Featured photo caption: (from L–R) In the back: Heather Rasmussen, Development Services Planner, Arthur Pipkin, Public Works Building Maintenance Crew Leader, David Garcia, Water Operations Administrative Supervisor. In the front: Jennifer Sochocki, Police Support Services Administrator, Evelyn Isaguirre, Water Quality Program Manager, Jessica Hernandez, HR Generalist, Mohave College Facilitator Karen Bohler, Sandy Williams, Records Supervisor for KPD, Andrew Giralde, Engineering Construction Inspector, and Unica Bautista, Permit Coordinator for Development Services. Not Pictured: Chrisandy Abellana, Parks and Recreation Coordinator and TC Cantrell, Public Works Maintenance Operations Supervisor For Streets.
KINGMAN – Last week, the City of Kingman proudly celebrated the graduation of its second cohort of its 2025 Leadership & Excellence Supervisor Academy. Eleven dedicated city employees successfully completed the intensive 12-week program, designed to cultivate strong, effective leadership across all departments.
Developed through a collaborative partnership between Mohave College and AZ@Work, the Academy represents the City’s ongoing investment in workforce development and organizational excellence. The program delivers 96 hours of immersive training, combining real-world leadership instruction, team-building exercises, and applied learning opportunities led by Mohave College instructors and City leadership. The program is fully grant-funded, covering the $3,265 cost per participant.
The class concluded with an impressive capstone project showcase, where participants presented their department-focused innovations to a mock City Council composed of City leadership. Graduates pitched forward-thinking ideas to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance community service delivery. Proposals ranged from modernizing internal HR processes and digitizing the City’s public records request system to strengthening recruitment policies and exploring cost-saving infrastructure measures. Each concept reflected the creativity and strategic insight that have become hallmarks of Kingman’s leadership development initiative.
“This class demonstrated remarkable creativity and a strong commitment to continuous improvement,” said Gina Kremper, Associate Dean of Corporate Education at Mohave College. “Their ideas show that the next generation of municipal leaders is not just maintaining operations, they’re reimagining how local government can better serve its residents.”
The Academy not only prepares supervisors for leadership excellence but also empowers them to identify opportunities for innovation and collaboration across City departments. Graduates leave with enhanced decision-making skills, improved communication techniques, and a stronger sense of civic purpose, benefiting both the organization and the Kingman community as a whole.
For more information about the City of Kingman’s Leadership & Excellence Supervisor Academy, please contact Phylicia Martel, the City’s Human Resources Administrator at 928-753-8107.
