August 2017 Testimonials

1. In what ways or types of project work has the University of Georgia's Carl Vinson Institute of Government served you and your organization?
   
   CVIOG has collaborated with the USG to develop and implement analytic tools to make better use of USG student data to support system planning, decision making, and student success initiatives.

2. Please share any positive impressions made by the Institute faculty and staff on you and your organization.
   
   The various personnel with different expertise and disciplinary backgrounds have worked as a team to develop really innovative ways to analyze and visualize our data and investigate student access and success.  The team is extremely responsive and helpful.  USG leadership has been very impressed with the products developed through the collaboration.

3. What type of impact has the work of the Institute made on your organization? What evidence can you share of positive change made as a result of the Institute’s work?
   
   The project has moved us forward light years in terms of analytic capacity at the system level and in fostering better analytic capacity at institutions. All institutions have access to system-wide data and analytics on the pipeline of Georgia high school students into the USG and how students transfer between USG institutions. The project is enabling us to use our data to be forward looking.

4. Any additional comments?
   
   I have been supremely impressed with the professionalism, expertise, and quality of work of the CVIOG team.  I would highly recommend them to any entity needing assistance ramping up their capacity to use data to forward their mission.

1. In what ways or types of project work has the University of Georgia's Carl Vinson Institute of Government served you and your organization?
   
   We have conducted several promotional assessment centers with Dr. Mark Foster and the CVIOG. I and many of my team members have taken leadership training classes that were taught by members of the CVIOG and I have attended several conferences at the CVIOG campus. The last several retreats that I have taken part in were all facilitated by the CVIOG.

2. Please share any positive impressions made by the Institute faculty and staff on you and your organization.
   
   I would like to personally thank the team of the CVIOG for their prompt and professional orchestration of our retreats. They kept it fun and we learned a lot from their instruction. The leadership training courses that I have taken (and there have been several over my career) have been so developmentally helpful to me. I have learned so much about myself and how best to manage myself and others through the help of the facilitators of the CVIOG. I think the CVIOG is one of Georgia's greatest resources for Human Resource Leadership Development.

3. What type of impact has the work of the Institute made on your organization? What evidence can you share of positive change made as a result of the Institute’s work?
   
   The impact is significant in the sense that we have been taught very strategically as to how to be a manager. The leadership development courses are excellent and move at a pace the student can appreciate. The work that Dr. Foster and his team have done for us with the very successful promotional assessment centers has been magnificent. I, as well as the organization, are thoroughly pleased with the process that we have gone through.

4. Any additional comments?
   
   I would recommend the CVIOG to other departments and organizations that are looking for Leadership and Management training.

1. In what ways or types of project work has the University of Georgia's Carl Vinson Institute of Government served you and your organization?
   
   The Carl Vinson Institute has positively helped our organization in numerous ways. From providing the required Development Authority training our board members have attended at sites across the state, to making special arrangements for in-person visits to our community for on-site training with the Board collectively. Additionally, the Institute has started the Georgia Certified Economic Developer program benefiting economic development practitioners state-wide, helping with skills development necessary for productive work efforts toward job growth and community investment potential.

2. Please share any positive impressions made by the Institute faculty and staff on you and your organization.
   
   I have great pride in the University I attended and seeing it lead the charge across wide-ranging platforms, while providing relevant
   
   and proven guidance relating to our governmental agencies. In my numerous contacts and communications with the Institute, every staff and faculty member has represented the professionalism, dedication, and dignity characterizing such a fine institution and is indicative of the solid instructional foundation delivered by my alma mater, of which I am proud.

3. What type of impact has the work of the Institute made on your organization? What evidence can you share of positive change made as a result of the Institute’s work?
   
   The Carl Vinson Institute has impacted our organization in two major ways. First, the newly appointed board members have received invaluable training, giving them detailed information about the role, function, and operations of Authorities from subject matter experts. Second, the Certified Economic Developer program has empowered me to be a better steward of my community through strategic sector targeting efforts.

