About Us
The Council of State Governments champions excellence in state governments and for more than 90 years has convened state officials to consider how best to prepare for what’s next. If the states are laboratories of democracy, then CSG is the incubator for many of the ideas that move our states and nation forward.
As a regional office of The Council of State Governments located in New York City, our purpose is to facilitate the exchange of ideas among state policymakers, business leaders, and the academic community throughout our 18 member jurisdictions.
We foster discussions and collaboration among state officials to address the policy priorities unique to the Northeast, conduct leadership training programs, and advocate on the federal level for programs and policies beneficial to the region.
State Capitol Grounds, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
The Council of State Governments, the multi-branch organization of the states, U.S. territories, and commonwealths prepares states for tomorrow, today, by working with state leaders across the nation and through its regions to put the best ideas and solutions into practice.
To this end, CSG:
- Interprets changing national and international conditions to prepare states for the future;
- Advocates multi-state problem-solving and partnerships;
- Builds leadership skills to improve decision-making; and
- Promotes the sovereignty of the states and their role in the American federal system
Vermont State House
Bill Ferguson
President, Maryland Senate; CSG East 2024 Co-Chair
Bill
Ferguson
is
the
President
of
the
Maryland
Senate,
which
he
has
led
since
2020.
He
is
the
second
youngest
Senate
president
in
Maryland
history
and
has
represented
South
Baltimore
in
the
Senate
since
2011.
Ferguson
grew
up
in
Montgomery
County
...
and
graduated
from
Davidson
College
with
a
bachelor’s
in
economics
before
joining
Teach
for
America
teaching
in
Baltimore
schools
from
2005
to
2007,
which
inspired
him
to
run
for
office.
In
2013,
Senator
Ferguson
sponsored
the
21st
Century
Schools
Act
to
invest
$1
billion
in
school
construction
for
Baltimore
City
Public
Schools.
Since
2020,
Ferguson
has
led
the
Senate
in
passing
the
Blueprint
for
Maryland’s
Future,
historic
police
reform
legislation,
an
unprecedented
investment
in
Maryland’s
Historically
Black
Colleges
and
Universities,
and
over
$1
billion
in
state
economic
stimulus
to
support
vulnerable
Marylanders
through
the
COVID-19
crisis.
Ferguson
is
married
to
follow
Teach
for
America
alum,
Lea
Ferguson.
They
live
in
Patterson
Park
with
their
son,
Caleb,
and
daughter,
Cora.
Read More
Adrienne Jones
Speaker, Maryland House of Delegates; CSG East 2024 Co-Chair
Speaker
Adrienne
A.
Jones
was
unanimously
elected
by
the
full
House
of
Delegates
to
serve
as
the
first
African-American
and
the
first
woman
Speaker
of
the
Maryland
House
of
Delegates
in
state
history
on
May
1,
2019.
Prior
to
being
Speaker,
...
Jones
also
held
the
distinction
of
being
the
first
African
American
woman
to
serve
as
Speaker
Pro
Tem
in
the
Maryland
House
of
Delegates,
serving
in
that
capacity
under
Speaker
Mike
Busch
for
16
years.
Speaker
Jones
served
on
the
House
Appropriations
Committee,
and
was
Chair
of
the
Capital
Budget
and
Education,
and
Economic
Development
Subcommittees.
She
has
been
a
delegate
since
1997.
Speaker
Jones
has
long
been
known
by
her
colleagues
for
her
steadfast
leadership
and
no-nonsense
approach
to
legislating.
She
has
focused
on
education
policy
and
funding
issues,
most
notably
school
construction,
during
her
tenure
in
the
legislature.
She
has
also
made
significant
advances
in
ensuring
diversity
and
fair
treatment
of
state
employees.
Speaker
Jones
was
born
in
Cowdensville,
Maryland,
a
historic
African-American
community
located
near
Arbutus
in
Southwest
Baltimore
County. She
attended
Baltimore
County
Public
Schools,
graduating
from
Lansdowne
High
School
and
is
a
proud
alumna
of
the
University
of
Maryland
Baltimore
County
(UMBC)
where
she
received
her
Bachelor
of
Arts
Degree
in
Psychology. She
attended
The
National
Security
Seminar,
U.S.
