Promoting nonpartisan leadership among elected and appointed Southern state government officials.

The Center for the Advancement of Leadership Skills (CALS) is for current elected or appointed members of state legislatures and judicial and executive branches. The five-day workshop event takes selected CALS scholars through activities and instruction focusing on the program’s four central components—communication, conflict resolution, consensus building, and critical decision making. It’s a must-do for any state professional looking to reinforce and refine these crucial skills.

Completion of the program ultimately helps provide the public with highly-skilled, educated, and confident state leaders.

2024 Program Dates

October 20-24, Nashville, TN

Say Hello to the Class of 2024 DOWNLOAD THE CALS 2024 BROCHURE

Program Liaison

Jazlyn Jones
Programs Associate

About CALS

CALS is a leadership development program—not a conference—that provides a unique opportunity to hone your leadership skills. Participants are expected to attend all sessions and engage with classmates and presenters.

CALS brings together Southern state officials from three branches of government in a strictly nonpartisan environment. The class size is capped at 30 maximum state officials to foster connections among classmates.

How do I apply?

Applicants must complete the application form, provide two letters of recommendation, one from a current supervisor and one from a current or former colleague or supervisor, and submit a resume, bio, and responses to three brief essay questions. The deadline to apply for the CALS Class of 2024 has passed. Applications for the Class of 2025 will open in January 2025!

Who’s eligible?

New and mid-career state elected or appointed executive, legislative, and judicial branch officials serving in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Attendance at all CALS events is limited to selected state officials. Spouses, guests, and children are not permitted to attend or accompany participants to the program.

What’s the cost?

Full scholarships are provided to those selected, covering the cost of tuition, travel, lodging, and meals.

Where can I learn more?

For specific inquiries, please call (404) 464-5203 or email Jazlyn Jones.

What Do Alumni Say?

“CSG South did such an amazing job preparing this top of the line conference. I am very appreciative of all your hard work and efforts. Your attention to detail to ensure our best experience was remarkable and unmatched. Thanks a million!”
Representative Marie Woodson, Florida, CALS Class of 2022
“This was one of the best leadership programs I’ve ever been in. It was worth every second of my time and I feel I’ve gained so much information I can take home and use. “
Anonymous, CALS Class of 2022
“GO! You’ll thank me later.”
Representative Gil Gatch, South Carolina, CALS Class of 2021
“The CALS program is an excellent and intensive four-day leadership experience. I think the two biggest lessons learned for me are first, that leadership is essentially the ability to communicate. To be a successful leader, you have to be able to communicate your vision across mixed generational audiences that not only view the world from differing perspectives, but who communicate through different means and media. The second thing is that legislators not only need to communicate well and respectfully with members of the opposite party, but should aspire to develop meaningful friendships across the aisle so that even on contentious issues on which we disagree, we maintain the ability to see issues from an opposing viewpoint.”
Senator Warren Daniel, North Carolina, CALS Class of 2019
“The 2019 CALS program was an enlightening experience for me. Learning about the history and legacy of Winthrop Rockefeller, and actually getting to stay on his estate really set the tempo for the rest of the activities I participated in. The speakers had tremendous topics and insight on topics that captured my attention. I believe the information and knowledge I obtained will help me become a better leader in the Alabama Legislature and in my community. Thank you CALS for the great memories and experiences!”
Representative Jeremy Gray, Alabama, CALS Class of 2019

Class Rosters

  • Class of 2023



    The 2023 CALS program brought 28 leaders from Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia to Paris Landing State Park and Nashville, Tennessee for training sessions focused on essential topics such as leadership development, social media practices, and communication skills.

    After a tour of the Tennessee Capitol, the class graduated and had the pleasure of hearing from Missouri Senator Holly Thompson Rehder on courage and perseverance in the face of adversity.

