2017 Winter Meeting

Early Childhood Education: A Foundation for Economic Success

NGA Chair Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe addresses the crowd at the beginning of the 2017 Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C.

Actress and early education advocate Jennifer Garner speaks to the nation’s governors at the opening session of the 2017 Winter Meeting.

Alabama Governor Robert Bentley, chair of the Education and Workforce Committee, discusses early childhood education at the opening session.

Governors listen to how they can partner with Congress and the Administration to redesign the early childhood education landscape to support state innovation during the 2017 Winter Meeting’s opening session.

Washington Governor Jay Inslee, vice chair of the Education and Workforce Committee discusses how early childhood education is improving the lives of citizens and strengthening state economies.

Mike Petters, president and CEO of Huntington Ingalls Industries, was one of the opening session’s guest speakers during the 2017 NGA Winter Meeting.

Mark Shriver, present of Save the Children Action Network, discusses how the nonprofit can help governors develop action plans for improving early education access and quality in their states.

Lessons on Leadership: Negotiating a Health Care Solution

Vox Senior Editor Sarah Kliff moderates a discussion with former governors about negotiating a health care solution during the 2017 Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C.

Former South Carolina Governor Jim Hodges participates in a moderated panel to discuss health care reform in the United States.

Former Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour speaks during a moderated panel of former governors led by Vox Senior Editor Sarah Kliff.

Former Nebraska Governor Ben Nelson addresses the audience during the special session, Lessons on Leadership: Negotiation a Health Care Solution, at the 2017 NGA Winter Meeting.

Former Vermont Governor Jim Douglas listens to the discussion around negotiating a health care solution during the 2017 NGA Winter Meeting.

Meet the Threat: States Confront the Cyber Challenge

NGA Chair Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe addresses the crowd at Saturday's plenary session highlighting the work being done through his chair's initiative, Meet the Threat: States Confront the Cyber Challenge.

The panelists of Saturday's plenary session listen to Oregon Governor Kate Brown, vice chair of the Homeland Security and Public Safety Committee, speak about the work being done through NGA Chair Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe's initiative.

Panelist Vinton Cerf, vice president and chief internet evangelist at Google, contributes to the discussion focused on successful policies to improve state cybersecurity resiliency and specific best practices in state government and in the private sector during the 2017 Winter Meeting.

Adam Clayton Powell III with the University of Southern California Annenberg Center moderates the discussion on how states can improve their cybersecurity practices during the 2017 NGA Winter Meeting.

Panelist John P. Carlin, partner at Morrison Foerster, discusses the specific technical and policy challenges states face in improving their cybersecurity readiness and resiliency during the 2017 Winter Meeting.

Ending Childhood Hunger: Improving Lives and Investing in America’s Future

NGA Chair Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe listens to Nevada First Lady Kathleen Sandoval during the special joint plenary session addressing food insecurity and childhood hunger in America and its implications for the country's economic future during the 2017 NGA Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C.

Virginia First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe, chair of the Spouses Leadership Committee, co-moderates a session on ending childhood hunger.

NGA Vice Chair Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval co-moderates the joint session highlighting how child nutrition programs can be strengthened with state initiatives and innovative public-private partnerships to improve the long-term health and educational outcomes for America's youth during the 2017 Winter Meeting.

The panelists of Sunday's joint plenary session listen on as Virginia First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe discusses the role of federal and state child nutrition programs and discuss the unique campaign model she has built in Virginia to leverage public and private resources to end childhood hunger.

Panelist Rodney K. Taylor, food and nutrition services director for Fairfax County Public Schools, shares creative strategies he has used to improve the quality of school meals and increase students' participation in nutrition assistance programs in school systems in California and Virginia.

During Sunday's joint session with governors' spouses, Hugh Acheson, panelist and chef, discusses the important role chefs, and the business community at large, can play in raising public awareness about childhood hunger and partnering with community businesses, farms and anti-hunger organizations to improve children's overall health and success in life.

Hawaii Governor David Ige listens to remarks during the joint session on ending childhood hunger on Sunday during the 2017 Winter Meeting.

Hot Topics Plenary

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey leads a discussion on boosting civic engagement across the country during 2017 NGA Winter Meeting.

Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin listens to remarks during the Hot Topics plenary session at the 2017 Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C.

Karen Summers, vice president of the Joe Foss Institute, speaks on increasing civic engagement in states during Sunday's session at the 2017 NGA Winter Meeting.

NGA Vice Chair Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval listens to the discussion on pertinent topics that affect governors, states and state government during the Hot Topics session of the 2017 Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C.

Leo Hindery, managing partner for InterMedia Partners, speaks to the audience about the infrastructure bank and leadership opportunities in states at the 2017 NGA Winter Meeting.

Brian Kelly, editor and chief content officer for U.S. News and World Report, delivers a TED-talk style discussion on power returning to the states and the people as the new Administration gets underway.

Jason Furman, senior fellow for Peterson Institute for International Economics, speaks on the impact of continued automation and artificial intelligence on our economy and labor market during Sunday's session at the 2017 NGA Winter Meeting.

Press Briefing

Alaska Governor Bill Walker and Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper listen to remarks during the closing media briefing for the 2017 Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C.

NGA Vice Chair Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval addresses the press on governors' congressional priorities at the closing media briefing of the 2017 NGA Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C.

Senator Lamar Alexander, former governor of Tennessee, discusses the state-federal partnership and introduced NGA Vice Chair Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval at the closing media briefing of the 2017 NGA Winter Meeting.

NGA Chair Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe speaks to the press about the governors' annual meeting with the President and fields questions from the press at the closing media briefing for the 2017 NGA Winter Meeting.

Senator Maggie Hassan, former governor of New Hampshire, makes opening remarks and introduces NGA Chair Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe at the closing media briefing of the 2017 NGA Winter Meeting on Capitol Hill.