LEXINGTON, Ky.—Jessica Karls-Ruplinger, deputy director of the Wisconsin Legislative Council, has been selected to participate in one of the nation’s premier leadership development programs for state government officials, The Council of State Governments’ Henry Toll Fellowship.

The 48 leaders in the class of 2017 hail from 32 states, Puerto Rico and Guam and represent all three branches of state government. A committee of program alumni reviewed applications and selected the class.

“This program offers a unique opportunity to learn about leadership styles, skills and experiences from a variety of perspectives,” Karls-Ruplinger said. “By interacting with, and learning from, leaders in legislative, executive and judicial branches across the country, I hope to better understand my leadership style and improve my leadership skills.”

The Toll Fellowship, named for CSG founder Henry Wolcott Toll, has convened a group of the nation’s top officials for the intensive, six-day, five-night intellectual boot camp for more than 30 years. This year’s program will be held Aug. 25-30 in Lexington, Kentucky.

The program’s agenda includes a lineup of dynamic sessions designed to stimulate personal assessment and growth, while providing networking and relationship-building opportunities. Each year’s program is unique, but previous programs have included sessions on leadership personality assessment, media training, crisis management, appreciative inquiry and adaptive leadership.

“CSG’s Toll Fellowship is a once-in-a-lifetime leadership development opportunity that has shaped public service careers for decades,” said David Adkins, CSG executive director/CEO. “CSG welcomes these new leaders into the Toll Fellows family and we look forward to being a resource for them throughout their careers.”

Adkins was a 1993 Toll Fellow when he served as a Kansas state representative.

Toll Fellows alumni include Cheri Beasley, associate justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court; Oregon Gov. Kate Brown; U.S. Rep. John Carney, a former Delaware lieutenant governor; Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey; Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap; Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett; Delaware Gov. Jack Markell; Anne McKeig, associate justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court; Arkansas Secretary of State Mark Martin; Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill; Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate; U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita, a former Indiana secretary of state; former U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis; and Rhonda Wood, associate justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court.

“Participation in this program will help me to improve as a leader in my agency and to continue my role in maintaining the agency’s strong reputation and credibility in the nonpartisan services it provides to the Legislature,” Karls-Ruplinger said.

About The Council of State Governments

The Council of State Governments is the nation’s only organization serving all three branches of state government. CSG is a region-based forum that fosters the exchange of insights and ideas to help state officials shape public policy. This offers unparalleled regional, national and international opportunities to network, develop leaders, collaborate and create problem-solving partnerships.

For more information about CSG, visit www.csg.org.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email