Summer #MACoCon Academy Classes to Focus on Finances and Building Consensus

County Fellows of the Academy for Excellence in Local Governance are required to complete 8 Core Courses and 6 Elective Credits – MACo announces 2 Core Courses to be held at the 2021 Summer Conference and 6 Elective Courses.

The Academy for Excellence in Local Governance is a volunteer certificate program for elected and appointed county and municipal officials. The program provides a strong background of necessary skills and knowledge for local government leaders. It was founded by MACo and MML, is facilitated by the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy, and is sponsored by the Local Government Insurance Trust (LGIT).

Academy courses are open to ALL conference registrants (register online) – Academy Fellows must complete evaluation forms for each class to earn credit.

Academy Fellows with questions about their transcripts should contact registrar Aisha Washington at awashin1@umd.edu.

Academy Core Courses Offered at the 2021 MACo Summer Conference:

(All courses will be completely in-person, with no virtual option. Participants must register to attend – daily options are available.)

County Financial Management

Description: A challenge faced by new and veteran county officials is understanding and using the government budget process, the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, and other financial documents effectively as tools for setting priorities and managing the government while maintaining the fiscal integrity of the jurisdiction. Fiscal management can be infused with economic assumptions, technical jargon, and a process that seems foreign to the uninitiated. In this class, veteran public administrators will discuss the budget process and financial reporting, as well as give practical tips for county officials.
MUNICIPAL FELLOWS: please note that only county officials are eligible for this Core credit, as MML offers a municipal-focused version of this course.

Speaker: Ted Zaleski, Director of Management and Budget, Carroll County

Date/Time: Wednesday, August 18, 2021; 1:45 pm – 3:15 pm

Consensus & Teambuilding

Description: This class introduces local government leaders to the basic skills needed to successfully resolve conflict and build consensus within a local government setting. Particular emphasis is placed on developing ways to improve the design of public processes to enhance community involvement and satisfaction. This class is highly interactive and involves analysis of real-world examples as well as small group work built around hypothetical situations familiar to anyone who has served as a local government official.

Speakers:

  • Nick White, PhD, Research and Evaluation Director, Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office (MACRO), Administrative Office of the Courts
  • Tom Reynolds, Director, Education Services, Maryland Municipal League

Date/Time: Wednesday, August 18, 2021; 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm

We’re also offering elective courses at the Summer Conference – view which ones.

 

Learn more about MACo’s Summer Conference: