53 Employees Complete Pioneering State Government Budget Certification

The Certified State Government Budget Professionals Program is a partnership between the OSBM and the UNC School of Government.

Raleigh

Nov 18, 2024

North Carolina is now home to 53 Certified State Government Budget Professionals, a new professional accreditation unique to the state. The newly certified employees hail from six state universities and 19 different agencies and are the first in North Carolina to achieve this credential.

The Certified State Government Budget Professionals Program (CSGBPP) is a partnership between the Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM) and the UNC School of Government. The curriculum covers key skills and knowledge identified by UNC faculty and experienced state budget professionals who together developed the program.

"We've been thrilled by the response to the launch of this program," said State Budget Director Kristin Walker. "We expect certification will become the gold standard for excellence in state budget management. I look forward to the positive impact this first cohort of certified state budget professionals will have on North Carolina in the coming years."

To be certified, participants must attend three weeks of instruction at UNC School of Government's Chapel Hill campus and pass an exam at the end of each week.

"The NC Certified Budget Professional program was a highly impactful experience for me," said Karen Barker of the Department of Public Instruction. "The experience offered professional growth and valuable networking and collaboration opportunities with budget and finance professionals across North Carolina state agencies and the University System. The rigorous program focuses on objectives directly related to our current roles and a higher level of understanding that's required as we acquire additional leadership responsibilities or are promoted to leadership or management roles. I am thankful to have been selected to participate and successfully complete the first cohort of this program."

Gianna Quilici of the North Carolina Department of Administration commented, "I gained an understanding of NC legislation around budget processes as well as accounting, grants management, procurement, statistics for data tracking for budget requests, strengthening a strategic plan, and more."

Dates for the Certified State Government Budget Professional Program for 2025 have been tentatively set for February 24-28, June 2-6, and October 13-17, 2025. Participants who completed one or more weeks of the program in 2024 may continue pursuing certification in 2025. State employees interested in registering for the program can visit the UNC School of Government website and sign up to be notified when registration is open for the 2025 courses.

North Carolina Assistant State Budget Officer Lanier McRee speaks to participants in the NC Certified State Government Budget Professionals Program

Congratulations to These Certified State Government Budget Professionals

• Christy Barker
• Karen Barker
• David Barkhau
• Latrice Barner
• Alaina Barnes
• Chris Black
• Candy Bowman
• Jami Boylan
• Stephanie Brady
• Katherine Brewer
• Deirdre Brown
• Dale Carter
• Joy Darden
• Sarah Frei
• Jennifer Geouque
• Angela Glaspie
• Jaymie Glover
• Quinn Godwin
• Towanna Haywood
• Sherlen Hedgepeth
• Tammy Hubbell
• Hunter Huffman
• Christopher Long
• Sharon Marsalis
• Chandra McNeill-Harris
• Holly Merritt
• Erik Miller
• April Morris
• Rosilyn Mosley
• Peace Ndalama
• Kimberli Nelson-Miller
• Tiwanna Nevels
• Janine Oliver
• John Peterson
• Meghan Prewett
• Gianna Quilici Godwin
• Hollie Ransom
• Sadie Reagan
• Heather Roberts
• Jessica Robinson
• Mahnaz Rouhani
• Anesa Trevon Simon
• Ebony Smith
• Brandee Stevenson
• Paula Stewart
• Allis Talley-Burton
• Brian Tennie
• Stacey Thorp
• Sonya Tillman-Bellazaire
• Tara Tyson
• Michelle Van Rhyn
• Edward Walker II
• Jan-Jee Wells

Marcia Evans

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(984) 236-0696