4. Any additional comments?
   
   It is with significant pride our Authority supports one of the finest higher-learning institutions providing meaningful and vital assistance to communities, large and small. Even more so, Milledgeville, Baldwin County, and the State of Georgia, hold in highest esteem the institution’s namesake, one of Milledgeville’s own, the late congressman, the Honorable Carl Vinson. The Carl Vinson Institute is a remarkable organization named for one of the finest Georgians to grace our amazing state.

1. In what ways or types of project work has the University of Georgia's Carl Vinson Institute of Government served you and your organization?
   
   They have provided training to our regulatory community on our applications that we have built.

2. Please share any positive impressions made by the Institute faculty and staff on you and your organization.
   
   They have gone above and beyond for EPD and our customers. Customers have shown up on campus and CVIOG has always welcomed them in and trained them even though there was no training class scheduled that day. They have always worked with an unstable environment to do the training and were able to adjust.

3. What type of impact has the work of the Institute made on your organization? What evidence can you share of positive change made as a result of the Institute’s work?
   
   EPA reached out to us regarding our training program for NetDMR to model their training as well as share with other states.

1. In what ways or types of project work has the University of Georgia's Carl Vinson Institute of Government served you and your organization?
   
   We have had the good fortune to work with members of the Carl Vinson Institute (Phillip Boyle and Russ Cook) over the past several years as we have moved through the processes of both training our Board of Education members from a viewpoint of what it means to act as a governmental unit in the community as well as planning our 5-year Strategic Navigational Plan for 2016-2021 in conjunction with our central office staff.

2. Please share any positive impressions made by the Institute faculty and staff on you and your organization.
   
   The staff members' knowledge base, attention to detail, and excellent style of group facilitation are easily among the best I have seen or worked with in my over 20 years of leadership and trainings. Each of my Board members, from my BOE member with 20-plus years on the Board to the three newest members who were in their first year, expressed to me that they learned some strong lessons during our trainings.

3. What type of impact has the work of the Institute made on your organization? What evidence can you share of positive change made as a result of the Institute’s work?
   
   During the course of our work with the Carl Vinson staff my nine-member BOE and I learned some excellent lessons and gained strong insights into our role as a local governmental agency, as well as the high level of priority we needed to bring to crafting a long-term vision and strategic plan for the system. Our system now has a very solid comprehensive 5-year strategic plan for the first time and has been working better as a cohesive unit than I have seen in the over eight years I have been in the system!

4. Any additional comments?
   
   The training our Board of Education received from the Carl Vinson Institute was thorough, meaningful, and robust. Most importantly, it was highly provoking in terms of rich discussion. Having been involved in many leadership training opportunities over my time in education, I can honestly say that this training went much deeper than most in terms of what should go into making a solid and well thought out group decision. I am confident that having the techniques and experience provided by this training in our toolbox has and will continue to greatly enhance our capacity as a fully functioning and proactive Board.

1. In what ways or types of project work has the University of Georgia's Carl Vinson Institute of Government served you and your agency?

   
   CVIOG Planning and Environmental Services Program Manager Shana Jones is a member of the ORGC, a citizens advisory commission to the ACC [Athens-Clarke County] government. Shana arranged for the CVIOG to provide editing services for the ACC 2-16 Greenway Network Plan. The GNP guides the continued development and management of the county's river-based greenway system.

2. Please share any positive impressions made by the Institute faculty and staff on you and your organization.
   
   Shana and her staff were extremely cordial, timely and professional in assisting the ORGC and ACC Leisure Services in organizing the GNP document, as well as editing the text. 

3. What type of impact has the work of the Institute made on your agency? What evidence can you share of positive change made as a result of the Institute’s work?
   
   The GNP, a 198-page document, was presented to the ACC mayor and commission in February 2017, and they approved the plan. The GNP is now guiding funding decisions for greenway projects and programs, and it will be incorporated into the county-wide ACC Comprehensive program.

