CLEAR Board of Directors Election 2023-24 Candidate Information

I submitted my nomination for membership on the CLEAR Board of Directors in order to take a more active role toward regulatory excellence, not only in my home state of New Hampshire, but globally.  Before making the move to New Hampshire, I was the Director for the Bar Examining Committee in Connecticut.  In this position, I was able to initiate and facilitate many changes to the bar admission process, including the adoption and implementation of the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) and admission by UBE score transfer, improvements in the processes for motion applicants, authorized house counsel applicants, applicants educated outside of the Unites States and military spouse applicants.  When the COVID-19 pandemic came to Connecticut, my office was able to release the February 2020 bar examination results on schedule and we implemented a new process to ensure those applicants who passed were able to be sworn in without waiting until they could appear in person at the court.  The largest challenge by far was the impending July 2020 bar examination.  The examination date and format was constantly in flux – ranging from in person to remote to hybrid and on dates ranging from July through October.  We were subject to an effort by some to cancel the examination and allow all recent graduates to be admitted without ever testing.  Ultimately, we gave a remote examination over two days in October. As the bar examination had only ever been administered as an in person, paper based examination, we had to overcome the challenges surrounding technology, exam security and proctoring in a remote environment in a short period of time.  I tell this tale, not to suggest that I am unique as I am certain most, if not all, of those reading have a similar tale of how the pandemic challenged them to become more agile, creative and find solutions without the benefit of all the information and time they were accustomed to.  As someone who has always embraced change and finds process improvements exciting, my silver lining to the pandemic was the immense growth I was forced to undergo, whether I thought I needed it or not or was ready for it or not. 

That additional growth has served me well in my current role as the Director of the Division of Enforcement at the NH Office of Professional Licensure and Certification.  The Division turned two years old, officially, on July 1, 2023 and I have had the honor and pleasure of being its first Director.  The Division consists of three bureaus – Compliance, Investigations, and Prosecution.  Our team of inspectors, investigators, prosecutors and support staff do amazing work on a daily basis and in the midst of constant change.  We ensure the protection of the public and that the process is fair to licensees.  We are a team in every sense of the word and I am very proud to lead this team and of what we have accomplished so far.  Through our ongoing efforts to implement new changes we will continue to bring greater efficiency and transparency to the process. 

My current and past employment taught me how to lead teams and different personalities through change.  I learned how critical stakeholder input is.  I have learned to negotiate and work with those with competing interests to find common ground.  I have also learned the importance of providing education and other resources for continued learning and professional growth in an ever changing world.  I have learned how valuable collaboration and having a network of diverse colleagues working in the regulatory arena are in finding the best and most effective solutions to complex problems in the most time effective manner.  CLEAR is an association that provides these critical components to the regulatory community.  It is my desire to serve my community of fellow regulators as a member of the Board of Directors and would be humbled and honored if selected to serve you in this capacity. 

I am seeking election to CLEAR’s Board of Directors.  I strongly believe I have the qualifications, skills, and passion to promote CLEAR’s mission and continue to assist in CLEAR’s essential work of promoting regulatory excellence going forward.  I have gained so much from CLEAR over the years and I hope to have the opportunity to give back through my continued involvement.    

I have worked in regulation since 2015, and presently serve as the Administrative Director for Discipline/Compliance Monitoring with the Alabama Board of Nursing (ABN).  I have had the honor of working with CLEAR as a presenter at conferences, contributing to a podcast, and participating on a committee.  Additionally, I have served on the Board of Directors for the Alabama School of Alcohol and Other Drug Studies (ASADS) for several years as well as presenting at their 2023 conference. I have assisted on the National Organization of Alternative Programs’ (NOAP) Conference Planning Committee for several years and as the Chair of the committee for NOAP’s 2023 Conference.  I have been a member of NOAP’s Research Committee and a speaker at NOAP’s 2022 conference.  I feel that regulatory excellence can only be achieved through education, an open and honest communication of ideas, and working together to help regulators have access to up-to-date information.  I strive to meet this goal everyday through my work and involvement with organizations that are making a positive impact.   I strongly believe CLEAR is at the forefront of this movement and provides the much-needed services to regulators around the world.     

Thank you for your time and consideration of my candidacy.  I hope to have the opportunity to make a positive impact in the regulatory community through my continued support and commitment to CLEAR.  I am happy to answer any questions or provide further information as needed.         

When I attended my first CLEAR annual meeting in 2009, as well as the accompanying Executive Leadership Program for Regulators, I gained an appreciation for CLEAR's ability to make me a better regulator. As an "umbrella" regulator my agency belongs to dozens of excellent profession-specific associations that improve our ability to regulate. But my CLEAR membership is the only one that I haven't ever been willing to delegate to my team members. Its breadth, depth, and quantity of study topics are excellent and advance my professionalism more than any other organization.

