Praises for the NE Certificate of Public Management

"Going through the course and working on my project boosted my confidence as an Executive Director and gave me a clearer picture of what I should focus on in my position. This course does show your areas of strengths and weaknesses, but also ways to strengthen your weaknesses. Lean into learning not just from the instructors, but your classmates as well.” 2020 CPM® Grad.

Tim Linke, Fire Chief--Yankton, SD Fire Department:

“CPM has helped me to better understand how to synergize what we do with other organizations outside the fire department. UNO does a wonderful job of not just presenting material but immersing the students with their classmates and developing an interconnectedness that is so vital to our daily lives. CPM ensures that you don’t sit in your own bubble and wonder why no one understands the importance of your organization’s contribution. You learn to understand everyone’s contributions.” 2020 CPM® Grad.

“This is excellent certification from one of the best programs in the country. CPM certification gives credibility to my organization and shows we have a greater understanding of how our work impacts our public entity, community, and taxpayers. We have developed lasting professional relationships built on trust and have the same drive to provide the ultimate level of service for our organization and the citizens we serve.” NE CPM® Grad.

“The curriculum provided a wide resource of information. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator was a great method to understand myself better and to understand other people’s actions. I enjoyed the financial classes. Everything that was taught was of great value.” 2020 CPM® Grad.

"My experience with the UNO-CPM program has been second to none. The faculty, staff and curriculum have helped me to improve myself both personally and professionally." 2009 CPM® Grad.

Career Promotions

Brandon M. Garrett, CPM, AICP, Chief of Staff, City of Council Bluffs, IA.

Brandon has recently been promoted to Chief of Staff of the City of Council Bluffs from his previous position. “I initially took the CPM training as the new Community Development Director for Council Bluffs. The CPM background helped me augment my experience and education in city planning with a broader public management lens. I think it is definitely something people should consider pursuing, whether to prepare themselves for promotional opportunities or as a manager looking to improve.” 2018 CPM® Grad.

Craig Gable, Warden, Tecumseh State Correctional Institution, 2016 CPM® Graduate.

Craig was recently promoted and now runs the highest security prison in the state.

Megan Cruickshank, Associate Warden, Tecumseh State Correctional Institution.

Megan has been promoted four times since completing the CPM in 2012, the first promotion occurring only a few months after graduating from the CPM program.

According to Megan, “For me, CPM played a significant role in readying myself for higher level positions. The program was comprehensive and gave me the solid foundation I needed for administrative work in the public sector. It was challenging but well worth the work I put in. The CPM team members at UNO were extremely supportive and went out of their way to ensure I received any and all support I needed.”

Kelly Oelke, City Administrator, Hickman, NE.

One of Nebraska’s fastest growing cities is Hickman, south of Lincoln. Young families are moving in, and building permits skyrocketed in 2021. Leading this growth is Kelly Oelke, the new City Administrator who was promoted to the position in early 2021. Under the recommendation of the city’s mayor, she completed UNO’s Nebraska Certified Public Manager Program® (CPM) in 2016 which helped guide her to her current position. Through the CPM course, Kelly learned about municipal systems and leadership skills. She said she especially appreciated working with Ellen Freeman-Wakefield, Director of Professional Programs with UNO’s School of Public Administration. “She was a strong mentor, and very encouraging.”