Montrose, CO — Montrose City Manager Bill Bell recently received the International City/County Management Association’s (ICMA) Credentialed Manager, (ICMA-CM) designation for his civic leadership and continued efforts to raise the quality of life in Montrose.
Bell joins Andrea Phillips, Town Manager of Pagosa Springs, as the only two Colorado municipal leaders to earn the designation in 2019. Members of ICMA are the professional city, town, and county managers who are appointed by elected officials to oversee the day-to-day operation of their communities.
According to ICMA, Credentialed Managers are professional local government managers qualified by a combination of education and experience, adherence to high standards of integrity, and an assessed commitment to lifelong learning and professional development.
"Each time we turn on the tap in our kitchens, set the trash out for pickup the next day, or cruise through our neighborhoods on newly paved roads, we access our local governments. Providing essential community services that ensure the quality of our lives is what local government is all about," ICMA's website reads.
Managers are recognized by ICMA through a peer review credentialing process. This self-directed program offers an opportunity for interested ICMA members to quantify the unique expertise they bring to their communities, according to the ICMA.
“I am excited to take this next step within the arena of city management and I am proud to be part of an outstanding group of professional administrators who have dedicated their lives to public service,” Bell said. “I wake up every morning grateful for the opportunities I have been given and am looking forward to many more years of working with local government."
ICMA is a non-profit organization that offers a wide range of services and support, data, and information as well as training and professional development to over 11,000 city, town, and county managers, their staffs, and other individuals and organizations throughout the world.
According to ICMA, "management decisions made by ICMA's members affect millions of individuals living in thousands of communities, from small villages and towns to large metropolitan areas."
ICMA members are required to obtain 40 hours of professional development education each year.
Bell said he was excited to receive the accreditation in 2019 along with Phillips from Pagosa Springs.
Founded in 1914, ICMA, the International City/County Management Association, advances professional local government through leadership, management, innovation, and ethics.
For more city news visit CityOfMontrose.org.