2025 NLPES Professional Development Seminar

The Montana State Capitol located in Helena, Montana

The National Legislative Program Evaluation Society (NLPES) hosts the only national training event designed exclusively for state legislative staff who work in program evaluation and performance auditing. NLPES will hold its 2025 Professional Development Seminar in Helena, Mont., Sept. 30-Oct. 2. The Montana Legislative Audit Division is the host of this year’s seminar.  

This seminar offers professional development opportunities for program evaluators and performance auditors of all skill levels. Participate in informative presentations and engage in roundtable discussions with colleagues working on similar issues. Learn new approaches, share ideas and network with your peers from other states. 

Legislative audit and evaluation offices operate in a diverse environment, providing objective analysis and conclusions in many different subject areas. Therefore, the seminar program will cover a wide range of topics, such as:  

Basic skills  
Data visualization  
Artificial intelligence 
Communication skills  
And so much more!

The seminar agenda will include a great mix of plenary speakers and concurrent sessions with ample opportunity for panel presentations and discussions about contemporary issues in legislative program evaluation and performance auditing.  

*If you are interested in serving as a speaker or moderator on any topic or issue areas of interest to NLPES members and their work, please reach out to NLPES liaison, Megan McClure.

The 2025 agenda includes approximately 19 CPE hours.

Session Tracks

Technical
Communication
Management

Preliminary Agenda: Session topics are preliminary and subject to change or schedule adjustment.

Monday, Sept. 29: Registration at the Hotel Monteleone
4-6 p.m.	Registration and Information Desk Beat the rush and check in early. Don’t forget your badge and meeting packet!
4-5:30 p.m.	NLPES Executive Committee Meeting
Tuesday, Sept. 30: All Sessions at the Great Northern Hotel
8 a.m.-4 p.m.	Registration and Information Desk Check in and get your badge and meeting packet before the sessions start!
7-8 a.m.	Breakfast at the Hotel Continental breakfast is available at both NLPES hotels. You are welcome to bring your breakfast to the first session!
8-8:30 a.m.	Plenary Session: Welcome and Kickoff	Plenary
8:30-9:15 a.m.	Team-Building Activity	Plenary
	Concurrent Sessions
9:30-10:30 a.m.	Concurrent Session 1	Track Technical
9:30-10:30 a.m.	Concurrent Session 2	Track Communication
9:30-10:30 a.m.	Concurrent Session 3	Track Management
	Concurrent Sessions
10:45-11:45 a.m.	Concurrent Session 4	Track Technical
10:45-11:45 a.m.	Concurrent Session 5	Track Communication
10:45-11:45 a.m.	Concurrent Session 6	Track Management
Noon-1:15 p.m.	Lunch Plenary 1	Plenary
	Concurrent Sessions
1:30-2:30 p.m.	Concurrent Session 7	Track Technical
1:30-2:30 p.m.	Concurrent Session 8	Track Communication
1:30-2:30 p.m.	Concurrent Session 9	Track Management
	Concurrent Sessions
3-4 p.m.	Concurrent Session 10	Track Technical
3-4 p.m.	Concurrent Session 11	Track Communication
3-4 p.m.	Concurrent Session 12	Track Management
4:30-6 p.m.	Certificate of Impact Award: Poster Session and Happy Hour Learn about this year’s award-winning reports. Grab a refreshment and nosh while you chat and check out the posters!	Plenary
6 p.m.	Dinner on Your Own Group up with new and old friends and get some dinner!
Wednesday, Oct. 1: Morning Sessions at the Great Northern Hotel and Capitol
8 a.m.-4 p.m.	Registration and Information Desk
7-8 a.m.	Breakfast at the Hotel Continental breakfast is available at both NLPES hotels. You are welcome to bring your breakfast to the first session!
8-9:15 a.m.	Recognizing 2025 NLPES Award Recipients Let’s recognize and celebrate the winners of this year’s Outstanding Achievement Award, Excellence in Evaluation Award, Excellence in Research Methods Awards and Certificates of Impact. (See awards list on the app for winners.)	Plenary
	Concurrent Sessions
9:30-10:30 a.m.	Concurrent Session 13	Track Technical
9:30-10:30 a.m.	Concurrent Session 14	Track Communication
9:30-10:30 a.m.	Concurrent Session 15	Track Management
	Concurrent Sessions
10:45- 11:45 a.m.	Concurrent Session 16	Track Technical
10:45- 11:45 a.m.	Concurrent Session 17	Track Communication
10:45- 11:45 a.m.	Concurrent Session 18	Track Management
11:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m.	Head to the Capitol Board buses and travel to Montana State Capitol.	Travel
12:15-1:15 p.m.	Lunch Plenary Grab lunch in the Capitol rotunda, then settle down to hear from an expert.	Plenary
	Concurrent Sessions
1:30-2:45 p.m.	Concurrent Session 19	Track Technical
1:30-2:45 p.m.	Concurrent Session 20	Track Communication
1:30-2:45 p.m.	Concurrent Session 21	Track Management
3-4:30 p.m.	Tours of the Montana State Capitol	Tour
5-6:30 p.m. Holter Museum of Art	Holter Art Walk 12 E. Lawrence St., Helena, MT 59601 Specializing in contemporary art from the Northwest, this museum showcases local and national artists.	Social Event
6:30-7 p.m.	Buses Back to Hotel and Dinner on Your Own
Thursday, Oct. 2: All Sessions at the Great Northern Hotel
8 a.m.-Noon	Information Desk
7-8 a.m.	Breakfast at the Hotel Continental breakfast is available at both NLPES hotels. You are welcome to bring your breakfast to the first session!
8-9:15 a.m.	Morning Plenary	Plenary
	Concurrent Sessions
9:30-10:30 a.m.	Concurrent Session 22	Track Technical
9:30-10:30 a.m.	Concurrent Session 23	Track Communication
9:30-10:30 a.m.	Concurrent Session 24	Track Management
	Concurrent Sessions
10:45-11:45 a.m.	Concurrent Session 25	Track Technical
10:45-11:45 a.m.	Concurrent Session 26	Track Communication
10:45-11:45 a.m.	Concurrent Session 27	Track Management
Noon	Seminar Concludes

