CNCounty News

2025 NACo Annual Conference Coverage

The western facade of Philadelphia's City Hall looks onto Market Street.

Follow along with County News during NACo’s Annual Conference: policy steering committees, General Session speakers, educational workshops, issue summits and more.

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County News: 2025 NACo Annual Conference

NACo's 2025-2026 officers: Immediate Past President James Gore, President J.D. Clark, First Vice President George Dunlap and Second Vice President Alisha Bell. Photo by Denny Henry
County News

J.D. Clark takes office as NACo president

J.D. Clark stressed the importance of telling the county story as he took office as NACo president.

Former FEMA Administrator Brock Long (left) and Harris County, Texas Commissioner Adrian Garcia discuss FEMA reform efforts July 13 before members of the NACo Intergovernmental Disaster Reform Task Force. Photo by Denny Henry
County News

Former FEMA chief is bearish on reform talks

Former FEMA Administrator Brock Long has yet to hear any proposals for federal disaster reform that would make a significant improvement to the way it operates.

Gen. Stanley McChrystal makes a point during a conversation with NACo President James Gore Sunday, July 13 during the NACo Board of DIrectors meeting in Philadelphia. Photo by Denny Henry
County News

Leading with purpose: Lessons from a four-star general

What do a county leader and a four-star general have in common? More than you might think.

Former NFL player and magician Jon Dorenbos, mesmerizes the  General Session crowd Sunday, July 13 with his magic and life story. Photo by Denny Henry
County News

NFL veteran harnesses magic and forgiveness to overcome adversity

No matter what the world throws at you, it’s up to you to chart your own path, NFL veteran and magician Jon Dorenbos told the NACo Annual Conference attendees. 

Leslie Boissiere, of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, talks about her organization’s support of youth-centered services with Second Vice President George Dunlap during the Closing General Session July 13. Photo by Denny Henry
County News

Casey Foundation leader emphasizes support for youth

“When youth are asked what helped them the most, they might name a program, but they will absolutely name a person that believed in them,” Leslie Boissiere told the General Session audience.

Historians Doris Kearns Goodwin and Doug Bradburn discuss leadership July 12 with NACo First Vice President J.D. Clark, the Wise County, Texas judge at the Opening General Session. Photo by Denny Henry
County News

Presidential historians’ message: ‘Lead with empathy, optimism, resiliency’

Doris Kearns Goodwin: In today’s divisive political landscape, empathy can feel hard to come by, which makes it that much more important to public service.

Molly Pyle, from the Center on Rural Innovation, describes her organization’s pillars for entrepreneurship success to the Rural Action Cacus July 12. Photo by Salvador Farfan
County News

Character strengths set rural counties up for entrepreneurship

Rural counties should not be written off as cradles of technology-driven entrepreneurship and the job growth that could follow in its wake.

Maureen McGuigan, Lackawanna County’s deputy director of arts and culture, talks July 12 to members of the NACo Arts and Culture Innovation Council. Photo by Leon Lawrence III.
County News

The arts fuel economic growth in counties of all sizes

A county doesn’t have to be Los Angeles or New York to see the economic benefits from the arts.

“Humans don’t need to be talked into using technology if they see a clear connection to making our own and other people’s lives better,” Amanda Bergson-Shilcock told the Community, Economic and Workforce Development Policy Steering Committee July 11. Photo by Denny Henry
News

AI offers counties potential for hiring, retention

Despite employees’ concerns over the disruptive potential of artificial intelligence adoption in the job market, workforce professionals maintain optimism that the technology, still in its infancy, could lead to better services and products from the public sector. 

Children play an educational game in the library at the South Philadelphia Community Health and Literacy Center. Photo by Leon Lawrence III
County News

Public-private partnership creates ‘one-stop shop’ to improve community wellness

The South Philadelphia Community Health and Literacy Center is a “one-stop shop” the city and the children’s hospital created to improve community wellness and make it easier for people to get their needs met.

NACo President James Gore addresses the First-Time Attendee Breakfast July 11 at the NACo Annual Conference at the Philadelphia Convention Center. Photo by Denny Henry
County News

NACo First-time Attendee Breakfast attracts 350 at Annual Conference

More than 350 attendees are making their first trip to a NACo Annual Conference this year.

The western facade of Philadelphia's City Hall looks onto Market Street.
County News

NACo kicks off 90th Annual Conference this week in Philadelphia

NACo is celebrating its 90th anniversary the way it knows best — gathering county officials from across the country to immerse themselves in the work they do at the Annual Conference in the city and county of Philadelphia. 

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The western facade of Philadelphia's City Hall looks onto Market Street.
County News

2025 NACo Annual Conference Coverage

Follow along with County News during NACo’s Annual Conference: policy steering committees, General Session speakers, educational workshops, issue summits and more.

NACo's 2025-2026 officers: Immediate Past President James Gore, President J.D. Clark, First Vice President George Dunlap and Second Vice President Alisha Bell. Photo by Denny Henry
County News

J.D. Clark takes office as NACo president

J.D. Clark stressed the importance of telling the county story as he took office as NACo president.