Contact Us

Shelby Kerns

Executive Director

202-624-8804

Prior to coming to NASBO, Kerns served as Deputy Director at the Idaho Department of Labor, having previously worked in the Idaho Division of Financial Management from 2009-2019 (the state's budget office). In her prior position as Budget Bureau Chief, she led staff in developing, presenting, and advocating for the Governor’s Executive Budget. As a past member of NASBO, Kerns served for two years on the association’s Executive Committee.

Earlier in her career, Kerns was executive director of the Idaho Rural Partnership, program director at the Idaho Association of REALTORS®, and assistant executive director of the Idaho Wool Growers Association.

Kerns received a master’s degree in business administration from Northwest Nazarene University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Idaho.

Kerns was a Guardian ad litem for children in foster care from 2000-2020; a Family Advocates Board Member from 2016-2019; the 2015 Tribute to Women and Industry Award Recipient; and Idaho Business Review Women of the Year Recipient in 2009.

Lauren Cummings

Chief Operating Officer

lcummings@nasbo.org

202-624-8434

Operations | Meetings | Corporate Sponsorships

My Bio

As Chief Operating Officer for the National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO) I am responsible for membership services and communication, meetings and trainings, corporate sponsorships, office management and technology. Prior to joining NASBO, I was a Special Assistant in the Virginia Governor’s Office of Substance Abuse Prevention where I assisted with state grants and managed a youth substance abuse prevention conference. I received a B.S. in Sociology from the College of Charleston in South Carolina. I enjoy traveling, spending time with family and riding my bike to work when the weather isn't sweltering.

Education

College of Charleston

Charleston, South Carolina, United States

Bachelor's of Science, 1999

Sociology

1996 To 1999

Ruth Ann Hultman

Controller

rahultman@nasbo.org

202-624-5383

Accounts Payable | Accounts Receivable

My Bio

Ruth Ann Hultman joined NASBO in 2022 as Controller and is responsible for managing the association’s finances. Prior to that, she served as the Director of Finance & Administration for the Idaho Association of Commerce & Industry. Before joining IACI, she worked for a local REALTOR® association and in Zoo Boise’s development department. Previously, while living in DC, she worked for an investment management firm and in the U.S. Senate.

Hultman served on the Board of the Employers’ Health Coalition of Idaho from 2017 to 2021, most recently acting as Treasurer.

Hultman holds a Master of Public Administration and a Graduate Certificate in Non-Profit Management from Boise State University, and has a BFA in Interior Design with a Minor in Architecture from the University of Idaho.

Education

Boise State University
Boise, Idaho, United States
Master of Public Administration, 2020
Public Administration, Non-profit Management
2018 To 2020

University of Idaho
Moscow, Idaho, United States
Bachelor of Fine Arts, 2003
Interior Design, Architecture
1999 To 2003

Brian Sigritz

Director of State Fiscal Studies

bsigritz@nasbo.org

202-624-8439

My Bio

Brian Sigritz is the Director of State Fiscal Studies for the National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO) in Washington, D.C. Within NASBO, his responsibilities include tracking and analyzing tax and revenue trends, as well as handling NASBO activities related to transportation, public-private partnerships, energy, and disaster response issues. He also monitors the fiscal health of the states and edits and produces the State Expenditure Report annually.

Prior to coming to NASBO, Sigritz worked as a legislative aide in the Ohio Senate and the Ohio House of Representatives, where he served as the caucus staff representative on the Human Services and Aging Committee. He has also served as the legislative liaison to the Mayor of Dayton, Ohio. In addition, Sigritz has authored articles on state fiscal conditions, has been quoted in a number of publications, and has appeared on several television programs.

Sigritz graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from St. Bonaventure University, and received his Master of Public Administration degree from George Washington University. He also studied sociology and history while attending Oxford University.

Kathryn White

Director of Budget Process Studies

kwhite@nasbo.org

202-624-5949

My Bio

Kathryn Vesey White is Director of Budget Process Studies at NASBO. In this role, she tracks changes in budget and financial management practices, and authors the semi-annual Fiscal Survey of States report. White also monitors state budget developments in areas including K-12 education, higher education, and economic development, and conducts ongoing research on the use of performance data and evidence in state budgeting and management.

