New Az Director Of Strategic Planning & Budgeting

Yesterday, Gov. Janet Napolitano named James Apperson as the Director for her Office of Strategic Planning & Budgeting (OSPB). He begins Dec. 8th, 2006.

Apperson will replace current OSPB Director Gary Yaquinto who is filling the vacancy created by retiring Bill Meek as President & CEO of the Arizona Utility Investors Association (AUIA). AUIA is a grassroots organization that advocates before public utility organizations & the Legislature for individual & business investors who own shares or bonds in utility companies that operate in Arizona. Educating public officials about the relationship between utility companies & the Arizona economy is also an important role of AUIA.

Apperson joined the Napolitano Administration Oct. 2nd, 2006 as OSPB Deputy Director. He most recently served the private sector as President & CEO of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce. Previously, he was Executive Assistant to Governor Bruce Babbitt & Chief of Staff for Governor Rose Mofford. He also worked for the Az. House of Representative & the Arizona Corporation Commission.

Additionally, Apperson has experience working for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission & served as Manager of External Affairs for Southwest Gas Corporation. His education includes a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Arizona State University & a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Northern Arizona University.

The Governor’s Office of Strategic Planning & Budgeting is charged by statue with preparing budget recommendations for the Governor’s review & subsequent release of the next fiscal year’s budget each January.