National Certified Public Manager® Consortium Works to Formalize its Guidance to New Programs

By Robbi Dreifuerst, CPM, Wisconsin CPM Program
rdreifuerst@dcs.wisc.edu

A critical goal of the strategic plan of the National CPM Consortium is to improve communication within our organization. As the Consortium has grown in recent years, so has its need for more formalized methods of communication. Nowhere is this goal more important than in our support of our new members.

Since another goal of our strategic plan is to expand the number of CPM programs across the country, it is in our best interest to provide clear guidance to any organization interested in founding a CPM Program. Organizations formally expressing such an interest are termed Associate Members. In 2006-2007, the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Committee worked to create a handbook for all Consortium members, the Guide to Participation in the CPM Consortium. This year, the Committee continues its work on that handbook, with an auxiliary focus on developing a New Member Resource Guide. This second handbook will provide step-by-step guidance to help interested parties move from associate membership to full accreditation as a CPM Program.

Another key component of support in the move from associate to accredited status is guidance from a mentor program. The Consortium Chair assigns a mentor to each associate status program. The mentor provides support to the associate member by providing technical assistance and guidance in the steps to developing an active and accredited program. Until recently, mentor responsibilities have been somewhat informal and loosely defined. The SOP Committee is now developing clear guidelines for and expectations of the mentor program that will be included in the next edition of the Guide to Participation in the CPM Consortium.

The SOP Committee hopes that clearer guidance for the mentor, along with a resource guide specifically for new and prospective members, will provide the support needed by an associate program in its quest for accreditation.

Committee members include: Paul Servatius, Idaho (chair); JJ Acker, Utah; Ron Buchholz, AACPM; Ann Cotten, Maryland; Lorraine Derr, Alaska; Robbi Dreifuerst, Wisconsin; Naomi Fletcher, Arkansas; Lorena Johnson, Illinois; Terry Magel, Kentucky; Monica Reyes, Michigan; Peggy Stewart, California; Jim West, Utah.

© Copyright 2007, American Association of Certified Public Managers®