The purpose of this award is to recognize state budget personnel for outstanding contributions and service to public budgeting and management in state government.

Any associate member of NASBO who, as an employee of a state budget office, has made an exceptional contribution to state budgeting and management is eligible for the award. Associate Members are all professional personnel in the budget agency who are not Regular Members. Regular Members include budget directors, their superior officers and their deputies. Associate Members are ordinarily budget analysts or their unit supervisors.

Dr. George A. Bell became NASBO's first full-time Executive Director when the post was created in 1974. He was instrumental in the organization's decision to move its offices from Lexington to Washington in order to affiliate with the National Governors Conference. He was the NASBO President in 1964-65 and was awarded life membership in 1973. The George A. Bell Service Award program was established as an entity within NASBO to sponsor the award and administer the George A. Bell memorial fund. The first George A. Bell Service Award was presented in 1978.

2008 George A. Bell Nominations
Deadline: Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Criteria - Nomination Form

Past Award Winners

2007
Jaci-Marie Thomson, Principal Analyst, California Department of Finance
Ms. Thomson was recognized for her contributions to further California’s efforts to manage the fiscal and operational impacts of significant and complex litigation in the correctional area.

2006
Carolyn Middleton, State Budget Officer, Alabama Executive Budget Office
Ms. Middleton was recognized for her years of dedicated service to the State of Alabama and its citizens, her extraordinary management of the workload and staff, and her ability to work well with people at all levels of government.

2005
Larry Schlicht, Senior Financial Management Analyst, Idaho Division of Financial Management
Mr. Schlicht was recognized for his outstanding service to the citizens of the State of Idaho and for more than 32 years of leadership in the production of Executive Budget materials, issues, and policies.

2004 (Co-recipient)
Robert Megna, Director of Revenue and Economics, New York Division of the Budget
Mr. Megna was recognized for outstanding performance linking complex economic concepts to fiscal policy issues, building a world-class economic and revenue forecasting capacity in New York State, and sharing this ground-breaking work with the public finance community.

2004 (Co-recipient)
Thomas Mullaney, Chief Budget Analyst, Department of Administration, Budget Office
Mr. Mullaney was recognized for outstanding dedication to improving the operating and capital budget processes, developing and expanding systems for users of budget information, and execution of cost savings proposals to benefit the people of the State of Rhode Island.

2003
Edward Colfer, Assistant Chief Budget Analyst – Welfare Unit, New York Division of Budget
Recognized for Mr. Colfer’s exceptional performance and tireless work in bringing about historic, fundamental reform of New York State’s welfare system.

2002
Linda Luebbering, Section Manager for Human Services, Missouri Division of Budget and Planning
Recognized for Ms. Luebbering’s dedicated service and outstanding accomplishment in budget preparation and presentation, particularly in her tireless efforts to improve K-12 education and state financial management and provide services to Missouri’s most vulnerable citizens in a cost-effective manner.

2001
Joel D. Pinkerton, Supervisory Budget Analyst, Nevada Department of Administration
Recognized for Mr. Pinkerton’s outstanding contribution to State government, his proven accomplishments as well as his long-term employment in the State of Nevada.

2000
Frank Maresca, Chief Budget Examiner, New York Division of Budget
Recognized for 30-year record of consistent performance and significant and long lasting achievements in the area of state budgeting. Mr. Maresca’s contributions in the areas of Medicaid policy, development of the Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage Program, and Local Government Affairs have stood the test of time and were still in use today.

1999 (Co-Recipient)
James B. Cook, Jr., Senior Advisor Virginia Department of Planning and Budget
Mr. Cook was recognized for exceptional integrity and character and for his continual effort to enhance the budgeting profession for those who will follow.

1999 (Co-Recipient)
Liz Will, Program Analyst, New Jersey Office of Management and Budget
Ms. Will was recognized for her innovative work in financial and program analysis and identifying key management efficiencies and cost savings within motor vehicle services which provide a lasting benefit to New Jersey.

1998
David Sneed Coplen, Budget Analyst II, Missouri Budget Office
Mr. Coplen was recognized for managing costs associated with a rapidly growing inmate population and outstanding contributions to budgeting and fiscal management in the state of Missouri.

1997
Catherine Fowlkes, Supervisor, Budget Planning Section, West Virginia Budget Office
Ms. Fowlkes was recognized for dedicated service and outstanding accomplishment in budget preparation and presentation. The changes in the format of the document also dictated changes in the budget process at the agency and budget office level.

1996
Arvey Smith, Assistant Executive Budget Analyst, North Dakota Office of Management and Budget
Recognized for leadership in the Performance Based Budgeting Process. Ms. Smith oversaw the development of the governor’s budget in the program based performance measures format for twelve pilot agencies.

1995
Martha Henry, Assistant Administrator, Arkansas Office of Budget
Recognized for many achievements during her 17 year career in the Budget Office. Ms. Henry is data systems administrator for two automated data systems and was responsible for the design of one of them. She also manages the budget office in the Director’s absence.

1994
Dale Nelson, Team Leader/Manager, Minnesota Budget Division
Recognized for achievements in reforming the capital budgeting process for the State of Minnesota and for his long career of distinguished public service. Mr. Nelson has had supervisory responsibility for every major state spending area, has served as the state's capital budget officer, and has managed the training of numerous public finance professionals.

1993
Charlene Holzbaur, Health and Medicaid Unit Supervisor, New Jersey Office of Management and Budget
Ms. Holzbaur was recognized for overall competence, versatility and dedication and her specific contribution on the disproportionate share hospital revenue issue, which resulted in the receipt of $412 million in retroactive reimbursement.

1992
Bill Roper, Director of the Management Review Division, Georgia Office of Planning and Budget
Mr. Roper was recognized for his dedication and drive to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of state government in providing services to its citizens. Examples: assistant director of a comprehensive reorganization plan for state government, established a professional consulting function, provided supervision and staff support for the Governor's Commission on Effectiveness and Economy in Government, developed methodology for evaluating program performance.

1991 (Co-Recipient)
Dave Patterson, Assistant Director, Indiana State Budget Agency
Mr. Patterson was recognized for his contribution to the quality of financial management in the Indiana Department of Corrections, his role in establishing credibility with the legislature for the administration's corrections budget request, and his contributions in substantive corrections policy.

1991 (Co-Recipient)
Bob Shimer, Senior Policy and Budget Analyst, Kentucky Governor's Office for Policy and Management
Mr. Shimer provided leadership for the budget office's elementary and secondary education team during a time when his knowledge was invaluable as the state struggled with education reform and school finance and equity issues.

1990
Bill Triplett, Project Director, Mississippi Governor's Five-Year Capital Improvement Program
Mr. Triplett was instrumental in the development of the state's first five year capital improvement plan, in the passage of funding, and implementation of the program.

1989
Joseph Matthews, New York

1988
Bruce Perelli, New Jersey

1987
John Hicks, Kentucky

1986
Pat Suarez, Virginia

1985
Phyllis Skok, Pennsylvania

1984
Dennis DeGroot, Oregon

1982
Henry Brillinger, II, Pennsylvania

1981
William Rowland, Jr., Virginia

1980
Frederick Whims, Michigan

1979
David Richter, New York