    Representative James Lomax
    Alabama

    Senator Keith Kelley
    Alabama

    General Counsel Taylor Nichols
    Alabama Department of Finance
    Alabama

    Representative Kendra Moore
    Arkansas

    Representative Kimberly New
    Georgia

    Representative Lydia Glaize
    Georgia

    Representative Rey Martínez
    Georgia

    Representative Solomon Adesanya
    Georgia

    Representative John Hodgson
    Kentucky

    Representative Jonathan Dixon
    Kentucky

    Representative Aimee Adatto Freeman
    Louisiana

    Senator Glen Womack
    Louisiana

    Representative Matthew Willard
    Louisiana

    Senator Jeremy England
    Mississippi

    Representative Travis Wilson
    Missouri

    Representative Jennifer Balkcom
    North Carolina

    Senator Michael Lazzara
    North Carolina

    Representative Tim Reeder
    North Carolina

    Senator Ally Seifried
    Oklahoma

    Senator Kristen Thompson
    Oklahoma

    Representative Mark Tedford
    Oklahoma

    Representative Suzanne Schreiber
    Oklahoma

    Representative Heather Bauer
    South Carolina

    Representative Marvin Pendarvis
    South Carolina

    Representative Elaine Davis
    Tennessee

    Delegate Lori Dittman
    West Virginia

    Senator Vince Deeds
    West Virginia

    Delegate Wayne Clark
    West Virginia

  • Class of 2022



    The 2022 CALS program included 25 leaders from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. This year’s class was once again in Little Rock, Arkansas at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute. The class was immersed during this 5 day workshop on topics such as leadership development, communication skills, media training, conflict resolution and the list goes on.

    After a tour of the Arkansas Capitol, the class graduated and had the pleasure of hearing Arkansas Lt. Governor Tim Griffin speak on leadership survival skills.

    Representative
    Russell Bedsole

    Alabama

    Representative
    Penni McClammy

    Alabama

    Representative
    Debbie Wood

    Alabama

    Representative
    Keith Brooks

    Arkansas

    Representative
    Terri Anulewicz

    Georgia

    Representative
    Mandisha Thomas

    Georgia

    Representative
    Marie Woodson

    Florida

    Representative
    Barbara Freiberg

    Louisiana

    Senator
    Rod Hickman

    Mississippi

    Representative
    Amber Baker

    North Carolina

    Senator
    Amy Galey

    North Carolina

    Senator
    Todd Johnson

    North Carolina

    Director of Governmental Affairs, Department of Labor
    Julie Ryan

    North Carolina

    Representative
    Bob Ed Culver

    Oklahoma

    Senator
    John Haste

    Oklahoma

    Senator
    Blake “Cowboy” Stephens

    Oklahoma

    Representative
    Danny Sterling

    Oklahoma

    Representative
    John King

    South Carolina

    Representative
    Vincent Dixie

    Tennessee

    Representative
    Dan Howell

    Tennessee

    Representative
    Sam McKenzie

    Tennessee

    Senator
    Dawn White

    Tennessee

    Director of Communications, Department of Tax
    Heather Cooper

    Virginia

    Delegate
    Briana Sewell

    Virginia

    Delegate
    Chris Toney

    West Virginia
  • Class of 2021



    The 2021 CALS program included leaders from Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. The interactive sessions focused on topics including communication styles and group dynamics; managing conflict and difficult discussions; leading across generations; and building a culture of ethics and excellence.

    Brandon P. Fleming, assistant debate coach at Harvard University and founder/CEO of the Harvard Diversity Project, delivered the closing keynote on how debate empowers emerging leaders.

    Representative
    Matt Simpson

    Alabama

    Representative
    Ben Robbins

    Alabama

    Director of Labor
    Ralph Hudson

    Arkansas

    Representative
    Denise Garner

    Arkansas

    Senator
    Sonya Halpern

    Georgia

    Representative
    Rhonda Taylor

    Georgia

    Representative
    Pamela Stevenson

    Kentucky

    Representative
    Chris Turner

    Louisiana

    Representative
    Jason Hughes

    Louisiana

    Representative
    Zakiya Summers

    Mississippi

    Representative
    Dirk Deaton

    Missouri

    Representative
    Ingrid Burnett

    Missouri

    Senator
    Norman Sanderson

    North Carolina

    Representative
    Dick Lowe

    Oklahoma

    Senator
    Julia Kirt

    Oklahoma

    Senator
    Brent Howard

    Oklahoma

    Senator
    Carri Hicks

    Oklahoma

    Representative
    Annie McDaniel

    South Carolina

    Representative
    Gil Gatch

    South Carolina

    Representative
    Jesse Chism

    Tennessee

    Senator
    Ghazala Hashmi

    Virginia

    Delegate
    Riley Keaton

    West Virginia

    Delegate
    Clay Riley

    West Virginia

    Senator
    Patricia Rucker

    West Virginia
  • Class of 2019



    The 2019 CALS program included leaders from Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. The interactive sessions focused on topics including communication styles and group dynamics; managing conflict and difficult discussions; leading across generations; and building a culture of ethics and excellence.