4. Any additional comments?
   
   The generous contributions made by the CVIOG and UGA to the furtherance of the Oconee Rivers Greenway is very much appreciated.

“We’ve worked collaboratively with the Carl Vinson Institute for more than 10 years to create professional development for over 5,000 of our team members and over 500 service providers in the state of Georgia. The Institute team has designed and delivered the state’s largest behavioral health symposium, our management academy and our learning collaborative where agency leaders from around the state share best practices and innovation to strengthen our workforce. The Institute’s assistance in training and technical assistance on special projects has been valuable to us.” 

1. In what ways or types of project work has the University of Georgia's Carl Vinson Institute of Government served you and your organization?
   
   

   CVIOG has been a wonderful partner to the Georgia Government Finance Officer's Association. The partnership allows GGFOA to provide continuing education to our membership through the help of CVIOG. CVIOG assists in putting on webinars and seminars and is instrumental in our Annual Conference.

2. Please share any positive impressions made by the Institute faculty and staff on you and your organization.
   
   

   I cannot express how much regard I have for CVIOG faculty and staff. John Hulsey and Tracy Arner provide a wealth of knowledge and they are always a reliable source of information when I have questions that I cannot readily find answers to.

1. In what ways or types of project work has the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government served you and your government?
   
   Providing studies of issues such as Consolidation, Service Delivery or Personnel Policy; facilitating retreats; providing relevant and timely training to commissioners and local government staff; providing mediation between cities and counties on critical issues such as service delivery of LOST; recruitment of city/county managers; and working with Ga. City-County Management Association. 

2. Please share any positive impressions made by the Institute faculty and staff on you and your government.
   
   Very professional and objective in handling difficult and sensitive issues; trusted by both city and county governments in joint studies/negotiations.

3. What type of impact has the work of the Institute made on your government? What evidence can you share of positive change made as a result of the Institute’s work?
   
   The facilitation of commission retreats has often brought clarity and consensus to critical issues that determined goals in the upcoming year. Without these professional services, the likelihood of a clear mandate for numerous issues would be lost and bogged down in local politics.

4. Any additional comments?
   
   CVIOG has been a close friend and ally to hundreds of public administrators over many decades. My relationships began in the mid-1970s and will end at the close of 2017 with my retirement. The leadership of Delmer Dunn and the classroom training from the likes of Kitty Clarke made me a better and more informed professional Local Government Manager. Georgia has been the envy of many out-of-state city-county managers who attended our conferences over the decades because of the CVIOG presence.

1. In what ways or types of project work has the University of Georgia's Carl Vinson Institute of Government served you and your organization? 
   
   For the last 5 years the Georgia Lottery Corporation has partnered with the UGA Carl Vinson Institute of Government to assist in the development of a comprehensive strategic business plan for the Corporation.

2. Please share any positive impressions made by the Institute faculty and staff on you and your organization. 
   
   The institute faculty and staff were instrumental in facilitating constructive planning meetings that focused on growing revenues for Georgia's lottery-funded HOPE Scholarship and Pre-K Programs. CVIOG staff came prepared, were engaged with our employees and shared strategic planning best practices.

3. What type of impact has the work of the Institute made on your organization? What evidence can you share of positive change made as a result of the Institute’s work? 
   
   The fact that we have partnered with CVIOG over the course of several years speaks to the value we place in the Institute's work. Implementation of the strategic plans developed with the assistance of CVIOG staff have produced record revenues for the Corporation for five consecutive years.

1. In what ways or types of project work has the University of Georgia's Carl Vinson Institute of Government served you and your organization?
   
   The Middle Georgia Regional Commission (MGRC) has worked and partnered with the Institute for over twenty years on a variety of projects, including position classification studies, public sector training, local government consolidation and GIS-based initiatives. Of particular note is the long-standing and excellent working relationship between the MGRC and the Institute's Technology Team (ITOS). ITOS has provided valuable GIS training and project management for MGRC in areas related to tax parcel maintenance, transportation services, and hazard mitigation risk assessments.

