SMA Vision, Mission and History

Vision:

To be the City of Seattle's leading professional development organization by promoting excellence and integrity in City management, and by being a champion for the value of public sector leadership

Mission:

Provide City managers and other leaders with practical learning experiences, access to essential resources, and opportunities to explore new ideas and build relationships with peers throughout City government.

History:

For more than 20 years the Seattle Management Association (SMA) has been a valuable resource for City managers. SMA is a non-profit professional association with over 300 members.

Started by a small group of City of Seattle employees, the original goal of SMA was to be a vehicle for networking and sharing information and ideas important for the role of public sector manager. While the organization has stayed true to this initial focus, SMA has evolved over time to provide professional development resources and training that address the growing complexity of City management. The New Horizon's series was established to bring nationally and internationally renowned speakers to present perspectives on best practices, trends, and current affairs to the membership in a quarterly banquet. In 2003 the Cityscapes series was introduced to provide members with a more practical skill development option in a less formal and lower cost approach.

In addition, SMA as an organization realized the value of celebrating and acknowledging the accomplishments of City managers and implemented an awards program and banquet that has been institutionalized as a highly regarded honor. The SMA Excellence in Management Award recognizes achievement in 7 categories, rewarding both individual and team achievements. Now in its 23rd year, the awards banquet is held each December and is a festive tradition for members and award winners.

SMA is growing and evolving to meet the ever-changing needs and priorities of our membership. The board actively works to create new benefits and development opportunities for members, based on the organization's vision and mission.