2007 Henning Award Nominees

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After the first AACPM Annual Conference, held in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1989, the Academy created the Henning Award to “recognize an active Academy Fellow, who, through their efforts has made the greatest contribution to the Academy, their society, or to the prestige of the CPM public image.” This award is named for Dr. Kenneth K. Henning of Athens, Georgia whose vision of quality public management development led to the establishment of the Certified Public Manager® credential.

This year, ten individuals were nominated by their respective societies for this award. Kay Nidiffer Rogers of South Carolina was selected to receive the award, and her accomplishments are elsewhere cited in this newsletter. Each of the other nine is outstanding in their own right, and it is appropriate that we here recognize their contributions to the community, their society, and the Academy. The following descriptions were taken directly from the nomination form for each individual.

Debra Bourbeau: Nominated by the New Hampshire Association of Certified Public Managers. Debra was president of the NHACPM in 2002-2003, Co-chair of the state society annual conference in 2003 and 2004, and Co-Chair of the Academy’s Annual Professional Development Conference in 2005. Her leadership in 2005 resulted in a record net receipts for the New Hampshire Association and the Academy. Her current Director relies on Debra “in every aspect of the managerial responsibilities of this Bureau as it relates to personnel and work activities that require sound judgment and support to resolve problems and issues….” Debra for many years and in many capacities has contributed her time to the Girl Scouts. She has been described as “a tenacious and effective contributor to her community.” One of her favorite community activities is Operation Santa Clause with which she has been associated since 2000. Concurrent with family, work, and community responsibilities, Debra has begun a retail business devoted to the preservation of family histories and memories through scrapbooking.

James Brown: Nominated by the Kentucky Society of Certified Public Managers. James has devoted over 33 years to public service in the criminal justice field first as a sworn police officer and later as a police trainer. James became a Certified Public Manager® in 1999, the first person within his agency to have done so. He promoted the CPM program to employees within his agency, and, today out of a staff of 170, there are 58 CPM graduates and 20 currently enrolled in the program. James was a key person in the organization and development of Kentucky’s Leadership Institute. Today Kentucky is a recognized leader in its offerings for leadership training for its law enforcement supervisors, managers, and executives. James served as President of the Kentucky Society of Certified Public Managers in 2001. He served as a member of the Host Committee for the 18th annual AACPM Professional Development Conference in 2006. James was
an HOD member in 2001, 2002, and 2004. James has been a Lions Club member for more than 25 years and has served in many roles including President of two different clubs. He has been honored as Lion of the Year and as a Melvin Jones Fellow. In 1989-1990 James was elected District Governor, one of the most important leadership positions in the International Association of Lions Clubs.

Gail Gibson: Nominated by the Louisiana Society of Certified Public Managers. Gail earned her Bachelor of Science and Masters in Science in Nursing at the Louisiana State University Medical Center. Since beginning her career in nursing in 1986, Gail has been progressively promoted up through the ranks to a position as Associate Nursing Administrator, Maternal Child Services. When the levees failed in the wake of Katrina, Gail and her staff were left isolated with 29 sickly or premature infants in the darkened University Hospital for five days. Her leadership and courage were documented in the December 18th 2005 issue of Time Magazine. Gail was elected President-elect of the Louisiana Society of Certified Public Managers in 2004. When the office of President was suddenly vacated in early 2005, she readily assumed the responsibilities of President early, and, despite hardship and rebuilding after the storm, she volunteered to remain as President for an additional term in 2006. Under difficult circumstances she conducted meetings by speaker phone, video conferencing or in person, depending on the circumstances and the needs of the society. Gail has been a member of the House of Delegates for the past three years. Gail has sought numerous ways to provide community service including, Board of Directors – March of Dimes, Chairperson of the Board – the city’s Healthy Start Program, providing infant and pediatric first aid and CPR courses to day care center staff throughout New Orleans, and cheerleading coach for a 6 to 8 year-old girl cheerleading squad for 11 years.

Chris Grasso: Nominated by the Florida Society of Certified Public Managers. Chris has 34 years experience that includes information technology leadership and the strategic development of technologies in a constantly changing environment. Chris has expertise in many facets of county government including budgeting, consensus building, information services, web site development, and emergency and non-emergency public safety management. Since graduating as a Certified Public Manager® in 2000, Chris has become involved in both state and national Societies. At the state level, he was society web master for four years, updated the society’s By-laws in 2004, and held the office of President of the Society in 2003 and 2004. At the Academy level, Chris has served on the special committee on communications, the Ways and Means Committee, and in the HOD on several occasions. In his community, Chris has been active in his church, served on the Crooms Academy Business Advisory Board and the Board of Directors of the John Scott Daily Institute. He has been active in his homeowners association.

