Human Resources Luncheons
Donald Heisel was referred to in a 1988 article in The Cincinnati Enquirer on public administration as “The Father of Public Administration” in Southwest Ohio. The reference was an acknowledgment of the number of public administrators whose professional development had been assisted by Don Heisel. Mr. Heisel’s students and mentees are still to be found in many of the cities, villages, townships, and counties in Ohio and Northern Kentucky. Many others were trained by his protégés.
The W. Donald Heisel Scholarship serves to encourage a commitment to excellence in public service, continuing the legacy of Don Heisel’s commitment to his students and to his community. The fund is managed by the Board of Trustees of the Center for Local Government.
The Heisel Scholarship is awarded annually to a local graduate level student who has a passion and a career intention relating to local government management. A winning scholarship candidate must be accepted into a Masters of Public Administration graduate school program at an accredited college or university. They should have the ultimate goal of seeking a career in local government management (e.g. City Manager, Township Administrator, County employment, etc.). It is preferable that the candidate is either currently seeking or holding a job in the Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, or Greater Dayton area.
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Past Scholarship Recipients
2004 – Sara Imhulse – Northern Kentucky University
2005 – Trina Porter – Northern Kentucky University
2006 – Christine Thompson – Northern Kentucky University
2007 – Katie Smiddy – Wright State University
2008 – Tom Vanderhorst – Wright State University
2009 – Dustin Lester – Northern Kentucky University
2010 – Susan Ellerhorst – Northern Kentucky University
2011 – Kyle Kridler – Wright State University
2012 – Michael Spafford – University of Dayton
2013 – Skylor Miller – University of Dayton
2014 – Alvina Sayani – University of Dayton
2015 – Aubrey Hale – The Ohio State University
2016 – Christina Ingle – Northern Kentucky University
2017 – Mike Brill – Wright State University
2018 – Austin Lee – Northern Kentucky University
2019 – Syeda Bahar – Wright State University
Founded in 1990
As We Grew
While the early mission of the Center for Local Government focused on data sharing, as the organization grew it took on additional tasks revolving around training and shared services. One of the earliest shared services programs was the Public Works Mutual Aid Pact, which provides public works resources to communities who experience a disaster. This program is still in use today. Another early program that is still in use today was the Judgmental Use of Force Training Simulator collaborative, which brought together a number of police agencies within the Center membership to share training resources.
The Center continued to grow over the years, gaining new programs and members. In the 2000s, the Center for Local Government Benefits Collaborative (CLGBC) formed. This was a fully insured purchasing collaborative for health insurance, which evolved into today’s Self Insured Pool.At the same time, the Center launched OhioCAF, which is the Center’s only state-wide program, and provides opportunities for governments to collaborate with each other on small capital financings. The Center also entered into a training partnership called the Municipal Training Academy, along with the Miami Valley Communications Council (MVCC) and the Miami Valley Risk Management Association (MVRMA).
2020 and beyond
An ongoing commitment to provide quality services.
…Over 50 governments in 6 Counties
By the end of the 2000s, the Center’s membership had grown to over 50 governments in six counties. New programs also came online, such as the solid waste collection consortium (SWORRE) and the Treasury Asset Management Collaborative.The Center will continue to grow by adding new programs and new members. The Center, its Board and staff are looking forward evolving the Center into the future.