Congratulations to Councilmember Manfred Graeder, who received the Harold F. Holtz Municipal Training Institute Certificate of Achievement during the Georgia Municipal Association’s (GMA) Annual Convention in Savannah on June 24. 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 a significant milestone,” said GMA CEO and Executive Director Larry Hanson. “We congratulate Councilmember Graeder and his dedication to professional development is an inspiration and a testament to the valuable resources and quality of service we strive to provide in local government.” To receive a Certificate of Achievement, a city official must complete 72 hours of training, including at least 36 hours from the required list and the Newly Elected Officials Institute.

“We are proud of our partnership with GMA to provide high-quality, relevant training to Georgia’s more than 3,500 municipal officials,” said UGA’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government Director Rob Gordon. “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.”

About the Georgia Municipal Association: Based in Atlanta, GMA is a voluntary, non-profit organization that provides legislative advocacy, educational, employee benefit, and consulting services to all of Georgia’s 537 cities. GMA anticipates and influences the forces shaping Georgia’s cities and provides leadership, tools, and services that assist municipal governments in becoming more innovative, effective, and responsive. Created in 1933, the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) is the only state organization representing municipal governments in Georgia. For more information, visit www.gacities.com.