Councilmember DePinto awarded with Advanced Certificate of Municipal Leadership

• Ed. note: Councilor DePinto is the only Yelm city council member who has received the Assn. of WA. Cities (AWC) Certificate of Municipal Leadership (2020) and the AWC Advanced Certificate of Municipal Leadership (2021).
• Congratulations to Councilor DePinto. This achievement is to Yelm’s benefit with Joe in city government!

From the media release:

"Joe DePinto, City Councilmember, Yelm, Washington recently received an Advanced Certificate 
of Municipal Leadership from the Association of Washington Cities (AWC).

"AWC’s Certificate of Municipal Leadership program recognizes city and town elected officials for 
accomplishing training in four core areas:

  *   Roles, responsibilities and legal requirements
  *   Public sector resource management
  *   Community planning and development
  *   Effective local leadership

"Those who earn the advanced certificate continue to strive for excellence by attending conferences 
and trainings, serving their community, and further developing leadership skills.

"'Cities and towns around the state are continually transforming in light of changing laws and the
need to meet new challenges and opportunities,' said AWC Chief Executive Officer Peter B. King.

"Our Advanced Certificate of Municipal Leadership recognizes mayors and councilmembers who continue 
to enhance the tools they need today to understand the legal landscape, plan for the future, manage
their resources, and foster strong relationships. The elected officials who earn this certificate
demonstrate a commitment to continuous learning and a desire to bring new ideas back to their
community."

"To earn the Advanced Certificate of Municipal Leadership, Councilmember DePinto completed more than
60 hours of training credits and demonstrated community service. He is the first councilmember from
the City of Yelm to achieve this certification.

"Councilmember DePinto was first elected to the Yelm City Council for the 2016-2019 term and then
reelected for the 2020-2023 term. Over the years Councilmember DePinto has served on many committees
and local boards including the Yelm Public Safety Committee, Yelm Finance Committee, Yelm Public
Works Committee, Yelm Economic Development Committee, South Thurston Economic Development Initiative, 
Co-Chair of the Yelm Homelessness Taskforce and as a board member of the Thurston Economic
Development Council. He has championed efforts to increase public safety, led the charge to lower 
water rates and fought to increase transparency in local government.

"AWC serves its members through advocacy, education and services. Founded in 1933, AWC is a private,
nonprofit, nonpartisan corporation that represents Washington's 281 cities and towns 
before the state legislature,
the state executive branch, and with regulatory agencies. AWC also provides training, data and 
publications, and programs such as the AWC Employee Benefit Trust, AWC Risk Management Service
Agency, AWC Workers’ Comp Retro, AWC Drug and Alcohol Consortium, and AWC GIS Consortium."