The following is a news release from the Village of South Orange :
South Orange Village is proud to announce that Deputy Village Administrator Peter Travers has earned his Certified Public Manager (CPM) certification through the State of New Jersey Certified Public Manager Program at Rutgers University–Newark.
The nationally accredited program, administered by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission and delivered by the Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration, provides advanced training for public-sector leaders in areas including organizational leadership, strategic planning, budgeting, ethics and management.
Village Administrator Julie Doran, Deputy Village Administrator Pete Travers, and Mayor Sheena Collum at the 2026 Certified Public Manager graduation ceremony. Collum holding the sign she held up at the ceremony. (Photo courtesy of Sheena Collum)
Mayor Sheena Collum and Village Administrator Julie Doran joined Travers at the graduation ceremony on Friday, September 25, at the New Jersey Forensic Science Technology Center in Hamilton to celebrate the achievement.
Travers’ career with South Orange began in 2001 as a part-time summer maintenance employee in the Recreation Department. Over more than two decades, he advanced through increasingly senior roles in recreation and municipal operations, becoming Director of Recreation and Cultural Affairs and, in 2023, Deputy Village Administrator.
“Pete is a great example of what can happen when we invest in our own people and give talented employees opportunities to grow,” said Mayor Sheena Collum. “What stands out to me is how much he gives to this organization and our community every single day. He works across all of our departments, freely sharing his knowledge and skills, supporting our staff and helping everyone work better together. He’s available to me 24/7, provides exceptional customer service to our residents, and no matter how complex the issue, his instinct is always to roll up his sleeves, bring the right people together and figure out how we can solve it. I couldn’t be prouder of him.”
As Deputy Village Administrator, Travers helps oversee Village operations, capital planning, budgeting, technology, labor relations and major municipal projects. His work has included management of the $15 million renovation of The Baird, the ongoing $16 million library construction project, recreation facility improvements and securing millions of dollars in state and federal grant funding.
“Pete is a problem solver who brings tremendous institutional knowledge and practical experience to our leadership team,” said Village Administrator Julie Doran. “He understands how our organization works, knows how to bring people together and, most importantly, knows how to get things done. His commitment to continuing his professional development makes him an even stronger leader for South Orange.”
Travers, who also earned his Qualified Purchasing Agent certification in 2025, said the CPM program was another opportunity to build upon the experience he has gained throughout his career in South Orange.
“I’ve been incredibly fortunate to grow my career in a community and an organization that has continually given me opportunities to learn and take on new challenges,” said Travers. “I’m proud of how far I’ve come since that first summer with the Recreation Department, grateful to everyone who has supported me along the way, and excited to put what I’ve learned through the CPM program to work for South Orange.”
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