By Lynn Markland
Having the opportunity to serve as president of MME is a real privilege. I want to thank the membership for granting me the opportunity to serve such a great organization. I’ve been a member of this organization for over 32 years, and while the name has changed (actually three times since I joined), the mission and the principles we follow are the same. The continuing education opportunities and the opportunity to network with other managers have both been great for my personal and professional development. We are making communities stronger and better places to live, work, and play. We also continue to promote professional management, ethics, and professional development opportunities for the managers leading Michigan communities.
Over the years, we have added to our mission the responsibility for mentoring the next generation of municipal managers. This was the nexus for the NextGen Committee. This committee has had a very positive impact for recruiting and keeping new young managers in the profession. We now have a large group of young managers in our association that have brought with them a new vitality.
Our association is also involved with the Michigan Municipal League’s 16/50 Project to promote more women in our profession. Our state association has played an active role in this exciting project. ICMA has also recognized the need for diversity in our profession and this is a discussion that ICMA will have with us at a session during our summer conference.
Our state association is a progressive organization and is always working to serve the many changing requirements of our membership and the needs of our profession. We continue to keep our focus on professional development, ethics, and our desire for promoting professional administration in local government. I am very happy to be granted the privilege of serving our association of Michigan Municipal Executives.
Board Adopts New Awards for Recognition
Acting on the recommendation of the Experience Committee, the MME Board approved six new awards for member’s achievements at the Board meeting in February. In addition to the Patriarche Award, the new awards will be as follows:
- MME Innovation Award – This award recognizes MME professionals who have developed innovative solutions to providing services to their community. The innovation should have increased the level or quality of service offered and at a sustainable cost for the community to continue the service for the foreseeable future.
- MME Community Leader Award -This award recognizes MME professionals who have helped guide their community through a significant event that resulted in a favorable outcome. The event should have been a significant concern for the majority of the citizens and the solution a clear beneficial outcome to the community.
- MME New Executive Achievement Award-This award recognizes new municipal executives to the profession with 1-5 years of experience. The application should express how the executive came into the profession, any challenges the new executive faced and navigated when beginning his/her career, and recent accomplishments.
- MME Executive of the Year Award-This award recognizes the MME professional who has made significant contributions to the field of local government management over the past 12 months.
- MME Outstanding Assistant Award-This award recognizes the deputy or assistant manager or administrator who has demonstrated outstanding performance, particularly with a special project or during a period of unique conditions and circumstances.
- MME Mentoring Award-This award recognizes the MME professional who has made significant contributions in the development of new talent and/or who has designed and implemented outstanding career development programs for local government employees.
These awards, although they may not be awarded every year, are intended to be considered on an annual basis. I would like to thank Chairman Al Vanderberg and the members of the Experience Committee for the great work they have done to provide opportunities for the recognition of our members and the work they do in their community.
Lynn Markland
President, Michigan Municipal Executives; City Manager, Fenton
Lynn Markland has served as the city manager for Fenton since 2008, Previously, he held positions as city manager in Durand and Sandusky. You may reach him at 810.629.2261 or lmarkland@cityoffenton.org