2. Please share any positive impressions made by the Institute faculty and staff on you and your organization.
   
   The Institute's Technology staff at ITOS have always impressed me with their technical proficiency in GIS mapping and geospatial analysis. ITOS staff are leaders in this field of work and have always extended a willingness to assist MGRC and its cohort Regional Commissions in furthering their geospatial initiatives. I would like to commend Eric McRae and his team, with special recognition to Lawton Brantley and Jimmy Nolan, for always being available with solutions throughout the many years I have worked with them.

3. What type of impact has the work of the Institute made on your organization? What evidence can you share of positive change made as a result of the Institute’s work?
   
   By partnering with the Institute and its ITOS team on various regional and statewide projects, the MGRC has been able to leverage its GIS and geospatial services capacity. In the early 2000s, MGRC and ITOS worked together to apply a GIS-based solution to tax parcel maintenance for several counties in the Middle Georgia service region. A result of this collaboration is that 7 of 11 Middle Georgia counties now take advantage of GIS-based tax parcel maintenance services offered by the MGRC.

4. Any additional comments?
   
   The Institute has a broad mandate of statewide service provision.  It is a respected and necessary resource providing needed services to fellow public sector entities, including those in local, regional and state government.  The MGRC considers the Institute to be a valued partner, advisor, and service provider.  It knows our customer base, local government, and has always be willing to assist the MGRC when called upon.

1. In what ways or types of project work has the University of Georgia's Carl Vinson Institute of Government served you and your government?
   
   Since 1985, CVIOG has provided program development and instruction for our leadership development programs, along with other research, consulting and facilitation services.

2. Please share any positive impressions made by the Institute faculty and staff on you and your government.
   
   Overall, the professionalism of the Institute always stands out. The ability of the instructors to quickly develop rapport with the diverse audiences in our various programs is impressive. This, plus the knowledge of government operations and the effective manner of providing relevant examples to bring the topics alive, is one of the reasons we are so satisfied with our partnership.

3. What type of impact has the work of the Institute made on your government? What evidence can you share of positive change made as a result of the Institute’s work?
   
   Both our Management Development Program and our Executive Support Professionals Program are now sought out by employees and viewed as valuable development opportunities rather than just another box to check or task to complete. Having employees with that attitude is priceless!

4. Any additional comments?
   
   Having partnered with the Institute for 32 of the 90 years, we can honestly say we have "grown up" together! Congratulations, CVIOG!

1. In what ways or types of project work has the University of Georgia's Carl Vinson Institute of Government served you and your organization?
   
   Advisor to the GA House of Representatives Natural Resource and Environment Committee (NR&E)

2. Please share any positive impressions made by the Institute faculty and staff on you and your organization.
   
   Two advisors stand out over the years I've served on the House NR&E: Jim Kundell and Shana Jones. The current director of the CVIOG, Laura Meadows, is also an excellent administrator. The present day CVIOG is a positive example of how a higher education advisory organization can partner with state government to provide the elected leaders with resources to make informed decisions.

3. What type of impact has the work of the Institute made on your organization? What evidence can you share of positive change made as a result of the Institute’s work?
   
   A few years ago, I, as chair of House NR&E committee, worked with CVIOG to establish the Natural Resources and Environment Policy Academy for the state legislature. This academy has become an essential resource for the House NR&E committee to study the pressing issues that are brought before the committee.

4. Any additional comments?
   
   I hope the university leadership that supports the CVIOG continues to provide this invaluable resource not only to the state elected officials but to local elected officials as well.

1. In what ways or types of project work has the University of Georgia's Carl Vinson Institute of Government served you and your organization?
   
   Through the Institute of Government's partnership with the American Public Works Association Georgia Chapter, I have been able to complete a comprehensive leadership and management training program which has provided an environment to refine and mature my personal skillset to help lead an agency of over 70 full time employees and serve a community with a daytime population of over 65,000 citizens and guests.

