Contact: Michele Frisby, Director, Public Information, ICMA, mfrisby@icma.org; 202-962-3658

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Peter Agh, city manager, Dvory, Slovakia, and former vice president of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), completed the prestigious Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program in July. The HKS Senior Executive program is an intensive, three-week program that provides a balance of traditional and hands-on learning experiences to help seasoned public officials from across the nation meet the changing needs of their constituents and communities.

Mr. Agh had been selected by ICMA in March as one of two 2016 recipients of the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) scholarships sponsored by The Ferguson Group and eCivis. He was chosen from among 25 applicants for the scholarship by an independent review panel composed of ICMA members who have previously participated in the HKS program.  

“I am honored to be on of this year‘s recipients of the HKS scholarship, which enabled me to be part of the world-famous Harvard alumni,” said Mr. Agh. “The program for state and local government representatives is a must-do for all who want to become leaders in their profession. The three-week program left an unforgetable impression on me and [gave me much] inspiration. I feel equipped with these new tools to excercise leadership as the president of the Slovak City Managers Association, as well as build better European cooperation among city managers. It truly is an experience of a lifetime.”

During a special session in conjunction with ICMA’s 102nd Annual Conference in Kansas City, Missouri,HKS program graduates and ICMA scholarship recipients will discuss how the program can enhance the careers of public managers and help them better serve their communities while offering real-world solutions that can enrich residents' lives. The session, “Get a Taste of the Harvard Kennedy School Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program,” will take place on Monday, September 26, from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 

As city manager of Dvory, Slovakia, Mr. Agh manages 100 employees and a budget of 3 million euros. He served as city manager of Nove Zamky, Slovakia, from 2005-14, where he managed 800 employees. He has also served as president of the Slovak City Managers Association for the past five years and will continue in that role until 2019.

Mr. Agh has been an active member of ICMA since 2009, having served as both a member (2013-present) and vice-chairman (2009-13) of the association’s International Committee. He also served on ICMA’s Task Force on Leadership (2013-14); Conference Planning Committee (2009-10 and 2012-14); and Knowledge Network Advisory Board (2009-12). In 2010, Mr. Agh was elected for a three-year term as International Regional Vice President of the ICMA Executive Board.

Mr. Agh earned his Ing (Masters in Business Administration) degree from the University of Economics in Bratislava in 2000 and completed the Senior Executive Institute at the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service in 2009.

About ICMA
ICMA, the International City/County Management Association, advances professional local government worldwide. The organization’s mission is to create excellence in local governance by developing and fostering professional management to build sustainable communities that improve people’s lives. ICMA provides member support, publications, data and information, peer and results-oriented assistance, and training and professional development to nearly 11,000 appointed city, town, and county leaders and other individuals and organizations throughout the world.

About The Ferguson Group
The Ferguson Group, LLC (TFG) is a bipartisan government relations consulting firm. Founded in 1982, the firm is the largest federal representative of local governments in Washington, DC. TFG specializes in securing federal appropriations, authorizations, policy, and regulatory changes for its clients. TFG’s areas of expertise include transportation, community and economic development, water resources, land use, environmental issues, defense conversion, health and human services, criminal justice, education, and housing.

About eCivis
eCivis is the leading cloud-based grants management system in the nation for state and local governments and school districts. Our innovative solutions address both programmatic and fiscal grant funding requirements throughout the grant lifecycle, helping clients easily overcome the challenges and heavy workload that come with finding and managing grants. eCivis provides a fully integrated Grants Management System (GMS) that includes comprehensive grants information, task management capabilities, approval workflows, unlimited file storage, calendar integration, and an ERP interface (compatible with PeopleSoft, Oracle, IFAS, and more). We also work with the top grant professionals across the nation who have a demonstrated history of success in their respective fields and an understanding of how to help local governments prepare and successfully pursue grants for their communities.