    Brandon P. Fleming, assistant debate coach at Harvard University and founder/CEO of the Harvard Diversity Project, delivered the closing keynote on how debate empowers emerging leaders.

    Representative
    Jeremy Gray

    Alabama

    Senator
    Andrew Jones

    Alabama

    Senator
    Jack Williams

    Alabama

    Representative
    Spencer Hawks

    Arkansas

    Senator
    Mark Johnson

    Arkansas

    Representative
    Park Cannon

    Georgia

    Representative
    Kim Schofield

    Georgia

    Representative
    Nima Kulkarni

    Kentucky

    Senator
    Phillip Wheeler

    Kentucky

    Representative
    Otis L. Anthony

    Mississippi

    Representative
    Sarah Unsicker

    Missouri

    Representative
    Barbara Washington

    Missouri

    Senator
    Warren Daniel

    North Carolina

    Representative
    Nicole Miller

    Oklahoma

    Representative
    Daniel Pae

    Oklahoma

    Representative
    West Cox

    South Carolina

    Senator
    Greg Hembree

    South Carolina

    Director of Legislative and External Affairs
    Nathan James

    State Board of Education
    Tennessee

    Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs
    Jessica Hendrickson

    Department of General Services
    Virginia

    Senator
    William J. Ihlenfeld

    West Virginia

    Delegate
    Andrew Robinson

    West Virginia
  • Class of 2018



    The 2018 CALS program included leaders from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The training sessions focused on essential topics such as leadership development, social media practices, interpersonal exchanges, and communication skills.

    Participants convened at the Capital Hotel for the closing dinner. Adam Schrager, journalist and author, delivered the keynote speech on the leadership of former Colorado Governor Ralph Carr, who served from 1939 to 1943.

    Representative
    Rolanda Hollis

    Alabama

    Representative
    LeAnne Burch

    Arkansas

    Senator
    Trent Garner

    Arkansas

    Director
    Marty Sullivan

    Administrative Office of the Courts
    Arkansas

    Representative
    Les Warren

    Arkansas

    Representative
    Kamia Brown

    Florida

    Commissioner
    Judy Fitzgerald

    Department of Behavioral Health and Development Disabilities
    Georgia

    Representative
    Mike Glanton

    Georgia

    Representative
    Jason Ridley

    Georgia

    State Archivist and Records Administrator
    Beth Shields

    Department of Libraries and Archives
    Kentucky

    Representative
    Barbara Carpenter

    Louisiana

    Senator
    Rick Ward

    Louisiana

    Senator
    Juan Barnett

    Mississippi

    Representative
    Kevin Ford

    Mississippi

    Representative
    Peggy McGaugh

    Missouri

    Representative
    Kevin Corbin

    North Carolina

    Representative
    Cody Henson

    North Carolina

    Chief of Staff
    Melinda Fruendt

    Department of Rehabilitation Services
    Oklahoma

    Representative
    Marcus McEntire

    Oklahoma

    Representative
    Dennis Moss

    South Carolina

    Senator
    Becky Duncan Massey

    Tennessee

    Representative
    Rick Staples

    Tennessee

    Delegate
    Sam Rasoul

    Virginia
  • Class of 2017



    The 2017 CALS program included leaders from Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. The training sessions focused on essential topics such as leadership development, ethics, interpersonal exchanges, and communication skills.

    Participants convened at the Old Statehouse for the closing dinner. The closing keynote address on the importance of leadership in all levels of government and lessons from history was presented by Richard Norton Smith, celebrated historian and author.