Prior to joining NASBO, White served as a research associate for The George Washington University Regulatory Studies Center. She also spent two years with Deloitte’s federal consulting practice. White is a graduate of Georgetown University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English. She also holds a Master of Public Policy degree from The George Washington University, where she concentrated her studies in budgeting and public finance.

Education

The George Washington University
Washington
M.P.P., 2012
Budgeting and Public Finance
2010 To 2012

Georgetown University
Washington
B.A., 2006
English
2003 To 2006

Leah Wavrunek

Senior Policy
Analyst

lwavrunek@nasbo.org

202-624-8433

My Bio

Leah Wavrunek is a Fiscal Policy Analyst for the National Association of State Budget Officers in Washington, D.C. In this role, she is responsible for monitoring federal actions that impact states, in addition to tracking state policy developments related to corrections and public safety, natural resources, pensions and employee benefits, and information technology.

Prior to joining NASBO, Wavrunek worked as a senior policy analyst for the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, focused on criminal justice and public safety policy. Prior to that, she served as an executive policy and budget analyst in the Wisconsin State Budget Office, overseeing budget development and implementation for agencies related to criminal justice, natural resources and agriculture. Wavrunek is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, and a Master of Public Affairs from the La Follette School of Public Affairs.

Meagan Rhodes

Training Coordinator & Fiscal Policy Analyst

mrhodes@nasbo.org

202-624-5384

My Bio

Meagan Rhodes joined NASBO in 2022 as a Training Coordinator and Fiscal Policy Analyst. In this position, she helps to coordinate trainings for analysts in state budget offices across the country. Prior to working with NASBO, Meagan was the Education budget analyst for the state of Oklahoma. She was responsible for overseeing the budget development and implementation for all K-12 and higher education agencies and also assisted with the revenue process in the state. Prior to that, she worked as a financial analyst for an agricultural lending company.

Meagan is a graduate of Oklahoma State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness in 2015 and a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics in 2017.

Education

Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States
Master of Science, 2017
Agricultural Economics 2015 To 2017

Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States
Bachelor of Science, 2015
Agribusiness 2011 To 2015

Brukie Gashaw

Membership & Creative Lead

bgashaw@nasbo.org

202-624-7748

Membership Manager | Brand Designer | Website Manger | Technology Manager | Presentation Designer

My Bio

Before joining NASBO, she worked in the international non‑profit sector, where she discovered her love for building brand identities for mission‑driven organizations.

At NASBO, Brukie handles the design and production of the organization’s publications, data visualizations, website updates, and member communications. She often says her job is “to make NASBO look good.” She also manages and maintains the membership database, supporting member access and engagement, and strengthening internal workflows tied to member services.

Outside of work, Brukie is an avid explorer who has wandered through Central and South America, Europe, the Middle East, and several African countries. When she’s not traveling or designing, she’s likely sketching, painting, or happily getting lost in a museum.

Education

University of North Texas

Denton, Texas, United States
B.A. in International Studies, minor French

2005 - 2009

Ben Carpenter

Communications Coordinator

bcarpenter@nasbo.org

202-624-8431

Virtual Meeting Operations | Designer | Office Management | Social Media Manager

My Bio

Ben Carpenter joined the National Association of State Budget Officers in 2024 and serves as Communications Coordinator. In this role, he supports virtual and in person meeting operations, graphic design, office management, social media, content development, and internal and external communications.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from Towson University and an Associate’s degree in Fine Art from the Delaware College of Art and Design.

Education

Towson University
Towson, Maryland, United States
Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication
Public Relations
2020 - 2023

Delaware College of Art and Design
Wilmington, Delaware, United States
Associate of Fine Arts
2016 - 2018

The National Association of State Budget Officers
Hall of States Building
444 North Capitol Street, NW Suite 642
Washington, DC 20001
nasbo-direct@nasbo.org

Phone: 202-624-5382

Closest Metro Station: Union Station (Red Line)