The North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM) is proud to announce that 35 public servants from across state government have successfully completed the 2025 Performance Management Academy (PMA) Foundations course, a professional development program designed to strengthen the state’s capacity for data-driven decision-making and results-oriented management.
The PMA Foundations course equips participants with tools and strategies to improve program design, implementation, and evaluation. The 2025 cohort engaged in six half-day sessions held in October and November, covering topics such as strategic planning, logic models, agile implementation, performance measurement, and methods for evaluating causal impact.
“The Performance Management Academy is more than a training—it’s a catalyst for cultural change in government,” said David Yokum, Chief Scientist at the Office of State Budget and Management. “By equipping public servants with the tools of strategy, design, and evidence, we’re building a government that learns, adapts, and delivers better outcomes for North Carolinians. This year’s cohort exemplifies the kind of thoughtful, data-driven leadership our state needs.”
Participants represented a wide range of agencies and roles—from budget analysts and policy advisors to program managers and senior executives. Each participant completed approximately 30 hours of training, including classroom instruction, applied exercises, and assigned readings.
Congratulations to those who completed the 2025 PMA Foundations course.
- Amy Bowman, Office of State Human Resources
- Anne-Elisabeth Baker, Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
- Brandy McKoy, Department of Public Safety
- Brenda Anding, Department of Transportation
- Brian O’Donnell, NC Housing Finance Agency
- Brittany Wilborn, Department of Transportation
- Christian Legner, NC Aquariums
- Clinton Roger Durham, Department of Commerce
- Erick Mendez, Office of State Budget and Management
- JoAna McCoy, Department of Transportation
- John Felix, Department of Administration
- Karen Ipock, Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
- Kenneth Kirchner, Department of Information Technology
- Kristen Guillory, Department of Health and Human Services
- Kristie Weber, Administrative Office of the Courts
- Lauren Scott, Department of Administration
- Leslie Jones, Department of Health and Human Services
- Lisa Berot-Marlowe, State Board of Elections
- Luisa Mahler, Office of State Human Resources
- Marissa Hartzler, Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
- Michael “Wes” Kyatt, Department of Administration
- Mona Lawson, Secretary of State
- Mona Townes, Department of Health and Human Services
- René Hebacker, NC Housing Finance Agency
- Rodney Kapanga, Department of Information Technology
- Sean P. Callan, Administrative Office of the Courts
- Sherri Hill, Department of Public Safety
- Tamietria Rowel, Office of State Budget and Management
- Thomas Caves, Jr., Department of Adult Correction
- Torie Keeton, Department of Adult Correction
- Tyeshia Hill, Department of Adult Correction
- Vann Stancil, Wildlife Resources Commission
- Vicky Miller, Department of Health and Human Services
- Wubalem Fantayie, Department of Adult Correction
- Aaron Wesley Davis, Office of State Human Resources
Learn more about the Performance Management Academy.