On September 30th, the Center for Public & Nonprofit Management at Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs held the first virtual Ohio Certified Public Manager Program graduation, recognizing Public Management Academy 4, Leadership Academy 29, and 14 participants who earned their Certified Public Manager credential. State Representative David Greenspan served as the Keynote Speaker, and spoke about the importance of ethics and integrity in the public sector. Rich Palmer (President of the Ohio CPM Society and Assistant Chief of Fire Prevention at the Ohio Division of State Fire Marshal) spoke about the Ohio CPM Society and the history/evolution of the program. Click here to view a video of this year's program.

The Center for Public & Nonprofit Management recognized Joe Kickel (Capital Projects Manager at the City of Cleveland Heights) as the Leadership Academy 29 Outstanding Fellow. Joe took the lead on the Leadership Academy 29's capstone project: a donation drive benefitting those experiencing homelessness in Greater Cleveland. Joe helped the Leadership Academy team partner with the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless, and served as the liaison and point person on many aspects of the project. Click here to view a message from Joe about being recognized as an Outstanding Fellow.

The College and the National Certified Public Manager® Consortium officially credentialed the Ohio Certified Public Manager® Program graduates who successfully completed the Public Management Academy, Leadership Academy, and their project requirements.This is the 52nd Ohio CPM class of graduates, but the first class under the new configuration where CSU serves as the sole administrator of the program. The newly minted Certified Public Managers are below:

Tonina Campbell, Greater Cleveland RTA

Frank Corlett, City of Solon

Michael Dalby, Cleveland Public Library

Lamont Dodson, Cleveland Metropolitan School District

Crystal Franklin, Cleveland State University

Orjada Gecaj, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District

Alexandra Higl, Cleveland State University

Amiya Hutson, Cleveland Public Library

Mayor William Koons, South Russell Village

Alexis Marcano, Greater Cleveland RTA

Willie Morris, Cleveland Metropolitan School District

Oliver Reyes, Cleveland Public Library

Larry Surber, City of Westlake

Ben Wright, City of Westlake

About the Ohio CPM program: The Ohio Certified Public Manager® (OCPM) Program is a comprehensive and nationally certified development program for state and local government leaders. Cleveland State University's Center for Public & Nonprofit Management delivers the official CPM certification program for the state of Ohio.