at-Large/Conferences & Communications
becky.bryant@arkansas.gov

On April 19-20, 2007, Robinil Jameson and I had the opportunity to travel to Columbus, Ohio on a three-fold mission. The first was to participate in the graduation ceremonies for the Ohio Certified Public Manager® Program. Being a relatively new AACPM board member, it was certainly a privilege for me to represent the Academy and our AACPM president, Ron Buchholz, and address the new graduates on his behalf. I was told that this was the largest graduating class in the history of the Ohio CPM program with 103 graduates representing 24 different Ohio government agencies (state, city and county) and one university. After a welcoming reception, the ceremony was held in the auditorium of the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Neil Schultz Conference Center/William Green Building.

While in Columbus, we stayed at the Hyatt Regency adjacent to the Greater Columbus Convention Center, the site chosen for the 2008 AACPM Annual Conference. It is a wonderful facility. The rooms were cozy and comfortable, the food was also very good, and the room rates were very reasonable. I believe we will all enjoy our stay there in ’08.

After the Ohio graduation ceremony, Robinil and I drove to Cincinnati and had a very informative meeting with Kimberly Winfrey, a representative of YTB, our new Travel Bureau partner. Using the new site to book your upcoming travel will provide a monetary benefit for AACPM. Be sure to check out the website at:  http://ytbtravel.com/AACPM. 

Although our trip was rather fast and furious, the driving time between Cincinnati and Columbus and back gave Robinil and me a lot of time to chat and get to know one another even better. I have certainly enjoyed my time on the AACPM board and encourage each of you to become more involved.

ARKANSAS

Robinil H. Jameson, CPM
Member-at-Large/Member Affairs
RHJCPM@aol.com

In 1995, the Arkansas Society hosted the Seventh Annual Conference in Little Rock, my very first AACPM Conference. Because of my experience there, I have not missed one since! Nearly 12 years later, I returned to Little Rock and was able to enjoy the Kentucky/Arkansas connection. While touring the Old Arkansas State House, I was stuck by the familiarity of the design. Imagine my surprise to learn the design was that of Kentucky native Gideon Shyrock, who in 1827 also designed the Old Kentucky State Capitol. The supervisor of the construction of the Arkansas structure was also from Kentucky, George Weigart.

On May 10, 2007, I was on hand to congratulate graduates of the Certified Public Manager® Program on behalf of President Ron Buchholz at the Arkansas CPM Program graduation. Held under the rotunda of the historic State Capitol, the graduation ceremonies not only included the Arkansas CPM program, but also the Arkansas Governmental Manager Program and the Certified Volunteer Manager Program. A total of 64 graduates were recognized between the three programs, 14 CPM, 28 AGM, and 22 CVM. We heard the inspiring words of Ron Oliver, Chief of Staff for Arkansas’s Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter, about the role of managers and leadership in government.

While Becky Bryant, who has become a MOST valuable member of the AACPM Board of Directors currently serving as the Member-at-Large for Conferences & Communications, was also planning to be in attendance, an unfortunate accident prevented her from attending. She did, however, serve as a wonderful tour guide upon my arrival.

© Copyright 2007, American Association of Certified Public Managers®