CSMFO Magazine March 2019 | Spring Edition by CSMFO Magazine

CSMFO C A L I F O R N I A

S O C I E T Y

O F

M U N I C I P A L

F I N A N C E

O F F I C E R S

M A G A Z I N E MARCH | 2019 | ISSUE 25 | SPRING EDITION

Top Ways to Boost Your Career Page 22

6 Tips to Counteract Bargaining Group Perceptions Page 38

Sustainability Strategies for Finance Leaders Page 46

AND MORE!

CSMFO

CALIFORNIA SOCIETY OF MUNICIPAL FINANCE OFFICERS

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO TRANSFORM BUDGETS IN YOUR CITY, STATE, OR ANY OTHER MISSION-DRIVEN ORGANIZATION

M A G A Z I N E

MARCH | 2019 | ISSUE 25 | SPRING EDITION

2019-20 Board of Directors Joan Michaels Aguilar, President, City of Dixon Steve Heide, President-Elect, Chino Valley Fire District Margaret Moggia, Past President, West Basin Municipal Water District Scott Catlett, Director, City of Yorba Linda Carrie Corder, Director, Cucamonga Valley Water District Will Fuentes, Director, City of Milpitas Richard Lee, Director, City of San Mateo Ernie Reyna, Director, City of Eastvale Jennifer Wakeman, Director, City of Lafayette

New

CITY ON THE LINE How Baltimore Transformed Its Budget to Beat the Great Recession and Deliver Outcomes By Andrew Kleine “Andrew Kleine’s book is a must read for all who are interested in greater accountability and innovation in government. Baltimore’s journey is a fantastic example of both the challenges and successes of our complex landscape in local government.” —Darin Atteberry, city manager, Fort Collins, Colorado

Executive Director Melissa Dixon, MBA, CAE Editorial Designer Dayna Dixon Cover Photo David Blue Garrison Editors Marcus Pimentel, City of Santa Cruz David Cain, Retired Ernie Reyna, City of Eastvale Wing-See Fox, Urban Futures Inc.

“In our work at Harvard on innovation in government we look for important expert www.cityontheline.com contributions that will assist practitioners. City on the Line is one of the best and a call to action for leaders of every political stripe to think differently—very differently—about how tax dollars are spent.” —Stephen Goldsmith, former mayor of Indianapolis, and professor of government at the John F. Kennedy of Government at Harvard University

Communication Committee Chair- Marcus Pimentel, City of Santa Cruz Vice Chair- James Russell-Field, City of Thousand Oaks Vice Chair- Karla Campos, City of La Quinta Senior Advisor- David Cain, Retired Board Liaison- Ernie Reyna, City of Eastvale Andrew Ruiz, Western Riverside Council of Governments Carol Williams, City of Ontario Darrylenn Prudholme-Brockington, Riverside County Flood Control & Water Conservation District Janna Bogue, City of Thousand Oaks Maria Blanco, City of Ontario Matt Schenk, March Joint Powers Authority Nitish Sharma, City of Davis Pamela Arends -King, South Coast Water District Wing-See Fox, Urban Futures Inc.

Parts memoir, manifesto, and manual, this book tells the story of Baltimore’s radical departure from traditional line item budgeting to a focus on outcomes like better schools, safer streets, and stronger neighborhoods— during one of the most tumultuous decades in the city’s history. Andrew Kleine is a nationally recognized leader in municipal finance and performance management. He served as Baltimore’s budget director from 2008 to 2018.

Additional Photography Pexels, Pixabay, Stocksnap, and Unsplash

October 2018 • 292 pages 978-1-5381-2188-7 • $35.00 • Paper 978-1-5381-2189-4 • $33.00 • eBook

Thank you to all the authors in this issue for sharing with us their time and expertise. If you have an idea for a future article, please contact Melissa Dixon at the CSMFO office at melissa.dixon@staff.csmfo.org.

Save 30% when you order these books with promo code 4S18CITY on www.rowman.com or call 800-462-6420.

For more information on CSMFO or this Magazine, please contact the CSMFO office at 916.231.2137 or visit the website at www.csmfo.org. The views and opinions expressed in these articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of CSMFO.

