From Left to Right – Laura Sellers, Stafford County | Meg Bohmke, Stafford County | Rick Blevins, Smyth County | James M. Griffith, Alleghany County | Dean A. Lynch, Virginia Association of Counties | Steve Wilkerson, Bedford County
The Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) and the Virginia Cooperative Extension recognized the 11th class of the Virginia Certified County Supervisors’ Program on November 15 during VACo’s 82nd Annual Conference in Bath County.
The Virginia Certified County Supervisors’ Program is a partnership between the Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech and VACo to provide training to enhance the leadership and decision-making skills of county supervisors in the Commonwealth.
The six graduates of the 18-month certification program are:
- Rick Blevins | Smyth County
- Meg Bohmke | Stafford County
- James M. Griffith | Alleghany County
- Dean A. Lynch | Virginia Association of Counties
- Laura Sellers | Stafford County
- Steve Wilkerson | Bedford County
The Virginia Certified County Supervisors’ Program was created to provide VACo members more in-depth knowledge about government and governing.
“Congratulations to our newest graduates on completing one of VACo’s premier educational programs,” said Dean Lynch, VACo Executive Director. “We now have more than 60 graduates from more than 40 counties since the program’s first class in 2006. I am proud to join the ranks of other graduates, and can attest that this is a master’s degree level program.”
Virginia Cooperative Extension partners with Virginia Tech and VACo to develop and deliver the program. “This program is a great example of Virginia Cooperative Extension growing its partnership with an organization to strengthen the impact of our community viability efforts and to collaborate with other agencies to provide leadership education,” said Dr. Michael Chandler, Professor Emeritus at Virginia Tech and one of the program’s instructors along with Dr. Martha Walker, Extension Viability Specialist.
The Virginia Certified County Supervisors’ Program provides an overview of the issues, expectations, and practices associated with serving as a county supervisor as well as detailed information about local government. Each participant completes five core courses featuring both classroom instruction and self-directed learning on leadership development, duties and responsibilities of public officials, community planning, local government finance, and collaborative governance.
For more information about the County Supervisor Certification Program, contact VACo Executive Director Dean Lynch at dlynch@vaco.org or 804.343.2511.
Click here to view Full Press Release and Past Program Graduates