Army
War
College
in
2007. In
2008,
she
received
an
Honorary
Doctor
of
Law
Degree
from
Goucher
College
in
Towson,
Maryland.
She
is
the
mother
of
two
adult
sons
and
proud
grandmother
of
two
wonderful
grandchildren,
Jalen
and
Janelle
Jones.
Read More
Joseph Shekarchi
Speaker of the House, Rhode Island; CSG East 2025 co-chair elect
K.
Joseph
Shekarchi
was
first
elected
Speaker
of
the
Rhode
Island
House
of
Representatives
in
January
2021
previously
served
as
House
Majority
Leader
and
chair
of
the
House
Labor
Committee.
He
has
served
the
residents
of
Warwick
since
first
being
...
elected
in
November
2012.
As
Speaker,
Shekarchi
has
placed
housing
policy
at
the
top
of
his
agenda,
shepherding
30
bills
into
law
that
are
designed
to
tackle
the
state's
housing
crisis
from
multiple
angles.
Under
his
leadership,
Rhode
Island
created
its
first-ever
dedicated
funding
stream
for
affordable
housing,
banned
housing
discrimination
against
individuals
who
receive
government
assistance
to
pay
their
rent,
created
the
first
Department
of
Housing
headed
by
a
cabinet
level
secretary,
and
invested
more
than
$350
million
to
address
housing
and
homelessness
in
the
past
two
budgets.
Read More
Dominick J. Ruggerio
Senate President, Rhode Island; CSG East 2025 co-chair
Dominick
J.
Ruggerio
is
the
President
of
the
Rhode
Island
Senate.
He
has
served
as
the
Senate
President
since
March
of
2017
and
previously
served
as
Majority
Leader
(2010-2017)
and
Majority
Whip
(2003-2010).
First
elected
to
the
Senate
in
1984,
...
Senator
Ruggerio
is
the
“Dean,"
or
most
senior
member,
of
the
Senate.
Ruggerio
started
his
career
in
public
service
as
a
policy
aide
to
the
Lieutenant
Governor
in
1977.
During
his
time
in
the
General
Assembly,
he
has
focused
on
economic
development,
co-sponsoring
the
Senate's
initiatives
to
make
it
easy
to
do
business
in
Rhode
Island
by
reforming
the
income
tax
code,
cutting
red
tape,
improving
access
to
capital,
and
building
the
skills
of
the
workforce.
President
Ruggerio
resides
in
North
Providence
and
represents
District
4,
which
includes
portions
of
North
Providence
and
Providence.
He
is
the
father
of
two
children,
Charles
and
Amanda.
Read More
Ted Arnott
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario; CSG East 2023 Co-chair
Ted
Arnott
is
the
Speaker
of
the
Legislative
Assembly
of
Ontario
and
the
longest-serving
Member
of
Provincial
Parliament.
First
elected
to
the
Ontario
Legislature
at
age
27
in
1990
as
the
MPP
for
Wellington,
Ted
has
since
been
re-elected
seven
times.
...
Once
the
youngest
MPP
in
the
Ontario
Progressive
Conservative
(PC)
Caucus,
he
is
now
the
longest
serving
member
in
the
Ontario
Legislature.
For
many
years,
Ted
has
served
as
a
presiding
officer
(assistant
speaker).
While
in
opposition,
he
was
the
PC
critic
to
several
ministers
and
while
in
government,
served
as
parliamentary
assistant
to
the
minister
of
education,
the
deputy
premier,
the
minister
of
the
environment,
and
minister
of
economic
development
and
trade.
Many
of
his
private
member’s
bills
and
resolutions
have
been
passed
by
the
House
or
adopted
as
government
policy.
Ted
became
Ontario’s
42nd
speaker
on
July
11,
2018.
As
well
as
presiding
over
the
Legislature,
Speaker
Arnott
chairs
the
Board
of
Internal
Economy,
the
committee
responsible
for
all
financial
and
administrative
matters
relating
to
the
Legislative
Assembly.
