2015 LEGISLATIVE STAFF ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE LEGISLATURES The NCSL Legislative Staff Sections and Networks annually present Legislative Staff Achievement Awards to recognize staff excellence in supporting the work of a state legislature and strengthening the legislative institution. Each staff section and network may make two awards, and each decides the criteria for its awards. The staff co-chairs of the NCSL Standing Committees also may name two award recipients. Examples of accomplishments recognized by the Legislative Staff Achievement Awards include, but are not limited to: Helping to improve the effectiveness of the legislative institution. Supporting the legislative process and the mission of the legislature. Exhibiting a high degree of professionalism, competence and integrity in serving the legislature and the public. Contributing to the work of the National Conference of State Legislatures. Demonstrating expertise in a particular field. Contributing to existing knowledge. 2015 RECIPIENTS American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries (ASLCS) Marilyn Eddins, Chief Clerk, Colorado House of Representatives Norma Chastain, Assistant Chief Clerk, Arizona House of Representatives Leadership Staff Section (LSS) Jennifer Jankowski, Administrative Assistant, Minority Caucus, Utah House of Representatives Naomi Miller, District Director, Speaker Joe Straus, Texas House of Representatives Legal Services Staff Section (LSSS) Richard Taylor Dillard, Senate Attorney, Delaware State Senate Margaret ‘Peggy’ Piety, Senior Staff Attorney, Legislative Services Agency, Indiana General Assembly Legislative Education Staff Network (LESN) Paul Headlee, Deputy Division Manager, Budget & Policy Analysis, Idaho Legislative Services Office Legislative Information and Communications Staff Section (LINCS) Morgan Blanchard, Communications Specialist, Louisiana Senate Jessica Bralish, Communications Director, Senate Democrats, Colorado Senate Legislative Research Librarians Staff Section (LRL) Sabah Eltareb, Assistant Director, California Research Bureau, California State Library Teresa Wilt, Legislative Librarian, Research Library, Nevada Legislative Counsel Bureau National Association of Legislative Fiscal Offices (NALFO) John W. Rohrer, Coordinator, Fiscal and Policy Analysis, Department of Legislative Services, Maryland General Assembly Ryan Miller, Senior Fiscal and Policy Analyst, Legislative Analyst’s Office, California Legislature National Association of Legislative Information Technology (NALIT) South Carolina Legislative Services Agency Ronda Tentarelli, Applications Support Group Manager, Legislative Service Center, Washington State Legislature National Legislative Program Evaluation Society (NLPES) Max Arinder, Executive Director, Mississippi Joint PEER Committee (Retired), 2015 NLPES Outstanding Achievement Award New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee, 2015 NLPES Excellence in Evaluation Award National Legislative Services and Security Association (NLSSA) Elizabeth “Betsy” Hossenlopp, Senate Nurse, Legislative Health Services Director, South Carolina General Assembly Tim Flynn, Capitol Nurse Practitioner, Texas State Capitol Research and Committee Staff Section (RACSS) Sabrina N. Lewellen, Deputy Director, Assistant Secretary of the Senate, Arkansas Senate Bryant R. Howe, Deputy Director, Legislative Research & General Counsel, Utah Legislature Standing Committees Mary Quaid, Executive Director, House Legislative Services, Louisiana Legislature Roderick N. Welsh, Sergeant at Arms, Texas House of Representatives American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries (ASLCS) Marilyn Eddins, Chief Clerk, Colorado House of Representatives The American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries recognizes Marilyn Eddins for her outstanding contributions to the Colorado House of Representatives and her distinguished service to ASLCS and NCSL. Marilyn started her legislative career in 1982 and held the titles of enrolling clerk, journal clerk, docket clerk and assistant chief clerk, before being appointed chief clerk in 2004. Throughout her service, Marilyn also has been an active and ardent supporter of ASLCS, NCSL and of efforts and activities for the enhancement and advancement of the work of state legislatures. Marilyn has served on the ASLCS Executive Committee and as an officer and member of numerous ASLCS standing committees. She has attended countless meetings of ASLCS and NCSL, has served as faculty on numerous topics, has twice hosted participants for the Associate Exchange Program, served on the host committee for the 1997 ASLCS meeting in Vail and the 2002 NCSL Annual Meeting (now the Legislative Summit) in Denver, and is an alumnus of the Legislative