Celebrating the 2026 NACA Scholarship Recipients
NACA is proud to recognize three outstanding professionals who have been awarded scholarships to attend the 2026 ICMA - International City/County Management Association Annual Conference in Long Beach / Los Angeles County, California, October 17–21. These scholarships, honoring the legacy of J. Thomas Lundy, are to support travel and other expenses for recipients who exemplify commitment to excellence in local government. Each recipient will receive $1,500. Click here to read more about NACA’s scholarships.
2026 Scholarship Recipients:
Lisa Ransler (Van Buren County, MI)
Lisa Ransler serves as Community Services Director for Van Buren County, Michigan, where she provides leadership across planning, economic development, housing rehabilitation, parks and recreation, land preservation, brownfield redevelopment, and opioid settlement administration. With more than 30 years of progressive local government experience in small and rural Michigan communities, Lisa is known for building the systems and partnerships that multiply community capacity — turning limited budgets into lasting impact. She has secured more than $25 million in grant funding across her career and is passionate about fostering regional cooperation that helps smaller communities compete, thrive, and do more with less. Committed to the long-term health of Michigan communities and to developing the next generation of local government leaders, Lisa is honored to be a 2026 J. Thomas Lundy Scholar.
Michelle Bowers (County of Sullivan, NY)
Michelle Bowers began her career with Sullivan County in 2002, working for the Sullivan County Legislature before transitioning to the County Manager’s Office in 2007, where she has served in several leadership roles. She was appointed Assistant County Manager in February 2020 and served as Acting Deputy County Manager beginning in January 2024. Since December 2024, Michelle has served as Deputy County Manager, where she is responsible for overseeing the administrative and operational functions of the County to support its goals, objectives, and strategic initiatives, while fostering and maintaining strong cross-departmental relationships.
Michelle is a member of the International City/County Management Association, where she will be serving on the Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Committee, and is also a member of the National Association of County Administrators. In addition, she serves on New York State Association of Counties’ Intergovernmental Relations, General Government & Public Employee Relations Standing Committee and is President of the Sullivan County Tobacco Asset Securitization Corporation. Michelle earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management and Economics from Empire State University.
Natalia Borowska (Kendall County, IL)
Natalia Borowska entered the local government profession in April 2025 as a Management Analyst for Kendall County, Illinois, located approximately 60 miles southwest of Chicago. In her current role, she supports the Administration Department through project management, policy analysis, program implementation, and community engagement. During her time with Kendall County, she has contributed to initiatives aimed at enhancing community relations through digital engagement strategies, refining approaches to opioid settlement fund allocation, and advancing various economic development initiatives. Prior to joining Kendall County, Natalia worked in community engagement and public affairs within the nonprofit sector.
Passionate about strengthening government’s ability to serve residents, Natalia is committed to effective public administration and collaborative, community-centered problem-solving. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Justice Studies from Northeastern Illinois University (’21) and a Master of Public Affairs from the University of Wisconsin–Madison (’23).
Natalia is honored to be selected as a recipient of NACA’s J. Thomas Lundy Scholarship Award and looks forward to attending the 2026 ICMA Annual Conference to connect with fellow local government professionals and learn how counties and municipalities across the country are addressing similar challenges.
Each recipient was selected for their dedication, leadership, and passion for public service. The scholarships are made possible through the generosity of the NACA community and the families who honor the legacy of J. Thomas Lundy. Tom spent 44 years in local government service, primarily as Catawba County, North Carolina, Manager. He served as President of ICMA, the NC City and County Managers Association and NACA, and as Chair of the ICMA-RC (now MissionSquare) Board. He also served on the IHN and Alliance for Innovation Boards of Directors, and served on and chaired the Credentialing Advisory Board. He retired from full-time service in 2016, and became a Life Member of both ICMA and the NC Managers Association. He received ICMA’s Distinguished Service Award, and is a three time recipient of the Long Leaf Pine Award, the State of North Carolina’s highest award. In retirement, he continues his local government connection, serving as a Senior Advisor in North Carolina.
As part of their award, recipients will share insights from their conference experience in NACA’s newsletter and participate in professional exchanges to benefit the broader field.
Congratulations to Natalia, Michelle, and Lisa! NACA looks forward to the impact you will make at the 2026 ICMA Annual Conference and beyond.