This year, many ICMA members demonstrated learning and commitment to professional development, but thirteen took reflection on their learning to a higher level. The Credentialing Advisory Board recognizes the following ICMA Credentialed Managers for excellent annual reports:
- Wally Bobkiewicz, City Manager, Evanston, Illinois
- Troy L. Butzlaff, City Administrator, Placentia, California
- Daniel E. Keen, City Manager, Concord, California
- Gary D. Greer, City Manager, Farmers Branch, Texas
- Shari S. Haldeman, Georgia
- Jonathan A. Mantay, Georgia
- Daniel O’Donnell, Assistant Administrator, Roanoke County, Virginia
- Kimball Payne III, City Manager, Lynchburg, Virginia
- Timothy G. Pickering, Arizona
- Nat Erskine Smith Jr., Interim Town Manager, Mooresville, North Carolina
- Charlene R. Stevens, City Administrator, Willmar, Minnesota
- James J. Stokes, City Manager, Deer Park, Texas
- David W. Waind, City Manager, Minot, North Dakota
Every ICMA member in service to local government, whether credentialed or not, commits to forty hours annually of professional development (Tenet 8 of the Code of Ethics). What distinguishes Credentialed Managers and Candidates is their commitment to plan for continuous personal improvement, to reflect upon their development activities, and to document their learning for peer review.
Credentialed Managers begin their reports by clearly identifying the professional development needs they sought to improve over the past year. Then they focus on what they learned. A comprehensive report of all that they learned is not necessary, but they do provide at least one concrete example of something learned from each professional development activity. For example, “I read Media Relations for Local Governments and learned about working with the media” is too vague. Better would be “I read Media Relations for Local Governments and learned more effective ways to improve my working relationships with the media, specifically to be proactive, after assuring my policy body is informed, about providing the media with breaking news; to not play favorites among the media; and to encourage elected officials to provide quotes.”
Another reason for reflection and documentation is to maximize learning. As members advance in their careers, they often lament that training activities rarely provide grand, new solutions or insights. Such unrealistic expectations can lead to skepticism of any presenter, author, or trainer and cause our attention to wander. The mind closes, rather than opens, to learning. We may even miss small, useful kernels of new knowledge.
Attention and reflection help capture more of these kernels. Taking notes increases our attention and reflection, and telling what you learned kicks in some extra thinking and brings us closer to real learning. If time is available, greater learning gains can occur by preparing a journal of thoughts and reactions, discussing ideas with a colleague, or studying more on the topic.
Join us in congratulating these thirteen members and all ICMA Credentialed Managers and Candidates for their commitment to professional development, reflection, and documentation for peer review.