Upon my appointment by the Governors to serve as WGA’s executive director, I undertook wholesale reconstruction of the organization – demolishing portfolio silos, implementing structural reorganization, developing best-in-class sponsorship programs, and creating dynamic policy and communications directorates. I supervise a modestly sized team of professionals who are easily fighting above their weight. Under my leadership, WGA has initiated a number of successful policy programs and projects, including:• 10-Year Energy Vision for the West• Western Governors’ Drought Forum• Western Governors’ Species Conservation and Endangered Species Act Initiative• Western Governors’ National Forest and Rangeland Management Initiative• Western Governors’ Workforce Development Initiative • Western Governors’ Biosecurity and Invasive Species InitiativeIn my current position, I frequently testify before Congress, address national and regional groups, and forge partnerships with federal agencies, associations and other policy organizations. WGA recently created the Western Policy Network, a confederation of state associations promoting common priorities. The collective influence of Western Governors has grown significantly and demonstrably since the reorganization of WGA. The association’s promotion of state authority has had positive impacts on federal legislation and rulemakings regarding public land management, environmental regulation, groundwater management, and a host of other issues.The key to the organization’s success is a fierce commitment to bipartisanship. I will be relying on the Governors’ good will and dedication to service in pursuing my next major professional project: re-creation of the Western Governors’ Foundation to pursue philanthropic, charitable and educational purposes.

As director of legislative operations for the voluntary association of all ninety-one municipalities in the State of Arizona, I was responsible for development and execution of comprehensive political strategies concerning state legislation affecting cities and towns. Among other things, I: reviewed and analyzed all bills introduced in the Arizona Legislature; testified before standing committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate; published a weekly Legislative Bulletin; coordinated legislative activities of municipal intergovernmental officials; and drafted policy memoranda, annual New Laws Report, editorials, correspondence and various analyses and documents. During the 50th Arizona Legislature, I coordinated a successful effort to repeal the authority of the Department of Water Resources to impose an assessment on cities and towns for departmental operations, resulting in savings of up to $7 million annually for municipalities. I also developed and executed successful strategies to repel an unprecedented assault of anti-city legislation. This involved the defeat, neutralization and veto of bills to: eliminate the Model City Tax Code; reduce and freeze state-shared revenues; mandate municipal employment levels; and micromanage city contracting processes.