Dear Senate Colleagues:
The Senate Presidents’ Forum is a rare and treasured opportunity to share ideas with fellow state senate leaders who understand the opportunities and challenges unique to state leadership.
In these complex times, senate presidents face demands to provide expert guidance on vastly diverse topics, from education and infrastructure to technology, energy, the environment, and more — while simultaneously providing for the daily functioning of the state government and meeting the needs of our constituents.
At the Forum, we benefit greatly by hearing about the solutions that have been implemented in other states. Whether or not those policies have succeeded, we as state leaders learn from one another’s experience and approach. In the intimate setting of the Forum, we openly discuss workable strategies and evolving issues as we strive to map optimal paths forward.
I welcome you to the Senate Presidents’ Forum, one of the most critical meetings on my legislative calendar.
BOARD CHAIR
Senator Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Hawaii
Letter From the Chair
Rodric D. Bray
Senate President Pro Tempore
Indiana
Bill Ferguson
President of the Senate
Maryland
Ronald D. Kouchi
CHAIR, Senate Presidents' Forum
President of the Senate
Hawaii
Dominick J. Ruggerio
President of the Senate
Rhode Island
Karen Spilka
President of the Senate
Massachusetts
Robert Stivers
President of the Senate
Kentucky
Greg Treat
Senate President Pro Tempore
Oklahoma
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors guides the operations of the Senate Presidents’ Forum and approves the content and speakers for conferences to ensure that strictly non-partisan and balanced discussions occur that will serve the needs of the State Senate leaders. The Chair serves for two years and that role rotates among the members of the Board.
ADT
Alliance for Automotive Innovation
Altria Client Services, Inc.
Amazon
American Airlines
Charter Communications
Consumer Brands Association
Covanta
Curaleaf, Inc.
Darden Restaurants, Inc.
Dexcom
DIAGEO
DoorDash
Edison Electric Institute
X
Elevance Health
x
Eli Lilly and Company
X
Entertainment Software Association
Google LLC
IGT
Intuit
LKQ Corporation
Lowe's
Mark Anthony Brands
Motion Picture Association of America
NEXTera Energy Resource
Novartis
Oracle
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP
X
Otsuka
Pernod Ricard
PhRMA
Recording Industry Association of America
Reynolds American
Sazarac
State Farm Automobile Insurance Co.
The Procter & Gamble Company
T-Mobile
Unilever
UPS
WalMart Stores, Inc.
YUM! Brands
Sponsors
The Forum is a model of non-partisan discussion and collaboration in service to best practices for State Senate leaders. These discussions include sponsors who participate in these gatherings to promote the exchange of knowledge and expertise between the private sector and state legislators on public policy issues affecting business and states. The Forum’s sponsors are intellectual resources who provide experience and insight to improve cooperation and understanding between state government and the business community. Our sponsors include:
Caroline Carlson
Incoming Executive Director
Caroline spent much of her career fundraising for the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Foundation. She directed their development work for 18 years before leading the non-profit from 2019-2023. When she started in 2001, the Foundation had raised $500,000 consistently for over a decade. Caroline developed the program to reach over $5 million in revenue and 280 sponsors in her 22 years at NCSL. At Heartland Forward, Caroline worked with a small team of economists, program and event staff to highlight the message that applied research, tested programs and sound public policies can contribute to economic success in the middle of the country. With an impressive track record of success and a deep understanding of state legislatures, Caroline brings valuable experience that aligns perfectly with SPF's vision and goals.
Caroline received her undergraduate degree in political science at James Madison University in Virginia and earned her master's in public affairs at Indiana University in Bloomington. She resides in Golden, Colorado with her husband, Mark; son, Jack; plus one cat and a dog.
Nancy Dobler
Managing Director
Nancy has supported the membership of the Forum since 1998. She is responsible for member communications, engaging members in activities, answering queries, and responding to requests. Nancy manages innumerable logistics details for member events, ensuring that all details of each program are flawlessly executed. She plans and oversees member on-site activities, arranges members’ travel itineraries, organizes accommodations, interfaces with venues, and ensures that members receive excellent service throughout each program. Nancy also maintains the membership directory and database and coordinates the accounting functions for the Forum.
Rich Maloof
Deputy Director
Rich joined the Forum in 2016 and formerly held the title of Director of Programming. He is experienced in content development and has led projects in various media covering healthcare, tech, regulation, legal marketing, and music education. Rich has been published extensively as a writer, with several works distributed internationally, and performs regularly as a musician in and around New York City.