CONTENTS

MARCH | 2019 | ISSUE 25 | SPRING EDITION

INSIDE CSMFO President’s Letter

Editor’s Alley

P. 6

P. 8

President Elect’s Letter P. 12

CSMFO Board Interview Will Fuentes

Mastering the Waterways of New Regulations

P. 14

P. 18

CSMFO Board Interview Rich Lee

Top Ways to Boost Your Career

CSMFO Board Interview Carrie Corder

CSMFO Board Interview Ernie Reyna

Professional Standards Committee Highlights

CSMFO Board Interview Nitish V. Sharma

CSMFO Shines a Spotlight on Scott Catlett

CSMFO Board Interview Steve Heide

CSMFO Board Interview Jennifer Wakeman

Promotions and Retirements

P. 20

P. 31

P. 22

P. 34

P. 25

P. 42

P. 26

P. 44

P. 30

P. 48

Job Opportunities P. 50

FEATURES Tapping Your FUN Quotient to Bring Your SUCCESS Quotient P. 16

Sponsored Article Six Essential Proficiencies for Finance Directors P. 28

6 Tips to Counteract Bargaining Group Perceptions P. 38

Sustainability Strategies for Finance Leaders P. 46

CSMFO MAGAZINE MARCH 2019

OPTIMAL TECHNOLOGY GUIDANCE

O U R P L A N S P R O V I D E G R E AT E R V A L U E A N D I M P A C T SAVE

BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE

Planning from a business perspective, we create deliverables that are understandable to everyone in the organization.

INCREASE

Time

Expertise

Money

Service

Resources

Efficiency

TACTICAL

Not just strategic, our recommendations are actionable, including budgets, timelines, and resource responsibilities.

COLLABORATIVE & COMPREHENSIVE

Our interactive, collaborative process allows the sharing of ideas to build a single vision for the future of your organizationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s information technology, decision-making, and ongoing support.

PHONE: 800.806.3080 WEBSITE: clientfirstcg.com

Requirements for Finance Officers in 2019: Subject Matter Expert. Problem solver. Communicator. Mentor. Today’s role demands a lot from public sector finance professionals, well beyond traditional budgeting and reporting. That’s why Avenu/ MuniServices has expanded its capabilities to meet the needs of California communities. For decades California jurisdictions have trusted MuniServices as a partner and expert to increase their revenue. Now we’re complementing that expertise with administrative solutions for managing records, property tax, pensions, and information technology. No other company can say they offer such a strong bundle of services critical to local government.

See the story from Tracy AN

A V E N U INSIGHTS & ANALYTICS COMPANY www.AvenuInsights.com

Vesely on PAGE 28 about Six Essential Proficiencies for Finance Directors — insight for directors at any CSMFOof MAGAZINE 2019 stage theirMARCH career.

President’s Letter

Joan Michaels Aguilar

TOOLS TO BECOME A STAR For those readers that may not be aware yet, this is the “last” regular print edition of the magazine before we migrate to an “online” news platform in May. While many of you already read our magazine online, you may not realize that we still print the magazine to members that had requested and were approved to get the print version, as well as providing copies to the various authors each month.

• Building trust – this aspect works with your supervisor/manager or with your elected officials if you are at a director level. Perhaps the message you are relaying may not be the best news, but in this era of financial transparency and public records requests, the trust factor is very important in the fiscal toolkit.

In order to keep up with relevant timely content in the everchanging municipal finance world, a move is afoot starting in May that 5 out of the 6 magazine editions will be strictly online. In materials presented for Board consideration, the vision is to have a new interactive magazine to be similar to interactive editions of New Yorker magazine. So I expect I will have more on this in next month’s edition, but wanted to share the direction CSMFO is headed related to the magazine. Look for e-mails in the future about this coming change and updates.

• Seek opportunities for growth – years ago when I worked in Burbank in a clerical position, I volunteered to help another department with disaster recovery paperwork. I created and managed spreadsheets (this was early in the computer days only one computer in our department of five!) and documenting what was needed for FEMA. I am proud to say from this, my work ethic and financial skills became known and when a promotional opportunity presented itself, I joined the ranks of mid-management in the budget office.

One topic for this month that I want to highlight is the finance leader’s toolkit. Upon hearing this editions theme, it gave me pause to think about what I would share with people if asked the question. So here are my quick thoughts. Most of us embrace numbers, enjoy working with them, don’t mind working in our offices or cubicles with our spreadsheets, but we mustn’t forget about the human side of the numbers game. Depending on what level you are in the organization, you must not forget about the following:

• Embrace challenges – sometimes challenges present opportunities within your department/ organization which can lead to creative thinking and ideas. Similar to growth opportunities, maybe your team is short-staffed due to a vacancy, and your boss has tasked you with quickly creating the PowerPoint for a budget presentation. Take it as vote of confidence in your skills, and maybe kick it up a notch in what you have to offer as an idea for the presentation – new graphics, as an example.

• Customer service – most of the time this can be internal service working with other departments, whether it be payroll, accounting or budget. But if you have other operations such as utility billing or business license, you will have the external customer component too. Positive working relationships, getting back to your colleagues on time, working through a problem, explaining a policy or necessary deadline may seem basic, but communication is a key factor in a healthy working environment.