Staff Management Institute, class of 1999. Most important, though, is Marilyn's remarkable service to the General Assembly and the citizens of the state of Colorado. During her tenure, Marilyn has served six different Speakers of the House of Representatives and smoothly facilitated three different majority changes. She has been a stalwart resource for five other Colorado nonpartisan legislative agencies who have turned over nine staff directors and she has offered her expertise and advice to five new secretaries of the Colorado Senate. She has done all of this while consistently advocating for and contributing to efforts to ensure the Colorado General Assembly is transparent, efficient, effective, collaborative and accountable to the people it serves. Marilyn is always among the first to share ideas about the positive impact a well-trained and experienced professional legislative staff can make on the work performed by legislatures. She is a tireless advocate for the legislative institution and a resource for her colleagues in statehouses around the country. Humble and deferential, Marilyn will always give credit to others for a job well done without regard for her own commendation. Her enthusiasm for the spirit of public service never wanes and she is a true steward of the legislative institution to which she has dedicated a lifetime of service. American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries (ASLCS) Norma Chastain, Assistant Chief Clerk, Arizona House of Representatives The American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries recognizes Norma Chastain for her outstanding contributions to the Arizona House of Representatives and her distinguished service to ASLCS and NCSL. Norma has worked for the Arizona Legislature–first in the Senate and now in the House of Representatives–for many years and has implemented many changes and improvements to the legislative process. She is well respected by the legislators and staff for her knowledge of the legislature. Norma is hard-working, but also friendly and professional to all that she encounters. She has a great work ethic and enjoys herself while getting the job done. She is reliable and dedicated to the legislative institution as a whole. Norma is also well-respected for her devotion to ALSCS. She ably performed during her years on the Executive Committee. She has served as the chair of many committees, including Program, Membership and Communication, the Legislative Administrator and Inside the Legislative Process. She also has contributed as vice chair of many committees. Norma started out as a page in Arizona, and has worked as a data research receptionist, journal clerk, archivist and bill tracker, and currently serves as the assistant clerk. She is working with a clerk who is new to the office, and her vast knowledge is a huge help to him and the new leadership of the House of Representatives. Norma has served in many leadership roles for ASLCS, including as associate vice president; both elected and appointed member of the Executive Committee; committee chair, vice-chair and member; main coordinator of an ASLCS meeting panel; presenter on a panel and a host of the fall professional development seminar. Norma is a very worthy recipient of the Legislative Staff Achievement Award. Not only is she loyal and dedicated to the Arizona House of Representatives, but she is also a devoted member of ASLCS. Leadership Staff Section (LSS) Jennifer Jankowski, Administrative Assistant, Minority Caucus, Utah House of Representatives The Leadership Staff Section recognizes Jennifer Jankowski for her outstanding contributions to the Utah House of Representatives and her distinguished service to LSS and NCSL. Jen is an enthusiastic participant in the Leadership Staff Section and is always the first to volunteer to step forward, whether it be to submit an article for the LSS newsletter, join the LSS Executive Committee or chair the Program Development Committee, which has to be one of the more daunting tasks within LSS. She is unfailingly friendly and welcoming. Unlike many other legislative staffers, Jen is the only staffer for her entire caucus, and its members say wonderful things about her as well. The House Minority Whip, Representative Rebecca Chavez-Houck, describes Jen as “dedicated, indefatigable, creative, unflappable and exemplary” and admits the caucus would be lost without her. Her organization skills and initiative allow her to be on top of things at all times, remind the members about everything and save them a lot of time. She goes above and beyond to help caucus members. She keeps track of emerging issues, legislation and studies, and finds opportunities for caucus members to bring legislation forward. As a former intern, Jen knows how to optimize their energy, time and