Tele-Works Chairman is Instrumental in Start of City Manager Certification Program at Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA (24 Mar 2009)-After two years of hard work, Steve Critchfield, the founder and chairman of the Board of Tele-Works, is excited about the progress the Local Government Management Certification Program has seen in its first year. "We've had a great first class and the first year of the program is coming to a successful finish. We are now well on our way to creating the next generation of local government professionals," said Critchfield.
Because the baby boomer generation is fast approaching retirement age, local governments, along with other industries, expect to see a gap in the workforce. Critchfield, together with Bob Stripling, retired city manager of Staunton, Virginia; Bonnie Svrcek, deputy city manager of Lynchburg, Virginia; the Virginia Local Government Management Association (VLGMA); and Virginia Tech developed the Local Government Management Certification Program to train a new generation of city managers. In addition to giving the push to start the program, Critchfield and Svrcek raised over $100,000 to support it and a scholarship fund.
Now with the first semester behind them and the second well on its way, the team is looking to expand enrollment by opening it to all interested graduate students. The inaugural class consists of current government employees. Increasing admissions this way will further ensure there are enough new managers to replace the retirees.
About Tele-Works:
For more than 20 years, Tele-Works has been a leader in delivering top-quality eGovernment and interactive voice response (IVR) solutions to local governments and utilities across North America. Our products have reshaped the way organizations communicate and transact business with their customers. From automated phone bill payments to building inspection scheduling to high-volume citizen alert systems, our products help keep citizens informed and local governments moving forward.
For More Information:
http://www.transformgov.org/newsletter/details.asp?newsid=1605
