Unlock the power of professional networking in local government with our dynamic and interactive webinar. Designed to empower you with practical tools and strategies, this session will help you enhance your connections and accelerate your career growth. We will also spotlight the upcoming ICMA annual conference in Tampa, providing you with exclusive tips to make the most of this premier event.

What We Will Cover

Whether you are a CAO, ACAO, department head, or new to local government, this 60-minute webinar empowers local government professionals to:

• Expand Your Network: Learn how to build and maintain meaningful professional relationships that can open doors to new opportunities.
• Gain Practical Insights: Discover effective networking strategies tailored for the local government sector.
• Maximize Conference Opportunities: Get insider tips on leveraging the ICMA annual conference to practice and refine your networking skills.

Learning Objectives

1.    Understand the significance of professional networking in advancing careers within local government.
2.    Learn effective networking strategies and tools to build and maintain meaningful connections.
3.    Discover opportunities to apply networking skills at the ICMA annual conference in Tampa, including tips for maximizing your conference experience.
 

Join us for this empowering 60-minute session and walk away with the knowledge and confidence to succeed in your professional journey. Don't miss out on this opportunity to connect, learn, and grow!

This webinar is complimentary thanks to the sponsorship of ICMA Partner Cigna Healthcare, who will have access to registration information. 

Can't attend? Register and watch on-demand.

Meet the Speakers

Kimberly Funderburk President, Government, Education and Health Systems, Cigna Health Care

Read Kimberly's Bio

Kimberly Funderburk is Cigna’s President for Government, Education and Health Systems business and is responsible for the creation and execution of a national Government, Education and Health Systems strategy consistent with Cigna's overall value proposition. Kimberly also serves as a strategic and consultative resource to Cigna’s local market account teams, ensuring that Cigna's strategies, solutions and service deliver differentiated value and address the specific and unique needs of each Government, Education and Health System client.

She has over 20+ years of experience in the healthcare industry, many of which were previously spent at Cigna in a number of positions that spanned across Operations and Sales. Prior to her return, Kimberly led the Sales and Health & Wellness teams at Anthem BCBSGA. She has extensive Government and Education experience, having worked with numerous public entities, school systems, colleges and universities across the country during her time at Cigna and at Anthem BCBSGA. 

Kimberly is a graduate of Clark Atlanta University, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics. She lives in Atlanta and is passionately committed to community and health engagement and advocacy.

Chelsea Jackson Deputy City Manager, City of Douglasville, GA

Read Chelsea's Bio 

Chelsea Jackson has served as the Deputy City Manager for the City of Douglasville Georgia since 2023 where she provides analysis and recommendations to the City Manager regarding the work of city operations to support efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery.  Chelsea also serves as the Secretary/Treasurer for the City of Douglasville’s Development Authority where she provides staff support and serves as the liaison between the City and County Development Authorities.

Chelsea is a member of several professional organizations including Georgia City-County Management Association, International City/County Management Association, Douglas County Chamber Young Professionals and a graduate of the Georgia Academy for Economic Development.  With twelve (12) years of local government experience, Chelsea is passionate about young professionals and their involvement in local government and continues to mentor individuals by providing knowledge about the importance of being a public servant.

Chelsea received her Master’s in Public Administration from Kennesaw State University and is a Certified Public Manager through the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government. She has also been previously recognized as one of the Top 40 under 40 Young Government Leaders in Atlanta, Top 10 Young Professional of Douglas County and Top 100 Local Government Influencers of 2022. Chelsea also serves on the ICMA Executive Board as a Southeast Regional Vice President.

Prior to becoming the Deputy City Manager, Chelsea served as the Assistant City Manager and Operations Manager and has been employed with the city for nine years.

Leslie Beauregard City Manager, ICMA-CM, City of Staunton, VA

Read Leslie's Bio

Leslie's interest in local government was seeded in graduate school in 1995 as she studied for her master’s in Public Administration from Virginia Tech’s Center for Public Administration and Policy. With her MPA completed and an interest in local government management, finance and budgeting, Leslie started her career in 1997 working for the City of Poquoson, Virginia’s Finance Department. She received an internship with the City of Hampton, Virginia’s Budget Office a month later and eventually was offered a full-time Budget Analyst position. Leslie spent six years with the City of Hampton’s Budget Office learning the operations of a city in all areas financial, budgetary, legislative and managerial.  In 2003, Leslie began working for the City of Charlottesville, Virginia as Budget Manager. In this capacity, Leslie was an innovative leader in the development of budget and fiscal policies, strategic planning and performance measurement initiatives. In 2007, Leslie was promoted to Director of Budget and Performance Management and spent a significant amount of time on performance management through P3: Plan, Perform, Perfect, and played a key role in leading the team that developed the city’s first strategic plan in 2013-2014.  In 2015, Leslie was promoted to Assistant City Manager and oversaw several departments including finance, budget, public works, fire operations, human resources and information technology.  She also served as a champion for the implementation of the city’s strategic plan and was an adjunct Instructor at the Batten School for Leadership and Public Policy at the University of Virginia, teaching classes in budgeting and finance and public program analysis. 

After 16 years with the City of Charlottesville, Leslie was hired as City of Staunton's Assistant City Manager. She oversaw several departments, including Fire and Rescue, Blue Ridge Court Services, Office on Youth, Information Technology, Clerk of Council, Finance and the Library. She also played a key leadership role during the city’s response to the COVID-19 health pandemic, managed several special projects and initiatives, represented the city on several regional boards, coordinated and prepared City Council agenda materials with the Clerk of Council and provided expertise on the development of the city’s capital and operating budgets as well as providing guidance on financial policies and practices.   She was key at coordinating the activities and tasks behind the formation of the city’s first Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commission, an in conjunction with this work, was invited to participate in the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Equity Officer Cohort and was in the inaugural class of the Virginia Equity Clinic through the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia. Having served as Acting and then Interim City Manager, on October 27, 2022, Leslie was appointed City Manager, the first woman to be appointed in this role in the history of Staunton, Virginia. 

Leslie has been an active member of ICMA since 1996 and an ICMA Credentialed Manager since 2020.  She’s also an active member of the Virginia Local Government Management Association and the Government Finance Officers Association.