A Season of Transition: CEO Update

October always feels like a season of transition. The weather cools, the leaves change and the year begins its final stretch. That season of transition is especially meaningful for me this year.

Recently I announced that, after 12 extraordinary years, I will step down as Chief Executive Officer of the American Legislative Exchange Council at the end of this year. Serving ALEC has been one of the greatest honors of my career, which has spanned 50 years across government service and the private sector. Together, we have expanded ALEC’s reach, strengthened our organization, increased member engagement and, most importantly, remained steadfast in our commitment to limited government, free markets and federalism. You can read my full announcement letter here.

While I will miss the day-to-day work and the remarkable people who make ALEC so special, I could not be more confident about what comes next. Our Board of Directors unanimously approved Jonathan Williams as ALEC Chief Executive Officer and Lisa Bowen as ALEC President beginning January 1. Both have dedicated nearly two decades to ALEC, and I know the organization’s future is in exceptional hands. I’m also thankful that ALEC has asked me to stay on in an advisory role—so I’ll still be around, and my contact information isn’t changing!

I was also deeply honored to once again be named one of Washingtonian’s Most Powerful Women in Washington. This recognition is especially meaningful as I prepare to close out my time as Chief Executive Officer of ALEC, and I view it as a reflection of the extraordinary people I have had the privilege to work alongside throughout my years in the public and private sectors. I am grateful to Washingtonian for the recognition—and even more grateful for the people who have made this journey so special.

Speaking of the future, I am thrilled to welcome three outstanding state legislators to the ALEC Board of Directors: North Carolina Representative Ray Pickett, Rhode Island Representative Jon Brien, and Illinois Representative John Cabello.

Our Board is composed of state legislative leaders from across America – both red states and blue – who help guide the ALEC mission. I am excited to see the experience, perspectives and leadership Ray, Jon and John bring to that important work.

At ALEC, we have long understood that the states are laboratories of democracy—and when one state gets policy right, others can learn from its success.

That is why I am so proud of the fourth edition of States That Work: A Labor Policy Roadmap Across America, our comprehensive look at the labor policies shaping worker freedom and economic opportunity across all 50 states.

This year’s report evaluates states across 10 key labor policies, including Right to Work and occupational licensing reform. Arizona claimed the top spot, followed by Mississippi, Georgia, Arkansas and West Virginia. Mississippi and West Virginia were also among the states making some of the largest improvements over last year.

The lesson is simple: states can remove unnecessary barriers, protect workers’ freedom and create an environment where families and businesses can thrive—or they can make it harder for people to pursue opportunity. Check out the video below to hear from Arizona Senate President Pro Tempore T.J. Shope about the policies Arizona has enacted to retain the top spot in this year’s report:

ALEC’s commitment to the principles of federalism and limited government does not stop at the statehouse door. We are also making those arguments in the courts. ALEC recently weighed in on three important Supreme Court cases through amicus briefs:

• In Alaska Policy Forum v. Alaska Public Offices Commission, ALEC’s brief argues that Alaska’s donor-disclosure regime threatens protected speech and association by imposing disclosure requirements on organizations engaged in issue advocacy.
• In Ream v. U.S. Department of the Treasury, ALEC joined an amicus brief addressing the constitutional limits of federal power. The case concerns the federal prohibition on home distilling for personal use and raises larger questions about the reach of Congress under the Taxing, Commerce and Necessary and Proper Clauses.
• And in Republican National Committee v. Mi Familia Vota, ALEC submitted an amicus brief addressing federalism and the constitutional authority of state legislatures in the administration of presidential elections. The case before the U.S. Supreme Court involves Arizona’s documentary proof-of-citizenship requirements and the relationship between federal voter-registration law and state authority under Article II.

Our briefs in these cases make it clear that our constitutional system depends on meaningful limits on government power and respect for the roles assigned to the states.

September was also a busy month for ALEC academies, as legislators and policy experts gathered across the country to dig deeper into some of the most important issues facing the states.

In Lexington, our Energy Academy brought together state leaders to discuss the policies that can help lead to an affordable, reliable and clean energy future. In Annapolis, our Veterans and Military Affairs Academy focused on ways states can better serve those who have served our country. Our Regulatory Reform Academy in Greenville, South Carolina, explored how states can cut unnecessary red tape, encourage innovation and create an environment where businesses and entrepreneurs can thrive. And in Park City, our Utah Education Freedom Summit convened leaders for important conversations about the future of education and how Utah leaders can ensure students have access to opportunities that help them succeed.

These academies are one of my favorite examples of what ALEC does best: bringing leaders together, digging into the policy details and giving lawmakers the tools and relationships they need to take good ideas home to their states. Iowa Speaker Pro Tempore John Wills attended our Veterans and Military Affairs Academy and talked about the importance of these gatherings: WATCH HERE.

Our team at ALEC also recently gathered for our first-ever all-staff retreat—and what better city to visit during America’s 250th anniversary than Boston? From team building exercises, discussions about the future of ALEC, and an incredible walk along the Freedom Trail, it was a wonderful opportunity to step away from our daily routines, reflect on the work we do together and strengthen the relationships that make our team so special.

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There is still plenty of 2026 left—and one of our biggest events of the year is right around the corner.

Registration is officially open for the 2026 ALEC States and Nation Policy Summit, December 9–11 at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, D.C.

After a year celebrating America’s 250th birthday, there could be no better place to close out this historic year than our nation’s capital. Legislators, policy experts and private-sector leaders from across the country will come together to exchange ideas, strengthen relationships and look ahead to the 2027 legislative sessions.

Early-bird registration ends November 11, so don’t wait to reserve your spot.

As I enter these final months as Chief Executive Officer, I find myself thinking often about what has made ALEC successful for more than 50 years. It isn’t any single publication, meeting or policy victory. It is the belief that ideas matter, that states matter, and that principled leaders working together can make government work better for the people it serves.

I cannot wait to see many of you in Washington this December as we celebrate an extraordinary year, prepare for the challenges ahead and continue empowering states to shape America’s future.

See you in the states!