Governor Lombardo Announces Graduation Class of the Nevada Certified Public Manager Program

Governor Joe Lombardo is pleased to announce the graduation of Class 21 of the Nevada Certified Public Manager (NVCPM) Program. The 37 graduates from across the state represent 12 State agencies, two State Boards, and one institution from the Nevada System of Higher Education.

"Congratulations to the 37 graduates of Nevada's Certified Public Manager Program," said Governor Lombardo. "Their hard work is strengthening our state workforce, improving services for Nevadans, and delivering real savings for taxpayers. Building a more efficient government is a top priority for my administration, and these graduates are helping make that happen."

Administered by the Division of Human Resource Management's Office of Employee Development, the NVCPM Program is one of 41 nationally recognized and nationally accredited leadership development programs for public managers. Since starting in 2005, Nevada's CPM Program has produced over 800 graduates. Applications for future enrollment are accepted annually in the spring. For more information about the CPM Program, please visit https://hr.nv.gov/CPM/.

NVCPM participants complete a capstone project as part of the 18-month program. Participants lead teams on projects that increase efficiencies or result in cost savings for their agencies. These capstone projects have resulted in nearly $50 million in savings for the state since the program's inception. This year alone, the estimated annual savings is more than $543,000 and a reduction in over 95,000 employee hours for speedier and more efficient service delivery. Several highlights from this year's capstone projects include:

• A graduate from the Cannabis Compliance Board, improved the process for suitability investigations of licensees saving $34,970 in FY2026.
• A Department of Taxation graduate standardized their IT application development process saving $213,360 in staff time.
• The Nevada Department of Veterans graduate optimized transportation options for veterans in rural counties to more efficiently get them to VA medical appointments.
• A Department of Human Services graduate improved Medicaid compliance by fixing time-coding practices that saved the State over $273,732 in FY2026.

All the capstone projects produce tangible benefits to the state. But the larger benefit to the state is that the graduates will be more confident and capable leaders throughout their careers.

Short clips of the graduation ceremony for press use are available: here.

Congratulations to the CPM Class 21 graduates:

• Rosa Alejandre, Nevada Health Authority
• Casey Angres, Nevada Health Authority
• Bertha Bobadilla, Department of Human Services
• Rachel Branner, Cannabis Compliance Board
• Janel Clark, Nevada Department of Transportation
• Anthony Cholke, Department of Public Safety
• Shanna Cobb- Adams, Department of Human Services
• Stephanie Cook, Nevada Health Authority
• Nicholas James Cranston, Department of Motor Vehicles
• Vanessa Delgado-Acosta, Department of Human Services
• Liliana Garcia, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, School of Music
• Kelly Gaworski, Nevada Department of Transportation
• LaNell Gibson, Department of Human Services
• Andrew Granata, Department of Public Safety
• Nicole Hoekstra, Department of Public Safety
• Aldine Hobbs, Department of Motor Vehicles
• John Jantz, Department of Human Services
• Elisabeth Johnson, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
• Theresa Jones, Department of Employee, Training, and Rehabilitation
• Sheila Kildea, Department of Human Services
• Linh Kieu, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
• Kristen Leon, Department of Motor Vehicles
• Christiana "Missy" Lundeen, Gaming Control Board
• Jillian Mackie, Department of Taxation
• Brittany Mally, Nevada Department of Agriculture
• Andrew Martinez, Department of Employee, Training, and Rehabilitation
• Valerie Martinez, Secretary of State
• Ellen Marquez, Department of Human Services
• Stephanie Mathews, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
• Mark McBride, Department of Veteran Services
• Mathew McCulley, Department of Motor Vehicles
• Luis Moreno, Department of Administration
• Sandra Stone, Department of Human Services
• Adam Teti, Department of Business and Industry
• Lora Turner, Department of Employee, Training, and Rehabilitation
• Jayson Vorce, Nevada Department of Transportation
• Christopher Wright, Department of Taxation

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