It has been a tremendous privilege to serve as president of the National State Auditors Association. I have received so much valuable insight from our network of audit offices and their staff; it has helped to better administer our office in Michigan. From the annual conference, workshops, committee meetings, and other professional development events, our Association has so much to offer new and experienced auditors as they navigate their careers. 
 
Also, my role has allowed me to establish collaborations with other professionals on national committees and work groups to help ensure the states have a contributing voice in standards, regulations, and requirements relating to state government financial practices and reporting. The collective attitude of our state auditor members and the federal contacts demonstrates the willingness to share ideas and approaches to problems confronting our offices. It is not only a valuable resource, but a reflection on the professionalism and can-do spirit of so many in our field. I have so many to thank for office-related and personal growth improvements. 
 
I hope you will join us at the 2025 NSAA Annual Conference in East Lansing, Michigan from June 10 through 13.  On June 10 we will hold a pre-conference Principal’s Summit for the state auditors to candidly discuss their challenges and opportunities with their peers. The conference will include a technical agenda covering legislative oversight, state/federal partnerships, single audit issues, auditing standards, roundtables, and other topics of interest. The conference will also offer networking opportunities, NSAA committee and business meetings, and presentations from NSAA’s Excellence in Accountability Award winners highlighting their important audit work.
 
East Lansing has a lot to offer our attendees, with the Abrams Planetarium, Cyclotron Laboratory, Broad Art Museum, Beal Botanical Gardens, and other attractions, all a few blocks away on the campus of Michigan State University. Also, Potter Park Zoo, the Michigan Capitol, and our beautiful Great Lakes are not to be missed either. So, please get in early or take a later flight home to enjoy these wonderful opportunities for you and your family.

We have plenty of great restaurants within walking distance of our conference hotel, the East Lansing Marriott, with many, many great pizza places, burger joints, and bars that have been the mainstays of campus life for decades. Here is a listing to help to plan your trip. 
 
The NASACT Executive Committee continues to offer up to $750 in travel assistance for NSAA members or their designees to attend this conference. I hope you will all take advantage of this offer.
 
The Planning Committee has put together an excellent program offer insight to address many of the issues we face as state auditors. Topics include:

• Connecting the Dots: Auditors and Legislators
• Enterprise Risk Management
• Single Audit Updates and State/Federal Partnerships
• Governmental Accounting Standards Board Update
• A first-of-its-kind, Table Talk Time (networking among participants)
• Fraud and Forensic Accounting
• Performance and Financial Audit Collaboration Roundtable
• Driving Audit Efficiencies Through Artificial Intelligence
• Presentations by NSAA’s Excellence in Accountability Award Winners

In addition to these informative sessions, we will hold new member and general receptions on Wednesday and Thursday evenings to give you the opportunity to meet and network with your colleagues and other conference attendees.
 
Member participation is key to the success and enduring value of NSAA. I strongly encourage all of you to get involved in our incredible association. I would like to recognize and welcome new members since last year’s conference:

• Kevin White, Legislative Auditor, Arkansas
• Ryan Langrill, Director of Performance Evaluations, Idaho
• Brian Tanen, Legislative Auditor, Maryland
• Dave Boliek, State Auditor, North Carolina
• Steve Bergmann, Audits Division Director, Oregon
• Sue Moss, State Auditor, South Carolina
• Tina Cannon, State Auditor, Utah

It has been my pleasure to work with an extraordinary and dedicated Executive Committee who are leaders in advocating for this organization and our profession. The Executive Committee members are:

• President-Elect: Pat McCarthy, State Auditor, Washington
• Secretary/Treasurer: Earle Powell, Legislative Auditor, South Carolina
• Immediate Past President: April Renfro, Legislative Auditor, Idaho
• Sherrill Norman, Auditor General, Florida
• Josh Gallion, State Auditor, North Dakota
• Staci Henshaw, Auditor of Public Accounts, Virginia

NSAA excels because so many of you apply your talents to lead and participate in committees and information sharing groups. Your participation helps build our professional network and collective expertise as we seek to proactively address emerging issues and the changing landscape facing state auditors. Please accept my appreciation for stepping away from your day-to-day responsibilities to contribute to these meaningful discussions. Special thanks to the committee chairs, group leaders, and presenters for their time and service.  

NASACT and NSAA continue to educate and inform us on issues affecting our work. They provide us with a mechanism for having a greater voice at the table when significant regulations or changes are being vetted by standard setting boards and agencies. Access to our federal and local partners, as well as private industry, through coordinated work groups and calls is an invaluable resource for us in the world we live and work in today. 
 
Throughout my career, I actively participated with NASACT and NSAA and I cannot adequately put into words the impact it has had. The opportunity to serve as the association president is the culmination of decades spent within our profession and the encouragement of so many of our members. I am happy to pass on to our members the lessons I learned and challenges we overcame to move our association and profession forward. Whether it be the pandemic, transitioning to hybrid workforce, recruiting and retaining staff, changing federal guidance, evolving political environments, and so many other issues, I sincerely want to thank the NSAA and NASACT staff and my audit colleagues for their guidance, support, and advice throughout the years.
 
I look forward to seeing you all in East Lansing at the 2025 NSAA Annual Conference.

 


Doug Ringler was appointed auditor general of Michigan in June 2014. He has held a variety of positions within state government for over 30 years. He is a certified public accountant, a certified internal auditor, and a graduate of Ferris State University. Ringler is president of the National State Auditors Association.