For more than thirty years, LDS public management professionals from across the nation have gathered together at the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) conference to exchange more than just business information. LDS city and county managers met this year in Cincinnati to attend the ICMA conference and to build on shared beliefs.
“It is a wonderful opportunity to come together and renew ourselves,” said Robert Parsons, chair of the Romney Institute of Public Management at BYU’s Marriott School. “These individuals bring service not only to the cities they work for but also to the Church as bishops and stake presidents.”
Beginning in 1966, graduates and associates from BYU’s Marriott School—particularly graduates from the school’s master’s of public administration program—have gathered yearly at the ICMA conference to take part in a testimony meeting and banquet. Sponsored by the BYU Alumni and Friends in City Management, 81 professionals participated in this year’s meeting.
“LDS city managers are unique because the Gospel forms the basis of their professional contributions,” said Doyle W. Buckwalter, retired associate professor of public management. “They have great opportunities to influence people in the communities they serve and their testimonies express this privilege.”
In addition to the testimony meeting, professionals attended a banquet and heard from Ned C. Hill, dean of the Marriott School. Past banquet speakers have included prominent church leaders, academic professionals and civic leaders.
“It was wonderful to witness the strong support and respect these city managers have for one another,” Hill said. “They have chosen careers that enable them to serve the nation’s cities and create environments conducive to raising families.”
Along with Hill’s remarks, BYU Alumni and Friends in City Management honored four professors for their contributions in public management. Doyle W. Buckwalter, Lennis M. Knighton, Robert Parsons and N. Dale Wright received the association’s first-ever lifetime achievement awards.
“These men are of great capacity, knowledge, integrity and professionalism,” said Byron Jorgesen, past president of BYU Alumni and Friends in City Management.
Award recipients received a piece of granite from the same quarry used in building the Salt Lake City Temple and new Conference Center.
“The award was significant to me because I have related with these managers over the past thirty years,” Buckwalter said. “I have watched them make contributions both professionally and spiritually. They have impacted the kingdom and I am honored to be recognized by them.”
The Romney Institute of Public Management was named in 1998 after three-term Michigan governor, George W. Romney. A part of the Marriott School at Brigham Young University, the Romney Institute offers a master’s degree in public administration through both pre-service and executive programs. The Romney Institute has a long tradition of preparing young people for careers in public service and is dedicated to educating men and women of faith, character and professional ability who will become outstanding managers and leaders in public and not-for-profit institutions. The Marriott School is located at Brigham Young University, the largest privately owned, church-sponsored university in the United States.
Writer: Carrie Beckstead (801) 378-1512
