2018 NLPES PDS Preliminary Agenda

9/14/2018

Bookmarks

Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Contact about Program
Brenda Erickson

Louisiana—Jazz Up Your Evaluation Skills
Sept. 9-12, 2018 | New Orleans, La.

Each fall, the National Legislative Program Evaluation Society (NLPES) sponsors a national training seminar designed exclusively for state legislative staff who work in program evaluation. The meeting offers professional development opportunities for program evaluators at all skill levels. The Louisiana Legislative Auditor hosted this year's seminar.

Location: Hotel Monteleone, New Orleans, La.

All meetings were held at the Hotel Monteleone unless otherwise indicated. To request a copy of a PowerPoint presentation or handout from any session held during the 2018 conference, please contact Brenda Erickson, the NCSL liaison to NLPES.

sunDay, Sept. 9
Time	Sessions
8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.	NLPES Executive Committee Meeting Hotel Monteleone, Second Floor—Orleans D Presiding: Shunti Taylor, Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts and Incoming NLPES Chair
5-7 p.m.	Registration/Information Desk Hotel Monteleone, Mezzanine Level—Queen Anne Mezzanine
Evening	Optional "Dutch-treat" Tours or Dinner on Your Own

monDay, sept. 10
7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.	Registration/Information Desk Hotel Monteleone, Mezzanine Level—Queen Anne Mezzanine
8:30-8:45 a.m.	Welcome Hotel Monteleone, Mezzanine Level—Queen Anne Ballroom & Parlor Welcomes from the Louisiana Host Office.
8:45-10 a.m.	Plenary Session 1—Auditing and Evaluations in Canada and Beyond Hotel Monteleone, Mezzanine Level—Queen Anne Ballroom & Parlor Learn about auditing and evaluation in Canada, including how topics are selected, what standards are followed, challenges experienced and the impact of their reports. Speakers: Jeremy Walton, Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office Malcolm Gaston, Office of the Auditor General of British Columbia, Canada
10:15-11:30 a.m.	Concurrent Session 1—Creative Data Analytics Hotel Monteleone, Ground Floor—Royal Salon Staff from Louisiana will present examples of how data analystics can be used in audits and evaluations—beyond just looking at compliance and improper payments. Panelists also will discuss different tools, challenges and lessons learned based on their experiences of using different data sets. Moderator: Chris Magee, Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office Panelists: Brent McDougall, Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office Kristen Jacobs, Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office Julie Floyd, Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office
10:15-11:30 a.m.	Concurrent Session 2— Evaluating Economic Development Programs, and Tax Exemptions, Credits and Incentives Hotel Monteleone, Ground Floor—Royal CD Panelists will present methods to evaluate the impact of economic development programs and tax incentives, credits and exemptions, including ideas for calculating return on investment. Moderator: Patricia Berger, Pennsylvania Legislative Budget and Finance Committee Panelists: Eric Thomas, Washington Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee Nick Hill, Montana Legislative Audit Division Brian Dean, Utah Office of the Legislative Auditor General Dean Swenson, Wisconsin Legislative Audit Bureau
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.	Networking Lunch and Plenary Session 2 Hotel Monteleone, Mezzanine Level—Queen Anne Ballroom & Parlor Network with your colleagues from across the country. Hear from a Louisiana Senator Fred Mills, who will discuss the impact of legislative program evaluation and performance audits. Speakers: Daryl Purpera, Louisiana Legislative Auditor Senator Fred Mills, Louisiana
1:15-2:30 p.m.	Concurrent Session 3—Hiring and Retaining Employees Hotel Monteleone, Ground Floor—Royal Salon This session will explore states’ experiences and success stories with hiring and retaining good employees. Moderator: Emily Dixon, Louisiana Legislative Auditor's Office Panelists: Heidi Zimmerman, Kansas Division of Legislative Post Audit Lisa Kieffer, Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts, Performance Audit Division Jenny Page, Colorado Office of the State Auditor Keenan Konopaski, Washington Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee
1:15-2:30 p.m.	Concurrent Session 4—Selecting Meaningful Audit Topics: Evaluations that Help Identify Cost-Savings and Generate Revenue Hotel Monteleone, Ground Floor—Royal CD This panel will discuss provide examples and suggestions for selecting meaningful topics, such as audits that either identify cost-savings or generate revenue. Moderator: Marcia Lindsay, South Carolina Legislative Audit Council Panelists: Kristen Jabobs, Louisiana Legislative Auditor's Office Jon Courtney, New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee Trey Standley, Colorado Office of the State Auditor
2:45-4 p.m.	Concurrent Session 5—Obtaining Stakeholder Input Hotel Monteleone, Ground Floor—Royal Salon Panelists will discuss approaches they have used to efficiently obtain input from stakeholders. They also will discuss how to design effective surveys and lessons learned. Moderator: Kiernan McGorty, North Carolina Program Evaluation Division Panelists: Misty Perry, Louisiana Legislative Auditor's Office Melinda Hamilton, Michigan Office of the Auditor General Maria Toniolo, Wisconsin Legislative Audit Bureau Zack Freeman, Washington Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee
2:45-4 p.m.	Concurrent Session 6—Trends in Research Methodologies Hotel Monteleone, Ground Floor—Royal CD Research methodologists from different states will discuss use of methodologies. The winner of the NLPES Excellence in Research Methods will present its award-winning methodology. Moderator: Jon Courtney, New Mexico Legislative Finance Office Panelists: Edward Seyler, Louisiana Legislative Auditor's Office Ryan McCord, Washington Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee Steve Grady, New Hampshire Office of Legislative Budget Assistant, Audit Division
4-5 p.m.	Plenary Session 3—Impact Award Information Fair Hotel Monteleone, Rooftop Level—Riverview Room Representatives from the states that received 2018 NLPES Certificates of Impact will present summaries of their reports.
5-6 p.m.	Networking Reception Hotel Monteleone, Rooftop Level—Riverview Room
Evening	Dinner on Your Own

