Lake Wales, Fla. (August 27, 2025) – Lake Wales Police Captain Stephanie Goreck recently achieved a significant professional milestone by graduating from the nationally acclaimed Certified Public Manager (CPM) program at Florida State University. On Thursday, August 21, Captain Goreck and her classmates were honored in a graduation ceremony after completing the rigorous two-year program. The program is designed to strengthen leadership and management in the public sector.
The CPM program, administered by the Florida Center for Public Management at FSU, is the largest in the country. With over 8,000 graduates from more than 100 public agencies across the state, it is recognized for its high academic standards and emphasis on practical application in public service leadership.
Captain Goreck completed 240 hours of instruction, including quarterly in-person sessions. The coursework included college-level assignments, exams and collaborative team-building exercises, covering topics such as leadership development, performance management and organizational behavior.
She brings over 20 years of dedicated service to the Lake Wales Police Department and was promoted to Captain in October 2024. “Captain Goreck has been a dedicated and invaluable member of our team,” said Lake Wales Police Chief Chris Velasquez. “Her completion of this elite program is a testament to her leadership and commitment to serving our community with excellence.”
Her graduation from the CPM program not only reflects her personal commitment to professional growth but also enhances the leadership capacity of the department as a whole. The Lake Wales Police Department congratulates Captain Goreck on this prestigious accomplishment and looks forward to the continued impact of her leadership
