More than 125 city and county managers, assistant managers and other local government officials attended professional development training sessions the Institute of Government coordinated for the Georgia City-County Management Association's Fall Conference.

GCCMA members explored topics such as downtown redevelopment and cultivating respect and civility during class sessions and panel presentations during the conference, held Oct. 17–19 in Athens.

The Institute of Government partners with GCCMA to offer professional development training. GCCMA is the Georgia affiliate of the International City/County Management Association, and the GCCMA professional development curriculum is aligned with the executive leadership core competencies for ICMA-credentialed managers.

Also at the conference, first-time attendees had the opportunity to learn about the association at an overview session presented by GCCMA officers and facilitated by Institute of Government faculty member Gordon Maner and Mara Shaw, the Institute’s Leadership Development Program Manager.

Speakers included Columbia County Administrator Scott Johnson, GCCMA president; Athens-Clarke County Manager Blaine Williams, GCCMA vice president; and Douglasville City Manager Marcia Hampton, GCCMA secretary-treasurer.