Financial Sustainability Certificate Program

As park and recreation professionals, we are privileged to be the stewards of taxpayer dollars. Each and every day we get to spend their money. What a responsibility!

We hold in our hands the power to impact communities by how we manage these resources. How we spend, how we generate revenues, and how we work to create a financially sustainable future for our organizations and for the field of parks and recreation.

Financial Sustainability Certificate Program Part 1

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You've been asking and now it's finally here - the Financial Sustainability Certificate Program Part 2 has come to California!

City of Huntington Beach

Southern California

June 16 - 18, 2026

Register here

The WHO

For the greatest impact, we recommend having multiple team members from within and beyond your department participate in this training, particularly:

Analysts
Directors
Managers / Superintendents
City Managers
Commissioners & Board Members
Supervisors

The LESSONS

This next-level program will build upon what was learned in Part 1 of the Financial Sustainability Certificate Program and take an engaging and practical deep dive into imperative financial topics such as:

Understanding cost of service
Investment versus consumption spending
The tension between stability and growth
The “oh s*#t moments” of taxes and math
Productively engaging community and policy makers
Policy development, design and adoption

Through applied learning, peer dialogue, and practical methods and tools, participants will emerge better prepared to lead with clarity and advocate for financially sustainable decision making. The journey concludes with actionable takeaways and support for “what’s next” in each learner’s unique path.

Note: Completion of part one of the Financial Sustainability Certificate Program is recommended but not required.

Topics and Takeaways include:

The value of designing and adopting relevant policies.
Making the case for endurance and fiscal responsibility to various stakeholders.
Understanding the deferred maintenance problem at the agency level.
Having courage and confidence to enact meaningful change.

Students converse with Instructor Jamie Sabbach.

Calendar

The SCHEDULE

Day 1
8:30am - 3:30pm
Continental breakfast and lunch included

Day 2
8:30am - 3:30pm
Continental breakfast and lunch included

Day 3
8:30am - noon
Continental breakfast included

The INVESTMENT

CPRS Member Registration ... $599
Non-Member Registration ... $749

Registration includes all learning materials, three continental breakfasts, two lunches, and 1.5 CEU pre-approved for both the Certified Park and Recreation Professional (“CPRP”) and the Certified Park and Recreation Executive (“CPRE”) certifications.

The LEADERS

Jamie Sabbach, 110%

Jamie has spent her entire adult life serving the public park and recreation profession. Afforded opportunities few will ever have, she has been a practitioner, an educator, and consultant. She speaks from a place of experience, realism, and observation.

Jamie has taught hundreds of professional development and training programs across North America and Europe and has had the privilege of testifying in front of the United States Congress on the critical importance of public lands and recreation.

She currently works alongside organizations from coast to coast assisting them in creating financially sustainable service models for their communities. She also teaches financial management at Indiana University in the School of Public Health’s masters program.

Kevin Shepherd, Verdunity

Kevin Shepherd began his career as a civil engineer designing infrastructure and development projects before transitioning into community planning where he worked on master plans and sustainability strategies for cities across North America. He realized that very few cities had the money needed to maintain services and infrastructure, and that shifts needed to be made to get back on a fiscally sustainable path.

Kevin founded Verdunity in 2011 to focus on helping communities understand and address these challenges because he believes everyone deserves to live in a prosperous and vibrant neighborhood at a cost they can afford. Verdunity's work has been featured by national organizations including the American Planning Association (APA), Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), International City/County Management Association (ICMA), as well as advocacy organizations including Strong Towns and Bloomberg.