More than 100 professionals recently graduated from the University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government’s Certified Public Manager® program, including the city manager for Georgia’s newest city.
Mulberry City Manager Jamie Palmer credits his participation in the CPM program with helping him secure his new role.
“Every aspect of the course has really helped me craft my leadership style,” Palmer said. “I even used my CPM project, a capital improvement plan, as part of my interview for my current position.”
With nine years of local government work experience under his belt, Palmer registered for the CPM program after earning other certifications through UGA and the Institute of Government. He said learning about leadership dynamics and building a strong peer network through the program have been beneficial as he has made his career transition.
Palmer is one of 104 participants representing local governments and public agencies throughout Georgia who completed the program in the most recent session. A graduation ceremony was held at the annual CPM conference this spring in Athens.
Mulberry City Manager Jamie Palmer, center, smiles in the audience at the CPM graduation ceremony in Athens.
CPM graduates applaud during their graduation ceremony in Athens.
Hairy Dawg looks over CPM graduates at their graduation ceremony in Athens.
Mulberry City Manager Jamie Palmer receives his certificate from the UGA Institute of Government’s Marci Campbell and Hairy Dawg at the CPM graduation in Athens. Palmer was one of 104 graduates honored at the May 2025 ceremony.
The CPM program is an accredited member of the National CPM Consortium and is designed to improve the quality and efficiency of government agencies by developing managers’ effectiveness and professionalism.
The intensive 300-hour CPM program takes place from September to May with monthly three-day sessions at either the UGA Gwinnett campus in Lawrenceville or the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth. Participants learn about themselves and their organizations, as well as how to lead and manage more effectively.
Upon completion of coursework and capstone projects, participants receive certification from UGA.
Sessions for the 2025-2026 CPM program will begin Sept. 2 at UGA Gwinnett and Sept. 16 in Forsyth. Scholarships for the Forsyth cohort will be awarded to city and county staff employed in Tier 1 and 2 cities and counties. The Gwinnett cohort is full, but a waitlist is available. Registration for the Forsyth cohort is open now. Learn more and apply online.
2025 CPM Graduates
China Agu, City of Doraville
Amy Alexander, Fulton County Library System
Katrina Anderson, Fulton County
Ronnie Anderson, City of Stockbridge
Tiara Banks, Fulton County
Conner Bearden, Dodge County Board of Commissioners
Roopa Bhat, Fulton County
David Brooks, City of Carrollton
Derrick Brown Sr., Fulton County Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities
Julian Brown, Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia
Delreese Brown, City of South Fulton Police Department
Elliott Buggs, Douglas County Board of Commissioners
Francine Burks, Superior Court of Fulton County
Marlene Caldwell, Fulton County
Danielle Canton, Fulton County Government
Roger Carroll, Georgia Public Safety Training Center
Casey Chastain, City of Demorest, Habersham County
Megan Chastain, City of Demorest
James Cheek, Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission
Benita Childs, Georgia Public Safety Training Center
Melissa Chosewood, City of Hiram
Kysh Clemons, Fulton County
Jason Cripps, Porterdale Police
Angelina Crutchfield, Fulton County
Yvette Davis, Fulton County
Crystal Dawson, City of Doraville
Saasha Demps, City of South Fulton
Earl Dennard, Fulton County Board of Tax Assessors
Priscilla Dickerson, Fulton County
Shereese Durham, City of Lawrenceville
Shawn Edmondson, City of Stone Mountain
Nicholas Ellis, City of Jesup
Jameelah Ferrell, Georgia Commission on Family Violence
Tracy Flanagan, Fulton County
Jessica Fowler, Fulton County
Pedro Garcia Gonzalez, Fulton County
Richard Garland, City of Smyrna
Denver Garrett, Atlanta Regional Airport
John Gentry Jr., Glynn County
Tia Green, Fulton County District Attorney’s Office
Johnna Griffin, Fulton County
Brady Hammonds, City of Adairsville
Marcus Heard, City of Jonesboro
Michael Hicks, City of College Park
Sabriya Hill, Henry County Superior Court
Nikita Hines, Fulton County
Abul Howlader, Fulton County
Rasheen Hunter, City of Atlanta
Mary Inman, Fulton County
Kevin Jackson, Fulton County
Shanegia Jarvis, Fulton County
Rachel Jenks, Fulton County Public Defender’s Office
Kevin Johnson, Henry County
Kelcee Jones-Connor, Fulton County District Attorney’s Office
Julie King, Jones County Board of Commissioners
Nolan Knight, Knight Shield, Inc.
Meika LeBlanc, City of Doraville
Steve Ledbetter, Spalding County
Tomeka Lee, Fulton County
Alphonso Linsey, City of East Point
Michael Makins, Fulton County District Attorney’s Office
Bennie Marcus, Fulton County
Jawara Mars, Fulton County District Attorney’s Office
Kaylee Maynor, Georgia Public Safety Training Center
Ilka McConnell, Athens-Clarke County
Jason McDaniel, Georgia Public Safety Training Center
Brad McKinney, Georgia Public Safety Training Center
Tremayne McMurray, DeKalb County
Bianki Mensah, Fulton County
Margaret Mesmer, City of St. Marys
Marina Milankovic, Fulton County
Oasis Nichols, City of Hogansville
Karen Norred, City of Holly Springs
Jamieson Palmer, City of Mulberry
Michael Parks, City of Auburn
Rafael Patterson, Fulton County
Stacey Pinckney, Fulton County Office of the Child Attorney
Hillary Porter, Fulton County
Joan Quinn-Cannon, Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice
Kweli Rashied-Henry, Fulton County Department of Senior Services
DaShawn Raymond, Fulton County District Attorney’s Office
Marty Reed, Fulton County
Brian Reents, Fulton County
Jada Robinson, Fulton County
April Ross, Georgia Commission on Family Violence
Jimmy Sadler, Fulton County
Andrew Saunders, Athens-Clarke County
Heather Scott, Montgomery County Board of Commissioners
Austin Shelton, City of Doraville
Iris Shepard, Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles
Chikita Simmons, Fulton County
Trinetta Skinner, City of Waynesboro
Derek Smith, Fulton County
Tamara Solomon, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office
Brian Stokes, Georgia Public Safety Training Center
Bia Thompson, Fulton County
Tim Towe, Lumpkin County
Allesa Tyus, Fulton County
Quanda Vance, Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office
Benjamin Vayens, Atlanta Police Department
Grace Vincent, Fulton County
Delores Waithe, City of Doraville
Beverley Walker, Georgia Public Safety Training Center
Ferken Williams, Grady Health System