The
Speaker
also
has
a
diplomatic
role,
welcoming
visiting
dignitaries
to
the
Legislative
Building
and
representing
Ontario’s
parliament
both
in
Canada
and
abroad.
Speaker
Arnott
served
as
the
2021
chair
of
CSG
East
and
presided
over
the
2021
annual
meeting,
which
was
held
virtually
due
to
Covid-19.
He
is
also
the
co-chair
of
the
2023
Annual
Meeting,
along
with
MPP
Jamie
West.
Ted
lives
in
Fergus
with
his
wife,
Lisa,
who
teaches
French
immersion
at
James
McQueen
Public
School.
They
have
three
adult
sons.
Read More
Jamie West, MPP
CSG East 2023 Co-chair
First
elected
in
2018, MPP
Jamie
West is a
New
Democrat
and
a
Member
of
the
Legislative
Assembly
of
Ontario
for
the
Riding
of
Sudbury.
He’s
also
the
Official
Opposition
critic
for
Labour,
Training,
and
Skills
Development.
Jamie
is
proud
of
his
blue-collar,
working-class
...
roots.
He
is
a
fierce
advocate
for
human
rights
and
is
an
eternal
optimist
who
believes
in
fairness
and
helping
others.
Jamie
faced
poverty
growing
up,
and
he
knows
the
importance
of
government
and
community
services
in
ensuring
that
everyone
has
an
opportunity
for
success.
Jamie
is
a
proud
graduate
of
both
Cambrian
College
and
Laurentian
University.
His
background
includes
working
in
the
fields
of
mental
health,
construction,
mining,
and
workplace
safety.
Read More
David N. Biette
Director
David
became
director
of
The
Council
of
State
Governments
Eastern
Regional
Conference
on
January
1,
2021,
having
served
as
deputy
director
since
May
2017.
He
was
founding
director
of
both
the
Canada
Institute
and
the
Polar
Initiative
at
the
Woodrow
...
Wilson
International
Center
for
Scholars.
He
has
served
as
executive
director
of
the
Association
for
Canadian
Studies
in
the
United
States,
and
as
a
political-economic
officer
at
the
Consulate
General
of
Canada
in
New
York
City,
where
he
was
responsible
for
relations
with
the
states
of
New
York,
New
Jersey,
and
Connecticut
on
a
variety
of
issues
including
political,
energy,
and
environment
affairs.
He
is
the
author
of
numerous
chapters,
policy
briefs,
and
op-eds,
and
has
appeared
regularly
in
U.S.,
Canadian,
and
international
media.
Biette
grew
up
in
Massachusetts.
He
has
an
M.A.
in
international
relations
from
the
Johns
Hopkins
School
of
Advanced
International
Studies
in
Washington,
D.C.,
and
a
B.A.
from
Bowdoin
College
in
Maine.
Read More
A.R. Braver
Program Manager
A.R.
Braver
manages
the
CSG
East
Annual
Meeting
and
other
policy
and
task
force
meetings.
A.R.
staffs
the
Annual
Meeting
Committee
and
works
on
fundraising
for
and
photography
of
events.
Before
joining
CSG,
A.R.
was
a
medical
communications
consultant
organizing
...
the
content,
faculty,
logistics,
and
securing
accreditation
for
continuing
medical
education
programs
in
the
United
States,
Europe,
and
South
America,
primarily
in
the
areas
of
chronic
kidney
disease,
atherosclerosis,
lysosomal
storage
disorders,
HIV,
transplantation,
and
diabetes.
Read More
Chris Kelleher
Policy Analyst
Chris
Kelleher
is
a
policy
analyst
focusing
on
energy
and
environmental
policy
as
well
as
fiscal
policy
at
CSG
East.
With
experts
and
CSG
members,
Chris
works
to
advance
cooperation
among
Eastern
states
as
they
transition
to
a
more
secure
...
and
sustainable
energy
future.
Prior
to
joining
CSG
East,
Chris
worked
as
an
economic
development
policy
expert
for
a
non-profit
that
sought
to
establish
western
Pennsylvania
as
a
hydrogen
hub.
Before
that,
he
served
the
Ohio
General
Assembly
as
a
research
analyst
through
two
budget
cycles,
during
which
time
he
staffed
the
Ohio
House
Committees
on
Economic
and
Workforce
Development
and
Ways
and
Means.
