She has been in charge of the state agency during subsequent renewals of the Andersen contract. However, during their partnership, Tompkins and Romer-Sensky helped market another huge consulting firm, American Management Systems, to several states. Tompkins said they helped obtain contracts for the company in Kentucky and New York City. The firm also performs computer consultant work. When the latest proposal went before the State Controlling Board, Democratic members questioned why Job Net was being abandoned in favor of Ohio Works.
State law allows such unbid contracts.
Other state agencies also have signed the firm. Andersen has other ties with the Taft administration. Dave Phillips, a Cincinnati businessman and former top executive with Andersen's parent accounting firm, was Taft's pick to head his private-sector Management Improvement Commission. Andersen Consulting also was a corporate sponsor of the privately funded commission, which issued numerous recommendations last year on how state government could improve efficiency. Dispatch Politics Editor Joe Hallett and Statehouse Reporter Alan Johnson contributed to this story.