The Federation of Tax Administrators Recognizes Outgoing Board President Kimberly J. Lewis, Welcomes Neena Savage as Board President

Washington, D.C. (January 28, 2022) – The Federation of Tax Administrators today announced that its Board of Trustees’ President Kimberly Lewis, Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Revenue, has been appointed to be Executive Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer at the Louisiana State University (“LSU.”) FTA’s Executive Director, Sharonne Bonardi, expressed her appreciation for Secretary Lewis’ leadership. “Secretary Lewis has led the FTA heroically during the COVID-19 pandemic. I have had the pleasure of working with Secretary Lewis for the past 6 years on both the FTA Board of Trustees, as well as the ID Theft Tax Refund Fraud ISAC. She leads with unwavering strength and integrity. The Association will miss Secretary Lewis’ steady hand, and we wish her the very best in her new role. LSU is fortunate to have Secretary Lewis join its leadership team.”

Since 2016, Secretary Lewis, an alumna of LSU, served as the Secretary of Revenue and as an advisor to Gov. Edwards on issues related to business, the COVID-19 pandemic and health equity. She has served on the FTA’s Board of Trustees since 2016 and was elected Board of Trustees President in June 2021. “I am grateful for the outstanding leadership Kimberly Lewis has provided to the state of Louisiana over the last six years as both a trusted advisor and my Secretary of Revenue,” Governor John Bel Edwards said. “An intelligent and exceptional public servant, she has worked tirelessly on behalf of our state and our people. I offer her my heartfelt congratulations as she transitions to her new leadership role at LSU. Geaux Tigers!”

“I am thankful I had the opportunity to serve the citizens of Louisiana for the last six years and that Governor Edwards entrusted me with the Department of Revenue and broader policy issues. I also thank the dedicated Revenue employees I‘ve had the privilege of working with over these years in revamping our state’s tax structure and collecting the revenues used to fund vital public services for all Louisianans,” Secretary Kimberly Lewis said. “I’m looking forward to my next chapter at LSU as I continue my commitment to public service, advancing public policy and improving our state.” Prior to her role as Secretary of Revenue, Lewis served as senior policy advisor on revenue, economic development and insurance policy for Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco. Earlier in her career, Lewis was a partner in the Tax & Estates Practice Group at Jones Walker LLP focusing primarily on state and local tax matters, economic development financing, incentives and government relations.

Kevin Richard, a long-time Department of Revenue employee, who started with the agency in 1994 and has served as a tax auditor, manager and director, among other roles, will succeed Secretary Lewis. Most recently, Richard served as the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Revenue, a position he held since 2016.

Neena Savage, Tax Administrator for the State of Rhode Island, who will assume the role of President of the Board of Trustees, expressed her gratitude to Secretary Lewis for her leadership and guidance over the past 6 years.  “Secretary Lewis’ tireless dedication to and leadership of the FTA and its mission has been invaluable given the recent unprecedented challenges faced by state tax administrators. I hope to continue to lead the FTA’s Board of Trustees in building on the foundation that Secretary Lewis, Executive Director Bonardi, and the FTA Board of Trustees have established.” Ms. Savage has served on the FTA Board of Trustees since 2017 and was appointed Rhode Island’s Tax Administrator on January 4, 2017.  She is an attorney with almost 30 years of legal experience in the non-profit, public and private sectors. Ms. Savage holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University and a Juris Doctorate from the Washington College of Law of the American University.

The Federation of Tax Administrators was organized in 1937 to improve the quality of state tax administration by providing services to state tax authorities and administrators. FTA provides services that include research and information exchange, training and intergovernmental and interstate coordination. FTA represents the interests of state tax administrators before federal policymakers where appropriate and serves the principal tax collection agencies of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Philadelphia, and New York City.

              
Kimberly J. Lewis                                  Neena Savage