Past Bell Award Recipients

2012

Dominic Colafati, Chief Budget Examiner, New York Division of the Budget

Mr. Colafati was recognized for his astute guidance of the New York State Financial Plan through the 2008 financial crisis and his dedicated service to NASBO as its representative on the Governmental Accounting Standards Advisory Council.

2011

David Hahn, Budget Team Leader in the Idaho Division of Financial Management

Mr. Hahn recognized for his outstanding service and ongoing contributions to the state budget process; for exceptional work in the development and implementation of Zero-Based Budgeting; and for his continued dedication to the principles of good government, sound budgeting and increased accountability of state resources.

2010

Lori Laschkewitsch, Management and Fiscal Analyst in the North Dakota Office of Management and Budget

Ms. Laschkewitsch was recognized for outstanding leadership in the administration of North Dakota’s computerized budget system and dedicated and professional service to agencies, the Governor and citizens in the state budgeting process.

2009

Kurt Stolzenbach, Assistant Director for Budget Preparation, Maryland Department of Budget and Management, Office of Budget Analysis

Mr. Stolzenbach was recognized for his outstanding leadership and contributions to the development and management of Maryland’s budget process and his success in pursuing more economical, efficient and effective allocations of state resources.

2008

Allen Holt, Deputy State Budget Director, Kentucky Office of State Budget Director

Mr. Holt was recognized for his distinguished service to five Kentucky Governors, the planning and budgeting profession, and to the citizens of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

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

1978

Lee Grossi, Rhode Island