CPM Testimonials
Darlene Kelly
Business Transitions Manager
Department of Human Services – Self-sufficiency Program
I couldn’t have timed my participation in the Certificate of Public Management better if I’d tried. After 12 years of experience in the public sector, I joined the CPM to expand my leadership capacity, refine my managerial skill set, and make a greater contribution.
Shortly after finishing the program, I took on a large managerial role beyond my job description and outside my professional ‘comfort zone.’ Drawing heavily on the CPM’s lessons, I oversaw the training of a surge of new-hires. Thanks to my new skills –and the support of a dedicated staff- the mass training went smoothly and efficiently.
What most impressed me about the program was its close alignment with the unique challenges we face in the public sector. The graduate-level faculty’s instruction, context and projects proved that they knew where we were coming from. They tailored each class and project to the types of challenges that we confront on a daily basis.
Layered over the classes and projects, a series of interactions with the legislature illustrated the interdependence of the state’s various agencies. I now have a richer understanding of how I contribute to my agency’s mission, how my work affects other agencies, and how we can collaborate to make the Department of Human Services a world-class agency.
I would recommend the CPM to anyone with the vision and drive of an aspiring leader; someone who is motivated to amplify her impact by investing in her skills and knowledge.
Jason Tuck
City Manager
Happy Valley, Oregon
My time in the CPM marked a professional transformation. I began as a middle manager and finished as city manager. The course helped me meet my new responsibilities quickly, confidently and successfully.
Though the classes focused on state-level government, I had no problem relating the skills and knowledge to my work for the city. For example, I leveraged my leadership team with the program’s group-project model while I was still a participant.
I found the cohort experience was a great way to make the most of our time. If we had been a larger group mixed across the program, I doubt we would have collaborated as well. Knowing what to expect from my teammates, and how best to move each project forward, was very important. I learned a great deal from the array of specialties and breadth of experience represented in my cohort. That also applies to the instructors.
Blending current and former government executives with the graduate-level faculty was fantastic. It was great to hear from instructors who have overcome the challenges I’m facing. I also found the academic approach relevant and transferable to my work. Together, the instructors aligned best business practices and real-world examples with the unique needs of the public sector.
The CPM is a great way to shore up gaps in your education. I have a master’s in planning; too specialized for a city manager. The CPM provided the academic foundation in public administration that I needed to grow into my new position.
I would recommend the CPM to any public manager with a gap in their education that wants to move up the managerial ladder without a four-year program.
Kristen Duus
Director of Technology
Salem-Keizer Public Schools
The Certificate of Public Management equipped me with the skills I thought I needed as a burgeoning public manager, and more besides. I came into the CPM with a computer science degree and several years of real-world experience. I needed to bolster my managerial acumen and leadership capacity so that I could continue growing professionally and expand my impact.
Ten years after completing the CPM, the quality of the conversation amongst my cohort stands out as one of the program’s most memorable benefits. It was very enriching to hear the perspective of experienced peers from other departments. During my undergrad studies in computer science and subsequent years of work I hadn’t heard ‘their side.’ Understanding their daily challenges and expectations for technology made me a better manager and collaborator.
The program itself delivered just as much value. The way the CPM aligned best business practices with the unique needs of the public sector has proven indispensable. Though our motives and accountability structure differ, we in the public sector still have to run a tight ship. From marketing to negotiation to IT, every course expanded my perspective of the complex, strategic, and systemic aspects of public management.
Finally, I have to praise the faculty. The real-world experience of the government executives complemented the graduate-school professors. That layering of context over the in-class conversation and material was a real boon.
I would recommend the CPM to any public sector professional seeking a transformative learning experience.
Pat Dodge
Senior Policy Analyst
City of Salem Public Works
I describe the CPM as ‘an MBA without the electives.’ The program is well designed for ambitious public employees who may not have studied business or public administration in college, but wish to build on their practical experience. I took the program as a structured opportunity to update my degree in public administration and my 30-year career.
The CPM helped me to refocus on the challenges that I face as an analyst for the City of Salem, refine my understanding of management, and work more efficiently. It refreshed the way I think about everything, from my daily tasks up to my department’s overall mission.
The CPM also provided a useful opportunity to hear how other agencies, departments, and divisions get their work done. The diversity of perspectives -representing all levels of government- really elevated the quality of the conversation. The program’s duration complemented that breadth of experience; the CPM lasted long enough for us to study and discuss current governmental topics as they played out. It was very informative to hear from the different ‘sides’ of the group as these matters reached resolution.
Between the expanded perspective, the material tailored to the public sector, and the graduate-level faculty, the CPM delivered on its promise. It outlines how to be more effective as a public sector manager. It’s not a refresher course for those who already have a graduate-level education.
I would recommend the CPM to any public or non-profit employee who wants to be successful and work up into the higher levels of public management.