City of Laredo CPM Graduates Celebrate TAMIU Program Completion
Fifteen City of Laredo employees have earned their Certified Public Manager (CPM) certification and were recognized in State-wide graduation ceremonies held Friday, June 16 at the Texas State Capitol in Austin.
The Laredo cohort was part of the largest graduating class in the history of the CPM Program with 125 graduates representing six Universities across Texas.
City of Laredo graduates included Dr. Richard A. Chamberlain, Health Director; Karen Covarrubias, executive assistant to the City Manager; Alma L. Saldana Cruz, Marketing Manager; Arturo García, Jr. Utilities Director; Juan J. Gomez, Jr., Parks, and Recreation Director; Zaida J. González, Employee Health & Wellness Manager; Guillermo Heard, Fire Chief, and Karl J. Hickle, Building Development and Services Director.
Also, Ramon Eduardo Chavez, City Engineer; María Ernestina Martínez, Community Development Director; Robert F. Peña, Acting Traffic Director; Analiza Perez Gomez, Librarian IV; Ana L. Rodríguez, Municipal Court Clerk; Gilberto Sánchez, Jr., Airport Director, and Claudio Treviño, Jr., retired Chief of Police.
Joining TAMIU in the CPM program offering are Stephen F. Austin University, Texas State University (TSU), Texas Tech, the University of Houston, and the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley.
Welcoming the graduates was Dr. Miha Vindis, the Texas CPM Director from TSU. Graduation Speaker was Amy Ledbetter Parham, C.E.O. for Habitat for Humanity of Texas. A reception in the Legislative Conference Center followed.
Chief Steve Landin, Assistant City Manager of Laredo and Interim Police Chief, and Susan Foster, co-director of TAMIU’s CPM Program, presented the Certificates. Zulema Ortiz, COL Employee Relations Training and Development Manager, also attended.
Foster extended her congratulations to the graduates and other City employees that are part of the program’s second cohort.
“Congratulations to all the graduates. This proud partnership between TAMIU and the City of Laredo continues with our second cohort. We salute the City’s foresight in providing staff with this opportunity to learn and grow in their positions. By doing so, they improve their professional lives and, by extension, the guidance, service and resources our great City provides its residents,” Foster said.
TAMIU CPM program co-director, MPA program director, and professor Dr. Peter Haruna said the cohort’s accomplishment is a program milestone.
“CPM program faculty and staff are proud of the course participants’ accomplishment because this is a milestone for our program. This graduation provides us with energy and enthusiasm to continue to push forward with CPM training for current and future local government managers and leaders,” Dr. Haruna observed.
Laredo City Manager Joe Neeb said the TAMIU-CPM partnership affirms the City’s commitment to learning and development to serve the City and its stakeholders.
“The CPM program helps our public sector professionals improve their knowledge and understanding of the latest management techniques, theory, and best practices. We believe that the professionals who become certified are seen as more credible and reliable to the City’s stakeholders. The certification also demonstrates a commitment to learning and development, and we see those employees as a valuable asset to the City. We are thankful for this partnership with TAMIU,” Neeb explained.
The CPM program, a nationally-accredited program offered by TAMIU's Master of Public Administration (MPA) Program through its Office of Continuing Education, is the culmination of years of collaboration between TSU, TAMIU, and the City of Laredo.
The program's seven tracks cover personnel administration, communication, productivity, and program evaluation, managing for quality, budgeting and finance, information technology, and a capstone practicum. Program delivery is based mainly on case study analysis and reflections on municipal best practices.
For additional information about upcoming TAMIU CPM Program opportunities, contact Susan Foster at mary.foster@tamiu.edu, phone 956.326.2765, or visit TAMIU Continuing Education offices in the Student Center, 118.
