President’s Message

By Stephen J. Mastro, CPM, MPA, CRA
smastro@csum.edu

The vision of the Academy is that CPM graduates become world class leaders and managers for the public sector. The Academy’s mission is to promote professional excellence and quality principles in public management through the endorsement of dynamic leadership, high ethical standards, training, and continuing education. We can do this by staying connected to each other and providing support and encouragement.

As public managers, we are all keenly aware of the daily challenges of providing quality services to the public. It is easy to become disheartened when we are continually asked to solve an increasing number of problems while doing more with less. It is in times like these that we need to remember some of the positive points of being a public servant.

In good economic times, we public employees often look with envy to those acquaintances, neighbors, and friends who work in the private sector and receive more compensation. We sometimes forget that in times of recession, there are a greater number of jobs lost in the private sector than in the public sector. We should be thankful that we have a greater opportunity to continue our chosen career in the public sector. For some public managers, their particular services are in even greater demand by the public in these economically challenged times. During the long hours, they must constantly remind themselves they are fortunate to have a job - and that a job done well can provide some level of relief to those in need.

This message is to those over-worked and often under-appreciated innovative public managers who are doing more with less. You need others to keep you energized, to share their optimism, and to help you find solutions when you run out of ideas. Become part of our support network. Who, but your fellow CPMs, can better understand the challenges you face? Who else has the front-line experience, shares your public service values, and understands your goals of quality, efficiency, and cost effectiveness? Now more than ever you need access to a national network of Certified Public Managers®.

This CPM network is two-tiered. First are the CPMs in your society, some of whom you bonded with while attending your state CPM program training. These are the people you can see face to face and with whom you can have those energizing conversations on a regular basis. But how many of them actually do the same job as you? Sometimes you need another CPM with the same job challenges to use as a sounding board. This is where the AACPM network of CPMs in  more than 20 states can be a valuable resource to you. You may only see them once a year at the annual educational conference, but in today’s electronic age, they are only an e-mail message or a cell phone call away.

Society officers and members always ask me what is the primary value they get for their membership in the Academy. I always tell them for me it is the ability to network with so many talented people across the country. Although there are several benefits to being an Academy member - to me - this benefit alone is worth the $20 annual membership fee. I have an unofficial network of advisors, mentors, cheerleaders, subject matter experts, and some people I just keep in contact with because they keep me pumped up.

The Academy web site www.cpmacademy.org is a wealth of information. You can view Academy newsletters, contact board members, access standard operating procedures, and see current and past stars of societies and the Academy. Members have access to the password-protected membership database to facilitate this networking ability. If you need the username and password, contact any of the board members for assistance.

Winston Churchill was an inspirational leader to the British people during dark times. Although the following quote was provided in the context of World War II, one might choose to apply the concept to the current economic conditions we face. “Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts.”  It will not be easy to maintain the courage to continue as we face the challenges of leadership in the public sector workplace in the coming months. Be thankful that we have jobs – and be empathetic towards those who do not. To do this, I will rely more than ever on my fellow CPM’s. Invest the time to develop intra- and inter-society relationships. I know there are others you can rely on to improve your success while reducing your stress.

I hope to have the opportunity to meet you in Orlando this September.

© Copyright 2009, American Association of Certified Public Managers®