2011 Annual Report

Director’s Message

Changing circumstances demand a renewed focus and innovative approaches. At the Vinson Institute, promoting excellence in government in a time of transition like 2011 means helping state and local governments navigate through the change with a vision for the future.

2011 was the year when stabilizing budgets and emerging signs of economic recovery let many in government begin to breathe a little easier. Vinson Institute outreach was more relevant than ever as our faculty and staff helped develop current and upcoming leaders, find objective answers to daunting questions, and reevaluate organizational structures in light of new realities.

Vinson Institute faculty collaborated with officials and staff on the ground throughout the state and internationally to help them hone their visions for what their governments will look like going forward and how they will best be able to respond to their constituents’ needs. We engaged with leaders and personnel of all levels in the classroom to build the knowledge and skills that are essential in today’s workforce. We were there behind the scenes to help governments find operational efficiencies, look for ways to ensure the economic vitality of their communities, deploy advanced technology to more effectively serve residents, and more.

Having first taken the reigns of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government as interim director in 2011, it has been my pleasure to have the opportunity to work more closely with so many individuals in governments statewide who are devoted to public service. I look forward to another year of listening and learning about the opportunities as well as the challenges that each of you face as government leaders and employees and finding ways that the Vinson Institute can help you prepare for the future and accomplish your goals.

Laura Meadows
Director