KU News
LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas Public Management Center has announced the graduates of the Kansas Certified Public Manager (CPM) program. The graduation ceremony was held virtually in December 2020 for COVID-19 safety reasons. Dale Dennis, retired deputy education commissioner and the 2020 Native Sons and Daughters Kansan of the Year, delivered remarks to the graduates.
The nearly 70 graduates, who began their coursework in January 2020, represent local, county, state and federal agencies from across Kansas. Their classes took place online after the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020.
Of these participants, 20 are graduates of the Law Enforcement Leadership Academy (LELA) Command School who completed their CPM certification through classroom instruction and online work. They were recognized in mid-November by the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center and were also included in the virtual CPM graduation ceremony.
“The Kansas CPM program is a dynamic and engaging certification program of 300 contact hours that uses a capstone project as the final exam and course materials that inspire new ways of thinking and innovative approaches to solving problems,” said Terri Callahan, program manager.
“I am always very impressed with the caliber and dedication of the CPM graduates. Their love for public service and leadership is evident by their commitment and dedication to their organizations, communities and the citizens they serve. This year, this class faced and rebounded from adversity that no one expected. I will always remember the class of 2020.”
Callahan will also remember the class for being her last. After 17 years as program director, she retired at the end of the year. Tarik Khatib, former Lawrence police chief and current program manager for the Law Enforcement Leadership Academy at the PMC, will take over as CPM program manager.
The Kansas CPM program is a professional education opportunity for managers working in government agencies, nonprofits and organizations that contract to provide public services and meet community needs. CPM is a nationally accredited management program and certification in which participants develop and strengthen their management skills through a competency-based curriculum. Close to 1,800 CPM graduates have earned the nationally recognized emblem of management excellence through the Kansas program.
The CPM program can fill a training gap for staff with significant technical expertise who seek to further their knowledge of current management practices. The Kansas program offers a blended learning approach of classroom hours, online learning and outside assignments to meet 300 hours of structured learning. The curriculum addresses personal and organizational integrity, managing work, leading people, developing self, public service and leadership during times of change. Along the way, participants complete a capstone project focused on an opportunity for cost savings, revenue generation, process improvement or innovation in their workplace.
Below is a list of graduates:
KANSAS
Barton County
- Austin LaViolette, City of Great Bend
Dickinson County
- John Hultgren, Dickinson County
Douglas County
- Kerri (Chrisy) Khatib, Kansas Department for Children and Families
- Andrew Lyon (Baldwin City), Kansas Department of Agriculture
- Mark Meher, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office
- Jacob Smith, Douglas County Criminal Justice Services
- Lisa Wiederholt (Baldwin City), City of Olathe Public Works Solid Waste
- Shannon Young, Douglas County Criminal Justice Services
- Natalie Yoza, Kansas Board of Regents
Ellis County
- Armando Orozco, Kansas Department for Children and Families
- Jason Riegel, City of Hays Water Resources Department
Finney County
- Trista Joyce, Finney County
Franklin County
- David Lee, Franklin County Public Works
Harper County
- Ami DeLacerda, Harper County
- Tiffany Hartson, City of Harper
- Melinda McCurley, Harper County Community Development
Harvey County
- Shawn Chapman, Harvey County Sheriff’s Office
- Jason Thrasher, City of Hesston
Johnson County
- Tessa Adcock, Kansas Schools for the Deaf
- Tim Byrnes, Overland Park Fire Department
- Bradley Davis, Johnson County Fire District 2
- Kelly Hasz, Overland Park Police Department
- Becky Jones, Johnson County Government
- Penny Jones, KU Edwards Campus
- Gary Mason, Overland Park Police Department
- Jesse Mofle, Johnson County Housing Services
- Troy Osborn, Leawood Police Department
- Melissa Reeves, Johnson County Developmental Supports
- Robert Sanderson, Lenexa Police Department
- Joe Sudduth, City of Olathe
- Magi Tilton, City of Lenexa Community Development Office
- Steve Walsh, Shawnee Police Department
Lyon County
- Krystle Fessler, Lyon County Highway Department
- Seth Snyder, Lyon County Highway Department
McPherson County
- Mikel Golden, McPherson Police Department
Montgomery County
- Cody Shamblin, City of Independence Airport
Reno County
- Martin Robertson, Hutchinson Police Department
Riley County
- Erin Freidline, Riley County Police Department
Russell County
- Jordan Harrison, Russell Police Department
Sedgwick County
- Rachel Bell, Kansas Turnpike Authority
- Courtney Carpenter, City of Wichita Municipal Court
- Matthew Jensby, City of Maize
- Nicholas Parrott, Kansas Turnpike Authority
- Laura Rainwater, Regional Economic Area Partnership
- Kim Warehime, Wichita Police Department
Shawnee County
- Rebecca Cyr, Kansas Highway Patrol
- Doug Eamigh, Kansas Highway Patrol
- Tamara Denise Emery, Kansas Department of Administration
- Dawn Grams, Kansas Department of Health and Environment
- Brooklyn Graves, Kansas Bureau of Investigation
- Amber Harrington, Kansas Highway Patrol
- Nicholas Hill, Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office
- Cory Latham, Kansas Bureau of Investigation
- Chelsey Miranda, Kansas Turnpike Authority
- Michelle Montgomery, Kansas Department of Corrections
- Brandi White, Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission
- Travis White, Kansas Board of Regents
- Kaitlyn Willis, Kansas League of Municipalities
Stafford County
- David Adam, St. John Police Department
Wabaunsee County
- Nichelle Adams, Kansas Department for Children and Families
Wyandotte County
- Joshua Brooks, Edwardsville Police Department
- Dwight Buxton, Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office
- William Naff, Bonner Springs Police Department
- Heron Santana, Kansas City Police Department.