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Millersville University is the sole accredited provider of the Certified Public Manager® credential in Pennsylvania. A cohort of eight adult students, including two alumni, presented their Capstone Projects and completed the program on June 24.
“This cohort was our largest and most impressive yet,” said Hope Schmids, director of Millersville’s workforce development program. “We want to build on this momentum.”
A nationally recognized certificate program, the Certified Public Manager® equips public sector managers with the skills and tools necessary to lead more effectively, adapt to fiscal pressures and drive measurable improvements in organizational performance. CPM completers may earn up to six graduate credits in West Chester University’s Master of Public Administration program and become members of the Keystone Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration.
The Capstone Project is the key assessment mechanism of the program and requires participants to apply their learning to an identified need in their organization. Through research and analysis, the students develop an improvement plan within their sphere of influence that focuses on cost savings, revenue increase and/or customer satisfaction.
“To effectively navigate the increasingly complex landscape of public service and meet evolving citizen expectations, it’s crucial to prioritize the growth and development of the next generation of state and local leaders,” said Dr. Victor DeSantis, vice president for university relations and strategic initiative. “Our new CPM alums are well-prepared, passionate leaders.”
Neil Lovekin ‘01
Alumnus Neil Lovekin, who serves as township manager for East Marlborough Township in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, focused his Capstone Project on the need for the Township to undertake strategic planning.
Since 2000, he says, East Marlborough Township has experienced significant population and infrastructure growth with little to no forecasting to ensure future generations are not burdened by aging and failing township infrastructure. “Unless the elected officials start to think strategically and craft clear, result-driven goals and objectives, the Township will face insurmountable costs for emergency repairs and replacements to its infrastructure and the services it provides,” he says.
The appropriate step, according to Lovekin’s Capstone Project, is for the township to develop a strategic plan that incorporates its staffing needs, capital projects and customer service-oriented roles and responsibilities into an actionable plan. By linking the budget and strategic plan, township officials will gain a clearer understanding of development trends, population growth and the township’s overall financial health, both in the present and in future years.
Lovekin plans to share his Capstone Project with the elected officials of the township “to get them on the same page about the need to hire an outside consultant to assist the township in drafting and implementing a strategic plan,” he explains. “I also plan to use the handouts from the courses to conduct mini-leadership development courses or refresher sessions with the township department heads.”
A 2001 Millersville graduate, Lovekin earned a bachelor’s degree in geography with an environmental studies concentration. He also earned a master’s degree in public safety management from Saint Joseph’s University. Lovekin enrolled in the CPM program “to bolster my formal education in public administration, given that my master’s degree is public safety management and not the more common focus of public administration,” he says.
Lovekin indicated that, in addition to being challenging and advanced, the online coursework (seven courses that last six weeks each) required him to self-reflect on his leadership skills, allowing him to realize where he needed to improve and grow. “The CPM program has strengthened my professional credibility by enhancing my communication skills, encouraging innovation in problem-solving and providing insight into my personality strengths and weaknesses,” he says.
Diane Garber ’11M
Diane Garber has served for more than 13 years as assistant township manager/emergency services coordinator for East Hempfield Township. She earned a master of science in emergency management from Millersville University and returned for the CPM credential in 2025.
“My skills, knowledge and abilities are very diverse,” she says. “This credential allowed me to add a certification specifically associated with municipal government and public sector work to my tool belt. It filled a void that I didn’t realize existed.”
Garber’s Capstone Project examined the challenges facing the volunteer fire departments in East Hempfield Township, including declining volunteerism, rising costs and increased service demands. “It concludes that consolidating the Township’s two fire departments is the unrivaled solution for ensuring the long-term success of fire services,” according to Garber.
She acknowledges the potential challenges of consolidation, such as the loss of individual fire company identity and resistance from volunteers. But Garber believes that clear communication, robust stakeholder involvement and a phased implementation approach can effectively manage those challenges.
“Consolidation offers numerous benefits, including the centralization of purchasing, standardization of leadership structures and the streamlining of administrative processes, all of which will improve efficiency, create cost savings and enhance coordination,” she says. “These measures will ultimately lead to a higher level of emergency service delivery for residents while simultaneously supporting existing volunteer firefighters and ensuring the long-term viability of their service.”
Garber appreciated the curriculum, “but the people, the networking and sharing of information and perspectives, the relationships were – no, are – the best part,” she says. “The time I spent in this program has helped me grow as a person and as a municipal official, and I sincerely hope that I am able to put into practice the knowledge I gained to the benefit of everyone around me.”
Next Cohort
Millersville’s next cohort will launch in September 2025. Some brief highlights of the program:
- Seven required courses; each is six weeks
- Primarily distance learning-based
- Average time commitment for most students is between six and eight hours per week, one year (308 contact hours) for completion
- Courses are facilitated by subject matter experts
Additional information is available by contacting Hope Schmids, director, workforce development program, at 717-871-7642 or Hope.Schmids@millersville.edu