Chris
holds
a
Ph.D.
from
the
University
of
Toronto,
an
M.A.
from
the
University
of
Colorado
at
Boulder,
and
a
B.A.
in
political
science
from
Miami
University
of
Ohio.
Read More
Dylan McDowell
Communications and Professional Development Programs Manager
Dylan
McDowell
manages
communications
for
the
Eastern
Region
and
contributes
to
the
CSG
East
website,
newsletter,
social
media,
and
member
engagement
efforts.
He
joined
in
2021
after
serving
as
the
deputy
communications
director
for
the
Delaware
State
Senate's
majority
caucus.
...
While
still
on
Senate
staff,
he
was
selected
to
join
the
2019
Eastern
Leadership
Academy
class,
was
elected
class
president,
and
represented
ELA
on
the
CSG
East
Executive
Committee.
Dylan
was
born
and
raised
in
Delaware
and
currently
resides
in
Wilmington,
Delaware.
He
has
a
B.A.
in
international
relations
from
American
University
in
Washington,
D.C.
Read More
Jacqueline Odanga-Kegode
Program Manager, Eastern Trade Council
Jacqueline
joined
The
Council
for
State
Governments
as
program
manager
for
international
trade
in
2024,
with
the
primary
responsibility
of
managing
CSG
East’s
Eastern
Trade
Council
(ETC).
Jacqueline
also
provides
support
to
the
ETC
board
of
directors,
and
is
responsible
...
for
providing
policy
analysis
and
research
support
that
includes
analysis
of
relevant
state
policy
issues.
Jacqueline
brings
with
her
22
years
of
experience
working
for
the
United
Nations,
and
has
extensive
experience
in
trade
and
industrial
development,
having
worked
for
several
years
with
UNIDO,
a
specialized
agency
for
development.
She
has
also
worked
as
senior
policy
advisor
for
United
Nations
New
York
offices.
She
holds
a
Masters
of
Business
Administration
from
the
United
States
International
University.
Read More
Joseph Shiovitz
Policy Analyst
Joseph
Shiovitz
is
a
policy
analyst
at
CSG
East
with
a
focus
on
housing
policy
and
intersecting
issues.
He
works
with
state
officials
and
other
experts
to
find
regional
solutions
to
housing
problems.
Previously,
Joseph
has
provided
research
and
analysis
...
for
human
rights
organizations
and
served
as
a
research
assistant
for
the
Research
Foundation
of
the
City
University
of
New
York
and
John
Jay
College
of
Criminal
Justice.
He
holds
an
MPA
in
public
policy
analysis
and
a
B.A.
in
philosophy,
and
has
lived
in
Brooklyn
since
2015.
Read More
Uldis Vanags
Director, Northeast High-Level Radioactive Waste Transportation Project
Uldis
Vanags
is
the
project
director
for
the
Northeast
High-Level
Radioactive
Waste
Transportation
Task
Force,
a
position
he
has
held
at
CSG
East
since
2013.
He
has
a
B.A.
in
physics
from
the
University
of
Maine
and
a
M.S.
in
...
radiological
sciences
and
protection
from
the
University
of
Lowell.
He
served
as
the
state
nuclear
safety
advisor
for
the
State
of
Maine,
overseeing
the
Maine
Yankee
Atomic
Power
Station,
and
as
the
state
nuclear
engineer
for
the
State
of
Vermont,
overseeing
the
Vermont
Yankee
Atomic
Power
Station.
Read More
Francis (Fran) James Boyd, Jr.
Policy Consultant and Washington Advisor
Fran
Boyd
joined
Hance
Scarborough
LLP
from
the
merger
with
Meyers
&
Associates
LLC,
where
he
served
as
senior
vice
president.
Fran
has
spent
more
than
30
years
in
Washington,
D.C.,
with
experience
in
both
the
executive
branch
of
government
...
and
the
private
sector.
He
has
represented
a
variety
of
clients
that
include
national
agriculture
trade
associations,
agribusiness
companies,
cooperatives,
state
governments,
and
land-grant
universities.