The NLPES has two room blocks

Main Seminar Hotel
Best Western Premier Helena Great Northern Hotel
835 Great Northern Blvd.
Helena, MT 59601

Booking Link

Secondary Overflow Hotel

DoubleTree Helena Downtown
22 N. Last Chance Gulch
Helena, MT 59601

Booking Link

All seminar sessions and activities will be held at the Helena Great Northern Hotel.

Travel Information

Attendees are responsible for making their own travel arrangements.

If you need assistance booking air travel:

Christopherson Travel
800-825-3283 (7 a.m. to 6 p.m. MDT) or 303-694-4344

Flights into Helena Regional Airport (HLN) are limited. Please make your travel arrangements as soon as possible.

Both hotels offer airport shuttle service from HLN. Please contact your respective hotel location to arrange pickup.

The closest alternative/major international airport is Bozeman/Yellowstone International Airport (BZN), a 1.5 hour drive from Helena. For additional details and ground transportation options visit the Bozeman/Yellowstone Airport ground transportation site.

There are shuttle options between Bozeman and Helena.

General Information

Special Needs

To ensure full participation and accessibility for all meeting attendees, please notify Megan McClure and Katryna Chamblin about any special accommodations you may require or any dietary restrictions you may have.

Attire

Business casual attire is appropriate for all seminar events. Dressing in layers will allow you to make adjustments for your comfort. Late-September, early-October weather in Helena typically is cool, with average daytime temperatures in the low to mid-60s and overnight temperatures in the high 30s to low 40s; precipitation is less likely.

City Information

From the Visit Helena website: Helena exists at a crossroads between past and present, tame and untamed, mountainous wilderness and hometown warmth. A place where you can hike for miles without seeing a soul, stroll through our charming downtown, and enjoy breweries with breathtaking views—all in the same day.

10 Helena Fun Facts

Helena was declared Montana’s territorial capital in 1875.
Helena is a Continental Divide Trail Gateway Community.
Helena has one of the largest city parks systems in the U.S.—combined 1,000 acres.
Home to the internationally renowned ceramics institution, the Archie Bray.
Home to the largest Charlie M. Russell collection in the world.
Named a Silver-Level Ride Center by the International Mountain Bike Association.
The Missouri River is a Blue Ribbon Trout Area.
Home to two Montana Audubon Society birding areas.
Perfect midway point between Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park.
Awarded “Best for Geocaching” title by Rand McNally & Geocaching.com.

Visit the Helena tourism site for more details.

2025 NLPES Professional Development Seminar

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The NLPES has two room blocks

Secondary Overflow Hotel

Travel Information

General Information

10 Helena Fun Facts

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