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Upcoming Meetings

NCSL Legislative Summit in San Antonio, Texas
(Bob Boerner, NLPES Staff Liaison, NCSL, Colorado)

We deal with a wide array of complicated and challenging issues. The NCSL Legislative Summit will give us what we need to meet the urgent demands in our states. Decisions made at the Legislative Summit Business meeting will direct NCSL's advocacy positions on major policy issues throughout the following year. Come to San Antonio, Texas, August 8-11, 2011, to hone your legislative skills and help ensure states' interests are protected. Sessions will take place at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. Specific information will be coming soon in the online agenda available on the NCSL homepage.

NLPES Professional Development Seminar
(Bob Boerner, NLPES Staff Liaison, NCSL, Colorado)

NLPES will host our Professional Development Seminar September 19 - 21, 2011, at the Magnolia Hotel, in Denver, Colorado. The seminar will offer professional development opportunities for program evaluators of all skill levels. The Results First initiative of the Pew Center on the States will offer cost-benefit analysis sessions at the beginning of the seminar. Mark your calendar and plan to attend! More details coming soon on the NLPES homepage. (Photo credit: Photohome.com)

Photo Credit: Nina Frant

NLPES Office Happenings

Minnesota

Program Evaluation Coordinator John Yunker of the Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA) will be retiring in June. John has managed numerous evaluations since joining OLA in 1977.

Washington

The Washington Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (JLARC) announced in December the appointment of Keenan Konopaski to serve as the Legislative Auditor following the retirement of Ruta Fanning.

The Legislative Auditor serves as the director of JLARC, which is the independent Legislative agency that conducts performance audits, sunset reviews and state agency program evaluations as assigned by the Legislature.

“Keenan’s wide range of experience both in agency management and performance auditing gives him unique insight into the requirements and challenges of the Legislative Auditor position,” Representative Troy Kelley, JLARC Chair, said. Konopaski possesses a wealth of experience, with twenty years of government management experience, including nearly twelve years of performance auditing. He has training in Government Accountability Office (GAO) government auditing standards that are used by JLARC and other audit organizations.

The National Legislative Program Evaluation Society (NLPES) is one of ten staff sections associated with the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). NLPES includes employees of state legislative agencies engaged in program evaluation or performance auditing.

The purpose of NLPES is to advance the profession of legislative program evaluation and performance auditing and to provide members with relevant training, opportunities for exchanging ideas and information, and recognition for superior performance. Interested persons whose professional work precludes membership may request to affiliate with NLPES. Affiliates are invited to participate in NLPES activities and promote the Society's interests, but only members can vote in NLPES elections and hold an elective office. NLPES does not charge dues.