2018 Western Legislative AcademyNov. 28–Dec. 1, 2018

Apply online atw w w . c s g w e s t . o r g / w l a

Applications due April 23, 2018

COLORADO SPRINGS

Helping Legislators Become More Effective

Building Stronger State Legislative Institutions

2 G OA L S

“I was so impressed with the training and found it so valuable.”I D A H O R E P. M E L I S S A W I N T R O W

What is Western Legislative Academy?The West’s premier training event for lawmakers in their first four years of cumulative service, delivered by CSG West.

Three and a half-days of intensive skill building for state legislators from Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

What Are the Academy’s Goals?

• Help legislators become more effective leaders

• Build strong state legislative institutions

Where Is the Western Legislative Academy Located?

• Colorado Springs, CO

• Classes held in the El Pomar Foundation’s historic Penrose House

• Activity based training takes place at the US Air Force Academy

• Participants are housed at the Broadmoor Hotel

What Will I Learn?

• Team building

• Leadership styles

• Time management

• Tools for ethical decision-making

• History & significance of state legislatures

• Impacts of personality styles

• Principles of governance

• Consensus building/negotiations

Who Are the Faculty?

• National experts in state legislatures, communications, time management, governance, ethics and negotiations

• U.S. Air Force leadership development expert

• Leading academic authorities

What Is the Value of the Academy?

• From the first class in 2000 to the present, the WLA has received high marks for its overall value to lawmakers.

• Since 2000, we have graduated 680 alumni who have returned to their state legislatures ready to make a difference.

• Many of our alumni have gone on to serve as leaders— including presiding officers, majority and minority leaders, a lieutenant governor, committee and caucus leaders and several members of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives.

Who Governs the Western Legislative Academy?

• CSG West officers and the CSG West Executive Committee serve as the board of directors for the Academy

Who Pays?

• With support from state dues, foundation funding and the private sector, CSG West provides training, meals and housing

• Participants pay for their own travel to and from Colorado Springs

For more information

Visit us at www.csgwest.org/WLA for more information and to apply. Application materials must be submitted online or by mail by April 23, 2018.

Questions regarding the WLA? Please contact Erica Miller at 916.553.4423 or wla@csg.org.

“You gave me ideas I can actually use.”C O L O R A D O R E P. B A R B A R A M C L A C H L A N

W L A C L A S S O F 2 0 1 7

Convened in Colorado Springs this December, the 18th Western Legislative Academy (WLA) hosted thirty-seven promising western legislators. Participants were selected by their state’s leadership to participate in a three and a half day program of extensive skill-building provided by national experts. The course agenda included training in the process of good governance, integrity and ethics, time management, consensus building, and leadership styles.

The sessions provided opportunities for participants to learn from both trainers and one another. Pam Vaccaro helped to kick off the Academy by sharing insights on how to become a truly focused leader by managing more than just time. Scott Raecker lead a discussion on how to build a culture of excellence and ethics using a variety of interactive exercises to illustrate the importance of integrity and relationships.

Opening the second day of the Academy, Phil Boyle reviewed the problems, choices and decisions involved in governing for the public good. During an afternoon at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Daniel Miller lead class members through a variety of engagement activities designed to develop their leadership and team building abilities.

On the final day of the program, Dave Landis lead a spirited discussion on consensus building and negotiations. Using several simulated exercises, participants were able to test and hone their skills. With the assistance of class volunteers, Bill Graham offered tools to increase likeability and promote better communication. Concluding the Academy sessions, participants were introduced to time-tested lessons in leadership from none other than President Thomas Jefferson.

The WLA is a program of the Council of State Governments West (CSG West). Since the inaugural Academy in 2000, 680 Western legislators have graduated from the program, with many alumni serving in leadership capacities including presiding officers, majority and minority leaders, committee chairs and vice chairs, and caucus leaders within their state legislatures.

The 2018 WLA will take place November 28th - December 1st in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Admission is competitive and limited to legislators in their first four years of cumulative service. Applications are available and due to CSG West by April 23rd. For more information, visit www.csgwest.org or call 916.553.4423.

western legislative academy

Class of 2017Alaska • Representative DeLena Johnson • Representative Gary Knopp • Representative Chuck Kopp

Arizona • Unable to Participate

California • Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry • Assemblymember Jim Cooper

Colorado • Representative Chris Hansen • Representative Kimmi Lewis • Representative Barbara McLachlan

Guam • Senator Régine Biscoe Lee

Hawaii • Representative Matthew LoPresti

Idaho • Senator Lori Den Hartog • Representative Sage Dixon • Representative Caroline Nilsson Troy • Representative Melissa Wintrow

Montana • Representative Janet Ellis • Representative Wendy McKamey • Senator Jason Small

Nevada • Assemblywoman Daniele Monroe-Moreno • Senator Julia Ratti • Assemblywoman Jill Tolles

New Mexico • Representative Deborah Armstrong • Senator Bill Tallman • Representative Elizabeth Thomson

Oregon • Representative Ken Helm • Senator James Manning Jr. • Representative Rich Vial

Utah • Representative Carl Albrecht • Representative Bruce Cutler • Senator Lincoln Fillmore • Senator Daniel Hemmert

Washington • Representative Tom Dent • Representative Mia Gregerson • Senator Rebecca Saldaña • Senator Lisa Wellman

Wyoming • Senator Liisa Anselmi-Dalton • Senator Brian Boner • Representative Jamie Flitner

Nov. 28–Dec. 1, 2018 Colorado Springs, CO

2018 Western Legislative Academy

Born and raised in Tucson, Arizona, Assemblywoman Daniele Monroe-Moreno moved to Nevada in 1994 to join the North Las Vegas Police Department where she completed a career total of twenty-seven years in law enforcement. Her passion for community service was fostered by her parents at an early age by engaging in activities from registering voters to assisting in a city council campaign for a high

school teacher. Her community engagement continued through her adolescence and into adulthood eventually landing her the role of second vice chair for the Clark County Democratic Party. The opportunities provided by this role combined with her drive to serve prompted her to run for – and win - her current position representing Assembly District 1 in the Nevada State Legislature.

Perhaps the only part of the Assemblywoman’s life more important than public service is her family. A mother to three daughters and grandmother to three grandchildren, her passion for her family and love of community provided the necessary motivation to run for office. To ensure that her efforts have a long-lasting impact on her community, she works with local organizations to promote civic engagement with both adolescents and young adult constituents mentoring the next generation of civil service members. Additionally, she regularly hosts topic specific conversations where experts and advisors in their field join her to discuss and answer questions from constituents promoting a well-informed community.

Nevada Assemblywoman D A N I E L E M O N R O E - M O R E N O

• Wyoming Representative Tyler Lindholm (2016)

• Alaska Representative Geran Tarr (2015)

• Idaho Representative Kelley Packer (2014)

• Arizona Senator Kelli Ward (2013)

• Wyoming Senator Ogden Driskill (2012)

• Nevada Assemblywoman Teresa Benitez-Thompson (2011)

• Wyoming Senator Drew Perkins (2010)

• New Mexico Senator John Sapien (2009)

• Arizona Senator Steve Farley (2008)

• New Mexico Representative Thomas Garcia (2007)

• Idaho Representative Rich Wills (2006)

• Nevada Assemblywoman Heidi Gansert (2005)

• New Mexico Representative Jose Campos (2004)

• Nevada Senator Kelvin Atkinson (2003)

• Montana Senator Jim Keane (2002)

• Alaska Senator Lesil McGuire (2001)

• Nevada Senator Barbara Cegavske (2000)

Past Presidentsof the Western Legislative Academy

Special thanks to all the

WLA FACULTY• Phil Boyle, Faculty, Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia

• Bill Graham, President, Graham Corporate Communications

• David Landis, Consensus & Negotiations Trainer

• Patrick Lee, Historical Portrayer of Thomas Jefferson

• Daniel Miller, President, New Heights Learning

• Scott Raecker, Executive Director, The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center, Drake University

• Pam Vaccaro, President, Designs on Time

• Apply online at www.csgwest.org/WLA

• Applications due April 23, 2018

PROFILE OF 2017 WLA CLASS PRESIDENT