Fellows of the Academy for Excellence in Native Governance (County Observe) are required to finish 8 Core Programs and 6 Elective Programs to earn their certificates via the College of MD’s College of Public Coverage – MACo will provide 6 Electives at Winter Convention.

The Academy for Excellence in Native Governance is a volunteer certificates program for elected and appointed county and municipal officers. This system supplies a powerful background of obligatory expertise and information for native authorities leaders. It was based by MACo and MML, is facilitated by the College of Maryland’s College of Public Coverage, and is sponsored by the Native Authorities Insurance coverage Belief (LGIT).

Study which Core Programs shall be provided.

Academy programs are open to ALL convention registrants – Academy Fellows should full analysis varieties for every class to earn credit score.

Academy Fellows with questions on their transcripts ought to contact registrar Elizabeth Hinson at ehinson@umd.edu.


Title: Foundations for Native Management

Description: A powerful basis of data and expertise is required to efficiently navigate the various completely different sides of being a neighborhood authorities chief. On this session, audio system will introduce individuals to the essential core competencies each county authorities practitioner must know, comparable to threat administration, reaching consensus, ethics, employment points, and the Open Conferences and Public Info Acts. Then, attendees will observe a live-action function play of an open assembly and see if they will spot the errors being made – they’re not as apparent as one may assume!

Proposed Audio system:

  • Lenny Pfeffer, Council Member, Dorchester County
  • Sharon Inexperienced Middleton, Council Vice President, Baltimore Metropolis
  • Laura Value, Outgoing MACo President, former Council Member, Talbot County
  • Shelley Heller, County Administrator, Kent County
  • Weston Younger, Chief Administrative Officer, Worcester County
  • Larry Porter, Commissioner, Caroline County

Date/Time: Wednesday, January 4, 2023; 8:00 am – 9:00 am


Title: Assist Your Well being Division Assist You

Description: If the pandemic has taught us something, it’s that response time is essential. Promptly disseminating essential data can save lives, however what door these solutions lie behind could be a difficult query. On this session, skilled Well being Officers will present a “Who, What, When, and The place” rundown of how a neighborhood well being division works inside the real-life context of at present’s most urgent public well being points. Plus, they’ll share greatest practices to bolster collaboration and communication, from sudden speedy response situations to routine procedures inside present applications. Attendees will even stroll away with a reference device to maintain within the workplace.

Audio system:

  • Gregory Department, Well being Officer, Baltimore County Well being Division
  • Nilesh Kalyanaraman, MACHO President, Well being Officer, Anne Arundel County Division of Well being
  • Barbara Brookmyer, Well being Officer, Frederick County

Moderator: The Honorable Karen Lewis Younger, Maryland Home of Delegates

Date/Time: Wednesday, January 4, 2023; 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm


Title: Amplifying Your Message – Efficient Constituent Communications

Description: The best communication methods can construct a bridge between authorities officers and the general public they serve. The incorrect methods can discover you treading in harmful waters. Officers should discover the fitting strategies for partaking with constituents to foster belief, assist, and understanding. On this digital age, social media is only one more and more highly effective device that – when accomplished appropriately – could be a quick and efficient solution to ship messages and study your group’s wants. Attend this session to learn to successfully navigate fashionable communication channels and keep away from perilous pitfalls.

Audio system:

  • Nicole Weissman, Director of Strategic Communications, Nationwide Affiliation of Counties (NACo)
  • Damian O’Doherty, Heart Maryland
  • Alex Hughes, Blended Public Affairs

Moderator: The Honorable Evan Glass, Council Vice President, Montgomery County

Date/Time: Wednesday, January 4, 2023; 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm


Title: The Politics of Flushing? The Fundamentals of Septic and Sewer

Description: Septic programs provoke many questions and misconceptions. Over 420,000 houses in Maryland depend on septic, with many extra served by public sewer programs. Though each forms of programs accomplish comparable finish targets, there are dramatic variations – and county leaders want to pay attention to them to make the most effective governing selections for his or her communities. On this session, audio system will discover the fundamentals of septic programs, the regulatory construction that protects the surroundings and public well being, and the evolving political debate over wastewater therapy.

Audio system:

  • Matt Cumers, Calvert County, 1st Vice President of Maryland Convention of Environmental Well being Administrators
  • Andrew Lazur, Water High quality Specialist, UMD Extension Service
  • Les Knapp, Native Authorities Advisor, MDE

Moderator: The Honorable Mary Beth Carozza, Maryland State Senate

Date/Time: Thursday, January 5, 2023; 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm


Title: Information, Information In all places: How Tourism Turns Clicks Into Money

Description: From gross sales tax studies, to promoting click-through charges and visitation figures, to bank card zip code evaluation, the quantity of information generated by the tourism business has multiplied exponentially within the final twenty years. Find out how at present’s tourism leaders are navigating this wealth of data and mining it to maximise effectiveness and stretch budgetary {dollars}, all whereas bringing in state and native tax {dollars}, creating jobs, and supporting financial growth. This panel session will embody case research demonstrating how tourism leaders from throughout Maryland are utilizing information evaluation to information selections and measure outcomes.

Audio system:

  • Liz Fitzsimmons, Managing Director, Division of Commerce Workplace of Tourism and Movie, State of Maryland
  • Cassandra Vanhooser, Director of Financial Growth and Tourism, Talbot County
  • Daniel P. Spedden, President, Hagerstown/Washington County Conference and Guests Bureau
  • Mia Bloom, Director of Authorities & Neighborhood Affairs/Government Director Go to Baltimore Schooling & Coaching Basis, Go to Baltimore

Moderator: The Honorable Johnny Mautz, Senator-elect

Date/Time: Thursday, January 5, 2023; 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm


Title: Deep within the Weeds – Hashish Implementation in Maryland

Description: With the legalization of adult-use hashish on the poll and broadly anticipated to cross, it’s important to start desirous about implementation as Maryland heads into the 2023 Basic Meeting Session. Points like county opt-outs, income constructions, planning and zoning, and even human assets implications are top-of-mind for county officers. This panel delves into what could be anticipated within the upcoming implementation dialogue.

Audio system:

  • Will Tilburg, Government Director, MMCC
  • Chris Trumbauer, Chief Coverage Advisor to the County Government and Funds Officer, Anne Arundel County
  • Susan Banks, Director of Financial Growth – Dorchester County; MEDA Basis Board of Administrators

Moderator: The Honorable Reuben Collins II, Commissioner President, Charles County

Date/Time: Friday, January 6, 2023; 11:15 am – 12:15 pm


MACo’s Winter Convention, “Hit the Floor Operating,” shall be held on the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Lodge in Cambridge, MD from January 4-6, 2023 (with a pre-conference orientation for brand new county officers on January 3).

Study extra about MACo’s Winter Convention: