The Center for State and Local Government Excellence (SLGE) Board of Directors has appointed Joshua Franzel, Ph.D., to serve as the organization’s next President/CEO, effective January 1, 2017.
“Joshua Franzel’s contributions to SLGE as Vice President of Research have been instrumental in building SLGE’s reputation,” observed outgoing SLGE President/CEO Elizabeth Kellar. “Dr. Franzel’s independent research on workforce demographics, public health, and retirement issues is highly regarded. His excellent relationships with all of our research partners and the SLGE Board of Directors make him the ideal candidate to assume the CEO responsibilities.”
Dr. Franzel has been with SLGE since 2007 and currently serves as SLGE’s Vice President of Research and is director of policy research for the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). He holds a Ph.D. in Public Administration (&Policy) from American University, and MPA from Florida State University, and a B.A. from the University of Delaware. Previously, he worked for both the Delaware and Florida Legislatures and was a Presidential Management Fellow with the International Trade Administration and the Office of Management and Budget.
“Under the leadership of Elizabeth Kellar, The Center for State and Local Government Excellence has emerged from a start-up, non-profit research organization to one that is widely recognized for its high-quality, practitioner-oriented research, publications, data, and events,” Franzel noted. “I am excited to help SLGE build upon and expand these efforts and to develop new partnerships that will inform our work and, importantly, connect us with those working in and with state and local government.”
Elizabeth Kellar, who has served as the President/CEO of SLGE since its inception in 2006, will continue working for the organization as a Senior Fellow. Under her leadership, SLGE established the Public Plans Database and developed a national reputation as a nonpartisan organization known for communicating its research to policy leaders, practitioners, and elected officials so they can make informed decisions.
SLGE is dedicated to helping state and local governments respond to the challenges of attracting and retaining talented public servants. Founded in 2006 through the generous support of ICMA-RC, SLGE is an independent 501(c)3 organization that conducts research in areas including retirement plans, health benefits, compensation, competitive employment practices, demographic and occupational trends, workforce development, and promising practices in workforce programs.