Well-managed local governments are important not only to the citizens they serve, but to businesses and industries that are located in those communities. The services and infrastructure provided by local governments are key elements in a community’s quality of life efforts. Effective leadership is needed at all ranks of local governments, not just at the council or chief administrative officer level.

In order to have an impact on South Carolina local government the Professional Manager Certification Program has been developed through a collaboration of practitioners and academics.  The purpose of this program is to provide a skill-building educational experience for new and potential executive-level managers in South Carolina local governments. The program is intended to prepare the participants to affect change in their organizations, and ultimately to improve the communities in which they live.

This program is hosted by Francis Marion University, Coastal Carolina University, and the College of Charleston in collaboration with the Lake City Partnership and the South Carolina City/County Management Association. 

Download the 2019-2020 Program

Content Areas and Schedule for 2019-2020 Session

September 5-6, 2019 (Two Day Session)

Intergovernmental Relations in South Carolina

Jon Pierce; Meagan Walker; Kent Lesesne; Josh Rhodes; Tiger Wells
  • History and culture of South Carolina local government
  • SC Constitution – local government
  • Home rule
  • Constitutional and Statutory Authority
  • Governmental form and reform
  • Traditional and nontraditional roles and responsibilities
  • Intergovernmental relations
  • State agency relationships
    • Special purpose districts
    • State agency relations
  • South Carolina Ethics laws
  • FOIA/transparency
  • Legislative process
  • Local government legislative issues

October 3-4, 2019 (Two Day Session)

Managing and Administering Local Governments

Mac Burdette, Dennis Harmon, Fox Simons, Anna Berger, Eric Budds
  • City/County Managers: education and experience
  • MASC/SCAC
  • ICMA/SCCCMA
  • Manager/Administrator’s Office: Structures and Functions
  • Local government services
  • Managing local government personnel
  • Lessons from the field
  • Managing public safety
  • Meetings and public hearings
  • Public communications (Patriot’s Point Staff)

November 14-15, 2019 (Two Day Session)

Budget, Finance and Financial Administration & Human Resources

Kevin Yokim and Linda Edwards
  • Revenues
  • Operating budgets
  • Bonded indebtedness and debt instruments
  • Accounting and auditing
  • Financial monitoring
  • Grants
  • Insurability and Liability
  • Fair Labor Standards Act
  • SC human resources law
  • Legal issues surrounding selection/discipline/termination
  • Employee rights
  • Policies regulating employee conduct

January 30-31, 2020 (Two Day Session)

Planning and Economic Development

COG staff
  • Comprehensive plans
  • Growth and annexation
  • Community infrastructure
  • Economic development incentives and tools

March 12-13, 2020 (Two Day Session)

Governance, Leadership, and Politics

Bob O'Neill, Brian Carter, Bill Shanahan & Police Chief
  • Council/Manager relations
  • Local government leadership
  • Public safety and crisis management

April 10, 2020 (One Day Session)

Bill Tomes
  • Pulling it all together – program wrap up