National Governors Association / State Service Organiztion

Where They Were: The Challenge / Opportunity

Governors were concerned with a proliferation of siloed organizations to which states were providing resources.

Who Was Involved

Collaborators included governors, legislators, state executives, public official associations, real estate professionals, attorneys, architects, state agencies, federal congressional representatives, colleges and universities, and research institutions at state, local and international levels.

‍

What We Did

Assessed needs and opportunities, conceptualized services, designed facility, conceived and developed a joint venture to facilitate and manage, marketed and launched the venture bringing together 32 offices of states and 44 offices of state officials.

What Were the Results

Strengthened individual and collective presence and influence, featured in a textbook (Public Official Associations and State and Local Government: A Bridge Across 100 Years) as one of the best examples of intergovernmental relations, collaboration and shared resource, recognized for "immense symbolic importance" in the Washington Post.

What is the Geographic Market Reach

Global / Multi-Country International Regions

No Geo Regions loaded

Countries / Nation States

United States of America

Japan

China

Romania

Russia

What ResNet Capabilities Were Integrated

Access, Data Connectivity and Information Integration Services

Administrative, Project and General Management Services

Business Enterprise Intelligence and Market Research

Collaboration, Meeting and Event Management

Organization Change Management & Transformation

Resource & Audience Audits, Analytics and Matchmaking

Shared Resource Centers, Platforms and Ventures

Strategic Alliance and Relationship Management

Reviews of the work we did on this project

"We want to take this opportunity to express our appreciation to you for the significant contributions you have made during your tenure with the National Governors Association. Your commitment to the organization and the Hall of the States has been of significant benefit to the nation's Governors."

Bill Clinton and Lamar Alexander

40th and 42nd Governor of Arkansas, Vice Chair and Chair, National Governors Association, 42nd President of the United States and Lamar Alexander, Governor of Tennessee and Chair, National Governors Association, U.S. Senator, Tennessee

"The Hall of the States, is one of the best examples of intergovernmental relations. To get the enterprise on its feet financially as well as organizationally, Robert D. Ray, governor of Iowa, and Richard R. Rodgers, the NGA director of finance, traveled all around the country, meeting with governors and other state officials, to sell the idea of state associations and state offices moving into the building. They took a positive approach to the task, pointing out the advantages, not just the cost savings. They stressed the advantages of individual association autonomy in a setting that shared a joint library, print shop, conference facilities, and other central services. They pointed out that the synergy of proximity would strengthen both the individual and collective interests of the states."

David D. Arnold

Author "Public Sector Associations and State and Local Governments: A Bridge Across One Hundred Years"

"In a town where manipulation is a habit for some, your intentions were always straightforward and your agenda of prudent management was clear. Your formal presentations were excellent. You believed in excellence and were willing to devote your time and skills toward that goal. While other major intergovernmental organizations have suffered the pains of inadequate financial management, NGA has not. Largely through your efforts, the dream of Governors to have a "Hall of the States" became not only a reality, but the Hall became a workable, financially sustainable ongoing tool for the states. I have always admired your talents and have valued your friendship."

David S. Harrison

Senior Lecturer of Public Affairs, Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs, University of Washington, former Executive Director, Northeast Midwest Institute

"I sincerely appreciated the assistance that you and your staff provided in planning and coordinating my participation and that of my fellow governors in the Inaugural activities. Your efforts contributed immensely to ensuring that my trip was a most pleasant and enjoyable one."

Dick Thornburgh

41st Governor of Pennsylvania, United States Attorney General,Under-Secretary General at the United Nations

"Your work at the National Governors Association produced a benchmark for the rest of us who follow and support States' initiatives. You always have been the epitome of decorum, knowledge and diplomacy. I sincerely appreciated the opportunity to have worked with you during my long tenure as the dean of the Washington Representatives. In my capacity as Director of the Indiana Washington Office, first for Governor Otis R. Bowen, then for Governor Robert D. Orr, I sincerely enjoyed your friendship and counsel. Over that period of time, I came to trust you implicitly. Your work with the NGA finance committee and executive committee was held in high respect by all of us who knew you. You have set high standards for your successor."

Don M. Newman

Under Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; former Director of the Indiana Washington Office

"Many thanks for all of your hard work in making our visit to Atlantic City go so smoothly. I thought that the trip was a successful one and certainly enjoyed being with you. I realize how much organizational work must go into an event of that size and think that you should be proud of the outcome. Hope to work with you again."

