Kenneth K. Henning Award For Professional Excellence
By Julie Rupp Felice, CPM
Chair, Henning Award Committee
Julie.Felice@imail.org

While the memories and remembrances of the 2009 conference are still fresh in the minds of those who were in attendance, it is time to begin thinking and preparing for the 2010 annual professional development conference in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. This is especially true regarding the nominations of worthy candidates for the coveted Henning Award for Professional Excellence.

At its Annual Professional Development Conference, the American Academy of Certified Public Managers® (AACPM) recognizes one active Fellow whose local and national contributions to public sector management, their CPM Society, and the Academy have been judged most exemplary of the CPM image and philosophy. One individual will be recognized and presented the 21st Henning Award during the 2010 annual conference in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, next October. Nancy DeWitt of Louisiana received the first Henning Award in 1991, and it has since been presented to recipients from Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Utah, and Wisconsin.

The concept of a professional excellence award was first proposed by the Academy in the late 1980’s. It was subsequently named in honor of Kenneth K. Henning, whose vision of a quality management development program tailored to the needs of state government resulted in the design and implementation of the Certified Public Manager® concept and the establishment of the Georgia Certified Public Manager® Program, the American Academy of Certified Public Manager® Program, and the movement of the Certified Public Manager® concept into many other locales. To this day, the vision and leadership displayed by Mr. Henning remain embodied in both the American Academy and Certified Public Manager® Programs in more than 25 state and local jurisdictions.

As those who attended the 2003 conference in Charleston, South Carolina, can attest, Ken Henning remains committed to the CPM vision and philosophy today and continues as a role model for each of us to follow. Throughout his career, Mr. Henning has been exceptionally generous in his time and commitment and has performed countless services for a variety of governmental agencies and groups. His dedication and belief in improving and strengthening public service remains a legacy that the Academy is proud to honor annually with the presentation of the Henning Award.

It is time for each Society to give serious consideration to nominating a worthy candidate for the 2010 Henning Award. I urge you to do so and look forward to receiving a nomination for this year’s Henning Award from each CPM Society

The Henning Award Committee administers the nomination and selection process. Click http://www.cpmacademy.org/stars/2010-Henning-Form.pdf to download the nomination form and http://www.cpmacademy.org/stars/Henning-Guidelines.pdf to download nomination guidelines. All nominations must be postmarked by Friday, July 16, 2010. Contact Julie Rupp Felice, CPM, Henning Award Committee Chair, at (801) 507-7951 or Julie.Felice@imail.org, if you have any questions.

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