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CPM in Transition By Mary R. Hamilton, Ph.D., Director, The Nebraska Certified Public Manager® (CPM) Program CPM is in transition in three respects this fall of 2011: • • •
The 2011 class has almost completed the program and will graduate on December 9, 2011. The program has a new video featuring current participants and alumni The 2012 class will begin in January with a new Director, Ellen FreemanWakefield
2011 CPM CLASS Participants in the Nebraska Certified Public Manager® (CPM) Program are required to complete a major project over the year that will both help them integrate what they’ve learned in the program and provide benefits for their organization. The 2011 class has chosen a variety of issues to address in their projects. Trisha Brockman, Assistant Warden, Nebraska Department of Corrections, Nebraska Correctional Youth Facility, is developing a mentoring program at the Nebraska Correctional Youth Facility. The intent of the program is to initiate and facilitate a relationship between a mentor and inmates within our population that are preparing for release within a year. David Erickson, Safety and Sanitation Specialist, Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, Omaha, is working on the thorny issue of Corrections employees using social media at work and at home. He is developing a plan for training on the appropriate use of social media. Bryan Leroy Freeman, President, VII Finger ProductionsTM, Omaha, is creating a nonprofit organization that will provide public and media relations advice and assistance to cash-strapped nonprofits. Ann D. Fritz, Resource Development Manager, North Central District Health Department, O’Neill, Nebraska, is working with the elementary school principal to revive a parent support organization and plan for it to be sustainable over time. John (Rick) Hargreaves, Unit Manager, Nebraska Department of Corrections, Lincoln Correctional Center, Lincoln, is working to decrease the high number of misconduct reports that his unit incurs. He has surveyed the inmates and recieved
their input on a training program he plans to develop that will teach positive work attitudes and behaviors. Heike Langdon, Outreach and Visitor Relations Manager, The Kaneko Studio, Omaha, is creating a comprehensive volunteer program for Kaneko. The program will include job descriptions, application process, training, communication, recognition. Colleen Lawry, City Administrator/Clerk, City of Gretna, has developed a training program for newly elected City Council members. The materials from the program will also serve as a reference for those members as they take on their roles on the Council. David Skow, Case Manager, Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, Lincoln Correctinal Center, is revising the organization of the Treatment Files kept for each inmate to make them more userfriendly for staff. The revision should save staff time and ensure greater accuracy of the files. Colleen Svoboda, Performance Improvement Manager, Department of Health and Human Services, Nebraska Division of Public Health Community Health and Performance Management. Lincoln, is developing a performance management plan for the Public Health Division. This will fulfill requirements of a grant that they received this year and will provide stakeholders across Nebraska with assurance that the Division is a credible public health resource. CPM VIDEO Working with the very talented Charley Reed (UNO University Relations Online Media/Web Associate), the CPM staff, faculty, participants, alumni, and Advisory Board member Bob Houston (Director, Nebraska Department of Correctional Services), created a video promoting the program. In keeping with his CPM project (see above), current CPM participant Bryan Freeman was instrumental in identifying the resource in University Relations and helped with planning for the video. The video features Mary Hamilton, current Director of the program and incoming Director, Ellen Freeman-Wakefield describing the basics of the program. Faculty members Dr. Ethel Williams is
shown teaching the course on managing people, and Storyteller Rita Paskowitz is interviewed. Bob Houston provides the perspective of an employer who has had several of his staff complete the program. There is also an interview with Bill Brecks (CPM 2010) and Colleen Lawry, current participant. Thanks to Charley and to everyone else who helped make this a great video! See for yourself at https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=3s2ADyOJkDA&feature=playe r_embedded NEW DIRECTOR Nebraska CPM founding Director, Mary Hamilton, will hand over the Directorship of the Program to Ellen FreemanWakefield at the end of December this year. Ellen has been with the program since its inception in 2007. She was a member of the Working Group that developed the program, and she has been a faculty member since classes began in 2008. In addition to continuing as a faculty member this calendar year, Ellen has also been a consultant to the program, working with the CPM projects and gaining familiarity with all aspects of managing the program. Ellen is eminently qualified for the position. She holds the Masters in Public Administration (MPA) from UNO and most recently served as Chief Operating Officer for the YWCA in Omaha. She has been an adjunct instructor for the UNO School of Public Administration for several years and has taught courses on leadership and management in the public and nonprofit sectors. In addition, Ellen is involved in a wide variety of activities serving the community. For example, she is currently chair of the board of the Midwest Mentoring Partnership. In 2012 Mary will move to a consultant role for the CPM Program and the School. The change will allow her more flexibility to spend time with her husband, Jack, and their two dogs, Cleo and Hector, as well as do more traveling, writing, reading, and enjoying life on the Elkhorn River!