Becoming a STAR What about becoming a STAR? By now, many of you are probably tired of the Make It Happen mantra, so I am shifting this month to the STAR acronym – Situation – Task – Action and Result. I had a conversation with a friend about the employee evaluation process and how sometimes managers, put so little into it. You are handed your evaluation and expected to sign, review that it was a job well done, or discuss corrective behavior (if needed) and/or tools to help you succeed in your career path. I have often asked my employees to keep a list of their accomplishments throughout the year and then review it with them during the evaluation process. I know I cannot keep tabs on special projects that others may have assigned, so I have decided to do the same for myself. My friend mentioned the STAR acronym which, after researching I believe it can be a useful tool for an evaluation process.

You never know, that person you worked with today, could be on an oral board tomorrow, and the working relationship (positive/negative) you had at an agency could influence your career ladder.

Let’s say you are the Budget Manager for your organization and you were able to highlight to your boss that you had accomplished the following: Situation - department presented me with a contract for professional services, but has no budget Task - they did not have any suggested savings or funding method presented as an option Action - you, the Budget Manager, review their departmental budget and due to vacancies see there are salary savings you can recommend to offset the cost Result - A Board/Council report with a “cost neutral” result due to creative evaluation of resources.

I have to share, since I didn’t mention it in the last column, this past January represented my 40 year anniversary that I started working what would become a career in city government in a galaxy far away in Burbank as a part-time Library Page putting books away. What started out as a part-time gig in high school evolved multiple times through the years to the point that I eventually pursued my Masters in Public Administration as a working adult. Our profession has many people, like myself, at the point of retirement age. If you don’t yet have your degree or higher level like a Masters, but have thought about pursuing one, there are so many options out there available. We need talented professionals to lead the municipal finance world in the future – why not you??

Whether you are preparing to level up in your career or to amaze your boss with your results, consider the STAR method as part of your toolkit. The STAR method can help tell your story, show initiative, leadership, problem solving, or teamwork depending on the nature of the situation.

Joan Michaels Aguilar

Traveling to Oregon & San Diego This month, I had the pleasure to represent CSMFO at the Oregon Finance Officers Association conference to be held in Sunriver in mid-March. I am excited as this will be my first venture to an out-of-state event. I have to say some of the session titles that have piqued my interest include “Rocking Chair Panel – What I Wish I Knew When I Started in Government”, “The Economy of Kindness – How Kindness Transforms Your Bottom Line” and “Facing the New Faces of Fraud”. This will be followed in April by the California Municipal Treasurer’s Association conference in beautiful San Diego. 7

CSMFO MAGAZINE MARCH 2019

EDITOR’S ALLEY

Marcus Pimentel

TIPS TO SUCCEEDING IN FINANCE GET TO KNOW YOUR CSMFO LEADERS PREVIEW OF NEW CSMFO MAGAZINE So, coming full circle, the question about my favorite high school class for me relates to our primary theme about tips to succeeding in finance. My Yearbook class gave me the tips and foundation that I still reflect back on when building financial reports, PowerPoint presentations, budget documents, and even infographics.

“What was my favorite class in high school?” Which of our CSMFO Magazine themes do you think this question relates to? Does it relate to our main theme on tips to succeeding in finance? Or is it one of the interview questions we asked to members of your CSMFO volunteer leadership team? Or will we start highlighting CSMFO student members in our redesigned, online CSMFO Magazine that goes live in May?

Back to the topic

What do you think? The answer just might surprise you, as would answers about my personal favorite song or band, or what my GPA was when I graduated high school. We answer a few of these questions below. A Young Girl named Fatima. By now, you are probably thinking, “Marcus, is it 4:20 in Santa Cruz?” Where are you taking us with this month’s Editors Alley? Earlier today (as I write this), I was fortunate to attend a Health Academy Mentor Dinner for my high school, Watsonville High. It was like a Don Maruska speed coaching session where 16 and 17 year old students rotated through themed tables with one to two mentors at each table. Our role as a table mentor was to pull answers from them in an attempt to expose them to careers they might not have thought of. In our second rotation, a very shy High School Junior named Fatima turned my question around to me and asked me what my favorite and toughest high school classes were. Without a hesitation, I went back to 1980-something and relived the moment my Freshman English teacher Mr. Giocovich became was the first person to ever give me an F. After a few moments, I pulled myself back to 2019 and shared that math was “one” of my favorite classes. But that ironically, my favorite all-time class was one that was heavy in writing, and one that literally awoke a large, dormant part of my brain. It was Yearbook.