Fran
served
as
director
of
congressional
and
public
affairs
for
the
Farm
Credit
Administration,
an
independent
federal
financial
agency.
Prior
to
that,
he
served
as
the
deputy
director
of
congressional
affairs
at
the
U.S.
Department
of
Agriculture
during
the
Reagan
administration.
In
that
role,
he
served
as
the
primary
liaison
between
USDA,
Capitol
Hill,
and
the
White
House.
Fran
brings
a
wide
array
of
experience
in
both
legislative
and
regulatory
areas
primarily
in
agricultural
and
natural
resources
policy,
food
safety,
trade,
immigration
policy,
water
irrigation
policy,
and
tax/financial
services.
Fran
earned
his
master
of
science
degree
in
agricultural
economics
and
agribusiness
from
Arizona
State
University,
where
he
also
received
his
undergraduate
degree.
Fran
completed
the
Senior
Managers
in
Government
Program
from
the
Kennedy
School
of
Government
at
Harvard
University.
He
resides
with
his
family
in
Alexandria,
Virginia,
and
works
out
of
the
firm’s
Washington,
D.C.,
office
where
he
provides
his
expertise
to
an
array
of
clients.
Read More
Charles D. Ellison
Policy consultant, Council on Communities of Color
Charles
D.
Ellison,
CPM
is
the
policy
consultant
for
the
CSG
East
Council
on
Communities
of
Color.
He
brings
nearly
two
decades
of
applied
expertise
in
the
area
of
politics,
public
policy,
messaging,
crisis
management,
and
emerging/digital
media
strategy.
He
...
is
also
a
2023
Emerson
Collective
Fellow
and
Managing
Editor
and
executive
producer
of
ecoWURD,
an
environmental
and
climate
justice
focused
initiative
on
WURD
in
Philadelphia.
Ellison
resides
in
the
Washington,
D.C.,
metropolitan
area
with
his
family.
Read More
Shirley Girouard
Policy Consultant, Health
Shirley
Girouard
provides
expert
guidance
to
CSG
East
members
on
health
policy
and
staffs
the
CSG
East
Health
Committee.
She
is
a
co-director
of
a
geriatric
workforce
enhancement
program
and
a
nursing
professor
at
the
at
SUNY
Downstate
Health
Sciences
...
University.
Girouard’s
professional
career
has
included
clinical
practice
in
a
variety
of
settings
including
as
an
advanced
practice
nurse.
She
has
held
positions
in
philanthropy,
public
service
(elected
and
appointed),
management
and
administration
of
professional
organizations,
healthcare,
education,
and
has
served
on
national,
state,
and
local
committees.
Her
research
has
focused
on
the
nursing
workforce,
evaluation,
public
policy,
and
nursing
education
through
publications,
grant
writing,
service
on
several
editorial
boards,
and
professional
speaking.
She
holds
a
Ph.D.
in
health
and
social
policy
from
the
Heller
School
at
Brandeis
University,
a
M.S.
in
nursing
from
Yale
University,
a
M.A.
in
medical
sociology
from
the
University
of
Connecticut,
a
B.A.
with
a
major
in
sociology
from
Eastern
Connecticut
State
University,
and
a
diploma
in
nursing
from
Hartford
Hospital
School
of
Nursing.
Girouard
is
committed
to
social
justice
and
equity
issues
in
health
and
healthcare.
She
lives
in
Branford,
Connecticut.
Read More
Bob Haefner
Policy Consultant, Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Bob
is
one
of
two
CSG
East
advisors
on
regional
agriculture
and
rural
affairs.
He
is
the
immediate
past
legislative
director
for
the
New
Hampshire
State
Grange
and
currently
serves
as
a
county
director
for
the
Farm
Bureau.
Following
his
...
service
in
the
Marine
Corps,
he
advised
multiple
Fortune
500
companies
on
people,
process,
and
program
management
for
36
years.
Shortly
after
retiring
from
the
private
sector,
Bob
served
in
the
New
Hampshire
House
of
Representatives
for
10
years,
where
he
was
appointed
to
the
Committee
on
Environment
and
Agriculture,
a
committee
he
would
later
chair
for
four
years.