Corina Mulder
Associate Director
Corina developed expertise on state legislatures during her tenure at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), where she planned trainings for legislative leaders, was director of State Services, and led the Fiscal Affairs Program. Corina has written extensively on state budget issues and been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and other prestigious publications. She holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Colorado and a B.A. from CU-Boulder.
Christine de Vries
Editor
Christine has served as SPF's editor since 1996. She holds degrees from Cornell University and Harvard University. For the past 15 years, Christine has developed medical education materials for healthcare professionals. She is the co-author of the book Successful Cardiac Rehabilitation and has been published in the Wall Street Journal and the Christian Science Monitor, as well as serving as a contributor to articles for numerous medical journals.
Thomas M. Finneran
Forum Moderator
Thomas has served as the Moderator for Senate Presidents’ Forum discussions since 2010. His well-informed mastery of the material keeps the conversations focused on effective applications to state issues. Tom graduated from Northeastern University and received his JD from Boston College Law School. He served as Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from April 1996 to September 2004 and then as President of the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council.
Marcy Fogard
Meetings Manager
Marcy brings extensive logistical expertise and travel experience to our programs. She began her career on the hotel side as a manager in Catering & Conference Services, and went on to Meeting Planning for numerous Fortune 500 companies before becoming a travel director focused on pharmaceutical clientele, as well as working on-site at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. She recently spent nine years consulting on an annual investor conference for a Washington, D.C.-based association in the oil & gas industry. At SPF, Marcy is responsible for destination research for future meetings, advance site visits, negotiation of on-site contracts, pre-planning and on-site management, and post-meeting reviews.
Staff
Rose Swan
Founder and Executive Director
For 30 years, it has been my privilege to serve as the Founder and Executive Director for this non-partisan, educational organization. It is an honor to support the hard-working members of the U.S. state senates. In a time of increasing divisiveness in public debate, the Forum has been able to transcend politics and to model the benefits of collaborative approaches to problem-solving. The Forum’s goal is to enable lawmakers to learn from the successes and challenges facing fellow state leaders in a friendly, informal environment. My greatest satisfaction comes from seeing how lessons learned at the Forum inform effective legislation for the benefit of all citizens.
Bo Biteman (R)
Senate President-Elect
Tim Salazar (R)
Senate Vice President-Elect
Tara Nethercott (R)
Senate Majority Floor Leader-Elect
Devin LeMahieu (R)
Senate Majority Leader
Mary Felzkowski (R)
Senate President–Elect
Patrick Testin (R)
Senate President Pro Tempore
Lt. Gov./Senate President–TBA
Donna Boley (R)
Senate President Pro Tempore
Tom Takubo (R)
Senate Majority Leader
Jamie Pedersen (D)
Senate Majority Leader–Elect
Steve Conway
Senate President Pro Tempore–Elect
Scott Surovell (D)
Senate Majority Leader
Louise Lucas (D)
Senate President Pro Tempore
Phil Baruth (D)
Senate President Pro Tempore
Kesha Ram Hinsdale (D)
Senate Majority Leader-Elect
Stuart Adams (R)
Senate President
Evan Vickers (R)
Senate Majority Leader
Charles Schwertner (R)
Senate President Pro Tempore
Angela Paxton (R)
Senate Majority Leader
Randy McNally (R)
Lt. Gov./Senate Speaker
Ferrell Haile (R)
Senate President Pro Tempore
Jack Johnson (R)
Senate Majority Leader
Chris Karr (R)
Senate President Pro Tempore–Elect
Jim Mehlhaff (R)
Senate Majority Leader–Elect
Thomas Alexander (R)
Senate President
A. Shane Massey (R)
Senate Majority Leader
Dominick Ruggerio (D)
