Robin Vos.

• Author: Householder, Stacy
• Position: PRESIDENT

Wisconsin Speaker Robin Vos was inspired by President Ronald Reagan and former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson to get involved in government while he was in high school and college. After serving 10 years on the Racine County Board, he was elected to the Wisconsin Assembly in 2004. He is now in his seventh term and has served as speaker since 2013.

"I first became active in NCSL because I thought more Republicans should be part of it," Vos says. "As I became more involved, I realized NCSL is more than just an organization providing resources for state legislators. It provides opportunities to network and make friendships that transcend political party and geographic regions."

Vos says NCSL's greatest strength is the essential role it plays in Washington, D.C., "by being a voice for states at the federal level." He believes NCSL has an even greater role to play given society's current political polarization. "NCSL has done an excellent job bringing political parties together at a time when some legislators would rather score political points than work across the aisle," he says. His goal as president is to bolster NCSL's bipartisan reputation to ensure that legislatures remain strong, coequal branches of state...