The County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP) recently recognized 17 county officials as graduates of the CCAP Academy for Excellence in County Government. Among the honorees were Chester County Commissioner Josh Maxwell and Chester County administrator Bobby Kagel.

The CCAP Academy is a certificate training program designed for county officials and leaders in home rule counties. Participants complete required courses in leadership, management and decision-making; county legal issues and current trends in county government; county functions and responsibilities; county financial management; risk management, personnel and labor relations; and personal development. They also attain elective credits by attending courses covering a wide range of topics.

CCAP and the Academy are committed to training informed and responsible public officials to give Pennsylvania's counties the leadership needed to deal with the challenges of today's county government. The Academy is a voluntary program that began 25 years ago. Maxwell and Kagel join the more than 160 county officials who have graduated from the program since its inception.