Omaha Odyssey – Nebraska CPM Program Inaugural Graduation

By Ronald L. Buchholz, CPM
ronbuchholz@charter.net

In early December 2008, I had the opportunity to travel to Omaha, Nebraska and the honor to represent the Academy at the inaugural graduation of the Nebraska CPM Program.

On Friday, December 5, 2008, the 12 members of the first graduating class of the Nebraska CPM Program received their CPM Certificates and designations from Nebraska Lieutenant Governor Rick Sheehy and University of Nebraska-Omaha (UNO) Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Terry Hynes. The impressive ceremony was held on the beautiful UNO campus at the Library Commons in the College of Public Affairs and Community Services (CPACS) Building

Inaugural graduates with CPM Program Coordinator, Mary Hamilton (far right) and Jessica McVay, CPM Program Graduate Assistant (far left)

The Inaugural 2008 Class consisted of public managers from federal, state and local/municipal agencies and a non-profit entity. The federal agency member works for the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, while the non-profit entity member is a minister of a church in San Jose, California. Both commuted to Omaha to complete the program and earn their CPM designations. The other 10 graduates came from agencies and municipalities located throughout Nebraska.

The Nebraska CPM Program is housed in the UNO School of Public Administration. Mary Hamilton, Nebraska CPM Program Director, served as the Master of Ceremonies for the Graduation Program. Jessica McVay, Graduate Assistant, did an excellent job handling and coordinating the many logistics of the graduation. Family members of the 12 graduates and many of the graduates’ employers attended the ceremony and celebrated the achievements of these talented and dedicated individuals.

Lieutenant Governor Rick Sheehy delivered an outstanding keynote address and was warmly received by the graduates and attendees. Other speakers included Dean B.J. Reed of the UNO College of Public Affairs and Community Service; Brett Baker, Secretary/Treasurer of the Nebraska City/County Management Association (NCCMA); and Terry Hynes, UNO Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. All the speakers voiced their appreciation for and strong support of the Nebraska CPM Program. The NCCMA provided scholarships for a number of city managers/administrators to participate in the CPM Program.

Before the graduation, I was fortunate to witness the graduates’ project presentations at their morning leadership session  and to visit with them at a luncheon meeting. I provided information and answered questions about establishing a society and securing member status with the Academy. As a result, the graduates hope to form a society in early 2009 and qualify to receive their Academy charter during the 21st Annual AACPM Conference to be held in Orlando this September.

During my stay, I received a warm welcome and was made to feel like I was truly a member of the “Nebraska CPM family.”  I extend my sincere “Thank You” to every person who made my trip to Omaha a truly memorable one. I also extend my sincere appreciation to Mary Hamilton and Jessica McVay for serving as most gracious hosts during my stay in Omaha. I dined with Mary, her husband, and her sister-in-law at one of the premier restaurants in Omaha where we talked about CPM items of mutual interest, learned more about each other, and shared stories about our families and lives. Jessica provided transportation to and from the airport and took care of all the small details that made my stay most enjoyable. Mary and Jessica demonstrated the very best of the “Cornhusker Pioneer Spirit.”

I look forward to seeing the Nebraska Society Charter presented to our Nebraska colleagues in Orlando. Perhaps staging an Academy Conference in the Nebraska is in the not-too-distant future. Congratulations again to the members of the inaugural Nebraska CPM Program graduating class!

© Copyright 2009, American Association of Certified Public Managers®