Sylvester Council member Melvin Powell received the prestigious Certificate of Distinction from the Georgia Municipal Training Institute at the Georgia Municipal Association’s (GMA) 81st Annual Convention in Savannah on June 23.
The Georgia 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 elected city officials. To receive a Certificate of Distinction a city official must complete a minimum of 204 units of credit, including 12 courses from the required list and the Robert E. Knox, Jr. Municipal Leadership Institute. The training program consists of a series of more than 40 courses.
The Certificate of Distinction is the highest level of Georgia Municipal Association training certification. Powell was one of eight city officials to receive the Certificate of Distinction at the Annual Convention.
“This is an outstanding achievement,” said GMA Executive Director Lamar Norton. “We commend Councilmember Powell for this accomplishment and for the dedication he’s shown in using this valuable resource to become a more effective city official.”
Based in Atlanta, GMA is a voluntary, non-profit organization that provides legislative advocacy, research, training, employee benefit and technical consulting services to its 500 member cities.