WASHINGTON—The National Governors Association (NGA) will honor seven individuals for their significant contribution to public service at its upcoming Annual Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts. The Awards for Distinguished Service to State Government will be presented Friday, July 9, during the meeting's opening plenary session.

"These award recipients are true leaders who have made significant contributions to their states and the nation," said NGA Chair Vermont Governor Jim Douglas. "On behalf of all of the governors, I would like to thank these individuals for their service and for their willingness to use their time and talents for the enrichment of the state."

Each year, NGA presents awards to state officials, private citizens and individuals who have shown a commitment to the arts. The following honorees have been selected to receive awards for 2010:

State Officials

• Dr. David Gifford, Director, Department of Health, Rhode Island
• Katherine B. Miller, Cabinet Secretary, Department of Finance and Administration, New Mexico

Private Citizens

• Joe Rogers and Bob Hatcher, Co-Chairs, Commission for a New Georgia, Georgia
• Dr. Warren Simmons, Executive Director, Annenberg Institute for School Reform, Brown University, Rhode Island

Distinguished Service to the Arts

• Barnaby Evans, Artist and Creator of WaterFire, Rhode Island
• Willie Ney, Executive Director and Founder, Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin

Established in 1976, the NGA Awards for Distinguished Service to State Government enable governors to bring national recognition to their states' most valuable civil servants and private citizens. The awards emphasize the commitment of state administrators and the important contributions private citizens make to their states. The awards program is administered by a selection committee comprised of three permanent representatives from the academic community, as well as designees chosen by the NGA chair and vice chair.

The NGA Awards for Distinguished Service to the Arts, established in 1980, recognize outstanding service to the arts, focusing on contributions that improve the quality of life and bring distinction to a state.

STATE OFFICIALS

Dr. David Gifford, Director, Department of Health, Rhode Island
Since joining Gov. Carcieri's administration in 2005, Dr. David Gifford has shown a commitment to innovative thinking and the well-being of all Rhode Island citizens. Dr. Gifford steered the development of the state employee wellness program, Get Fit RI, which served as a catalyst for achieving Rhode Island's ambitious goal of earning the Wellness Council of America (WELCOA)'s first Well State Award in 2006, and brought Rhode Island into the national spotlight. Dr. Gifford has been a consistent advocate for immunization, and the Rhode Island Department of Health, under his direction, has been recognized by the Centers for Disease Control for maintaining some of the highest childhood immunization rates in the country for over a decade. Dr. Gifford also received special recognition for formulating a highly effective response to the H1N1 flu pandemic in 2009 and 2010. His commitment to making vaccination clinics more accessible throughout the state resulted in the highest H1N1 flu vaccination rate in the country, with nearly 40 percent of the state vaccinated, including 84.7 percent of Rhode Island children. "David presents a results-oriented management style that has transformed the Rhode Island Department of Health," said Rhode Island Gov. Donald Carcieri. "Virtually every citizen of our state has felt the impacts of his official actions."

Katherine B. Miller, Cabinet Secretary, New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration, New Mexico
Katherine Miller is recognized in Gov. Richardson's administration for her ability to find effective solutions to pressing problems and for the real impact she has had on the lives of New Mexicans. Secretary Miller has been instrumental in garnering support and financing for affordable housing legislation and has overseen the implementation of New Mexico's Colonias Initiative, which has brought together millions of dollars for critical infrastructure needs along the border region. She has streamlined numerous processes and programs, including the creation of uniform funding application to prioritize the state's water-related infrastructure needs. She reorganized the state's troubled legacy accounting system by consolidating 74 separate accounting, payroll and procurement processes into one system, improving the state's ability to comply with state and federal laws and centralize oversight practices. Her careful management of the state budget and thorough review of all state expenditures resulted in the largest reserve balances in the state's history. "Katherine has been an outstanding public servant for more than 15 years," said New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson. "She has been creative and diplomatic in crafting solutions that address competing objectives, and she has always kept the interests of the people of New Mexico paramount."

