by Stephen Mastro, CPM
SMastro@csum.edu

It is felt by many that 2009 will be a year of challenges to public entities everywhere.  The fiscal challenges present great uncertainty for our agencies, our states, and our nation.  As Certified Public Managers® (CPMs), you will play an important role in providing guidance to your agency and your employees about how to best continue critical public services.  This is a time that will test your leadership skills.  The Academy is a resource that gives you access to the tools you will need to meet these challenges head on.

As you consider how you will manage your professional development during this period, I urge you to attend Society and Academy functions.  Maintain your membership in your Society, be actively engaged in your Society’s business, and take advantage of continuing education and social events.  The opportunity to network with your fellow CPMs will help you manage your challenges.  The same is true of Academy functions -- be involved in committee work and access the wealth of knowledge from hundreds of CPMs from agencies and disciplines all across the nation at the Academy’s annual conference in Orlando this September.  The benefit you will receive from sharing with other CPMs is certainly worth the Academy’s annual membership fee of $20.

In 2009 I hope to encourage progress towards three objectives that I believe are linked to the Academy’s purpose statement.

1. Promote the concept of CPM, and membership of CPMs in Societies, and thus the Academy

2. Celebrate CPM heroes

3. Support the Academy in becoming the professional organization of the 21st Century for Public Managers

To pursue the first objective, we are exploring a partnership with the Consortium to produce a joint brochure that champions the success of CPM programs and their graduates. The brochure will highlight both programs and graduates who have positively impacted public services in many states and agencies. In a time when budget cuts will threaten many programs, we must be prepared to promote the positive return on investment of CPM programs. To promote membership in the Academy, we must promote membership in the Societies, primarily in attracting new graduates and retaining them for more than one year. Our Members Affairs Committee plans to develop a mentoring program for existing Societies that will facilitate sharing of best practices on topics such as new graduate recruitment and how to provide successful and meaningful education programs. The Mentoring Committee continues to be in contact with eight potential societies that may join the Academy over the next three to four years…More >