Social Circle Mayor Pro Tem David Keener Receives Certificate of Dedication from GMA

ATLANTA – Social Circle Mayor Pro Tem David Keener received the prestigious Certificate of Dedication award from the Harold F. Holtz Municipal Training Institute during the Georgia Municipal Association’s (GMA) Annual Convention in Savannah on Friday, June 21. The Certificate of Dedication is the highest level of Certification to be awarded to an Elected Official.

The Harold F. Holtz Municipal Training Institute, a cooperative effort of GMA and the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government, provides a nationally recognized series of training opportunities for city officials. The Certificate of Dedication requires 276 hours of training, including at least 108 hours from a required list of classes, 18 hours of which must be from an Advanced Leadership track, and the Robert E. Knox, Jr. Municipal Leadership Institute. After obtaining the Certificate of Dedication, officials must complete nine hours of continuing education each year to maintain the certificate. The training program consists of a series of more than 60 courses.

Mayor Pro Tem David Keener was one of only10 city officials to receive the Certificate of Dedication at the conference.

“This outstanding achievement truly speaks to the dedication shown by these recipients,” said GMA Executive Director Larry Hanson. “We commend Mayor Pro Tem Keener for this accomplishment and for the commitment he’s shown in using this valuable resource to become a more effective city official. He serves as an example to other city officials across the state.”

“The dedication shown by these 10 public servants from across the state to enhance their skills and knowledge of municipal governance is remarkable,” said Laura Meadows, director of the UGA Carl Vinson Institute of Government. “Their commitment to education means they are bringing back tools, insights, knowledge, resources and networks to strengthen their cities. The Institute of Government is proud to partner with GMA to make this expanded training opportunity available to Georgia’s city leaders.”

Based in Atlanta, GMA is a voluntary, non-profit organization that provides legislative advocacy, research, training, employee benefit and technical consulting services to its 538 member cities.