    Representative
    Kenneth B. Ferguson

    Arkansas

    Representative
    Lanny Fite

    Arkansas

    Representative
    DeAnn Vaught

    Arkansas

    Representative
    Randy Fine

    Florida

    Representative
    Rhonda Burnough

    Georgia

    Representative
    Scott Hilton

    Georgia

    Representative
    Sheila Nelson

    Georgia

    Representative
    Abe Hudson

    Mississippi

    Representative
    Courtney Allen Curtis

    Missouri

    Representative
    Bobbie Richardson

    North Carolina

    Representative
    Rhonda Baker

    Oklahoma

    Senator
    Micheal Bergstrom

    Oklahoma

    Representative
    Claudia Griffith

    Oklahoma

    Representative
    Tammy West

    Oklahoma

    Judge
    Cassandra M. Williams

    Oklahoma County
    Oklahoma

    Representative
    Beth Bernstein

    South Carolina

    Representative
    Patsy Hazlewood

    Tennessee

    Mr. Scott Sloan
    Chief of Staff and General Counsel

    Tennessee Higher Education Commission
    Tennessee

    Representative
    Jarvis Johnson

    Texas
  • Class of 2016



    The 2016 CALS program included leaders from Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. The training sessions focused on essential topics such as leadership development, social media practices, interpersonal exchanges, and communication skills.

    Participants convened at the Old Statehouse for the closing dinner. The closing keynote address on pursuing success and the importance of critical decision making was delivered by Commander John Herrington, retired United States Naval Aviator and former NASA astronaut.

    Representative
    Phillip Pettus

    Alabama

    Representative
    Michelle Gray

    Arkansas

    Representative
    Clarke Tucker

    Arkansas

    Chief Magistrate Judge
    Glenda Dowling

    Waycross Judicial Circuit
    Georgia

    Superior Court Judge
    William Grady Hamrick III

    Coweta Judicial Circuit
    Georgia

    Representative
    Eddie Lumsden

    Georgia

    Chief Magistrate Judge
    Mary Kathryn Moss

    Chatham County
    Georgia

    Representative
    Jarvis Dortch

    Mississippi

    Representative
    Donna Pfautsch

    Missouri

    Representative
    Stephen Ross

    North Carolina

    Mr. Kyle Coulter
    Associate Legislative Affairs Director

    Office of the Governor
    Oklahoma

    Representative
    Jason Dunnington

    Oklahoma

    Representative
    Casey Murdock

    Oklahoma

    Representative
    Neal Collins

    South Carolina

    Representative
    David Hawk

    Tennessee

    Speaker Pro Tempore
    Bo Watson

    Tennessee

    Representative
    Toni Rose

    Texas

    Delegate
    Jennifer Boysko

    Virginia

    Delegate
    Eileen Filler-Corn

    Virginia
  • Class of 2015



    The 2015 CALS program included leaders from Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Several intense learning sessions focused on essential topics such as leadership development, social media practices, interpersonal exchanges, and communication skills.

    Participants convened at the Old Statehouse for the closing dinner. The closing keynote address was delivered by Mr. Nick Tasler, author of Decision Pulse.

    Representative
    Adline Clark

    Alabama

    Representative
    Barbara Drummond

    Alabama

    Representative
    Margie Wilcox

    Alabama

    Representative
    Michael John Gray

    Arkansas

    Representative
    Mathew Pitsch

    Arkansas

    Representative
    John Corbett

    Georgia

    Judge
    Leslie Jones

    Georgia

    Representative
    Brian Prince

    Georgia

    Chief Superior Court Judge
    Brenda Weaver

    Appalachian Judicial Circuit
    Georgia

    Judge
    Yvette Alexander

    Baton Rouge City Court
    Louisiana

    Senator
    Sollie Norwood

    Mississippi

    Representative
    Tila Hubrecht

    Missouri

    Representative
    Chad Caldwell

    Oklahoma

    Representative
    Chris Kannady

    Oklahoma

    Representative
    George Young

    Oklahoma

    Representative
    Mary Gail Douglas

    South Carolina

    Representative
    Cameron Sexton

    Tennessee

    Senator
    Reginald Tate

    Tennessee

    Ms. Sandra Gill
    Director of Policy, Consulting and Review

    Department of General Services
    Virginia
  • Class of 2014



    The 2014 CALS program included leaders from Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia. Several intense learning sessions focused on essential topics such as leadership development, social media practices, interpersonal exchanges, and communication skills.

    Participants convened at the Governor’s Mansion for the closing dinner. The closing keynote address was delivered by Commander John Bennett Herrington, retired naval aviator and former NASA astronaut. Commander Herrington spoke to the class about overcoming obstacles and creating pathways to success.