During
his
time
in
the
legislature,
he
also
chaired
the
Dairy
Task
Force,
served
on
the
Cooperative
Extension
Centennial
Committee,
and
was
a
legislative
representative
on
the
New
Hampshire
Current
Use
Board.
Bob
has
an
M.S.
in
management
from
Lesley
University
and
a
B.S.
in
business
administration
from
Hawthorne
College.
He
is
also
a
graduate
of
CSG
East’s
Eastern
Leadership
Academy.
He
lives
in
Hudson,
New
Hampshire
with
his
wife
Lynn.
Read More
Don Hannon
Policy Consultant, Transportation
Don
Hannon
provides
transportation
policy
analysis
for
CSG
East
and
staffs
the
CSG
East
Transportation
Committee
along
with
Steve
Hewitt.
He
served
in
the
New
York
State
Department
of
Transportation
(NYSDOT)
for
more
than
25
years,
where
he
worked
in
...
program
auditing
and
budgeting,
led
NYSDOT’s
corporate
training
organization,
and
served
as
executive
assistant
to
the
state
commissioner
of
transportation.
He
then
became
director
of
integrated
modal
services
where
he
was
responsible
for
the
state’s
passenger
and
freight
rail,
aviation,
public
transportation,
bicycle/pedestrian,
and
ports
programs.
Since
leaving
public
service,
Don
has
worked
to
help
cultivate
ideas
and
relationships
to
advance
improved
transportation
infrastructure
across
the
nation
and
between
Canada
and
the
United
States.
His
clients
include
private
investors,
transportation
advocacy
organizations,
and
elected
state
and
federal
officials,
and
he
is
often
called
upon
to
present
expert
witness
testimony
on
transportation
matters
before
state
legislative
committees.
Don
attained
his
B.S.
in
public
policy
from
The
Pennsylvanina
State
University
and
holds
a
M.A.
in
state
and
local
government
administration
from
the
University
of
Illinois.
He
resides
in
Schenectady,
New
York,
with
his
wife
and
two
children.
Read More
Andrew Johnson
Policy Analyst
Andrew
Johnson
is
a
policy
analyst
at
The
Council
of
State
Governments.
He
provides
technical
assistance
and
carries
out
member
outreach
and
engagement
for
CSG
and CSG
East
Education
and
Workforce
Development
programming.
Andrew
also
contributes
research
and
support
for
Kentucky’s
...
Retaining
Employment
and
Talent
After
Injury/Illness
Network
(RETAIN).
He
is
particularly
interested
in
the
policy
areas
of
K-12
school
governance,
career
pipelines,
literacy,
and
civic
education.
Prior
to
CSG,
Andrew
taught
middle
school
social
studies
and
reading
and
writing.
He
holds
an
M.Ed.
and
dual
B.A.
degrees
in
political
science
and
history
from
the
University
of
Kentucky.
Read More
Tara Sad
Policy Consultant, Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Tara
Sad
is
one
of
two
CSG
East
advisors
on
regional
agriculture
and
rural
affairs.
Tara
served
for
10
years
in
the
New
Hampshire
House
of
Representatives,
four
of
those
as
chair
of
the
Environment
and
Agriculture
Committee
and
four
...
as
the
ranking
member.
While
in
the
House,
she
also
served
on
the
Joint
Legislative
Committee
on
Administrative
Rules
and
the
Dairy
Task
Force,
in
addition
to
chairing
the
state’s
Rural
Affairs
Commission
and
the
Milk
Producers
Emergency
Relief
Fund
Board.
She
is
a
graduate
of
the
University
of
Cincinnati
with
a
degree
in
business
administration.
She
had
careers
in
film,
television,
and
the
legal
profession
in
Los
Angeles
and
New
York
City
before
moving
to
New
Hampshire
more
than
30
years
ago.
She
lives
in
Walpole
with
her
husband
Eric,
rescue
dog
Ruthie,
cats
Natalie
and
Zane
Grey,
Incredible
Ace
the
horse,
and
Wilson
the
Mammoth
Donkey.
Read More
Connecticut State House
Gov. Joe Lombardo
2024 CSG National President
Governor
Lombardo
was
elected
as
the
31st
Governor
of
Nevada
in
November
2022
and
sworn
into
office
in
January
2023.
