Skip to main content
Sep Sep 27 29
  • In-Person Event

2023 NALFO Professional Development Seminar

  • Wednesday, September 27, 2023
    • In-Person Event
View Event Details:

The 2023 NALFO Professional Development Seminar will be held Sept. 27-29 in Minneapolis.  

NCSL’s Fiscal Analysts Seminar is designed for fiscal staff of various levels of experience and research staff with budget or tax responsibilities. The meeting is a unique opportunity to explore key topics in depth and meet informally with colleagues from across the country to discuss common concerns.

The seminar provides both the knowledge of national experts and the expertise of senior legislative staff who are policy experts in their states.  

Preconference

Fiscal Skills Building Workshop

Sept. 26-27

NCSL will host a Fiscal Skills Building Workshop as a preconference to the Fiscal Analysts Seminar. The meeting will be geared toward new staff with fiscal responsibilities and will take place in the afternoon of Sept. 26 and the morning of Sept. 27 before the Fiscal Analysts Seminar begins. An agenda will be available soon.

Millenium Minneapolis Hotel
1313 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis

Tuesday, September 26

11-1 p.m. 

Millennium Minneapolis Hotel 

Outside Grand and South Room 

Registration

1-1:30 p.m. 

Grand and South Room 

Welcome and Introductions

1:30-2:15 p.m.

Federal Funds and State Budgets

  • Andrew Olson, senior budget and policy analyst, Federal Funds Information for States | Presentation

2:15-3 p.m.

Tips and Tricks to Improve your Excel Game

  • Kathy Schill, fiscal analyst, House Fiscal Analysis Department, Minnesota | Presentation

3-3:15 p.m.

Break

3:15-4 p.m.

Understanding Fiscal Notes

  • Krista Lee Carsner, executive director, Fiscal Review Committee, Tennessee | Presentation

4-4:45 p.m.

Understanding Revenue Forecasts

  • Jim Landers, associate professor and director of graduate/professional studies, John Glenn College of Public Affairs, The Ohio State University | Presentation

5:30-7 p.m.

Networking Reception at hotel

7 p.m.

Time to explore Minneapolis

Wednesday, Sept. 27

8-9 a.m.

North Grand Room

North Grand Room

Breakfast provided at hotel

9-10 a.m.

Communicating With Agencies and Evaluating Agency Budgets 101

  • Kirk Fulford, legislative fiscal analyst, Alabama Legislative Services Agency
  • Eric Nauman, principal fiscal analyst, Minnesota Senate

Presentation

10-10:15 a.m.

Break

10:15-11 a.m.

Key Data Sources and Research Tools

  • Travis Eisenbacher, senior economist, Utah Legislature | Presentation

11-11:45 a.m.

Lessons learned From Seasoned Fiscal Analysts

Panelists:

  • Jason Sisney, budget director, Office of the Speaker, California
  • Kathy Schill, fiscal analyst, House Fiscal Analysis Department, Minnesota
  • Krista Lee Carsner, executive director, Fiscal Review Committee, Tennessee
11:45 a.m. End of Fiscal Skills Building Workshop

Wednesday, Sept. 27

10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Millennium Minneapolis Hotel 

Outside Grand and South Room 

 

Registration

1-1:15 p.m.

 

Welcome and Introductions

  • Sabrina N. Lewellen, NCSL staff chair, deputy director and assistant secretary of the Senate, Arkansas 

1:15-2 p.m.

 

Economic Outlook

  • Ben Malin, vice president, Research, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis | Presentation

2-2:15 p.m.

Break

2:15-3 p.m.

Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) Overview and Demonstration

  • Diego Mendez-Carbajo, senior economic education specialist, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis | Presentation

3-3:15 p.m.

Break

3:15-4:30 p.m.

How to Write for People With No Time to Read

  • Lisa Ryckman, associate director of Communications, National Conference of State Legislatures | Presentation

5-6:30 p.m.

 

Networking reception at hotel

6:30 p.m.

Time to explore Minneapolis

Thursday, Sept. 28

8-9 a.m.

North Grand Room 

Breakfast provided at hotel

9-10 a.m.

Grand and South Room 

Communicating Styles Training

  • Jessica Hoffman, training specialist, National Conference of State Legislatures

10-10:15 a.m.

Break

10:15-11:45 a.m.

Evaluating Agency Budget Requests Workshop

  • Kirk Fulford, legislative fiscal analyst, Alabama Legislative Services Agency
  • Eric Nauman, principal fiscal analyst, Minnesota Senate

Presentation

11:45-1:15 p.m.

Lunch on own

1:15-2:15 p.m.

Advanced Excel Tools

  • Joel Enders, budget analyst, Legislative Budget Office, Minnesota
  • Solveig Beckel, fiscal analyst, House Fiscal Analysis Department, Minnesota

2:15-3:15 p.m.

Bus to Minnesota Senate Building and Capitol

3:15-4:15 p.m.

Leading With Civility

  • Mark Quiner, director, Center for Ethics in Government, National Conference of State Legislatures

4:15-6:30 p.m.

Reception at Minnesota Senate Building and Capitol

6:30 p.m.

 

Buses depart for hotel

Friday, Sept. 29

8-9 a.m.

North Grand Room

Breakfast provided at hotel

9-10 a.m.

Grand and South Room

Tips for Committee Presentations

  • Jonathan Ball, legislative fiscal Aanalyst, Utah | Presentation

10-11 a.m.

Artificial Intelligence and Legislative Fiscal Offices

  • Vidhu Shekhar, government strategy leader, Microsoft
  • Nick VanBrown, lead data scientist, Legislative Fiscal Division, Montana | Presentation

11-11:10 a.m.

Break

11:10-11:55 a.m.

Changing State Demographics and State Budgeting

  • Susan Brower, state demographer, Minnesota State Demographic Center | Presentation

Noon

Fiscal Analysts Seminar concludes

Important Note

NCSL has a discounted group rate of $159/night plus tax. The deadline to book your room at the group rate is September 5.

Millenium Minneapolis Hotel
1313 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403 

  • Room rate $159 plus tax

Book a Room

Parking

There is onsite parking available at the hotel for $35/day.

Sponsors
Loading
  • Contact NCSL

  • For more information on this topic, use this form to reach NCSL staff.