tuesDay, sept. 11
8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.	Registration/Information Desk Hotel Monteleone, Mezzanine Level—Queen Anne Mezzanine
8:30-10 a.m.	Plenary Session 4—GUMBO: Recipe for Leadership Success Hotel Monteleone, Mezzanine Level Queen Anne Ballroom & Parlor Today’s leaders are expected to do more with less, and since you can’t do it yourself, inspiring and engaging other is Job 1. Thus, it is crucial that you develop your ability to build rapport and gain buy-in from key stakeholders. Challenging times require you to leverage your strengths and enhance your leadership style to influence and engage team members to achieve results. In this insightful presentation, Ms. Ledet taps into her roots along the bayous of South Louisiana to deliver concrete, practical and actionable leadership guidance, moxed with flavorful vignettes from the Cajun culture. Sit down and enjoy as Ms. Ledet serves up her unique GUMBO leadership recipe, seasoned with her fun and engaging style—and some Cajun spice, of course!. Speaker: Jennifer Ledet, Ledet Management Consulting, Louisiana
10:15-11:30 a.m.	Concurrent Session 7—Evaluating Medicaid: Beyond Improper Payments Hotel Monteleone, Ground Floor—Royal Salon Panelists will discuss examples of audits on Medicaid, including evaluating methods to reduce Medicaid expenditures for long-term care, auditing the impact of managed care on costs and outcomes, and evaluating the effectiveness of vital program integrity functions. Moderator: Karen Leblanc, Louisiana Legislative Auditor's Office Panelists: Jodie Debetz, Louisiana Legislative Auditor's Office Matt Etzel, Kansas Legislative Division of Post Audit Amber Robbins, Montana Legislative Audit Division
10:15-11:30 a.m.	Concurrent Session 8—Emerging Policy Issues Hotel Monteleone, Ground Floor—Royal CD Panelists will discuss current and emerging policy areas, such as sexual harassment, opioids, etc. Moderator: Gina Brown, Louisiana Legislative Auditor's Office Panelists: Malcolm Gaston, Office of the Auditor General of British Columbia, Canada Rebecca Connolly, Washington Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee Eric Thomas, Washington Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee Tamara Schiff, Texas Sunset Advisory Commission
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.	NLPES Awards Lunch Hotel Monteleone, Mezzanine Level—Queen Anne Ballroom & Parlor Presiding: Shunti Taylor, Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts and Incoming NLPES Chair
1:15-2:30 p.m.	Concurrent Session 9—Evaluating the Evaluation: What Worked, What Didn't and What We Learned Hotel Monteleone, Ground Floor—Royal Salon Panelists will discuss both formal and informal methods they use to evaluate an audit or evaluation, including debriefing meetings, checklists, etc. This session is designed for auditors with more than five years of experience. Moderator: Emily Johnson, Texas Sunset Advisory Commission Panelists: Morgan Constantino, Texas Sunset Advisory Commission Gina Brown, Louisiana Legislative Auditor's Office Kristen Rottinghaus, Kansas Legislative Division of Post Audit
1:15-2:30 p.m.	Concurrent Session 10—Core Competencies for Auditors and Evaluators Hotel Monteleone, Ground Floor—Royal CD Panelists will discuss what knowledge, skills and abilities make auditors and evaluators successful and effective. This session is designed for auditors with less than five years of experience. Moderator: Jennifer Sebren, Mississippi Joint Legislative Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review Committee Panelists: Amanda Schlumpberger, Kansas Legislative Division of Post Audit Melinda Hamilton, Michigan Office of the Auditor General Julie Floyd, Louisiana Legislative Auditor's Office
2:45-3:45 p.m.	Concurrent Session 11—Obtaining Relevant and Sufficient Audit Evidence: How Much is Enough? Hotel Monteleone, Ground Floor—Royal Salon Panelists and audience members will discuss methods to ensure relevant and sufficient evidence is obtained, including considerations on how much and what kind of evidence is enough. Moderator: Madison Hoover, Louisiana Legislative Auditor's Office Panelists: Wayne Kidd, Utah Office of the Legislative Auditor General Michelle Colin, Colorado Office of the State Auditor
2:45-3:45 p.m.	Concurrent Session 12—Investigative Techniques in Audits and Evaluations Hotel Monteleone, Ground Floor—Royal CD Panelists will discuss investigative techniques that can be used to enhance performance audits and evaluations. Moderator: Christopher Magee, Louisiana Legislative Auditor's Office Panelists: Brent McDougall, Louisiana Legislative Auditor's Office Jake Dinsdale, Utah Office of the Legislative Auditor General Patricia Berger, Pennsylvania Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
3:45-4:45 p.m.	Concurrent Session 13—IT Issues: Data Reliability and Access Hotel Monteleone, Ground Floor—Royal Salon Panelists will present suggestions for assessing data reliability, discuss challenges to related access, and provide examples of how the impact of "bad data" can become its own audit or evaluation. Moderator: Irina Hampton, Louisiana Legislative Auditor's Office Panelists: Lauren Pendas, Louisiana Legislative Auditor's Office Greg Fugate, Colorado Office of the State Auditor Amanda Sayler, Montana Legislative Audit Division
3:45-4:45 p.m.	Concurrent Session 14—Visualizing Report Findings Hotel Monteleone, Ground Floor—Royal CD Panelists will share examples and suggestions on how to effectively use graphics, maps and other visuals to present findings and enhance reports. Moderator: Eric Thomas, Washington Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee Panelists: Will Leonards, Louisiana Legislative Auditor's Office Erik Beecroft, Virginia Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission Rebecca Connolly, Washington Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee
5-6 p.m.	Networking Reception Hotel Monteleone, Rooftop Level—Riverview Room
Evening	Dinner on Your Own

