Wikipedia describes a chief administrative officer (CAO) as “a top-tier executive who supervises the daily operations of an organization and is ultimately responsible for its performance. A CAO is responsible for administrative management of private, public or governmental organizations and the de facto head of the organization. In a municipal context, the title is usually used as an alternative for city manager, county administrator, or county executive, particularly in cases where the position does not include powers such as the authority to appoint or dismiss department heads.”
Urban Municipal Administrators Association of Saskatchewan (UMAAS) is the board that certifies individuals to become CAO’s within Saskatchewan since the mid-1950s when a large number of Town Clerks formally came together to discuss items of mutual interest.
Obtaining the title of CAO takes a lot of work and dedication. Joanne Weinheimer, previously an Administrative Assistant in Langenburg, has also gained her certification through the UMAAS Board of Examiners and is fully qualified now to be CAO for the Town of Langenburg.
Joanne has worked in the Town of Langenburg administration office for six years under the tutelage of CAO Glenda Lemke and has been working towards achieving the certification as a CAO; finally achieving that UMAAS Certification very recently in the mail.
By Gary Horseman
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
garyfourtownjournal@gmail.com
Four-Town+ Journal