Sept. 25, 2009
Court Professionals Complete Three-Year Training Program
Thirty-seven Ohio court professionals graduated from a three-year course today that updates their skills and helps them perform their jobs better.
Offered through a partnership between the Supreme Court of Ohio’s Judicial College and the National Center for State Courts Institute for Court Management since 1992, the Court Management Program addresses specific training needs of court leaders. Several states, including Ohio, bring this training program to court professionals so they don’t have to travel to various national locations to complete the coursework.
The program consisted of five courses designed to develop a participant’s knowledge and skills in court performance standards, fiscal administration, caseflow management, human resources and information technology. The final course, a five-day concluding seminar, built upon the foundation courses and explored the roles and purposes of courts, dealt with the concepts of judicial branch independence and interdependence, and reviewed leadership and management theories as they apply to courts. Participants took two modules per year for three years.
Justice Maureen O’Connor congratulated the graduates, handed out diplomas and noted that they are recognized as certified court managers. In her remarks at the graduation ceremony, she thanked judges and court staff for their support of the students’ pursuit of education and professional development and recognized the vital role these court leaders play in the administration of justice in Ohio.
Participants represent all jurisdictions and regions of the state and include court administrators, elected and appointed clerks, chief probation officers and other court staff in management positions.
“It is our hope that this professional development opportunity not only results in better court managers but also more efficiency and effectiveness for the local court systems overall,” said Steven C. Hollon, Supreme Court administrative director. “The three-year program also offers an added benefit: networking among court professionals to share experiences and compare notes about their jobs.”
Past classes graduated in 2004 and 2007. Below is a list of the Court Management Program Class of 2009:
- Mary Ann Abel, assistant court administrator, Stark County Family Court
- David D. Beach, director of court services, Findlay Municipal Court
- Donna J. Born, assignment commissioner, Ohio Court of Claims
- Gerald Bryant, director of court services, Clermont County Juvenile Court
- Nick Cindric, court administrator/clerk, Painesville Municipal Court
- Lori Clune, court administrator, Ottawa County Probate/Juvenile Court
- Donald W. Colby, court administrator, Lucas County Common Pleas Court
- Laura Coleman, assistant clerk of court, Miamisburg Municipal Court
- Vicki Dailey, clerk of courts, Chardon Municipal Court
- Tammy Dwyer, court administrator, Richland County Common Pleas Court
- Jo Ann Edwards, deputy court administrator, Stark County Common Pleas Court
- Debra J. Egbert, court administrator, Logan County Common Pleas Court
- Jane A. Frey, clerk of court, Upper Sandusky Municipal Court
- Angie Gehle, chief probation officer, Mercer County Juvenile Court
- Michael Graves, probation officer supervisor, Franklin County Municipal Court
- Lori A. Henry, court administrator, Medina Municipal Court
- Ginger Heuker, court administrator, Montgomery County Probate Court
- Pamela Hutchinson, chief deputy clerk, Scioto County Probate Court
- Jacquelyn L. Jackson, court administrator, Dayton Municipal Court
- Frances V. King, assistant court administrator, Sixth District Court of Appeals
- Michael E. Kochera, court administrator, Canton Municipal Court
- Jack R. Kullman, court administrator, 10th District Court of Appeals
- Kelley Larrick Serrat, magistrate, Rocky River Municipal Court
- Tim P. Lubbe, court administrator, Lorain County Common Pleas Court
- Dave Lubecky, magistrate/court administrator, Geauga County Probate/Juvenile Court
- Michele L. Mihalick, clerk of court, Ashtabula County Court West
- Beth Naufel, court administrator, Erie County Common Pleas Court
- Nathan Perani, intervention court specialist, Huron County Juvenile/Probate Court
- Amy L. Reitz, chief deputy clerk, Supreme Court of Ohio
- Terri L. Ropp, chief deputy clerk, Logan County Family Court – Probate
- Wendy S. Roush, court investigator/court administrator, Muskingum County Domestic Relations Court
- Joyce A. Salapack, chief probation officer, Stark County Family Court
- Doug A. Schonauer, court administrator, Coshocton County Juvenile/Probate Court
- Phil Schopick, Judicial College program manager, Supreme Court of Ohio
- Mary E. Siegel, chief deputy clerk, Miami County Probate Court
- Jean A. Whitney, court administrator, Ashtabula County Common Pleas Court
- Jennifer Wilkins, clerk of courts, Ottawa County Common Pleas Court
For a high resolution, publication-quality photo of the Court Management Program class of 2009, please visit: http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/PIO/news/2009/CMP.zip.