Chattahoochee Hills Councilmember Ruby Foster received the Harold F. Holtz Municipal Training Institute Certificate of Recognition during the Georgia Municipal Association's (GMA) Cities United Summit in Atlanta on January 22.
The Harold F. Holtz 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 city officials.
"This is an outstanding achievement," said GMA CEO and Executive Director Larry Hanson. "We commend Councilmember Foster for this accomplishment and for the dedication shown in using this valuable resource to become a more effective city official."
To receive a Certificate of Recognition, a city official must complete a minimum of 42 units of credit, including at least 18 hours from a list of required classes. The training program consists of more than 70 courses.
Chattahoochee Hills Mayor Tom Reed offered his congratulations to Councilmember Foster and acknowledged that she is the first city council member in Chattahoochee Hills to have received this achievement.
When asked what motivated her to complete this extensive training program, Councilmember Foster said, "I wanted to do right by the citizens I represent. I realized I needed the knowledge and professional contacts this program offered in order to better serve my constituents and city."
UGA's Carl Vinson Institute of Government Director Rob Gordon said, "We are proud of our partnership with GMA to provide high-quality, relevant training to Georgia's more than 3,500 municipal officials. The institute remains committed to being the trusted resource that city officials across Georgia turn to for leadership and professional development training that makes a difference in the lives of the citizens they represent."
Based in Atlanta, GMA is a voluntary, non-profit organization that provides legislative advocacy, research, training, employee benefit and technical consulting services to its 537 member cities.