wednesDay, sept. 12
8-Noon	Registraion/Information Desk Hotel Monteleone, Mezzanine Level—Queen Anne Mezzanine
9-10:15 a.m.	Concurrent Session 15—Measuring the Impact of Reports Hotel Monteleone, Ground Floor—Royal Salon This panel will discuss methods states use to measure the impact of their work, including follow-up processes, etc. Moderator: Linda Triplett, Mississippi Joint Legislative Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review Committee Panelists: Kiernan McGorty, North Carolina Program Evaluation Division Krista Baker-Hernandez, Louisiana Legislative Auditor's Office Darin Underwood, Utah Office of the Legislative Auditor General
9-10:15 a.m.	Concurrent Session 16—Human Resources Roundtable Hotel Monteleone, Ground Floor—Royal CD This interactive, but structured, roundtable session will focus on human resource issues, including dealing with generational issues, providing timely and constructive feedback, providing cost-effective training ideas. Moderator: Lizzie Scott, Louisiana Legislative Auditor's Office Panelists: Katie Foster, Louisiana Legislative Auditor's Office Gina Brown, Louisiana Legislative Auditor's Office Jenny Page, Colorado Office of the State Auditor Emily Johnson, Texas Sunset Advisory Commission
10:30 a.m.-Noon	Plenary Session 5—Team Building Hotel Monteleone, Mezzanine Level—Queen Anne Ballroom & Parlor Participants in this session will participate in a team building activity as well as obtain ideas on how to encourage team building in your own offices. Speakers: Nina Grant, Colorado Office of the State Auditor Greg Fugate, Colorado Office of the State Auditor Melinda Hamilton, Michigan Office of the Auditor General
	2018 NLPES Professional Development Seminar Concludes