    Representative
    Paul Lee

    Alabama

    Representative
    David Whitaker

    Arkansas

    Judge
    Simone Marstiller

    First District Court of Appeal
    Florida

    Judge
    Charles E. Auslander III

    State Court of Athens-Clarke County
    Georgia

    Representative
    Karen Bennett

    Georgia

    Representative
    Virgil Fludd

    Georgia

    Representative
    Gloria Frazier

    Georgia

    Judge
    Velma Tilley

    Bartow County Juvenile Court
    Georgia

    Chief Magistrate
    Robert Turner

    Houston County Magistrate Court
    Georgia

    Senator
    Joe Bowen

    Kentucky

    Senator
    Derrick Simmons

    Mississippi

    Senator
    Paul LeVota

    Missouri

    Senator
    Jeff Tarte

    North Carolina

    Representative
    Raumesh Akbari

    Tennessee

    Representative
    Eric Johnson

    Texas

    Senator
    Daniel Hall

    West Virginia
  • Class of 2013



    The 2013 CALS program included leaders from Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. Several intense learning sessions focused on essential topics such as leadership development, social media practices, interpersonal exchanges, and communication skills.

    Participants convened at the Old Statehouse for the closing dinner and were welcomed by Mr. Shane Broadway, former Speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives and state Senator, and current director of the Department of Higher Education. The closing keynote address was delivered by Commander John Bennett Herrington, retired naval aviator and former NASA astronaut. Commander Herrington spoke to the class about overcoming obstacles and creating pathways to success.

    Representative
    Bill Gossage

    Arkansas

    Representative
    Chris Richey

    Arkansas

    Representative
    Kionne McGhee

    Florida

    Representative
    Richard Jasperse

    Georgia

    Senator
    Rick Jeffares

    Georgia

    Representative
    Lynn Smith

    Georgia

    Senator
    Jesse Stone

    Georgia

    Representative
    Karla Drenner

    Georgia

    Senator
    Troy Brown

    Louisiana

    Mr. Quentin L. Messer, Jr.
    Assistant Secretary

    Louisiana Economic Development
    Lousiana

    Representative
    Lataisha Jackson

    Mississippi

    Senator
    Robert Jackson

    Mississippi

    Representative
    Gail McCann Beatty

    Missouri

    Mr. Luis Toledo
    Assistant State Auditor

    Office of the State Auditor
    North Carolina

    Representative
    Tommy Hardin

    Oklahoma

    Senator
    Randy McNally

    Tennessee

    Judge Robert Montgomery
    Sullivan County Criminal Court

    Tennessee

    Representative
    Yvonne Davis

    Texas

    Ms. Andrea Peeks
    Deputy Director

    Division of Engineering and Buildings
    Department of General Services
    Virginia

    Delegate
    Barbara Evans Fleischauer

    West Virginia
  • Class of 2012



    The 2012 class comprised 17 emerging leaders from the legislative, executive and judicial branches of state government from Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia

    During the intensive three and a half day program, participants spent classroom time with experts in leadership development in the areas of communication, conflict resolution, consensus building and critical decision making. The CALS program serves as a step toward fostering connections among new and mid-career officials from the Southern region. Ultimately, the mission of the CALS program is to effectively equip leaders with skills to manage obstacles, explore and develop interpersonal skills, build coalitions and improve conflict resolution strategies in a benign and collegial environment.

    Representative
    Katrina Jackson

    Louisiana

    Senator
    Albert Butler

    Mississippi

    Senator
    Brice Wiggins

    Mississippi

    Senator
    Maria Chappelle-Nadal

    Missouri

    Representative
    Charles “Chuck” Gatschenberger

    Missouri

    Representative
    Leonard “Jonas” Hughes IV

    Missouri

    Representative
    Harry Warren

    North Carolina

    Representative-Elect
    Kevin Matthews

    Oklahoma

    Judge
    Kenneth Watson

    District Court, Oklahoma County
    Oklahoma

    Representative
    Mia Butler Garrick

    South Carolina

    Ms. Kela Thomas
    Director

    Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services
    South Carolina

    Senator
    Mike Bell

    Tennessee

    Representative
    Joshua Evans

    Tennessee

    Judge David Bragg
    Sixteenth Judicial Circuit Court

    Tennessee

    Representative
    Dawnna Dukes

    Texas

    Senator
    Robert “Bob” Beach

    West Virginia

    Ms. Laura Storm
    Circuit Clerk

    Jefferson County
    West Virginia
  • Class of
    2011



    The 2011 class comprised 18 emerging leaders from the legislative, executive and judicial branches of state government from Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia.

