The Heartland Certified Public Manager® (CPM) program is a professional education opportunity for managers working in government agencies, nonprofits, and organizations that contract to provide public services and meet community needs. CPM is a nationally accredited management and certification program in which participants develop and strengthen their management skills through our competency-based curriculum. The program can fill a training gap for staff with significant technical expertise who seek to further their knowledge of current management and leadership practices.

Our CPM program offers cohorts in locations across Kansas and Missouri, as well as fully online. Each cohort begins in January or July and lasts 11 months. To see meeting dates, choose a session below and view the full schedule under session details.

If you're interested in hosting a future cohort in your city, please reach out to Kate Nygren at knygren@ku.edu.
January 6, 2026 to November 4, 2026, North Kansas City Parks & Recreation Center (North Kansas City, MO)
January 14, 2026 to November 5, 2026, (O'Fallon, MO)
January 20, 2026 to November 18, 2026, (Independence, KS)
January 22, 2026 to November 20, 2026, (Hays, KS)
January 27, 2026 to November 20, 2026, Online using Zoom (-, ONLINE)

The Heartland Certified Public Manager Annual Conference brings together current and past participants in the CPM program for a day and a half of skill-building, connection, and renewal. This year's theme, "Trust, Civility and Narrative Leadership," will focus on helping public service professionals uphold the values of democracy. The conference will be held from 9:00 - 4:30 followed by a social event from 5:30 - 7:00 on October 14, 2025; and a half day of interactive learning from 9:00 - 12:00 on October 15, 2025.
October 14-15, 2025, Kansas Memorial Union (Lawrence, KS)