Senate President
Hanna Gallo (D)
Senate President Pro Tempore
Valarie Lawson (D)
Senate Majority Leader–Elect
Kim Ward (R)
Senate President Pro Tempore
Joe Pittman (R)
Senate Majority Leader
Rob Wagner (D)
Senate President
James Manning, Jr. (D)
Senate President Pro Tempore
Kayse Jama (D)
Senate Majority Leader
Lonnie Paxton (R)
Senate President Pro Tempore–Elect
Julie Daniels (R)
Senate Majority Floor Leader–Elect
Rob McColley
Senate President–Elect
Bill Reineke (R)
Senate President Pro Tempore-Elect
Theresa Gavarone (R)
Senate Majority Floor Leader-Elect
David Hogue (R)
Senate Majority Leader
Donald Schaible (R)
Senate President Pro Tempore
Phil Berger (R)
Senate President Pro Tempore
Paul Newton (R)
Senate Majority Leader
Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D)
Senate President Pro Tem & Majority Leader
Michael Gianaris (D)
Deputy Senate Majority Leader
Peter Wirth (D)
Senate Majority Floor Leader
Mimi Stewart (D)
Senate President Pro Tempore
Nicholas Scutari (D)
Senate President
Shirley Turner (D)
Senate President Pro Tempore
M. Teresa Ruiz (D)
Senate Majority Leader
Sharon Carson (R)
Senate President–Elect
James Gray (R)
Senate President Pro Tempore
Regina Birdsell (R)
Senate Majority Leader–Elect
Nicole Cannizzaro (D)
Senate Majority Leader
Marilyn Dondero (D)
Senate President Pro Tempore–Elect
Roberta Lange (D)
Assistant Senate Majority Leader
John Arch (N)
Senate Speaker
Raymond Aguilar (N)
Senate Executive Board Chair
Matt Regier (R)
Senate President–Elect
Kenneth Bogner(R)
Senate President Pro Tempore
Tom McGillvray (R)
Senate Majority Leader–Elect
Cindy O’Laughlin (R)
Senate President Pro Tempore–Elect
Tony Luetkemeyer (R)
Senate Majority Floor Leader–Elect
Dean Kirby (R)
Senate President Pro Tempore
Erin Murphy (DFL)
Senate Majority Leader
Bobby Joe Champion (DFL)
Senate President
Winnie Brinks (D)
Senate Majority Leader
Jeremy Moss (D)
Senate President Pro Tempore
Karen Spilka (D)
Senate President
William Brownsberger (D)
Senate President Pro Tempore
Cindy Stone Creem (D)
Senate Majority Leader
Bill Ferguson (D)
Senate President
Malcolm Augustine (D)
Senate President Pro Tempore
Nancy King (D)
Senate Majority Leader
Mattie Daughtry (D)
Senate President–Elect
Teresa Pierce (D)
Senate Majority Leader–Elect
Cameron Henry (R)
Senate President
Regina Barrow (R)
Senate President Pro Tempore
Jeremy Stine (R)
Senate Majority Leader
Robert Stivers (R)
Senate President
David Givens (R)
Senate President Pro Tempore
Max Wise (R)
Senate Majority Floor Leader–Elect
Ty Masterson (R)
Senate President
Rick Wilborn (R)
Senate Vice President
Larry Alley (R)
Senate Majority Leader
Jack Whitver (R)
Senate Majority Leader
Amy Sinclair (R)
Senate President
Ken Rozenboom (R)
Senate President Pro Tempore–Elect
Rodric Bray (R)
Senate President Pro Tempore
Chris Garten (R)
Senate Majority Floor Leader
Don Harmon (D)
Senate President
Bill Cunningham (D)
Senate President Pro Tempore
Kimberly Lightford (D)
Senate Majority Leader
Senate President Pro Tempore–TBA
Kelly Anthon (R)
Senate Majority Leader
Ron Kouchi (D)
Senate President
Michelle Kidani (D)
Senate Vice President
Dru Kanuha (D)
Senate Majority Leader
John Kennedy (R)
Senate President Pro Tempore
Steve Gooch (R)
Senate Majority Leader
Ben Albritton (R)
Senate President
Jason Brodeur (R)
Senate President Pro Tempore
Jim Boyd (R)
Senate Majority Leader
David Sokola (D)
Senate President Pro Tempore
Bryan Townsend (D)
Senate Majority Leader
Martin Looney (D)
Senate President Pro Tempore
Bob Duff (D)
Senate Majority Leader
James Coleman (D)
Senate President-Elect
Dafna Michaelson Jenet
(D)
Senate President Pro Tempore-Elect
Robert Rodriguez (D)
Senate Majority Leader
Mike McGuire (D)
Senate President Pro Tempore
Lena Gonzales (D)
Senate Majority Leader
Bart Hester (R)
Senate President Pro Tempore
Blake Johnson (R)
Senate Majority Leader
Warren Petersen (R)
Senate President
T.J. Shope (R)
Senate President Pro Tempore
Janae Shamp (R)
Senate Majority
Leader-Elect
Gary Stevens (R)
Senate President
Cathy Giessel (R)
Senate Majority Leader
Greg Reed (R)
Senate President Pro Tempore
Steve Livingston (R)
Senate Majority Leader