'their commitment to professional growth helps them better serve the people of Maryland'
The University of Baltimore's Schaefer Center for Public Policy is celebrating 68
public-sector leaders across 13 counties in Maryland for earning their Maryland Certified
Public Manager (CPM) certification. The nationally accredited CPM program, a rigorous
300-hour continuing education curriculum built around seven core competencies, is
delivered by the Schaefer Center over five retreat weeks spanning 10 months.
A graduation ceremony was held on July 17 in the University's Wright Theater. Remarks
were delivered by Dr. Ralph O. Mueller, senior vice president and provost for the University; Dr. Ivan Sascha Sheehan, interim dean of the College of Public Affairs; and Dr. Roger Hartley, professor and president elect of the American Society for Public Administrators.
Dr. Ann Cotten, executive director of the Schaefer Center for Public Policy, presented three CPM
graduates with the Askew Award for their Outstanding Capstone project.
The Askew Award recipients, their position titles and names of their projects are:
- Scott Wagner (Cohort 21), deputy director for the Public Works Administration for the Town of
Ocean City, Md.
Project: Town of Ocean City - Hybrid Bus Fare Payment System
- Jason Keppler (Cohort 22), senior program manager for the Maryland Department of Agriculture
Project: Cultivating Conservation for a Healthier Bay and Stronger Agriculture Community
- Toni White (Cohort 23), director of outreach and education in the Office of Financial Regulation
of the Maryland Department of Labor
Project: Targeted Foreclosure Early Intervention Initiative
"Congratulations to the graduates of Maryland Certified Public Manager Cohorts 21,
22, and 23," Dr. Cotten said. "It has been an honor to work with such dedicated public
servants as they strengthen their leadership and management skills. Their commitment
to professional growth helps them address today's challenges, prepare for tomorrow's
opportunities, and better serve the people of Maryland."
All graduates received Maryland Certified Public Manager certificates. Maryland Department
of Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks and Assistant Secretary Hans Schmidt attended the July 17 event.
Maryland Certified Public Manager Cohorts 21-23 graduates include:
State of Maryland Agencies:
- Amanda Azuma, assistant superintendent, Maryland Department of General Services
- Jose Barreda, director of fleet maintenance, Maryland Aviation Administration
- Tajai Bolling, operations manager, Maryland Department of Health
- Thomas Brennan, Board of Public Works coordinator, Comptroller of Maryland
- Sabrina S. Brown, director of money services and consumer credit supervision for the Office of Financial
Regulation, Maryland Department of Labor
- Dana Burl, deputy secretary for military family policy and programs, Maryland Department of
Veterans and Military Families
- Tiffany Clark, director of legislative affairs unit, Office of the Attorney General
- Brittany Cook, executive associate, Maryland Department of Emergency Management
- Rolando Delgado, deputy chief of the Office of Emergency Operations, Maryland Department of Human
Services
- Amanda Distefano, division director for long-term services, Maryland Department of Aging
- Heather Ferguson, director, AT Financial Lending, Maryland Department of Disabilities
- Michael Godack, sergeant, Maryland Natural Resources Police
- Robert Goodman, deputy director of the Office of Fair Practices, Maryland Department of Labor
- Felicia Graves, section head, lead abatement oversight, Maryland Department of the Environment
- Julie Hart, deputy director of human resources, Maryland Department of Labor
- Drew Holcombe, deputy director of fair practices, Maryland Department of Housing and Community
Development
- Gwendolyn Hughes, deputy director of fiscal services/grants, Maryland Department of the Environment
- Kennedy Iyare, procurement manager, Maryland Department of Labor
- Florenciannette Jordan, statewide financial manager, Maryland Department of Transportation - State Highway
Administration
- Jason Keppler, senior program manager, Maryland Department of Agriculture
- Joanne Killian, senior program manager, Maryland State Department of Education
- TaMonique Lloyd, chief learning officer, Maryland Department of Transportation - State Highway Administration
- Christopher Lokey, information and knowledge management officer, Maryland Department of Transportation
- State Highway Administration
- Janay Mendez, senior engineer, Maryland Department of the Environment
- Marcia Morris, program manager, Social Services Administration, Maryland Department of Human Services
- Alisha Mulkey, program manager, Maryland Department of Agriculture
- Tara Newcomer, child safety program manager, Social Services Administration, Maryland Department
of Human Services
- Jessica Riesett, deputy division chief, technical and environmental services, Maryland Environmental
Service
- Amanda Sadler, procurement director, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development
- Julia Schreiber, program director, Maryland Department of Aging
- Jason Shrader, deputy director, Division of Classification and Salary, Maryland Department of Budget
and Management
- Kimberly Smith, sergeant, Maryland Natural Resources Police
- Kevin Stanley, chief, lead compliance and enforcement, Maryland Department of the Environment
- Tiffany Stokes, human resources administrative chief, Maryland Department of Transportation - State
Highway Administration
- Adrianne Strub, assistant director, quality assurance and audit manager of the Family Investment
Administration, Maryland Department of Human Services
- Tennille Thomas, principal deputy executive director of the Social Services Administration, Maryland
Department of Human Services
- Cedric Ward, director, Office of Traffic and Safety, Maryland Department of Transportation -
State Highway Administration
- Emily Wesselhoff, strategic programs manager, Maryland Department of Emergency Management
- Toni White, director of outreach and education for the Office of Financial Regulation, Maryland
Department of Labor
County Agencies:
- Tiara Eggleston, human services manager, Baltimore City Mayor's Office of Children and Family Success
- Buffy Giddens, attorney for St. Mary's County, Commissioners of St. Mary's County
- Holly Gilpin, director of tourism and heritage, Dorchester County Government
- Jenna Guzman, communications director, St. Mary's County Government
- Steven O'Melia, acting sergeant, Kent County Detention Center
- April Plummer, marketing administrator, Queen Anne's County Economic and Tourism Development
- Thomas Ramey, deputy fire chief, Baltimore County Fire Department
- Jamaal Rouse, training manager, Office of Human Resources Management, Prince George's County Government
- Danielle Russell, capital improvement projects and grants manager, Calvert County Government
- Kaley Schultze, administrative officer to the County Council, Anne Arundel County Government
- Rob Tracey, associate planner, Kent County Department of Planning and Zoning
- Susan Webb, director, Dorchester County Government
Municipal Government Agencies:
- Kate Daub, special projects administrator, Town of Berlin, Maryland
- Ashleigh Diaz, environmental programs manager, City of Annapolis, Maryland
- Shelley Dorsey-Washington, town administrator, Town of Brentwood, Maryland
- Shawn Jones, captain, Ocean City Police Department
- Adriana Luftman, project manager, Howard County Government
- Brandy Matthews, deputy city manager/finance director, City of Pocomoke, Maryland
- Patrick O'Brien, city administrator, City of Frostburg, Maryland
- Scott Wagner, deputy director, Town of Ocean City, Maryland
- Cynthia Zork, communications manager, City of Hyattsville, Maryland
Nonprofit Agencies:
- Alisa Boddie, eligibility Medicaid program manager, HealthCare Access Maryland
- Tosha Johnson, program manager, HealthCare Access Maryland
- Sara Lewis, deputy director, maternal and child health initiatives, HealthCare Access Maryland
- Cheryl Moses, program manager, Center for Hope
- Jeff Pollard, community and provider education coordinator, NAMI Maryland, Inc.
- Veronica Taylor, executive director, Groove City Black Heritage and Culture Group, Inc.
- Sirena Williams, program manager, NCIA Vocational Training Center
Learn more about the Maryland Certified Public Manager Program and the Schaefer Center for Public Policy.
