Corrections_Today_September-October_2022_Vol.84_No.5

From Jim’s Desk nEWS&vIEWS

Ohio continues to “lead on”!

T he 152 nd Congress of Correction is in ACA’s impressive book of history now. After a great General Session with Ashley Judd, packed training sessions on a wide variety of profes sional subjects and a glittering E.R. Cass dinner and awards session, ev eryone left New Orleans rejuvenated to meet again soon. Congratulations to Andie Moss and Damon Hininger, the 2022 Cass Awardees. In January 2023, ACA meets in Orlando, Florida. We look forward to our Winter Conference in warmer weather and to new leadership in ACA. I welcome Todd Ishee joining ACA as its Executive Director Des ignee in October. Todd has spent his career in Ohio and North Carolina in corrections. Working in government is much different than working in the private sector, I know first-hand how different (and difficult) it can be. I served in county government for over 20 years and it’s a challenge to go from a tax base budget to a

budget where you have to generate the money. Todd is certainly up to the task, and I look forward to working with him in the

next several months as he moves into the position of Executive Direc tor and drops the “designee” title. I also look forward to welcoming Denise Robinson as the incoming President of ACA at the Winter Con ference. Denise is the first President from community corrections in many years (if not the first ever). She brings a distinguished career to the ACA Presidency and is the third Ohio President during my career at ACA. Ohio has two past presidents on the Past Presidents Council, the chair of the standards committee (Annette Chambers-Smith), the chair of the Commission on Accreditation for Corrections (Tom Stickrath), several members of the Board of Governors, the Executive Director Designee, and now the ACA presidency again. It’s safe to say, Ohio has been a

“mover and a shaker” in ACA since our

founding in 1870! And it’s just begin ning ... welcome Todd

and welcome Denise, you join a long line of correc tional leaders dating back to Rutherford Hayes. Betty and I have many friends in Ohio, it must be something in the water! Congratu lations to the Ohio Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation on its 50 th anniversary as a stand-alone agency. Ohio continues to “lead on”!

James A. Gondles Jr., CAE ACA Executive Director

6 — September/October 2022 Corrections Today