Like my yearbook class from so very, very, very long ago, we wanted this month’s edition to focus on giving our readers various tips, approaches, or just insight into how to succeed long-term in a finance career. So we compiled a range of tips to suit most interests. Interested in being a Finance Director, explore the article on key tips to being a successful Finance Director (What They Don’t Teach in School: Six Essential Proficiencies for Finance Directors by Tracy Vesely from MuniServices/ Avenu Insights & Analytic). Have you been interested in, or pulled into, your agency’s employee bargaining. Read through the six timely tips for how finance can succeed when supporting HR at the employee bargaining table (Facts, as interesting as they are, are often seen as irrelevant, by Janet Dutcher from Mono County). Are you interested in a wide range of career path advice? Consider reading the Career Development Committee’s group interview (Top Ways to Boost Your Career by Don Maruska), or check out our very candid interviews with members of our CSFMO Board of Directors and our Committee’s own Nitish Sharma on their hopes for 2019, tips they discovered in their career, and what they look for in prospective job candidates. And certainly, read, re-read, and tape up in plain sight around your area our article on tips to integrating fun into your work culture (Tapping Your FUN Quotient to Bring Your SUCCESS Quotient!, by Cindy Henson from the Henson Consulting Group).

Are you looking for some technical strategies or guidance, check out the various tips and strategies to counter balance your rising pension costs (Sustainability strategies for finance leaders by Nitish Sharma from City of Davis and Maureen Toal from PARS), or see the Professional Standards Committee announcement about preparing yourself for GASB 87, and sending comments on GASB’s exposure draft prior to the April 30th deadline. Or, do you just want to celebrate those recently promoted or hear about tips for succeeding at retirement, check out this month’s Promotions and Retirements highlights with a special introduction by retired Finance and Administrative Service Director (Mountain View) Patty Kong. Why an updated, online only platform in May? In 2018, the Communication Committee wondered how we might find a way to expand our outreach of the CSMFO Magazine, while also creating a sustainable model to reliably reproduce the magazine without burning out our volunteers. Various ideas flourished, leading to more interview features, a section on promotions and retirements, and new features in the works such as Coach Ella’s advice column. The biggest ideas were to redesign and move our online magazine to a CSMFO hosted website modeled after magazines like the New Yorker, to stop the heavy lift of formatting and printing the limited supply of regular hard-copy editions, and to streamline our magazine production cycle to be more sustainable.

Following several board discussions and final Board approval in January, we plan to go live with our new format on May 1, 2019. We’ve included an early mockup of the new website. Stay tuned as we roll out more updates as we get closer to May 1st. With this new format, we will start to push out content every Wednesday and Friday during our publication months (those remaining for 2019 are May, July, September & November). We will also transition from the heavy lift of the current model where we have to wait to go live until 100% of the content, ads, pictures, graphics, and layout is finalized, to one where we can roll content out when it’s ready. We look forward to having feature articles out much faster, being able to post more in depth timely notices, as well as dynamically support other committees across CSMFO. Some of the other benefits of this new format include: • Engaging more readers with new features such as: • Delivering in depth coverage of breaking news, including commentary or suggestions • Providing “advice columns” on any range of topics • Easily directing readers via hyperlinks to additional research or resources • Creating the ability to host video content- like “Quick Hits” or member testimonials

CSMFO MAGAZINE MARCH 2019

• Enhancing sponsored articles, ads, and job announcements with interactive links • Adding direct links to CSMFO webinar and training enrollment • Linking up to CSMFO social media sites (Facebook, LinkedIn) And, we will have the ability to repurpose the bulk of the $14,000 required to produce the limited-edition hard copies towards supporting the Magazine’s web and content services. We welcome your feedback and ask that you email our committee (communications.chair@csmfo.org) your ideas on articles, new features, or just ways to engage more of your staff. With gratitude and appreciation for the work of our entire Communications Committee, enjoy this month’s edition.

Advice for people transforming their world

- Marcus Pimentel, CSMFO MAGAZINE EDITOR

Financial Advisory Asset Management Editor’s note. Other questions I was asked by

Consulting Financial Modeling powered by Whitebirch

students during the mentor session included what was my high school GPA (3.1), what did I like about my job and volunteer role (serving my home town), where did I go to college (Cabrillo Community College and Santa Clara University), and what was a dark room (that proved to be harder to explain to them). But the best one of them all came from Rosa who, as if asking me what time it was, asked how many girls I dated in High School. After my fellow Mentor Ashley stopped laughing, and after it was clear Rosa wasn’t going to let me avoid this question, I told her the truth, I had dated…

Alternative Finance Specialized Services L O S A N G E L E S | 213.489.4075 S A N F R A N C I S CO | 415.982.5544 pfm.com

For important disclosure information please go to pfm.com/disclosures

BRING YOUR PENSION, OPEB AND LABOR NEGOTIATIONS TO LIFE WITH REAL-TIME DATA

Pension & OPEB

Adjust, project, measure and visualize employer retirement liabilities and costs: Discount rate, investment return, amortization methods, contributions, supplemental trusts, and more. Instantly cost out proposals, analyze bargaining units, and

Labor measure changes in workforce: Salary increases, benefit costs, Negotiations special pays, demographic analysis and budget accounting.

Consulting & Reports

Work with industry experts with more than 30 years of experience: GASB valuation reports, actuarial funding reports, budget studies and presentations.

CUSTOM-TAILORED FOR AGENCIES OF ALL SHAPES AND SIZES. www.govinvest.com

(310) 371-7106 11

info@govinvest.com CSMFO MAGAZINE MARCH 2019

PRESIDENT ELECT’S LETTER Steve Hiede

THE FREE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS For this month’s president-elect letter, I’d like to reflect on the important partnerships we enjoy at CSMFO with our commercial member partners, while also providing an update on annual conference planning for 2020. When I was a local chapter leader, I always appreciated how our commercial partner’s active participation and support added to the success of so many of our CSMFO chapter meetings. The same is to be said for the strong commercial partnerships we enjoy at our annual conferences.

Your 2020 Annual Conference Host and Program Committee members are hard at work organizing next year’s conference at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim. In February, a subset of the committees met on-site at the Disneyland Hotel to walk to the property and to begin to conceptualize the physical layout for the conference. We also visited Downtown Disney to gather ideas for possible Thursday evening networking options.

I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the commercial members participating on our 2020 Host Committee: Mia Corral Brown from Chandler Asset Management, Matt Kirschenman of Bank of the West and Terry Shea from Rogers, Anderson, Malody and Scott. These commercial partners play a key role in the success of our annual conferences; from providing important event sponsorship and exhibitor revenues which make our outstanding conferences financially viable while allowing us to keep registration costs low, to teaming with municipal members to deliver educational content in highly informative breakout sessions, to providing valuable conference networking opportunities for our municipal members, and so much more.

Our last conference at the Disneyland Hotel in 2016 drew about 1,300 people. This year’s fantastic conference in Palm Springs resulted in record conference attendance of roughly 1,550 people, and at this early stage, we’re planning for as many as 1,850 conference goers in Anaheim next year. While we generally had ample space for our various conference activities in Palm Springs, if our 2020 attendance projections are accurate, we’ll have an increase of about 550 at next year’s conference compared to 2016, a 40% plus increase over four years ago. We’re busy exploring creative ways to use our available conference space to ensure we can accommodate the projected growth in annual conference attendance for next year.

CSMFO’s 60th Annual Conference – Yesterday, Tomorrow and Finance – will take place January 28-31, 2020. According to Walt Disney, “Our heritage and ideals, our code and standards - the things we live by and teach our children - are preserved or diminished by how freely we exchange ideas and feelings.” And on that note, I’d like to thank Mia, Matt and Terry for their participation in this year’s host committee. Their input and perspectives will be invaluable in helping us plan for next year’s CSMFO conference.

Steve Heide

CSMFO MAGAZINE MARCH 2019

INSIDE CSMFO

CSMFO Board Interview - Will Fuentes Written By Will Fuentes

Will Fuentes, CPFO, MBA

What are your 2019 goals as CSMFO Board Member?

What 2019 CSMFO events are you really excited about?

As a former Vice Chair for the CSMFO Career Development Committee, I have a passion for career growth and development. Thus, one of my primary goals as a CSMFO Board Member for 2019 is to ensure that our training and development opportunities remain current, relevant, and accessible to membership at all levels of a finance organization statewide; whether that organization be big or small. In 2019, I am also the Board Liaison to the CSMFO Technology Committee and I hope to utilize this position and technology to enhance and expand the means by which membership engages with CSMFO, communicates with their peers, obtains valuable knowledge and best practices to solve issues in their organization, and develops their careers. And my last goal as a CSMFO Board Member in 2019 is simply to learn from my other Board Members and make sure we working together to develop a strong strategic vision that carries us into the future and is responsive to the evolving needs of our membership.

