President’s Message | August 2025
¡Bienvenido! Welcome!
I am excited and honored to become President of NACA. Leading this organization that has given so much to me during my career as a County Administrator is a responsibility I take to heart. Thank you to our membership, board, and NACA team for your trust and for this opportunity!
We have an exciting year ahead! The Board has set ambitious goals, and we cannot wait to deliver! Look for more NACA idea exchanges and programming with other affiliates at conferences throughout the next year. Can’t attend an in-person conference – no problem! We are bringing you at least 4 online opportunities for learning and connecting. Watch for our journal, newsletters and ICMA’s county-focused PM magazine in April. We are also looking forward to awarding the first Dave Krings County Administrator of the Year Award. These are just a few of the highlights we have in store for our members in 2025-2026.
NACA Board of Directors 2025-2026
We are incredibly grateful for the commitment and sharing of their abilities to our success to the incoming board:
President - Betsy C. Keller
President Elect - Michael Colbert
Secretary/Treasurer - Jonathan Lewis
Past President - Kenneth Wilson
VP Mountain Plains - Robert Wilson
VP Mountain Plains - Lance Pyle
VP West Coast - Tanya Ange
VP West Coast - Monica Nino
VP Midwest - Al Vanderberg
VP Midwest - Bridgette Gransden
VP Northeast - Ryan Pelletier
VP Northeast - Amber Jones
VP Southeast - David Ellis
VP Southeast - Hector Flores
NACo Board Representative - Scott Sorrel
This work is possible thanks to the foundation NACA has built over its long history. Fortunately, our past leaders, including Kenneth Wilson, immediate past president, and Steve Mokrohisky, past past president, and their boards continued the tradition and set outstanding examples and standards for us to follow. Under their leadership these past few years, we have accomplished key goals for our membership and our organization.
We’d love for you to get involved — join a NACA committee! Your time and talents can make a real difference. Whether your passion is communications, membership, programming, scholarships, or another area, there’s a place for you on our team. Serving on a committee is a great way to connect with fellow members, share ideas, and help strengthen counties across the country. Click here to learn about volunteer opportunities or submit your interest. Let’s work together to support one another and improve lives in communities nationwide!
I want to recognize and thank our incoming board (see sidebar). These individuals are remarkable and inspiring leaders in counties across the country. I know that together we are going to bring leadership, learning, and fun to every NACA event. Please help me thank them and welcome them to this year.
As we step into this NACA year together, I am reminded of the power of our shared mission and the difference we can make when we combine our talents, ideas, and passion for public service. The challenges facing counties are real, but so is our ability to meet them with innovation, collaboration, and heart. This is what NACA is about! I look forward to working alongside each of you as we continue to learn from one another, lift each other up, and lead with purpose. Together, we will ensure that NACA remains a driving force for excellence in county government — today, tomorrow, and for years to come. Let’s make 2025–2026 our most impactful year yet!
Yours in Service,
Betsy
Betsy Keller
2025-2026 NACA President
El Paso County Administrator
NACA Highlights - Four Years of Growth & Innovation
Over the past four years, NACA has achieved major milestones in advancing our mission and member value:
Partnered with the Alliance for innovation on the Fail Forward Initiative
Awarded 9 scholarships to members
Launched virtual Idea Exchanges
Welcomed new affiliate partner, National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA)
Hosted a robust Strategic Plan Retreat for a major update to our vision and goals
Added Northern Illinois University as a strategic resource to grow membership and value
Expanded financial support through our Friends of NACA
Expanded NACA’s Idea Exchanges at affiliate conferences (NACo Annual and ICMA Annual)
Updated NACA’s bylaws to modernize and meet today’s challenges
Together, these accomplishments are strengthening NACA’s impact, reach, and support for public administrators nationwide!