On Wednesday, March 21, Edgar C. Ross received the prestigious Louis L. Goldstein Leadership Award, given by the National Association of State Comptrollers (NASC) to recognize extraordinary excellence and leadership in state financial management and service to the association. The award was presented at the 2018 NASC Annual Conference in Montgomery, Alabama, by NASC President and Wyoming State Auditor Cynthia Cloud.

Ross has served as the chief accounting officer for the commonwealth of Kentucky for nearly 40 years, and he has served as controller since the inception of the office as a separate agency in1994.

He championed and put practices into place that allowed the commonwealth to be a leader in state financial management practices and come under GAAP compliance. Under his leadership, Kentucky was the eighth state recognized by the Government Finance Officers Association with a certificate of achievement and has received this honor for 26 consecutive years.

Ross has overseen the implementation of three accounting systems during his tenure – he’s seen and directly experienced an astonishing range of changes to the business of government. His adaptability speaks volumes about his ability not only to embrace change but to be its champion.

Ross served as president of NASC in 1984-85. Since that time, he has participated in numerous NASC and NASACT committees, information sharing groups and initiatives, sharing freely of his experience and expertise.

Ross is the fifth person to receive this award since its inception in 1994.