Madison County Official Honored for Graduation from County Government Institute   

Madison County Public Information Officer Samantha Field was recently honored for graduating with a certificate from the County Government Institute.

The County Government Institute is an educational program hosted by the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC). Through CGI coursework, county officials earn a certification that demonstrates their dedication to good government and to upholding high standards of county leadership.  

The graduation was part of the 2025 NYSAC Centennial Legislative Conference held in Albany, in a ceremony honoring county officials for upholding the pillars of leadership, accountability, and integrity.   

“The County Government Institute program benefits not only elected officials, but all of us who work in county government,” said Field. “The coursework and networking with others across the state give us new perspectives and information on timely issues to help us better serve our communities.” 

"As county government becomes increasingly complex, it is imperative that our leaders continually enhance their skills to effectively serve our communities,” said NYSAC President and Westchester County Legislator Benjamin Boykin II. “These graduates’ commitment to professional development through this rigorous program exemplifies the dedication required to navigate the challenges county leaders face today." 

“The County Government Institute is an invaluable resource for leaders in local government,” said NYSAC Executive Director Stephen Acquario. “It equips county officials with essential tools and insights to tackle challenges faced by counties across New York State.”  

Courses are offered at all NYSAC conferences, and regionally throughout the year, to enable county leaders to stay up to date on timely issues and opportunities in local government.   

Field has served as the Public Information Officer for Madison County since July 2018.  As the Public Information Officer, she has worked to improve communication between the county and the public, as well as with employees.  Field has grown the Madison County Facebook account to almost 13,000 followers and creates content and maintains 10 other County social media accounts.  She also writes over 150 press releases a year, creates a bi-monthly employee newsletter, and hosts the Madison County Milk House podcast.   

Prior to joining the Madison County team, Field worked as a radio talk show host for local morning news radio program on 100.7 FM WUTQ, and before that as a television news producer for Fox News Channel.   

CGI instructors are NYSAC staff, county leaders, and Cornell faculty members who are experts in local government structure and issues.   

The Institute's curriculum includes extensive course work on government ethics, building consensus in a political environment, principles of county budget and finance, and public sector labor/management relations.