Jeffrey Roemer: Nominated by the Wisconsin Society of Certified Public Managers. Jeffrey Roemer has management experience and expertise in Fire (20 years), EMS (19 years), Law Enforcement (20 years), Emergency Management Director (11 years) and Public Safety Management Consulting (7 years). Jeffrey has made presentations for the National Emergency Number Association, the Association of Wisconsin Public Safety Communications Officials, the Wisconsin City/County Managers Association, and the American Academy of Certified Public Managers®. He currently serves as an Instructor in the Wisconsin Certified Public Managers Program. Jeffrey has been a Board member of the Wisconsin Society of Certified Public Managers for ten years, serving at one time or another as Treasurer, Secretary, President Elect, and President. He has been a delegate to the AACPM House of Delegates seven times and an Academy Conference presenter four times. Jeffrey has a long and distinguished career in the development of public safety programs. He has been an outstanding leader in the Certified Public Manager® field. Away from his professional endeavors, Jeffrey has devoted many seasons to volunteer work as a coach for football, hockey, soccer, and baseball. He has long been a member of the Optimist Club, serving as Past President in 1994 and Secretary from 2000 to 2003.

Deborah Smith: Nominated by the Oklahoma Society of Certified Public Managers. During 36 years of dedicated service with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, Deborah Smith has 31 years in supervisory, managerial, and administrative responsibility. For the past five years, Deborah has served as Deputy Division Administrator with line authority of all nine units in her division. She became a charter member of the Oklahoma Society of Certified Public Managers in 1987 and has been an active member ever since - serving on 11 different committees, often as chair, and as Treasurer, Secretary, Vice-President, President-Elect, President and Past President. Deborah’s service with the AACPM is equally impressive. She has served on seven AACPM committees, five as chair, in addition to serving as President-Elect, President, and Past-President. Eight times she has been a voting member of the AACPM House of Delegates. No one has been more willing to serve when called. Deborah has contributed to her community as a volunteer with the Girl Scouts, Multiple Sclerosis walks, Public Broadcasting Services telethon, and numerous other charities.

Sarah Smith: Nominated by the North Carolina Society of Certified Public Managers. Sarah has worked in higher education administration since 1984. Her current position is Director of Sponsored Programs for the third largest public university system in the country. From 1999 to the present, she has been a member of the National Council of University Research Administrators. Sarah has been invited to present nine times on grants administration at regional and national conferences. She joined the state society in 2000 as an associate member while still a student in the Certified Public Manager® program. Sarah has served as a member of three society committees. In 2003-2005 she served as President-Elect, President, and Past President. In the North Carolina dual system of society governance, Sarah served as Chairman of the Board in 2005. At the national level, Sarah has been a delegate to the House of Delegates twice. She has submitted articles to the CPM Connection five times. This year she was a presenter at the Madison conference.

Stuart Smith: Nominated by the Utah Society of Certified Public Managers. Stuart Smith has been appointed to top management positions in six different administrations. He has served as an organizational, planning, and integration consultant to governments, agencies, organizations, and businesses at all levels including: the International Olympic Committee; NATO; Kingdom of Jordan; Kingdom of Morocco; Canada; City of Moscow, Russia; City of Athens, Greece; City of Torino, Italy; Vancouver, BC metro area; Operation Hurricane Katrina relief; and the 1996, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2010 Olympic Games. Stuart has been a long-time active member of the Utah Society of Certified Public Managers, serving on committees and co-organizer of yearly conferences. During his term as President of the state society, the active membership doubled. He served as co-organizer of the 1997 AACPM Annual Educational Conference in Utah. Stuart has served as a volunteer for the Boy Scouts of America, coached a team in the local junior basketball league, delivered motivational instruction for high schools, and colleges in a range of professional subjects, career development, and career selection, and served on the Board of Directors of three non-profit organizations.

Patricia Writt: Nominated by the Kansas Society of Certified Public Managers. Pat Writt has worked in the public sector since 1977. She began her career as a Civil Rights Investigator. From 1991 to 1993 she served as an EEO Consultant for the State. Between 1993 and 2004 she served as the Human Resources Director for two state agencies. Since 2004, Pat has been on the staff of the State Department of Administration, Division of Personnel Services where she plans, develops, and manages statewide programs and also has statewide responsibilities in the areas of diversity, affirmative action, ADA, mediation, labor negotiations, training, and employee assistance. Pat received her CPM certification in 1995 and immediately became an active member of the state’s Society of Certified Public Managers and the AACPM. She has served on numerous committees and as Historian, Secretary, President-Elect, President, and Past-President of her state society. Pat has attended all AACPM annual education conferences since 2001 and served as Co-Chair of the annual conference in Topeka in 2004. Pat has served as a Cub Scout Pack Master, secretary for a high school parent track boosters organization, and recently began working with RSVP – Retired/Senior Volunteer Program.

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