By Leah Justice

leah.justice@tryondailybulletin.com

Polk County Manager Marche Pittman has become the county’s first ICMA (International City/County Manager Association) Credentialed Manager.

The Polk County Board of Commissioners met Monday, May 2 and recognized Pittman for his achievement.

David Nicholson with the N.C. Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) presented Pittman with his certificate and explained the program.

Nicholson said the certification shows a manager’s dedication to the job, and it’s not something managers have to do so Pittman should be congratulated for that.

To be credentialed, the manager has an education requirement, as well as experience and a 130-question applied knowledge assessment that managers in the nation judge.

Nicholson also said credentialed managers have to set annual goals and send them in with how they achieved those goals.

“(The certificate) is not something you just get and hang on the wall,” Nicholson told commissioners.

Commissioners congratulated Pittman with commissioner Keith Holbert asking if Pittman was Polk’s first certified manager. Nicholson answered yes, saying the program is approximately 4-5 years old. Nicholson also said he thinks Pittman is the only certified manager in neighboring counties.

The designation of credentialed manager means that a member is qualified by a combination of education and experience, adherence to high standards of integrity and an assessed commitment to continuous learning and professional development, according to the program. To maintain the credential, a member must submit an annual report describing 40 hours of professional development for the previous year.

Tryon Town Manager Joey Davis is also a credentialed manager for North Carolina.