    During the intensive three and a half day program, participants spent classroom time with nationally renowned experts in the fields of communication, media and leadership training. The program curriculum was developed to help participants enhance their leadership capabilities, professional careers, and personal lives through improvements in communication, conflict resolution, consensus building and critical decision-making skills. Through the CALS program, the development of these leadership competencies prepares the rising and mid-career officials to be effective leaders in state government. Another tenet of this premier multi-branch program is that it offers a unique forum for state officials who might rarely cross paths to share ideas.

    Lieutenant Governor Kay Ivey
    Alabama

    Judge Calvin Williams
    Fifteenth Judicial Circuit
    Alabama

    Mr. Steven B. Jones
    Deputy Director
    Department of Human Services
    Arkansas

    Representative
    Darrin Williams

    Arkansas

    Representative
    Amy Carter

    Georgia

    Representative
    Barbara Sims

    Georgia

    Senator
    Denise Harper Angel

    Kentucky

    Representative
    Wade Hurt

    Kentucky

    Representative
    Sannie Overly

    Kentucky

    Judge Jeffrey Bivins
    Twenty First Judicial Circuit Court
    Tennessee

    Chancellor Jerri Saunders Bryant
    Tenth Judicial District Chancery Court
    Tennessee

    Senator
    Jim Tracy

    Tennessee

    Mr. James “Jim” Bethke
    Executive Director
    Indigent Defense Commission
    Texas

    Ms. Vicki Spriggs
    Executive Director
    Juvenile Probation Commission
    Texas

    Ms. Carey Welebob
    Director
    Community Justice Assistance Division
    Department of Criminal Justice
    Texas

    Magistrate
    Gail C. Boober

    Magistrate Court
    West Virginia

    Senator
    Orphy Klempa

    West Virginia

    Senator
    William “Bill” Laird IV

    West Virginia
  • Class of 2010



    The 2010 class comprised 22 emerging leaders from the legislative, executive and judicial branches of state government from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Oklahoma.

    During the intensive three and a half day program, participants spent classroom time with nationally renowned experts in the fields of communication, media and leadership training. The program curriculum was developed to help participants enhance their leadership capabilities, professional careers, and personal lives through improvements in communication, conflict resolution, consensus building and critical decision-making skills. Through the CALS program, the development of these leadership competencies prepares the rising and mid-career officials to be effective leaders in state government. Another tenet of this premier multi-branch program is that it offers a unique forum for state officials who might rarely cross paths to share ideas.

    Representative
    Merika Coleman

    Alabama

    Judge
    David Kimberley

    Sixteenth Judicial Circuit
    Alabama

    Representative
    Tiffany Rogers

    Arkansas

    Representative
    Charles “Chuck” Chestnut IV

    Florida

    Senator
    Gloria Butler

    Georgia

    Representative
    Tom Dickson

    Georgia

    Representative
    Jeff Greer

    Kentucky

    Representative
    Martha Jane King

    Kentucky

    Representative
    Brent Yonts

    Kentucky

    Judge
    Elizabeth Chandler

    Fifteenth Judicial District
    Kentucky

    Judge
    Patricia “Patsy” Summe

    Kenton County Circuit
    Kentucky

    Representative
    Patricia Haynes Smith

    Louisiana

    Representative
    Charmaine Marchand Stiaes

    Louisiana

    Senator
    Eric Powell

    Mississippi

    Representative
    Tishaura Jones

    Missouri

    Representative
    Ruth Samuelson

    North Carolina

    Ms. Joy Hicks
    Policy Analyst
    Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
    North Carolina

    Representative
    Lee Denney

    Oklahoma

    Representative
    Dan Kirby

    Oklahoma

    Representative
    Jabar Shumate

    Oklahoma

    Representative
    Harold Wright, Jr.

    Oklahoma

    Associate District Judge
    April Sellers White

    District Court of Creek County
    Oklahoma
  • Class of 2009



    The 2009 CALS program included leaders from Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The training sessions focused on essential topics such as leadership development, ethics, interpersonal exchanges, and communication skills.

