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State Representative James Lomax, R – Huntsville, was among 28 select lawmakers to complete a leadership development program that identifies and assists emerging state and provincial leaders in the South.
Representative Lomax met with fellow lawmakers from Alabama and 10 other Southern states on October 15-19 in Nashville, TN., for The Council of State Governments’ Southern Office 16th Annual Meeting of the Center for Advancement of Leadership Skills (CALS) leadership development program.
“The CALS leadership development program is one of the premier leadership training programs in the South,” says West Virginia Senate President Craig Blair, who serves as the Chair for CSG South. “The elected and appointed officials who complete this program have benefited greatly from the skills and experience they gain through this unique leadership experience.”
Since 2007, more than 300 lawmakers have graduated from the CALS program. State legislators from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia are chosen through a competitive, nonpartisan selection process.
CALS was founded in 2007 to help foster relationships between the southern states as well as develop a group of emerging leaders with a focus on essential skills in communication, conflict resolution, consensus building, and critical decision-making.
A program of The Council of State Governments’ Southern Office, the 2023 CALS Program held training sessions focused on essential topics such as leadership development, social media practices, and communication skills. The 2023 CALS program concluded with a graduation ceremony at which keynote speaker Missouri Senator Holly Thompson Rehder shared wisdom from her new book Cinder Girl and an after-hours tour of the Tennessee State Capitol, complete with chamber tours and presentations by two former Tennessee CALS Alumni and the Comptroller of Tennessee.
About CSG South
Established In 1947, The Council of State Governments Southern Office (CSG South) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that exists to support members in all three branches of state government. At CSG South we act as an extension of state government, fostering the exchange of insights and ideas to help state officials and staff shape public policy and create problem-solving partnerships.
The mission of CSG South is to promote and strengthen intergovernmental cooperation among its 15 member states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. Predominantly, this is achieved through the ongoing work of CSG South’s seven standing committees and supporting groups.
Legislative leadership, members, and staff depend on CSG South to identify and analyze solutions for the most prevalent and unique policy issues facing Southern state governments. We facilitate outreach in state capitols, leadership development, staff exchange programs, domestic and international policy delegations, and other efforts to support state policymakers and legislative staff in their work to build stronger, more successful states.
