The public sector has seen a fresh infusion of leadership talent as 43 employees spanning 11 state agencies and public institutions proudly completed the rigorous North Carolina Certified Public Manager® Program (CPM). Celebrations are in order with a commencement ceremony scheduled for 3 p.m. at the State Archives of North Carolina, where these dedicated individuals will bask in the accomplishment of a demanding 14-month program. According to the Office of State Human Resources, the ceremony will not only confer them the honored designation but also welcome remarks from State Transportation Secretary J.R. "Joey" Hopkins as the keynote speaker.
Steered by the Office of State Human Resources' Learning and Development Program, North Carolina's commitment to nurturing its public sector is evident—since its 1982 inception and this program is more than just a set of courses, it's a crucible of personal and professional growth wherein participants balance in-person and virtual training with asynchronous assignments and a culminating capstone, totaling over 300 hours of committed development across multiple public service fields, and these graduates join a legacy of over 2,580 peers who have already shaped North Carolina's bureaucratic bedrock.
Upon completion, each graduate has now earned the prestigious Certified Public Manager® designation, a recognition backed by the program's accreditation by the National Certified Public Manager Consortium in 1988. The cohort of honorees predominantly hail from Wake County, with the exception of a few who represent counties from Lee to Rutherford. Their representation spans vital departments, including Agriculture and Consumer Services, Health and Human Services, Information Technology, Labor, and more, signaling a widespread enhancement in leadership capacities across the state's varied public services.
With today's ceremony, 1,798 standout public servants have been awarded the Certified Public Manager® designation since the program reached its accredited status, this event pivots onto the hard work and perseverance of individuals like Felicia Suzzan Kisselburg from the Administrative Office of the Courts; Susan Leigh Vick Tyre, who is associated with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services from Martin County and others who, despite the daily demands of their vital duties, pressed forward to expand their expertise further enabling them to serve the citizens of North Carolina with even greater efficacy.
