NLSSA’s Annual Training Conference was hosted by President Michelle O’Brien at the beautiful Capitol in Boise, Idaho: In September, Capitol staff from Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, Puerto Rico, Ghana, and Kenya met for another successful training conference.
NLSSA Executive Board
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President: Michelle O’Brien, Idaho
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Vice President: Cyrus Anderson, Wisconsin
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Secretary: Virginia J. Drew, New Hampshire
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Treasurer: Dustin Morgan, Florida
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First Trustee: Jimmetta Gourdine, Alabama
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Second Trustee: Elizabeth Garzone, Texas
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Third Trustee: Eddie Broughton, North Carolina
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Sergeant at arms: Rod Welsh, Texas
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Region Chairs
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Region 1: Micaela Bradner, Alaska
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Region 2: Bryan Pierick, Minnesota
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Region 3: Erica Freeman, New Jersey
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Region 4: Will Hamm, Jr., Alabama
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Region Vice Chairs
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Region 1: Steve Walker, Idaho
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Region 2: Tracy Jones, Indiana
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Region 3: Matt Clancy, Maine
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Region 4: Jackie Molchan, South Carolina
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Chaplain: Chuck Williams, South Carolina
Message from NLSSA President Michelle O’Brien
Wishing you a Happy and Prosperous 2025!
As we step into 2025, I am very excited to restart our NLSSA newsletter. I hope you find it interesting and informative. If you have suggestions for sections or additions you would like to see, please let me know. This newsletter is for YOU, our members, and it needs to be relevant and provide a service to you, not just another thing that clogs up your inbox. In that line of thinking, we need a name for our newsletters and want you to make suggestions to the board about what it should be called. Have those suggestions in to use by April 15! Same as Tax Day, so it should be easy to remember. I will get that to the board for voting and then we will post it on our NCSL Groups site!
It was a wonderful to see so many of you in Boise at my Capitol for my final year as your president. Celebrating my building with you and speaking about topics near and dear to my heart made my year! For those who were able to make it I hope you enjoyed it even just a fraction as much as I did. I hope to see everyone in Indianapolis later this year for the next Annual Training Conference (ATC) but please remember that we are all here for each other year-round as a resource. You can reach out to any of the board members, regional chairs, or NCSL liaisons for information, or just a sounding board.
I am going to leave you with a quote I found in December. I encourage you to embrace the limitless possibilities that lie ahead in 2025. Visualize your desired future, have faith in your abilities, and strive for greatness each day. Whether your aspirations involve personal growth, career success, or making a positive impact on the world – it all begins with your unwavering commitment to take action.
NLSSA Annual Training Conference Opening Ceremony in Idaho House of Representatives Chamber
One of the highlights of the Annual Conference is the opening ceremony. NLSSA host state provides an opportunity for a formal welcome and a special tour of its building and grounds. This year the members involved with capitol security received a security-based tour while those involved with visitor services toured with capitol docents. A highlight for attendees is to learn how other capitals operate and compare different policies and protocols. Networking with a counterpart from another state is a great benefit of the conferences.
NLSSA members were given an opportunity to go inside the Idaho dome and to get a bird’s eye view of Boise. During the conference, members participated in round table discussions and were provided training sessions which included the following topics: cybersecurity and infrastructure, ethics, deescalation, continuity of operations, consistent communication in emergencies, event management, docent and gift shop management, leadership, practical stress management for high-intensity workplaces, managing burnout and stress, protest management, and opportunities for open discussions.
NLSSA Membership Committee Update
The Membership Committee reports they are working on updating a master list identifying potential candidates for membership from states not yet involved with NLSSA. Once completed, the committee will begin reaching out to those potential candidates to present the benefits of joining and participating in NLSSA. Already, significant outreach has been developed with the creation of the Northeast Consortium within Region 3 that will potentially result in new NLSSA Memberships. In Region 2 there is one interested candidate that has expressed interest in becoming a NLSSA member in 2025.
- Elizabeth Garzone, Texas
2024 NLSSA Staff Exchange Report
From June 10-14 the Wisconsin Senate hosted the inaugural Staff Exchange Program, which was a great success. Nicole Hill, chief doorkeeper, Illinois House of Representatives, and Mac Jordan, visitors services, Colorado Legislative Council were hosted by Cyrus Anderson, deputy sergeant-at-arms, Wisconsin Senate.
During their stay they were able to tour the Capitol building, met with their counterparts in the Senate and Assembly, reviewed and toured the Wisconsin Capitol Police Department, and met with visitor services and museum directors at the Capitol building and the Wisconsin Veteran’s Museum where they were given in depth tours of their tour programs and extensive collections. Their visit also included a stop at Carley Woods, a Wisconsin-based carpentry shop that has unique experience in historic restoration of Capitol buildings and recreations of historic furniture. Both attendees were also treated to the lively downtown area of Madison, the only capitol city built on an isthmus and had an opportunity to enjoy Madison’s two downtown lakes and many excellent restaurants and attractions.
- Cyrus Anderson, Wisconsin
Awards Presented during NLSSA Conference
During the NLSSA State Dinner several long-time members were recognized for their service and contributions to the association. The Legislative Staff Achievement Award is awarded to a member who supports the legislative process and the mission of the legislature, exhibits a high degree of professionalism, and integrity serving the legislature and public, and who contributes to the success of NLSSA and NCSL. South Carolina’s Deputy Sergeant at Arms Ronnie McGirt and Louisiana Sergeant at Arms Louis Carral were this year’s recipients.
The Tony Beard Memorial Award is given to a member who has spent many years serving NLSSA and exerted extraordinary effort on behalf of the association. This is a lifetime achievement award and the most prestigious NLSSA award. The 2024 Tony Beard Memorial Award was presented to one of the longest serving members, Jimmetta Gourdine. She has had a long and amazing career and has given years of experience and dedication on behalf of the NLSSA.
She has served on the executive board in a variety of leadership roles, including trustee, vice president and is a past president of NLSSA. She spearheaded an amazing conference in 2007 in her home state of Alabama and has continued to assist with each year’s training conferences. She received the Trooper Award in 2013, the Legislative Staff Achievement Award in 2008, and has served with distinction in the Alabama legislature’s security for over 24 years. She is level-headed and fair-minded in all that she does for her state, her family and our association.
NLSSA 2024: Conference at a Glance