2. Please share any positive impressions made by the Institute faculty and staff on you and your organization.
   
   It's been a pleasure to work with the 1st-class staff and faculty of the Institute throughout my interactions with their programs.  The level of professionalism, creativeness, and systematic thinking resonates throughout all offerings and programs associated with the Institute staff and faculty.

3. What type of impact has the work of the Institute made on your organization? What evidence can you share of positive change made as a result of the Institute’s work?
   
   The training programs offered through the institute have challenged me as a leader to create and implement best practices linked to sound leadership and management principles with my Department's operations.

4. Any additional comments?
   
   Walt McBride and Jean Lord are both a pleasure to work with and represent the Institute and University admirably. This opinion resonates and would be reinforced by anyone who has participated in any of the programs that they have facilitated, directed, or have been affiliated with.

1. In what ways or types of project work has the University of Georgia's Carl Vinson Institute of Government served you and your organization?
   
   A variety of projects with the focus of economic development and CTAE.

2. Please share any positive impressions made by the Institute faculty and staff on you and your organization.
   
   The faculty and staff are very professional, organized, and willing to tailor project work to my specific needs.

3. What type of impact has the work of the Institute made on your organization? What evidence can you share of positive change made as a result of the Institute's work?
   
   Our state CTAE staff, as well as school districts, are beginning to better connect dots with CTAE and economic development.

4. Any additional comments?
   
   Every person from CVIOG is a pleasure to work with. They deliver quality service and are well respected among our CTAE educators.

1. In what ways or types of project work has the University of Georgia's Carl Vinson Institute of Government served you and your organization?
   
   Georgia Public Library Service has partnered with CVIOG on numerous projects designed to provide customized training for public library leaders and staff. The PINNACLE Library Leadership Institute, now in its 3^rd year, is admired nationally as a model for comprehensive library leadership programming. Our Certified Library Financial Management training is vital to the responsible fiscal management of Georgia's 409 public libraries.

2. Please share any positive impressions made by the Institute faculty and staff on you and your organization.
   
   We are especially pleased that CVIOG faculty listen carefully and work diligently to design training programs that are specifically targeted to the needs of libraries. They do not offer "one size fits all" training; they take care to ensure that their programs are useful and practical for each audience. They are partners in the true sense of the word.

3. What type of impact has the work of the Institute made on your organization? What evidence can you share of positive change made as a result of the Institute’s work?
   
   PINNACLE has allowed us to prepare the next generation of public library leaders for Georgia.

   Over 65% of library directors in the state have retired in the last five years, and because of PINNACLE, we now have new leaders ready to take the helm and lead our libraries into the future. Library trustees and funders can be confident that library finances are handled appropriately and professionally due to the comprehensive financial training received from CVIOG.

4. Any additional comments?
   
   Tracy Arner and Walt McBride are honorary librarians for their years of education and commitment to work with our state's libraries. They have exhibited extraordinary effort to understanding our needs and ensuring that their training programs are well designed and presented. Librarians throughout Georgia sign their praises, and we are grateful to have them, and CVIOG, as our partners now and in the future.

1. In what ways or types of project work has the University of Georgia's Carl Vinson Institute of Government served you and your government?
   
   Training Classes for Board of Mayor and Commissioners and City Staff

   Completion of Feasibility Studies for Annexation

   Clerk Training

   Support and resource connections

2. Please share any positive impressions made by the Institute faculty and staff on you and your government.
   
   CVIOG has always been very professional and very timely with reports. Costs are very low, which really helps the smaller municipalities. Always available and a depth of great talent. If CVIOG cannot handle a certain request, they will search and work with the City [of Avondale] to find other alternatives. Staff is enthusiastic, knowledgeable and very responsive.

3. What type of impact has the work of the Institute made on your government? What evidence can you share of positive change made as a result of the Institute’s work?
   
   Annexation Feasibility Studies have enabled the City [of Avondale] to make fiscal decisions on the future of possible annexations. Training available to associates and board creates a professional environment for residents, business owners and visitors.

4. Any additional comments?
   
   KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!