2019 Western Legislative Academy Dec. 9–12, 2019

COLORADO SPRINGS

Apply online at www.csgwest.org/wla Applications due April 19, 2019

“Every presentation provided vital information and skills building” 2018 CLASS MEMBER

2 GOALS

Helping Legislators Become More Effective

Building Stronger State Legislative Institutions 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. Who Governs the Western Legislative Academy? Three and a half-days of intensive skill building for state legislators from Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, • CSG West officers and the CSG West Executive Committee serve Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and . as the board of directors for the Academy What Are the Academy’s Goals? Where Is the Western Legislative

• Help legislators become more effective leaders Academy Located? • Build strong state legislative institutions • Colorado Springs, CO • Classes held in the El Pomar Foundation’s historic Penrose House What Will I Learn? • Activity based training takes place at the US Air Force Academy • Participants are housed at the Broadmoor Hotel • Team building • Leadership styles Who Pays? • Time management • Tools for ethical decision-making • With support from state dues, foundation funding and the • History & significance of state legislatures private sector, CSG West provides training, meals and housing • Impacts of personality styles • Participants pay for their own travel to and from Colorado Springs • Principles of governance • Consensus building/negotiations For more information

Visit us at www.csgwest.org/WLA for more information and to What Is the Value of the Academy? apply. Application materials must be submitted online or by mail by April 19, 2019. • The WLA continues to receive high marks for its overall value to Questions regarding the WLA? Please contact Erica Miller at lawmakers from alumni and state leaders alike. 916.553.4423 or [email protected]. • Since 2000, we have graduated 716 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 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 western legislative academy Class of 2018

Alaska • Representative Daniel Ortiz • Representative Ivy Spohnholz • Senator Natasha von Imhof Colorado • Representative Janet Buckner • Representative Marc Catlin • Representative Susan Lontine

Hawaii • Senator Kaiali’i Kahele • Senator Jarrett Keohokalole WLA CLASS OF 2018 • Representative Nadine Nakamura Idaho • Representative Megan Blanksma • Representative Ryan Kerby The 19th Western Legislative Academy (WLA) hosted thirty-six western • Senator Mary Souza legislators in Colorado Springs for a three-and-a-half-day program of extensive • Representative Jarom Wagoner skills and leadership training. The academy provided an opportunity for legislators to fully immerse themselves with both faculty and peers, explore Montana new leadership perspectives, step outside of their comfort zones, and form • Representative Jim Hamilton sustainable relationships. • Representative Denley Loge • Representative Marilyn Ryan Kicking off the Academy, Gary Moncrief shared insights on legislative Nevada perspectives and the important role of the states. During Scott Raecker’s session, • Senator Chris Brooks class members engaged in interactive discussion on how to build a culture of • Senator Nicole Cannizzaro excellence and ethics in the legislative environment. Pam Vaccaro shared tools • Assemblywoman Lisa Krasner for managing focus instead of time and revealed seven different ways to say no. • Assemblyman Steven Yeager Addressing the challenge of how to achieve the greatest good with the least amount of harm in governing, Dr. Phil Boyle engaged everyone in collective New Mexico learning activities requiring the use of various perspectives in resolving policy • Representative Gail Armstrong issues. Using several simulated exercises, Dave Landis lead a spirited discussion • Senator Candace Gould on consensus building, negotiation, and how to achieve a wise solution, not • Representative Greg Nibert just the acceptable one. During an afternoon at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Dr. Daniel Miller lead class members through a variety of engagement activities Oregon designed to uncover their leadership strengths and team building abilities. With • Representative Daniel Bonham the assistance of class volunteers, Bill Graham offered specific tools on body • Representative David Brock Smith language, tone of voice, and story-telling to increase effective communication. • Representative Rick Lewis Concluding the classroom sessions, General Alexander Hamilton gregariously Utah entertained questions and comments from the class, sharing his 18th century • Representative Karen Kwan federalist perspective on today’s legislative endeavors. • Representative Jefferson Moss • Representative Val Potter The WLA offers practical training on a range of topics, but most significantly, • Representative Raymond Ward class members establish a bond that transcends time and borders of state and party affiliation. Washington • Representative Andrew Barkis • Representative Shelley Kloba • Senator Keith Wagoner

Wyoming • Representative Joe MacGuire • Senator Tara Nethercott • Senator PROFILE OF 2018 WLA CLASS PRESIDENT

Hawai‘i Senator KAIALI‘I KAHELE Past Presidents of the Western Legislative Academy Hawai‘i State Senator Kaiali‘i Kahele represents the residents of Hilo on the Island of Hawai’i as well as a legacy of service to both community • Nevada Assemblywoman Daniele Monroe-Moreno (2017) and country. A Lieutenant Colonel in the Hawai‘i Air National Guard, • Wyoming Representative Tyler Lindholm (2016) he is also combat veteran pilot who • Alaska Representative Geran Tarr (2015) served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. • Idaho Representative Kelley Packer (2014) Raised in a family that emphasized community service and working to • Arizona Senator Kelli Ward (2013) improve the lives of others, Senator • Wyoming Senator (2012) Kahele is a second-generation member of the Hawai‘i State • Nevada Assemblywoman Teresa Benitez-Thompson (2011) Senate. At the urging of his father just days prior to his passing, he was appointed by Governor David Ige to succeed his father in • Wyoming Senator (2010) the Senate on February of 2016. Reflective of his personal values, • New Mexico Senator John Sapien (2009) Senator Kahele focuses his legislative efforts on economic growth, • Arizona Senator Steve Farley (2008) job creation, and access to education and healthcare. • New Mexico Representative Thomas Garcia (2007) When asked about the most memorable part of the Western • Idaho Representative Rich Wills (2006) Legislative Academy (WLA) experience, Senator Kahele shared an • Nevada Assemblywoman Heidi Gansert (2005) appreciation for the chance to get to know fellow legislators as individuals rather than just legislative colleagues. Session activities • New Mexico Representative Jose Campos (2004) and hosted events offered opportunities to develop relationships • Nevada Senator Kelvin Atkinson (2003) that will be cultivated and maintained in the future. On a more • Montana Senator Jim Keane (2002) personal level, his participation in the academy allowed Senator Kahele to revisit fond memories of his father, who was an alumnus • Alaska Senator Lesil McGuire (2001) of the 2013 WLA class. With many of the faculty from the 2018 • Nevada Senator Barbara Cegavske (2000) class having also hosted his father, the WLA provided a unique opportunity to walk in his father’s footsteps, once again.

Special thanks to all the 2019 Western Legislative Academy WLA FACULTY

• Hal Bidlack, General Alexander Hamilton Historian • Phil Boyle, Principal, Leading and Governing Associates Dec. 9–12, 2019 • Bill Graham, President, Graham Corporate Communications Colorado Springs, CO • Dave Landis, Director, Urban Development Department • Danny Miller, President, New Heights Learning, LLC • Gary Moncrief, University Distinguished Professor, • Apply online at www.csgwest.org/WLA Boise University; Consulting Scholar, Eagleton Institute • Scott Raecker, Executive Director, The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center • Applications due April 19, 2019 • Pam Vaccaro, CEO, Designs on Time