The County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP) Center for Excellence in County Leadership (CEL), a premier professional development program for county government leaders, graduated 12 individuals from its two and a half-day intensive training program.   
 

The CEL program fosters individual growth through interactive and high-level executive training aimed at improving participants’ communication, management and leadership skills. The program includes intense classes in leadership styles, managerial versatility, interpersonal dynamics, strategic planning, media management, daily communication problem solving, and decision making.   

 An application is required for admittance to the program, with final selection being made by the CCAP Education Committee. The program is open to county commissioners or council members, chief clerks, county administrators, solicitors, and other departmental leaders within Pennsylvania's 67 counties. The 2025 CEL program was produced by Dering Consulting Group (www.deringconsulting.com).   

The 2025 graduates include:  
(1st row seated L-R): Jenesia Negron, Deputy Clerk to County Council, Northampton County; Frankie Marks, Payroll Administrator, Pike County; Dean Horst, Commissioner, Franklin County; Tricia Johnson, Director of Social Services, MH/ID Administrator, Blair County; Mark Adams, Chief Information Officer, Cumberland County;  

(2nd row standing L-R): Amanda Bentzel, Chief Clerk/Right to Know Officer, Berks County; Christine Reuther, County Council Member, Delaware County; Angela Harding, Commissioner, Clinton County; Randy Karschner, Commissioner, Columbia County; David Byerman, Chief Executive Officer, Chester County; Jason Miller, Human Resources Director, Susquehanna County; Aaron Felker, MIS Director, Mifflin County.  
 

Program sponsors include: CCAP PComp, PA Counties Worker Compensation Trust; PCoRP, PA Counties Risk Pool; CCAP UC Trust, Unemployment Compensation Trust; MacCain Leinhauser; Campbell Durrant, P.C.; Gabriel Fera P.C.; and Pracademic Partners.  

For more information about CCAP, log on to www.pacounties.org.