PRIVATE CITIZENS

Joe Rogers and Bob Hatcher, Co-Chairs of the Commission for a New Georgia, Georgia
Since May 2003, Joe Rogers and Bob Hatcher have led the Governor's Commission for a New Georgia (CNG), which convenes top business executives to identify areas to make Georgia one of the best managed states in the nation. By conducting research, sharing information and making recommendations for improvements, CNG task forces have addressed a wide array of issues including procurement, leadership development, customer service, tourism and state health benefits, among others. Today, thanks to the leadership of Rogers, Hatcher and the CNG, strategic purchasing is saving the state $100 million in contracts for supplies, equipment and services, an online state construction manual is keeping $1 billion in building projects on time, on budget, and within quality standards, and state agencies are providing constituents with "faster, friendlier, easier" service. In total, CNG has made 130 policy recommendations, with an impressive 85 percent implementation rate. Rogers is the chairman, president and CEO of Waffle House, and Hatcher serves as chairman of the Board of Regents for the University System of Georgia. "Joe Rogers and Bob Hatcher brought a much needed business perspective to Georgia state government," said Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue. "They have earned this prestigious award for the huge dividends their work has brought to the State of Georgia."

Dr. Warren Simmons, Executive Director, Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University, Rhode Island
For more than 25 years, Dr. Warren Simmons has led the Annenberg Institute in working with school systems and communities in Rhode Island and around the nation to develop smart education systems to promote high-quality student learning both inside and outside of schools. When Rhode Island urban schools were facing a decline, Gov. Carcieri called on Dr. Simmons to lead the newly-created Urban Education Task Force (UETF). The UETF gathered useful information about the conditions and outcomes of urban schools, pinpointed resources for teachers and students, and visited sites throughout the state and country to develop a set of best practices. UETF released its report in October 2009, providing recommendations in seven major areas that have resulted in widespread implementation and noticeable improvement in urban schools. "It is through Warren's commitment to improving education for our urban children, and his sheer force of will, that the state has made a commitment to moving the recommendations forward," said Rhode Island Gov. Donald Carcieri, "His leadership and vision make him a very deserving recipient of this award."

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE TO THE ARTS

Barnaby Evans, Artist and Creator of WaterFire, Rhode Island
Barnaby Evans' creation, WaterFire, is an art installation that has inspired a community of artists and has brought the spotlight to the state of Rhode Island. A sculpture consisting of a series of up to 100 bonfires that burn above the surface of the three rivers that run through downtown Providence, WaterFire combines the firelight reflections on the water's surface with the aroma of burning wood and the sound of world music. Its presence has attracted an array of visual, musical and performing arts displays to the surrounding streets and parks and revitalized the downtown area. Evans' creation of this extraordinary artwork has drawn international attention to Rhode Island's capital city, and has contributed to increasing tourism and revitalization efforts, as 60% of the over 10 million viewers are from outside the state. WaterFire has generated over $45 million in new spending each year in Providence, with only 10 percent of funding secured through government and the rest through private and commercial donations. "WaterFire has expanded appreciation and understanding of many new and traditional art forms," said Rhode Island Gov. Donald Carcieri. "To say Barnaby Evans has brought distinction to the great State of Rhode Island would be a huge understatement. He is truly deserving of this recognition for his creativity and contribution to the state."

Willie Ney, Executive Director and Founder, Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin
Willie Ney is the executive director and founder of the Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives (OMAI) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the First Wave Spoken Word and Urban Arts Community. This one-of-a-kind program gives students the opportunity to pursue their creative endeavors with faculty, staff and nationally renowned spoken word and hip hop artists, while working towards their degrees. With Ney's support and guidance, the students have performed around the city, state and the world, promoting themes of social activism, personal experiences and growth through uncensored spoken word. Ney has received the Governor's Award in Support of the Arts and the Martin Luther King Heritage Award, among others, and has used his influence to make education more accessible for many students. "Willie is truly an advocate for education and the arts," said Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle. "He works tirelessly to share the value of his program and its importance."

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Founded in 1908, the National Governors Association (NGA) is the collective voice of the nation's governors and one of Washington, D.C.'s most respected public policy organizations. Its members are the governors of the 50 states, three territories and two commonwealths. NGA provides governors and their senior staff members with services that range from representing states on Capitol Hill and before the Administration on key federal issues to developing and implementing innovative solutions to public policy challenges through the NGA Center for Best Practices. For more information, go to www.nga.org.