    Participants spent classroom time with nationally renowned experts in public policy, media and leadership training. Designed to improve competencies in the areas of communication, conflict resolution, consensus building and critical decision making, the CALS program offers participants a unique opportunity to gain region-specific information on issue trends, forecasts and leadership/skills development with colleagues from across the South.

    Senator
    Brandon Smith

    Kentucky

    Representative
    Adam Koenig

    Kentucky

    Chief Regional District Judge
    Susan Mullins Johnson

    Twenty-Fourth Judicial District
    Kentucky

    Chief Regional District Judge
    Karen Thomas

    Seventeenth Judicial District
    Kentucky

    Representative
    Regina Ashford Barrow

    Louisiana

    Representative
    Rosalind Jones

    Louisiana

    Ms. Tammy Woods
    Assistant Chief of Staff
    Office of the Governor
    Louisiana

    Representative
    Brandon Jones

    Mississippi

    Representative
    Cynthia Davis

    Missouri

    Justice
    Zel Fischer

    Supreme Court
    Missouri

    Representative
    Justin Burr

    North Carolina

    Representative
    Shirley Randleman

    North Carolina

    Mr. Ray Starling
    General Counsel
    Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
    North Carolina

    Senator
    Dan Newberry

    Oklahoma

    Representative
    Jason Nelson

    Oklahoma

    Representative
    Mike Shelton

    Oklahoma

    Representative
    Paul Agnew

    South Carolina

    Representative
    Joan Brady

    South Carolina

    Senator
    Ken Yager

    Tennessee

    Representative
    Karen Camper

    Tennessee

    Senator
    Mark Herring

    Virginia

    Ms. Heidi Dix
    Deputy Commissioner
    Department of Behavioral Health
    Virginia
  • Class of 2008



    The 2008 CALS program included 16 leaders from Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.

    Senator
    Arthur Orr

    Alabama

    Representative
    Paul DeMarco

    Alabama

    Representative
    James Fields, Jr.

    Alabama

    Senator
    Larry Teague

    Arkansas

    Representative
    Gene Shelby

    Arkansas

    Mr. Frank Scott, Jr.
    Policy Analyst
    Office of the Governor
    Arkansas

    Senator
    Bill Hamrick

    Georgia

    Representative
    Judy Manning

    Georgia

    Ms. Vonnetta Pryor
    Chief Budget Officer
    Administrative Office of the Courts
    Georgia

    Representative
    Skye McNiel

    Oklahoma

    Representative
    Tim Scott

    South Carolina

    Senator
    Jack Johnson

    Tennessee

    Ms. Jessica Olson
    Deputy Director
    Budget, Planning and Policy
    Office of the Governor
    Texas

    Mr. Craig Burns
    Director, Division of Policy, Planning and Compliance
    Virginia Retirement System
    Virginia

    Ms. Cheryl Roberts
    Deputy Director of Programs and Operations
    Department of Medical Assistance Services
    Virginia

    Senator
    John Unger II

    West Virginia
  • Class of 2007



    The inaugural CALS program included 19 leaders from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, and North Carolina. The training sessions focused on essential topics such as leadership development, ethics, interpersonal exchanges, and communication skills.

    The CALS program provided an intensive three-and-a-half day professional development program to help state lawmakers from 10 selected Southern states strengthen their leadership skills and commitment to their institutions.

    Representative
    Marc Keahey

    Alabama

    Senator
    Robert Thompson

    Arkansas

    Representative
    Kathy Webb

    Arkansas

    Mr. Lamar Davis
    Deputy Chief of Staff
    Office of the Governor
    Arkansas

    Representative
    Marcelo Llorente

    Florida

    Representative
    Calvin Hill

    Georgia

    Senator
    Brett Guthrie

    Kentucky


    Delegate Jon Cardin
    Maryland

    Delegate Sue Kullen
    Maryland

    Senator
    Gray Tollison

    Mississippi

    Representative
    Jessica Sibley Upshaw

    Mississippi

    Mr. Omar Davis
    Director
    Department of Labor and Industrial Relations
    Missouri

    Senator
    Jeff Smith

    Missouri

    Representative
    Patricia Yaeger

    Missouri

    Representative
    Jake Zimmerman

    Missouri

    Representative
    Ric Killian

    North Carolina

    Senator
    A. B. Swindell, IV

    North Carolina

    Representative
    Thom Tillis

    North Carolina