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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.

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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:

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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

Current State Senate Leaders

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