Over 200 members attended the ACMA Summer Conference held at the beautiful Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson. This year's theme was Your Community, Your Profession, Yourself. The ACMA Summer Conference officially commenced Wednesday afternoon with the session, 21st Century: a New Era for Local Government. Read more

The new Alliance for Innovation unveiled its new information materials, logo and website on June 6, at the opening session of the Transforming Local Government Conference (the annual Innovation Groups' conference) in Bellevue, Washington. Read more

By Patrick Ibarra, The Mejorando Group

You've attended the conferences where a presenter (possibly me) spoke about it. You've read the articles which focused on the impacts from it. You've scanned a number of web sites to learn more about what your agency can do to address it. You've discussed it at staff meetings. The topic at the center of all this is the unprecedented number of retirements currently happening within public sector organizations. Retirement parties used to be an occasional office event, nowadays they occur almost weekly, or so it seems. I have dubbed this phenomenon the "(baby) boomerang" effect: the impacts resulting from the exodus by baby boomers from government agencies. As these seasoned employees depart and take with them their judgment and problem-solving capabilities, (two areas essential to continued effectiveness for an organization), the question arises about what you can do to replace them and their talent? In two words: Succession Planning. Read more

By Don McEachern, CEO, North Star Destination Strategies

Chances are good that you have heard about one of more of your neighboring communities embarking on a branding campaign. Branding is currently the hottest trend in municipality marketing. But before you jump on the brand wagon, take a close look at this nationwide marketing phenomenon. Is it hope? Or is it hype? Read more

Each year, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Department of Energy (DOE) honor organizations that have made outstanding contributions to protecting the environment through energy efficiency. Award winners will be recognized at the ENERGY STAR Awards Ceremony on April 1, 2008 in Washington, DC. Read more

Nominations for the John J. DeBolske Professional Excellence Award are currently being accepted. The John J. DeBolske Professional Excellence Award is the highest honor that a member of ACMA may receive. Read more

The Catherine F. Connolly Outstanding City/County Manager Award was created in 2007 to recognize Assistant City/County Managers who demonstrate exemplary service to their organization and community. This award will be conveyed annually to the successful recipient at the ACMA Winter Conference. Last year's recipient was Pam Kavanaugh, Assistant City Manager for the City of Glendale. Read more

This year, the final list of the ICMA Full members due to receive awards at the upcoming annual conference in recognition of their years of local government service can be found by clicking here.

If you are an ACMA member in transition and would like your contact information featured in this section, please contact Mary Vinzant at 602-258-5786 or mvinzant@azleague.org.

Membership dues for in-transition members are waived for one year and in-transition members receive complimentary registration to a summer and winter conference. ACMA members are encouraged to contact these individuals to offer support and/or information about employment opportunities.

Active
Rosalicia Cordova, Town Manager, Town of Superior
Curtis Shook, City Manager, City of Douglas

Associate
Sarah Blank, Assistant-to-the-Town Manager, Town of Buckeye
Jessica Blazina, Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Programs, City of Glendale
Joan Stauch, Water Administrator, City of Tucson
Eric Strunk, Community Partnership Director ,City of Glendale
Gregory M. Tilque, Development Services Director, Town of Gilbert
Ana Urquijo, Human Resources/Risk Management Director, City of Douglas
Michael Woods, Management Assistant/Webmaster, Town of Queen Creek
Mark Christopher Welch, Management Analyst, City of Sierra Vista
Melissa Preston, Management Assistant, City of Glendale
Tommy G. Yamasaki, Senior Human Resources Analyst, Town of Marana

Student
Lauren M. Cochran, Intern, Town of Gilbert
Garrett Culver, Student, University of Arizona
Francisco J. Heredia, Student, Arizona State University
Rebecca Kunsberg, Student, University of Arizona
James Miller, Student, University of Arizona
John Michael Speirs, Student, Northern Arizona University

Deputy City Manager
City of Phoenix

Where are you originally from?
Born in Chicago, IL and raised in the suburb of Des Plaines, IL.

Why did you decide to pursue a career in local government?
My earliest memory as a three year old was the death of President Kennedy. As I grew older, I aspired to public service as a way to help people. For me, local government affords the greatest opportunity to positively impact the community. Read more

Assistant City Attorney
City of Peoria

Where are you originally from?
I was born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Alexandria, Virginia.

Why did you decide to pursue a career in local government?
I have always felt compelled to do my part to make the world a better place, something like a calling to serve others and to maximize my own utility (although those terms came later). I am trained and experienced as a Marine, a pastor, a teacher, a lawyer, and a manager: living out the balance of my professional life in city management produces the most public value from these skills. After law school I spent a couple years in the private sector with a great group of intelligent, thoughtful people; but the disconnect from public service was a persistent source of dissatisfaction for me. I was very lucky to move straight into development and finance work at the local level: the past six years are a blur of development agreements, negotiations, and finished projects of which my city can be proud, and I could only be happier if I could help lead more directly. Read more