Gov Business Review: Specials Magazine

Robert Hiss, County Administrator, Bedford County, Virginia, has helped build a more coordinated governance model that aligns planning, policy implementation and execution across departments. Under his leadership, Bedford County has shifted from a reactive administrative approach toward more structured planning, stronger operational alignment and long-term accountability. By ensuring that daily execution supports long-term priorities, his approach strengthens organizational performance and positions Bedford County for sustained growth, earning recognition as County Administrator of the Year 2026 by Govt Business Review. Translating Strategy into Execution Strategic plans only matter if they can be operationalized. One of our earliest challenges was bridging the gap between high-level goals and day-to-day execution. Without that connection, strategy remains theoretical. We addressed that through routine check-ins, status updates and clearer alignment between daily execution and larger long-term priorities, shifting the organization away from “thinking small and hoping for big things.” As we worked through that transition, several capability gaps became clear. One of the most significant was a data literacy gap. In a reactive environment, departments report on what has already happened. Structured planning requires departments to forecast what comes next, which depends on stronger modeling and a different level of data interpretation. We also encountered fragmented data systems across finance, human resources and other functions, which required more coordinated discussions around data interpretation and cross-department decision-making. Another challenge was a siloed intelligence gap, where departments were not always positioned to understand how decisions in one area could affect operations elsewhere over time. Translating long-term goals into short-term action proved difficult. Moving from a three-year objective to a 90- day execution plan is not intuiti

The government affairs space has undergone a significant shift since 2011. Following the elimination of earmarks, federal agencies assumed a larger role in allocating funds through their budgets, programs, and initiatives. Yet, many firms still rely on traditional government relations models that are focused on congressional appropriations. Shepherd Strategies helps organizations navigate this evolving landscape through an approach that focuses on existing government programs, business analysis, and execution planning rather than traditional appropriations-focused opportunities. Instead of pursuing lengthy funding processes, the firm identifies opportunities that align with business objectives and offers a realistic path to execution. Organizations are no longer competing solely for access to decision-makers. Access to information, program requirements, and a clear understanding of where government resources are being deployed can also influence outcomes. “Clients should be looking at the art of the possible and find ways to secure funding that already exists at the agency level,” says Jessica Beeson Tocco, president..