I am very excited to see CSMFO offer a number of great events and educational opportunities for its membership in 2019, but the one upcoming event that I am most excited about this year is â&#x20AC;&#x153;Successful Skills for a Finance Directorâ&#x20AC;? being instructed by Neil Kupchin on June 13 at the City of Daly City. Being a Finance Director is a very rewarding job, but it requires not only an in-depth knowledge of complex technical areas, but also the ability to communicate, convince, and inspire a team towards a common set of goals and priorities that cannot be accomplished by one person alone. Some leaders are natural born and others are taught. Whatever may be the case, the public sector is in real need of quality financial leaders who can step up and take over the reins of those leaders who have come before them. And what better person to facilitate this exchange than the well-respected Neil Kuphcin. His blend of real-world experiences, knowledge, humor, honesty, and approachability make his leadership classes a very enjoyable and rewarding experience for all who attend. So, if you want to become a Finance Director, have an inkling that you may want to be a Finance Director, or just want to see what being an effective leader is all about, I highly encourage you to attend this great development opportunity.

What were early obstacles in your career…and how did you overcome them? Early in my career, I believe the biggest obstacle was just being heard and having my ideas taken seriously. For a long time, I was the youngest person in my department, but one who usually had many ideas for change, innovations, and process improvements. And while many of these ideas were good, I didn’t have the experience to back them up nor the knowledge of how to convey them in a manner that was tactful and convincing. Nevertheless, over time, I continued to persist, continued to develop my messaging so that it was effective, and developed a sense of professionalism and tact. Eventually, my ideas were heard and taken seriously. One of my ideas improved the business license operations at the City of Union City; resulting in an 80% growth in annual revenues. It was after this, that I started to get noticed and started to be placed in leadership positions. Thus, my advice to any up and coming finance professional is simple: be persistent, but also develop your messaging so that it is convincing and professional. This often takes time and sometimes trial and error, but don’t give up or become discouraged. Your hard work and determination will pay off. Looking back at your career thus far, who would you like to thank for being there for you? I am thankful to so many people in my career. It is hard to identify just one person because so many have been instrumental in affording me the opportunity to be where I am today. But I am thankful for my first City Manager, Mark Lewis, and my first Finance Director, Joni Pattillo, for taking a chance on me as an Intern nearly 20 years ago at the City of Union City. And I am thankful for the Finance Directors who have taught me professional and life lessons along the way, supported me, and believed in me. This includes Richard Acevedo (deceased), Sheila Mohan, Rich Digre, and David Glasser at the City of Union City and David Baum at the City of San Leandro. And I am extremely thankful for the great City of Milpitas team that selected me to be their Finance Director two years ago; fulfilling a nearly 10-year professional goal that I set for myself. But I would be remiss if I didn’t thank the great teams that I led at the Cities of Union City, San Leandro, and Milpitas. There are too many individuals to name, but without their hard word, dedication, and care for both their work and each other, I would not have been able to accomplish half of what I have. I am eternally in their debt. Thank you for your support and commitment.

What led you to your first government job? I never intended to have a career in government and thought that I wanted to be an investment banker when I graduated college with a B.S. in Finance. However, life takes one in many interesting turns and it was a love for politics and history that made me consider a very intriguing offer to be an Intern with the City of Union City when I moved to California in 1998. And I have not looked back since. I love making a direct and measurable impact on communities and working for local governmental agencies provides such a wonderful opportunity to do this. There are very few jobs that you can do where you can go out on the street or into the community and see the positive impact you make in people’s everyday lives. That is something which is extremely rewarding. What is your favorite food and why? Anything with chocolate. Because chocolate is awesome and delicious! What super power would you like and why? As a kid, I had a reoccurring dream where I was flying. And I was always disappointed when I woke up to learn that I was indeed not the next Superman. Thus, if I could choose any super power, it would be the ability to fly. Because people that can fly are cool and Clark Kent would have made a great public sector Finance Director. Kryptonite was his weakness, but unfunded liabilities were not! What soft skills and technical skills really impress you when you are interviewing candidates? In terms of technical skills, I am always impressed by candidates that are critical thinkers and have strong analytical minds. I was a Management Analyst for a number of years before I was provided the opportunity to be in leadership roles, and I value having people on my team that can pour through data, analyze trends, and develop innovative solutions for addressing complex problems. As it relates to soft skills, I am always impressed by candidates that demonstrate the ability to effectively convey their message, convince and quickly engage an audience, and show real authenticity. These are signs of leadership potential and I am always searching for the next great financial leaders on my teams.

Will Fuentes, CPFO, MBA - Dedicated to building fiscally sustainable communities and great financial leaders

CSMFO MAGAZINE MARCH 2019

FEATURED ARTICLE

Tapping Your FUN Quotient to Bring Your SUCCESS Quotient! Written By Cindy Henson

Cynthia (Cindy) Henson, Chief Executive Officer of Henson Consulting Group

Here it is.

