Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) Commissioner Martha K. Hirst today presided over a recognition ceremony for the 2002 and 2003 graduates of the Citywide Leadership Institute and Management Academy at Gracie Mansion.  For ten years, the Leadership Institute and the Management Academy have been the City's top executive development programs.   Each year, the Leadership Institute prepares a select group of 25 experienced, high-level agency managers to lead operational change initiatives.  The Management Academy is an annual professional development program designed to guide and ultimately enhance the performance of the City’s new and emerging managers.  The 95 City employees recognized today, representing 37 City agencies, have successfully completed a 16-week program and join the other 375 alumni of these two programs still in City service.

“In these challenging times City agencies have learned how to do more and better with less,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Today’s 95 graduates are joining a truly illustrious group:  the approximately 375 other graduates of these two programs who currently serve the people of New York City.”

Graduates of the two programs include Neil Hernandez, the Commissioner of the Department of Juvenile Justice, Deputy Commissioners in agencies ranging from the Department of Homeless Services, to the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications, to the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, and a number of Family Court Judges.

“Congratulations to all of you.  The caliber of the people who are being recognized today is outstanding,” said Commissioner Hirst.  “Amongst the 48 graduates from the Leadership Institute and the 47 graduates from the Management Academy, there are hundreds of years of acquired wisdom and experience in City government.  Yet you still strive to find ways to do things more creatively and more effectively for yourselves and your agencies.”

Both executive development programs meet one day a week for 16 weeks.  The Leadership Institute focuses on process analysis and design of City systems while the Management Academy teaches best practices and participants conduct a case-study.  Both programs take part in weekly seminars from past and present senior City managers, consultants, university professors and authors. 

To apply for either of these programs, employees must submit applications and obtain their Commissioners’ endorsement.  The Leadership Institute is held each fall and the recruitment period for 2004 will open later this summer.  The Management Academy is held in the spring and the next recruitment period will open in February 2005.