MANALAPAN, FLA.—Every fall during the weekend prior to Thanksgiving, state legislative leaders and members of the State Government Affairs Council (SGAC), a national association for multi-state government affairs professionals, assemble for a meeting called the Leaders’ Policy Conference (LPC). This year, the Carpet & Rug Institute (CRI), a member of SGAC, was in the forefront, as its government affairs director, Jennifer Mendez, served as chairperson for the conference.

LPC is an annual meeting of the states’ legislative leadership and state government affairs professionals from the nation’s leading businesses, associations and service providers. The conference is designed to encourage dialogue on issues of importance between state legislative leaders and private sector representatives.

Included on the list of invitees were the legislative leadership from all 50 states; the executive committees of the National Council of State Legislators and the Council of State Governments; the board of the American Legislative Exchange Council, SGAC members and representatives from the private sector.

With the theme, “Innovation: The Path to Recovery,” this year’s conference focused on pressing issues facing state legislatures due to current economic and world events.

The program included a range of critical skill-building sessions focused on such matters as, “Hot Topics in State Legislatures,” “Current Economic Climate,” “Digital Communications,” “Healthcare,” “Leadership,” “Political Analyses,” and “Innovations in Technology.”

Several well-known speakers attended the conference, including former Arkansas governor and TV personality, Mike Huckabee.

“From the comments I’ve received,” said Mendez, “feedback was positive and encouraging, particularly from legislators. I have to say, chairing the conference was fun, but a challenge nonetheless.”

For more information on CRI or the conference, call 706.278.3176.