Fun is the number-one reason I fly Southwest Airlines. Nobody made flying more fun than its founder, Herb Kelleher, who regrettably died recently. (And on most airlines these days, flying is most decidedly not fun.) Kelleher was known for laughing, cracking jokes, drinking bourbon, and smoking cigarettes. Often, he would be seen on a plane dressed as Elvis. Famous for his antics, he also achieved the near-miraculous, building a consistently profitable airline—one that carried the most passengers in the US in 2016.

If you want to be more successful at work, you must have more fun.

Success Follows Fun

I am about to share what may be some important, perhaps difficult, information for you to accept. What I am about to suggest is some of the most valuable advice I give everyone I work with. I’m giving it to you here for free.

Fun is not frivolous. It is not an indulgence. It is not to be relegated to the weekend or an occasional laugh. Fun is the first step on the path to success. Research shows that we are our best—our most creative, flexible, and persistent—when we are engaged in activities that bring us fun.

Few have experienced greater business success than Richard Branson, who is known for valuing fun at work (who also founded an airline, but also jumpstarted some five hundred successful businesses). “Fun is one of the most important—and underrated—ingredients in any successful venture,” Branson wrote in The Virgin Way: Everything I Know About Leadership. “If you’re not having fun, then it’s probably time to call it quits and try something else.” Making it Fun

Happiness Brings Success! Shawn Achor, who wrote The Happiness Advantage, proved it. He found that success doesn’t bring happiness. Instead, happiness brings success. He found in studying students at Harvard that those who studied longer to master the stressful, competitive environment burned out faster. Those who took time for fun—particularly time for friends— were more successful.

Fun comes first. That’s why “Tap into Your Fun Quotient” is the first of my Seven Principles to Peace, Purpose, and Freedom. I even dare to say that if it isn’t fun, I won’t do it. That doesn’t mean I don’t work hard, that I don’t take on tough tasks, or that I will bypass a challenge. It means I always find a way to make my work fun. Here is how I do it: I set an intention to have fun. That’s it. Intention always creates. Then I look for ways to make even the most difficult situations and tasks much more enjoyable. I have found that when one person—even if it is just me—is determined to have fun, others will join in.

Fun Is Contagious Think about it. Who would you rather be around? Someone who knows how to have fun or someone whose smile is upside down? People who bring an intention to have fun also bring charisma and enthusiasm with them. Their attitudes are contagious, and for obvious reasons—they are simply more enjoyable to be around. It only takes one person to bring an infectious commitment to have fun—and that person can be you.

A leader in public finance.

And yes, I ask the executives I coach to find ways to bring more fun to their work. Because they are leaders, and because fun is contagious, the fun spreads through their companies. FUN is Contagious…And You Can Bring It! I invite you to give it a try. Set an intention when you go to work tomorrow to have fun. Find just one way to begin to incorporate a fun state of mind. Smile at and greet everyone you pass in the hall. Add a fun quote to your email signature. Hang a SARK poster on your wall. Keep an adult coloring book at your desk for five-minute creativity breaks during the day. Sample a new fun food, like mochi or kombucha. Show off a little silliness: skip down the hall to your meeting. Or if that’s too much, just go skimpy on the seriousness, even if for a few minutes. Just watch to see what happens. I dare say that once you start tapping your FUN quotient, your success quotient will rise right along with it. What’s keeping you from giving it a try? The worst thing that can happen is that you may look a little silly—and maybe cause your colleagues to wonder about that sweet, secret smile on your face.

Cynthia (Cindy) Henson, the Chief Executive Officer of Henson Consulting Group, is a dynamic leader with 36 years of experience in designing and implementing collaborative and innovative systems to quickly achieve results within large organizations. Henson Consulting Group specializes in executive coaching, employee empowerment, board development, change management and large-scale project implementation for triple bottom-line corporations, local government agencies, and non-profits.

Since 2000, we have represented more than 750 California local agencies. Our singular focus enables us to provide you with the expertise you need to make your project a reality.

Cindy is the author of Jungle: A Journey to Peace, Purpose, and Freedom, which is much like Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat Pray Love–– except for the corporate leader. In support of local governments, Cindy has provided dynamic leadership trainings during an annual conference, webinar, and chapter meeting for CSMFO. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and dancing with life.

475 Sansome Street, Suite 1700 San Francisco, CA 94111 415.391.5780 tel 415. 276.2088 fax info@joneshall.com www.joneshall.com 17

CSMFO MAGAZINE MARCH 2019

INSIDE CSMFO

Mastering the Waterways of New Regulations Written By Karla Campos The chapter got resourceful and creative by co-hosted a lunch meeting with Utility Finance Officers of Orange County. The event was held at Coachella Valley Water District in Palm Desert and with Chandler Asset Management fully sponsoring the session, lunch was provided at no charge to attendees. The topic and free lunch were alluring. Registration overflowed the room capacity and a few attendees were diverted to another similar training session nearby.

