County Commissioner Academy
County Commissioner Academy is a professional development program for commissioners incorporating a series of events and workshops focused on the day-to-day responsibilities of a Michigan county commissioner.
In true “if-it-ain’t-broke-don’t-fix-it” fashion, the academy integrates the numerous learning opportunities MAC has offered for years into a coherent “curriculum” for commissioners. Budgeting. Taxes. Board procedures. Managing debt. Liabilities. Public access laws. For every facet of a commissioner’s job – and we all know how plentiful those are – there will be “classes.”
CCA operates on a two-year sequence, starting after an election. Participants earn continuing education “hours” by attending designated events and workshops. “Certification” is offered at two different levels: “Certified” is reached at 10 hours over a two-year cycle, while “Advanced” is reached with 20 hours over a four-year period. “Hours” will not be limited to MAC events. Commissioners can earn credits via attendance at MSUE-sponsored events or even sessions hosted by the Treasury Department or elsewhere.
Congratulations to our 2022 CCA graduates:
Advanced members
- Bryan Kolk, Newaygo
- Teri Freehling, Berrien
- Mary Ellen Babcock, Huron
Certified members
- James Moreno, Isabella
- Roy Britz, Houghton
- Cathy Pullen, Alger
- Glenn Anderson, Houghton
- Gary Taylor, Wexford
- Jeanne Pearl-Wright, Eaton
- Robert Hentschel, Grand Traverse
- Zach Lahring, Muskegon
- Tim Michell, Osceola
- Rob Pallarito, Otsego
- Kenneth Glasser, Otsego
- Bob Schneider, Roscommon
- Michael Webster, Saginaw
- Marlene Webster, Shiawassee
- Kurt Doroh, Van Buren
- Brian Potter, Wexford
- Dennis Krafft, Saginaw
- Harold Woolhiser, Arenac
- Dwight Washington, Clinton
CCA-qualifying sessions
2022
- MSU Effective Meetings webinars (May 2022) (3 credit hours)
- Legislative Conference (3 credit hours)
2021
- Annual Conference (3 credit hours)
- MSUE Webinar on Fiscally Ready Communities (August 2021)
- Legislative Conference: Workshop on “Diversity Practices”
- MSUE-Treasury Webinar on Financial Practices (March 2021)
- MSUE Webinar on Codes of Ethics (February 2021)
- NACo High Performance Leadership Academy (year-round)
2020
- MSUE Budget Webinar (fall 2020)
- NACo High Performance Leadership Academy (year-round)
- Virtual Annual Conference: Workshop on “Cybersecurity: Threats, Prevention and Preparation”
- Camp Counties Summer Webinar on “Planning and Winning Millage Elections in a COVID World”
- Virtual Legislative Conference: Workshop on “Economic Development and Tax Base Growth Strategies”
- Virtual Legislative Conference: Workshop for Board Chairs/Vice Chairs on “Leading Your Board Toward Extraordinary Governance”
2019
- Legislative Conference: Workshop on “Running a Better Meeting”
- Regional Summits: Session on “Planning a Capital Improvement Program”
- Annual Conference: Workshop on “Open Meetings Act”
2018
- New Commissioner School sites
CCA ‘Hours’
- New Commissioner School (Nov.-Dec. of even-numbered years) = 5 Hours
- NACo High Performance Leadership Academy (annual) = 5 Hours
- One-hour workshop at a MAC conference or Regional Summit = 1 Hour
- Three-hour standalone MSUE event (fall of odd-numbered years) = 3 Hours
For more information about CCA, contact MAC Communications Director Derek Melot at melot@micounties.org or 517-372-5374.
MAC appreciates the partnership of MSU Extension in developing and operating the academy.
