CGR, GovWorks Announce Strategic Partnership

June 5, 2013 - PRLog -- PRESS RELEASE

Media Contacts:

Joseph Stefko  (585) 327-7065; jstefko@cgr.org
Chad Goerner (609) 638-6651; chad@govworksconsulting.com

Rochester, New York and Princeton, New Jersey, June 5, 2013 – The Center for Governmental Research Inc. (CGR), of Rochester, New York and GovWorks Consulting LLC, of Princeton, New Jersey today announced a strategic partnership to deliver integrated, cutting-edge management guidance and solutions to local governments, schools and community institutions. The partnership’s expertise ranges from service delivery and fiscal sustainability to shared services and consolidation.

“Municipalities throughout the state are actively exploring solutions to address the fiscal challenges and service needs of their respective communities,” said Hon. Chad Goerner, Principal of GovWorks and former Mayor of Princeton Township. “No other strategic partnership can offer the consulting experience, breadth of expertise and track record of success that our organizations provide across the municipal efficiency spectrum.”

In addition to Goerner, the new partnership includes two other principals involved in designing and implementing the landmark 2013 consolidation of Princeton Borough and Township, New Jersey’s largest merger in more than six decades and its first under the Local Option Municipal Consolidation Act:

·        • Dr. Anton Lahnston, principal of GovWorks, chaired the Joint Shared Services and Consolidation Study Commission of Princeton Borough and Princeton Township.

·        • Dr. Joseph Stefko, CGR President and Chief Executive Officer, was the lead consultant to the Consolidation Study Commission and also project manager for the Princeton Transition Task Force.

“Given the significant fiscal challenges facing local governments, there’s no one solution that’s right for every community, but the toolkit of options is deep,” said Dr. Stefko. “The CGR / GovWorks partnership positions our team to be the leader in vetting those options with decision-makers and helping ensure vital community conversations move forward.”

In addition to offering client communities access to CGR / GovWorks’ integrated capabilities, the partners are launching a special white paper series. The series, said the partners, will explore the fiscal and operational challenges facing municipalities, and identify strategies for building more sustainable outcomes for local governments and taxpayers. The white papers will draw upon lessons learned from the landmark Princeton merger, actual government experience, and CGR’s 98 years working with local governments. The first in the series, To Tackle Tough Government Efficiency Issues, Develop a Framework for Decision-Making, outlines five steps that are critical to a successful outcome. It is available at www.cgr.org. The partners will also host their first webinar on July 25. Interested participants can email info@cgr.org for details.

Dr. Lahnston added, “The new and profound challenges facing local governments and school districts demand new and targeted solutions that are sensitive to a community’s own history, resources and demands. We feel this partnership can help ‘move the needle’ on driving solutions by providing more targeted consulting and strategic analysis on behalf of client communities.”

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About the Strategic Partners

CGR (Center for Governmental Research) is a leading provider of strategic management consulting to municipal, educational and nonprofit sector clients throughout the northeastern United States. The 98-year old nonprofit organization specializes in the areas of government management, economics & public finance, education, and health & human services.

GovWorks Consulting focuses on improving municipal efficiency through shared services, consolidation and / or service delivery optimization. It has hands-on experience in municipal consolidation processes, shared services, community engagement, and public outreach campaigns.