Articles
A Natural Leader and Public Servant
Randy Kirner's service to his country
Kirner leads by example saving over $800 million for Nevada taxpayers
A Natural Leader and Public Servant
Randy Kirner's leadership experience spans a lifetime from childhood to college, on the battlefield and in business. The very heart of his leadership philosophy is to lead by example. He has demonstrated the ability to establish a vision, coach and guide others, solve problems and accomplish goals. He did this first as a young man, then as a decorated officer in the Army. Following his service, he put these skills to work as a key member of management to grow multi-billion dollar companies and to guide Nevada's Public Employees' Benefits Program in tackling often complex problems.
Kirner has earned multiple degrees in business and management; his Bachelor of Science from North Georgia College is in Business Administration. He then went on to earn not one, but two master's degrees-the first was an MBA with a Marketing Concentration from Georgia State University, and the second was an M.S. in Management Information Systems, demonstrating his business, management, finance, marketing and technical acumen. Later in his career, he would complete a doctorate in Organizational Leadership.
Meanwhile, Kirner was learning a thing or two from personal experience; his father was a small business owner running an ornamental iron business. Kirner observed first-hand the nature of small businesses, and their importance to the economy. He learned that it doesn't take much to put a business on the ropes, and that small businesses are where the jobs and growth are in our economy.
With these and other lessons under his belt, he went on to work for American Hospital Supply Corporation in several of their larger divisions. He rose to Vice President of Human Resources in just four years. Then, when AHSC divested of four service divisions including his, he was one of only two people the corporation retained. They promoted him to Corporate Compensation Director relying on his training in business management to oversee cash and non-cash compensation programs for this $3.5 billion Fortune 500 corporation with over 40,000 employees.
As a natural leader of people and companies, he moved easily into Vice President of Human Resources positions with Allergan Medical Optics and Wyle Electronics, both in Irvine, California. As part of their key executive teams, he helped direct these businesses during the late 80s, a crucial period in technological and bioscience development, and helped both to grow financially.
In the 1990s, he moved to Reno and took on the position of Vice President of Human Resources for International Game Technology, the world leader in design, development and manufacturing of microprocessor-based gaming products and software systems and Northern Nevada's largest manufacturer. During his tenure with IGT, the company grew to a 70% market share in the U.S., and 40% worldwide.
It was his impressive experience in the corporate, financial and human resources world that led Governor Kenny Guinn to appoint Kirner to the Public Employees' Benefits Program (PEBP) board, making him one of just two private sector members to receive such an honor. His work with PEBP was so noteworthy to the Governor that he was later reappointed to the board, this time as chairman. During our most recent legislative session, at a precarious economic time, the PEBP board was charged with finding savings, as were all divisions of state government. Kirner lead the demanding and challenging process resulting in the state saving over $52 million in current expenses and recommended legislative changes in plan design that resulted in a savings to the State of more than $400 million in future liabilities.
"I have plenty left to give," said Kirner on his run for Assembly in District 26. "Our economy is unacceptable. Our task is to get people back to work. With my strong background in human resources and management, and my understanding about how businesses work, I can be a valuable part of that process. I want a brighter future for our citizens and our state. We've made it through tough times before, and we will again, with good leadership and a commitment to getting people back to work."
Randy Kirner's service to his country
Randy Kirner's father, a retired World War II Merchant Marine officer, was a small businessman as Kirner was growing up. Often he would clip an article about one of the service academies and put it on Kirner's dresser. His encouragement instilled in Kirner the belief that service to country was a worthy fundamental.
A Budding Military Career
In high school, in addition to lettering football and swimming, Kirner enrolled in Junior ROTC, at his parents' urging, and soon found a niche where he excelled. He became fascinated with the program and developed an appetite and curiosity for what makes a good leader. He was a natural, moving through the ranks to the point where, in his senior year, he competed and won the promotion to Cadet All City Colonel, the highest ranking cadet in the Los Angeles Unified School District, the second largest district in the country.
The cadet corps at North Georgia College, where Kirner chose to earn his undergraduate degree, gave Kirner a taste of the discipline, leadership and service that are tenets of the U.S. military. North Georgia College stresses value-centered leadership and has, as its core values: courage, integrity, loyalty, respect, service, truth and wisdom. While attending NGC, Kirner earned numerous awards for outstanding leadership and accomplishment, graduating in a little more than three years as a Distinguished Military Graduate with a regular army commission.
