TEXAS CPM GRADUATION HELD ON JUNE 15, 2009 AT THE
TEXAS STATE CAPITOL
Graduation Speech Delivered By Texas House Representative John C. Otto
54 CPM Graduates and ASPA Members from 5 Texas Universities Recognized
CPM GRADUATES RECEIVE ASPA CERTIFICATE
By:
Dr. Howard R. Balanoff
On June 15, 2009, the Texas CPM Program, which is offered by Texas State University’s William P. Hobby Center for Public Service, held its bi-annual CPM Graduation at the Texas State Capitol. Delivering the graduation speech was the Honorable John C. Otto of the Texas State House of Representatives.
Representative Otto who had just received the Texas Monthly designation as one of the most effective legislators in Texas discussed some of the ways in which public managers can meet the leadership and financial management challenges of the 21st Century.
CPM Graduate, Ms. Kim Pendergraft, Program Director for the Texas Municipal League (2nd from left) with Representative John Otto (2nd from right) and Andrew Hobby, son of former Texas Lt. Governor William P. Hobby (far left) and Dr. Howard Balanoff (far right).
The introduction and welcome to the CPM graduates and guests was given by Mr. Larry Gonzales, Assistant Vice Chancellor of the Texas State University System. Mr. Gonzales is also a current student in the Texas State University’s MPA Program.
One of the highlights of the graduation ceremony was the induction of 54 CPM graduates into the Texas Alumni Society of Certified Public Managers. The June 09 CPM Graduation was very special because for the very first time the CPM Graduates all of whom are ASPA members received an ASPA Certificate confirming their CPM graduation along with the regular CPM graduation certificate.
In addition to the induction of the CPM students, Representative Otto, the Graduation Speaker was presented with an honorary CPM Certificate for delivering the CPM Graduation Speech.
After the graduation ceremony was concluded, a reception for the CPM graduates and their guests was held in the Capitol Grill at the Texas Capitol.
In addition to the 21 graduates of the Texas State University CPM Program, the June 09 graduates of the Texas CPM Program included 18 who graduated under the direction of the Texas A&M Corpus Christi CPM Program, 7 from the City of Houston CPM Program offered by Sam Houston State University, 2 from the CPM Program offered by the University of Texas at Arlington and 8 from the Stephen F. Austin State University CPM Program.
A list of the June 2009 CPM Graduates is provided below by Program location.
Texas State University
San Marcos, Round Rock & San Antonio Programs
Marva B. Crisp, Jeanie Hake, James R. Schwenk, Courtland Stephans, Mario Watkins, Sue Kunz, Jim Nosler, Kim Pendergraft, Raiza Ruiz, Cindy Weigland, Tracy Alva, Lisa Elizondo, Gerald Hernandez, Melody Newsom, David Palacios, Aricelis Guzman, Maria Tellez, Rachael Pearce, Celia Peregrino, Arelene Rhodes, Eduardo Salas-Gonzales
CPM Graduates the from Texas State University CPM Program are shown with Marilyn K. Balanoff (second from left). From left to right are Mario Watkins, Marilyn Balanoff, Howard Balanoff, Jeanie Hake, Kim Pendergraft, and Courtland Stephens.
Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi
Michael Barrera, Rudy Bentancourt, Theresa Carmichael, Adele Frese, Julie Guerra, Juanita Hernandez, Michael Hernandez, Edward Herrera, Jennifer Knox-Walker, Claudia Lobell, Yolanda Moreno, Joe Reyes, Elsa Saenz, Sandra Santos, Ronald Sepulveda, Yolanda Slubar, Sandra Ysassi, Eliseo Zuniga.
Sam Houston State University City of Houston CPM Program
Lisa Brown, Kevin Caffee, Mary Davenport, Richard Derr, Jelondra Phillips, Landell Ramagos, Ekere Williams.
Stephen R. Austin State University
Jim Cox, Annette James, Cindy King, Monica Martinez, Arnold Mason, Jan Pigg, Joy Rhodes, Chuck Walker.
University of Texas at Arlington Dallas/Fort Worth Program
Donna Jackson-Zimmerman, Dennis Sallis.
_________________________________________________________________
Dr. Howard R. Balanoff (
hb02@txstate.edu) is the Director of the William P. Hobby Center for Public Service and the Texas Certified Public Manager Program. For additional information about the Texas CPM Program please go to
www.txstate.edu/cpm 
