County Employees Earn CSAC Credential

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Several County employees earned a special recognition Friday at the County Operations Center for their dedication to expanding their knowledge of effective government.

Fourteen staff members completed 60 hours of coursework as part of the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) Institute for Excellence in County Government credential program, which focuses on professional development in the areas of leadership and policy.

Geoff Patnoe, director of Office of Strategy & Intergovernmental Affairs, helped bring the CSAC Institute to San Diego County in 2014. It was the first year CSAC held courses outside of Sacramento. Since then, 20 courses have been held at the COC—allowing more San Diego and other Southern California county officials and senior staff to attend training closer to home.

Don Steuer, Assistant Chief Administrative Officer, applauded both CSAC’s willingness to bring its unique training on the road and the larger number of local participants.

“This is an investment not only in our employees, but more an importantly it is an investment in the future of our organization,” Steuer said.

Nearly 300 County employees have taken at least one CSAC course in the last two years. Ten received certificates last year and another 14 earned the distinction on Friday.

Past courses covered topics such as financial reporting and budgeting, building and maintaining a team culture, and managing crises and emergencies. 

2016 CSAC Institute awards were given to:

  • Jessie Bishop, PSG Executive Office

  • Melanie Caramat, Purchasing and Contracting

  • Charles Cinnamo, Sheriff’s Department

  • Thomas Ledford, Strategy and Intergovernmental Affairs

  • Richard McWilliams – HHSA Executive Office

  • Mel Millstein – District 3

  • Nadia Moshirian-Binderup – CSG Executive Office

  • Jessica Newmyer – HHSA Central and South Regions

  • Giang Nguyen – HHSA Executive Office

  • Haley Peterson – District 5

  • Damien Quinn – FG3 Executive Office

  • Dustin Steiner – District 5

  • Amber Tarrac – Auditor and Controller

  • Candyce Yee – District 5

In addition, Linda Holt, Group Human Resources Director with the Community Services Group, received the CSAC Institute Fellows recognition. Holt, who completed the CSAC Instiute credential last year, has since completed additional coursework– examining enduring problems facing California counties.  She focused her efforts on the Advanced Recovery Initiative, which gets County employees prepared to fill a variety of roles in a disaster response.