George Bush

43rd Vice President of the United States; 41st President of the United States

"Thank you for all that you did to ensure my visit to Portland was a complete success. Mrs. Bush and I enjoyed our stay and know your effort was a prime factor in making the event come off so well. I know it took a great deal of your personal time and for that we are most appreciative."

George Bush

43rd Vice President of the United States; 41st President of the United States

"On behalf of all the members of the Japanese Governors' Delegation, I wish to express our sincere gratitude to the courtesy and warm hospitality you extended to the members of our delegation when they visited your great country. I am sure that the visitation this year has contributed a great deal to the furtherance of mutual understanding and friendly relations between our two peoples in addition to the remarkable achievements of cooperation and goodwill which have been attained through 15 rounds of exchange visits of Governors of Japan and the United States in the past. Let us express again our profound gratitude for your friendship and goodwill which made our visit a pleasant one."

Gonichiro Nishizawa

Governor of Nagano Prefecture, Chair, National Governors Association of Japan, Leader of Japanese Delegation to the United States for the 16th US Japanese Governors Conference

"I want you to know personally how much I appreciate all of the assistance and encouragement you have given to me in my work as special assistant to Governor Jim Hunt. You have helped make my job pleasant and productive, and I am most grateful. We have done a lot together, and I am thankful that I have had this opportunity to get to know you and work with you. I value your friendship more than I can ever express."

J. Paul Essex, Jr

Special Assistant to James B. Hunt, Jr., Governor of North Carolina

"NGA works because you run a quiet but effective office of administration."

James L. (Jim) Martin

Director of Legislative Affairs, National Governors Association

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your hard work which led to the success of the National Governors Association 75th annual meeting in Portland, Maine. I am especially appreciative of your efforts as I recognize the special challenges involved in holding a conference six hundred miles from your office in Washington. Your assistance allowed us to proudly host the conference in a manner and style that properly represented Maine. Please know how deeply I appreciate all that you did. Again, my sincere thanks. Thanks again for a superb effort."

Joseph E. Brennan

70th Governor of Maine

Lamar Alexander & Bill Clinton

Governor of Tennessee and Chairman, National Governors Association, current U.S. Senator, Tennessee, former Secretary, U.S. Department of Education, President, University of Tennessee and Bill Clinton, Governor of Arkansas and Vice Chair, National Governors Association,42nd President of the United States.

"The new structure in the nation's capitol, the Hall of the States, may come to have immense symbolic importance."

Neal R. Peirce

Columnist., The Washington Post; Chairman, The Citistates Group

"Speaking on behalf of the delegation of United States Governors who just returned home from our visit to the Soviet Union, I want to let you know how much we appreciated having Rick Rodgers with us. Rick did an outstanding job in making arrangements and planing where to go, what to see , and whom to talk to. He was indeed very helpful and you can be proud of his performance and ability to represent the National Governors Association and all of its members, so very well. Thank you for allowing Rick to accompany this group and thank you for being supportive of this kind of endeavor. "

Robert D. Ray

38th Governor of Iowa, Leader of US Governors to the Soviet Union

"From all accounts, the November 20-29 visit to the US of a delegation of Soviet republic leaders which was arranged and hosted by the NGA was a notable success. On behalf of Secretary Vance I want to express our appreciation to you and all members of your organization involved for contributing to an improvement in the atmosphere of of our bilateral relations with the Soviet Union at the highest government level. In particular I want to commend the preparatory, organizational, and managerial work done for this visit by Richard R. Rodgers. I think it fair to say that those portions of the trip planned and executed by Mr. Rodgers were the ones that came off the best. He also demonstrated considerable aplomb and ingenuity in confronting and solving the inevitable changes and crises of program that arose, and was highly regarded professionally and personally by both the American and Soviet participants in the visit. Our special thanks to him for a job well done."

William H. Luers

Deputy Assistant Secretary for European Affairs, U.S. Department of State, President and CEO, United Nations Association of the United States

"I have known Rick for over 30 years, from his days at the National Governors Association to his work with The Resource Network, so I can speak with authority about him. Rick has a varied skill set including strong management skills, vast organizational experience and very strong people skills. He is excellent at bringing people and ideas together. Coupled with his very positive attitude, he is an asset to any organization with which he is associated."

William J. Bigham

Member, Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC; Legal counsel, The Resource Network; former counsel, National Governors Association