Governor
Lombardo
is
focused
on
diversifying
and
revitalizing
Nevada’s
economy,
restoring
law
and
order
in
communities
across
the
state,
and
...
bringing
excellence,
school
choice,
and
accountability
to
Nevada’s
education
system.
More
important
to
him
than
anything,
Governor
Lombardo
is
a
devoted
husband
to
First
Lady
Donna
Lombardo,
a
dedicated
father
to
his
daughter
Morgan,
stepdaughter
Lacey,
stepson
Jackson,
and
a
grandfather
to
his
1-year-old
grandson
Teddy
Read More
David Adkins
Executive Director and CEO
David
Adkins
leads
The
Council
of
State
Governments
as
its
executive
director
and
CEO.
Prior
to
joining
CSG,
Adkins
served
as
vice
chancellor
for
external
affairs
at
the
University
of
Kansas
Medical
Center.
Adkins,
a
graduate
of
the
University
of
Kansas
...
School
of
Law,
was
a
Kansas
state
senator
from
2001
to
2005
and
served
in
the
Kansas
House
of
Representatives
from
1993
to
2001.
He
had
also
served
as
the
founding
executive
director
of
the
Community
Foundation
of
Johnson
County,
an
affiliate
of
the
Greater
Kansas
City
Community
Foundation.
While
in
the
legislature,
Adkins
was
an
active
CSG
member
serving
on
the
executive
committee
of
the
national
organization
and
as
chair
of
the
11-state
Midwestern
Legislative
Conference
of
CSG.
He
also
is
an
alumnus
of
CSG’s
Toll
Fellows
Leadership
program,
Class
of
1993.
His
gubernatorial
appointments
in
Kansas
include
chair
of
the
Kansas
Advisory
Group
on
Juvenile
Justice
and
Delinquency
Prevention
and
a
member
of
the
Governor’s
Task
Force
on
Higher
Education.
He
received
the
Kansas
Bar
Association’s
Outstanding
Young
Lawyer
Award
in
1996.
Read More
Kevin Ryan
2024 National Chair; Representative, Connecticut
State
Representative
Kevin
Ryan
serves
the
139th
House
District
in
Connecticut.
He
is
a
Deputy
Speaker
in
the
House.
In
2021,
after
many
years
of
active
participation
in
CSG
East,
Kevin
was
elected
by
CSG
East
Executive
Committee
members
to
serve
...
as
2022
CSG
national
vice
chair.
Representative
Ryan
has
been
a
member
of
the
House
Appropriation
Committee
since
1993,
has
served
as
a
vice–chair
as
well
as
having
served
on
many
subcommittees;
co-chairing
the
Health
and
Hospitals
subcommittee,
Regulation
and
Protection
subcommittee,
and
Transportation
subcommittee.
Kevin
is
a
resident
of
the
Oakdale
section
of
Montville,
Connecticut
and
served
on
the
Montville
Board
of
Education
for
six
years
as
its
Chairman
and
one
year
as
its
Secretary
before
being
elected
to
the
House
of
Representatives.
Read More
Elgie Sims
CSG 2024 National Chair-Elect; Senator, Illinois
Senator
Elgie
R.
Sims,
Jr.
serves
as
State
Senator
for
the
17th
Illinois
Senate
District,
which
includes
portions
of
the
South
Side
of
Chicago,
Chicago’s
South
Suburbs,
and
Will
and
Kankakee
counties.
Prior
to
joining
the
Illinois
Senate,
he
served
...
nearly
four
terms
as
State
Representative
of
Illinois’
34th
House
District.
Read More
Asm. Mike Gipson
2024 CSG National Vice Chair
Assemblymember
Mike
A.
Gipson
was
proudly
born
and
raised
in
the
Watts
community
of
Los
Angeles.
The
son
of
a
truck
drive
and
union
president
father
and
a
mother
who
worked
as
a
house
cleaner,
Gipson
was
the
first
person
...
in
his
family
to
graduate
from
college.