One of the best things about CLEAR is that it not only gives you excellent information and assistance, but it expects you to give back through attendance at webinars and conferences, participation in forums and chats, and membership on committees and work groups. CLEAR has improved me through my participation in each component of my agency's CLEAR membership. I would like to continue improving CLEAR through my service on the Board of Directors. My goal is to dedicate my knowledge, experience, and service to elevate CLEAR and its members, just as many others have done for me.

After completing my first term on the CLEAR Board of Directors, I am interested in running for a second term.  I have found my work with CLEAR to be incredibly rewarding, and believe I can contribute even more to the overall vision and mission of CLEAR by bringing a Psychometric perspective to the Board.  Having worked with several licensure clients, including both state and federal regulatory clients, I bring a wealth of experience not only related to psychometrics, but to the unique challenges related to measurement faced by regulatory bodies. 

I am running for a position on the CLEAR Board of Directors. I am not affiliated with any regulatory agency or entity. I believe I would bring a unique perspective to the Board. Since January 1996, I have dealt with a variety of regulatory agencies both State and Federal in assisting regulated individuals and entities. Prior to focusing my career on assisting individuals and entities with regulatory bodies, I worked with lobbyists to seek legislation to promote legislation to improve upon record keeping requirements designed for the protection of the public. I also worked on rules to assist the agency in regulating certain professions. I have engaged in rule making, and challenges to existing rules and certain non-rule policies. I have sought the guidance of regulatory agencies on topics affecting individual clients. I have developed bylaws for organizations and in the distant past, I served as an investigator for the Florida District 19 Medical Examiner’s Office. I also worked for a drug treatment agency and later, I have represented individuals afflicted with a variety of conditions and illnesses that could affect their ability to practice with skill and safety.

As CLEAR continues to reach out to various international jurisdictions to promote regulatory excellence, my perspective may lend an eye toward how agencies and other regulatory bodies affect the regulatedand consumer alike. I volunteer my time to the organization and have actively done so since 2003. I wish to continue to do so through a position on the Board of Directors.

Fellow members of CLEAR,

It’s with great excitement, anticipation, and energy that I accept the nomination to join CLEAR’s Board of Directors.

My interest in joining the Board stems from 20 years of active involvement on non-profit boards. I’ve become an expert in governance specializing in strategic organizational design and transformation and external relationship management. At a time in history when consumers around the world are more skeptical than ever of authority, there is a unique opportunity for CLEAR to take the lead and work with its members to identify, develop, and deploy new ideas and opportunities to position regulatory bodies as valued and respected community leaders who, as we all know, are indeed deeply committed to protecting the public interest.

My commitment to CLEAR includes: 

• Current co-Vice-Chair, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.
• Previous member, International Relations Committee.
• Past instructor, Executive Leadership Program for Regulators. 
• Moderator and facilitator at CLEAR conferences.
• Previous speaker at CLEAR conferences.
• Attended the international congresses in Melbourne and Dublin.
• Former recipient of CLEAR’s Consumer Protection award.

My passion and personal commitment to licensing and professional regulation are evident in the resources and tools that I developed to support regulators and their mandate to protect the public:

• The Canadian Regulatory Guide, Canada’s public register of regulatory bodies.  
• RegulatoryJobs.ca, a go-to website for professionals seeking employment in consumer protection.
• The Registrar magazine, a quarterly digital publication that shares news, ideas, and best practices of all things licensing and professional regulation. 
• The Registrar podcast, a deeply informative yet fun show where I speak with regulators about their work, aims, and passions.

CLEAR’s growing international presence has been of great interest to me. A citizen of Switzerland and Canada, I have lived and worked in North America, Europe, and Africa and speaks multiple languages. As a professional whose clientele includes the United Nations, I have first-hand knowledge of the importance of global cooperation to advance a cause and am confident that my experience will positively serve the CLEAR membership.  

I’ve been thrilled to see so many regulatory bodies worldwide adopt the vital commitment of becoming more inclusive in their operations and governance to reflect the diverse populations they are mandated to protect. With extensive personal lived experience, inclusion and belonging are unconditional pillars of my personal and professional ethos. I look forward in my committee capacity to further the organization and its members’ aims.

Please elect me, and let’s achieve even more with new ideas and vision. Let’s open CLEAR to 

more members around the world. Let’s keep building to be even better regulators. If advancing relevant regulation is our goal, which I support wholeheartedly, I’d like to join you at the decision-making table and help lead the way to listen, engage, and keep building.

Please reach out to me with your questions, suggestions, and support.  

Thank you!

Daniel Roukema

CEO, MDR Strategy Group Ltd.

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