His first Army assignment: graduate school and a Master of Business Administration degree from Georgia State University. With the MBA under his belt, he reported for duty at Fort Benning, Georgia, attending the Infantry Officer's Basic Course, where he graduated first in his class. That was followed by Ranger School and Airborne School before being assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division. A short four months later, he was on his way to Vietnam, with a stop at the Army's Pathfinder School.
A Distinguished Veteran and Executive
In Vietnam, Kirner distinguished himself with the 101st Airborne Division, earning the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Army Commendation Award, an Air Medal and a Bronze Star. He returned home from Vietnam to Fort Benning, where he served in the Airborne Department until he completed his military obligation. The values learned, however, would remain beacons for his business career and personal life.
His career was marked by a speedy rise to executive levels. He served for eight years on the President's Advisory Council to the President of Oregon Institute of Technology, and currently is in his 11th year of service to Nevada's Public Employee's Benefits Program (PEBP). He and his wife are looking forward to celebrating their 44th anniversary and have two children and three grandchildren.
Kirner's humble beginnings in a working class home, his military background, his strong patriotism and his belief in public service have only deepened through the years; they have given him the values he now hopes to put into practice as Assemblyman. "I believe the very heart of leadership is leading by example. I also believe critical thinking and creating a vision are vital elements of leadership, especially if transformation or change is to be achieved," said Kirner. "Without a doubt, Nevada is in the midst of its most challenging period in recent history. I believe that my leadership abilities and my determination to find solutions, take action and get results can all positively affect the legislative process."
Kirner leads by example saving over $800 million for Nevada taxpayers
This is a story of leadership, not campaign rhetoric, not empty promises, but an account of how Nevada taxpayers are saving almost a billion dollars because of Randy Kirners leadership. Prior to our last regular legislative session, it became clear the economy was deteriorating, the state forecasted huge budget deficits, and the Spending and Government Efficiency (SAGE) Commission chartered by Governor Gibbons was actively pursuing opportunities for efficiencies in state government. Among ideas being considered were drastic cuts in state salaries and programs. The question: "Where could the Public Employees' Benefits Program help?" PEBP is responsible for managing the health care benefits paid to state and other public employee groups while maintaining a fiscally solvent program.
Randy is the first and only private sector board member to be appointed chairman since PEBP's inception. He looked at the problem through the lens of a business person and asked what the private sector was doing. He could see that changes needed to be made.
The PEBP board set about how to save the state money in these tough economic times. The goal was two-fold, save money and maintain solvency in an environment of medical inflation and rising use of the plan. A paramount concern was for the people and any impact the changes would have on them. By then the SAGE Commission had recommended drastic cuts to state funding, huge increases to participant premiums, and future adjustments based on what companies of 100 employees or more did. They estimated these changes would result in $322.7 million in savings/enhanced revenue over 5 years.
The PEBP Board looked at the SAGE commission recommendation, but took another path to look for savings. Their solution took four months to craft. It was difficult and not without pain. Randy brought together all the stakeholders- the board, the participant representatives, the staff, and legal counsel to agree on a split path approach. The program would raise premiums but at the same time implement changes to the benefit plan so those who benefited most through the use of the plan would pay a higher share. In the end, the state saved $52 million over the biennium or projecting the savings over five years in the same manner as the SAGE Commission used, the changes made under Randy's leadership will total $415.4 million in savings. And this was accomplished without demoralizing participants especially in light of what eventually was coupled with a 4.6% pay cut for state employees.
The story doesn't end there. The board took the additional initiative to propose to the legislature that future retirees must have a minimum of 15 years service to qualify for any state premium assistance instead of the five years that existed. It takes 20 years of service just to qualify for about half the cost to be subsidized by the state leaving the participant to pay the other half. These recommendations were accepted by the legislature and resulted in another $400 million in long-term savings to the state and Nevada taxpayers.
Taken together, that's over $800 million that the taxpayer will never, ever have to pay. That's money in the bank. It was Randy Kirner who encouraged and lead the board and stakeholders to work together, toward accomplishing a meaningful goal without damaging the financial solvency of the program or harming the participants. The $800 million not only represents savings to taxpayers, but because of the approach taken by the board, there will also be savings to PEBP participants in future years. Truly a win-win solution.
Our next legislative session is the perfect storm. The economy continues to struggle, the state budget is projected to have a $3.1 billion imbalance or deficit, unemployment is at an all time high, and foreclosures continue at an unacceptable rate. Randy is the kind of leader we need. He has proven his leadership skills bring results. He is the right candidate for Assembly District 26 at the right time.