He
first
ran
for
Carson
City
Council
in
2005,
going
on
to
serve
as
Mayor
Pro
Tempore
before
running
for
the
California
State
Assembly
in
2014,
where
he
has
served
since.
Today,
Assemblymember
Gipson
represents
the
new
65th
Assembly
District
which
includes
the
areas
of
Watts,
Willowbrook,
Compton,
Carson,
North
Long
Beach,
Harbor
Gateway
North
and
South,
Harbor
City,
Wilmington,
and
San
Pedro.
Assemblymember
Gipson
currently
resides
in
Carson
with
his
wife,
LeCresha
Gipson.
They
have
three
sons,
Devon
and
Jordan,
as
well
as
5
beautiful
grandchildren:
Faafetai
Ole
Alofa,
Cataleya
Acevedo,
Amore,
and
two
twins
Kaaleo
&
Kayhlanii.
Their
third
son,
D'Ancee,
was
killed
at
3
years
old
as
a
victim
of
a
hit-and-run
motorist
that
has
never
been
captured.
Read More
Julia Howard
CSG 2023 National Chair; Representative, North Carolina
Julia
Howard
is
serving
her
14th
two-year
term
in
the
North
Carolina
House
of
Representatives.
Representative
Howard
serves
as
senior
chair
of
the
House
Finance
Committee
and
vice
chair
of
the
House
Committee
on
Banking;
she
was
a
long-serving
chair
...
of
the
House
Ethics
Committee.
She
is
well
known
for
her
work
with
welfare
reform
and
the
long-awaited
passage
of
Jessica’s
Law,
legislation
providing
children
with
critical
new
protections
against
sex
offenders;
she
continues
to
work
on
child
protection
laws
while
being
a
constant
“watchdog”
for
small
business.
Representative
Howard
authored
and
successfully
led
to
passage
legislation
restructuring
North
Carolina’s
unemployment
system
for
both
employees
and
employers.
During
her
extended
service
in
the
legislature,
Representative
Howard
has
focused
on
making
North
Carolina
a
better
place
for
families
to
live,
work
and
play.
She
has
two
children
and
six
grandchildren
and
is
dedicated
to
preserving
the
quality
of
life
and
freedoms
for
families.
Julia
raised
her
family
in
Davie
County,
where
she
owns
and
operates
Howard
Realty;
she
is
a
licensed
real
estate
broker
and
appraiser.
Read More
Massachusetts State House
CSG East provides staff support for regional committees, task forces, and boards made up of state elected and appointed officials, as well as legislative and agency staff, from our member jurisdictions.
These committees and boards are the principal vehicle for forging consensus on regional policies and priorities, and advocating for federal policies and programs beneficial to the region.
Photography at The Old State House for The Bostonian Society.
Colorado state Senator Henry Wolcott Toll created the American Legislators Association — the forerunner to The Council of State Governments — in 1925 to provide legislators with information and opportunities to connect. Toll believed interstate cooperation was imperative for states to maintain control over inherent state issues. Continuing his commitment to this belief, Senator Toll and a dozen colleagues formally established CSG in 1933 as a national organization serving all three branches of state government.
The council set up operations in Chicago and operated there until 1967, when CSG headquarters were relocated to Lexington, Kentucky.
CSG’s Eastern Regional office was established in 1937, and the organization opened an office in Washington, D.C., in 1938. The Midwestern office was established in 1945, and the Southern Legislative Conference and CSG West were both established in 1947. In 2006, the CSG Justice Center was formed, and in 2018, the organization established its Center of Innovation at the National Headquarters.
Miller Senate Office Building, Annapolis, Maryland
CSG East Values
Pursue the priorities of its member states;
Be nonpartisan and inclusive;
Engage leaders from all three branches of state governments;
Have a regional focus, a national presence and a global reach;
Be a respected and trusted source for best practices and policy expertise;
Convene leader-to-leader interactions and foster leadership development;
Facilitate multi-state solutions;
Zealously advocate for the states in our federal system of government;
Adhere to the highest ethical standards;
Respect diversity and act with civility;
Partner and collaborate with others.
22 Cortlandt Street, 22nd Floor
New York, NY 10007
Phone: 212-482-2320
Email: info-east@csg.org