With flowers blooming and birds chirping; the Coachella Valley CSMFO chapter enjoyed a sunny, spring like meeting in January. The winter is the most Karla Campos, beautiful time in the desert and escaping Finance Director, City busy daily routines and deadlines while of La Quinta learning and networking is always a treat. Ernie Reyna, CSMFO Board Member from City of Eastvale joined the fun and welcomed everyone to the first meeting of 2019.

CSMFO recognizes that special districts have unique needs and therefore provide suitable training sessions to meet those needs. The chapter discussion centered on upcoming water shut-off restriction and 60-day notification mandates which are changing with the passage of Senate Bill 998 effective 2/1/2020. The status of Assembly Bill 401, the Low-Income Water Rate Assistance Act was also discussed.

Water is both a basic need and vital part of every community. Water districts will be facing financial and operational impacts with these new regulatory changes. Being prepared and aware of the inevitable assist agencies with utility billing programing changes, customer service training, adjusted budget projections, new or adjusted internal policies, and most importantly public and board member communication. This training session was the first of many programmed for 2019.

Since 2016, Karla Campos has been the Coachella Valley CSMFO Chapter Chair and City of La Quinta Finance Director/City Treasurer. Ms. Campos has 21 years of combined public and private financial experience. She has earned both Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees in Business Administration. On her spare time, she enjoys hiking, cooking, and playing with Titus; her energetic three-year-old son.

The Chapter is also pleased to announce new leadership with two Chapter Co-Chairs. Kofi Antobam, Director of Administrative Services with the City of Rancho Mirage and Claudia Martinez, Senior Accountant with the City of La Quinta. Succession planning, new ideas, and talent are always a dynamic part of keeping our organizations alive and prospering. The chapter thanks them both for their willingness to serve, promote CSMFO, and keep the momentum high in the Coachella Valley.

CSMFO MAGAZINE MARCH 2019

INSIDE CSMFO

CSMFO Board Interview - Rich Lee Written By Rich Lee

Rich Lee, Finance Director, City of San Mateo

What are your 2019 goals as CSMFO Board Member?

What were early obstacles in your career…and how did you overcome them?

For 2019, my top priority is to bring the CSMFO App to fruition. As CSMFO continues to grow, so does our need to provide the means for members to collaborate, learn, and engage with one other. The goal of the CSMFO App is to harvest the wealth of current mobile application technology to bring CSMFO’s resources to our members’ fingertips.

Early on in my career, the finance department was faced with low morale, high turnover, and a resultant loss of institutional knowledge. Being one of the willing and able staff members that remained, I was faced with primary responsibility for tasks that I had previously played a minor role in before, such as bank reconciliation, budget preparation, year-end close, and preparing the CAFR. While I lacked the relevant experience and requisite knowledge, the opportunity afforded the unique chance to review the City’s various processes, identify efficiencies, and leverage business intelligence technology to drastically improve financial reporting, budgeting, labor costing, and communication between financial systems. In hindsight, I recognize that the obstacles were inflection points where I could have avoided the adversity and conflict by just keeping my head down. Instead, I chose to accept the challenge by addressing the obstacles head on, and in the process, built a foundation of critical skills and established a reputation for achieving success in the face of adversity.

What 2019 CSMFO events are you really excited about? While the annual conference is the pinnacle of the year for most of our members, the need for ongoing professional development and collaboration with our colleagues doesn’t end with the conference. Local chapters fulfill this need, and serve as the lifeblood of CSMFO. As board liaison to the Northeast Counties, Peninsula, and Monterey Bay chapters, I enjoy meetings members all throughout the state. I’ve found that we have a lot in common, including a passion for public service and a love for CSMFO. I really enjoy the annual strategic planning session, where CSMFO leadership evaluates progress on our organizational goals, the near-term and long-term direction of CSMFO, and ultimately, how to best serve our members.

Looking back at your career thus far, who would you like to thank for being there for you? I have been fortunate to have good people in my corner for many years. My mother, Dale Lee, served the South San Francisco Unified School District for nearly 25 years, and taught me the value of public service. My father, Francis Lee, espoused the dedicated work ethic of his father and that of the Chinese immigrants in the early part of the 20th century. Very early in my career, Ricardo Santiago and Lin-lin Cheng from the City of Foster City gave a complete neophyte the opportunity to build a core understanding of municipal finance operations. Christine Ma from the City of Millbrae was my first career mentor. She was the first person that recognized my potential, and encouraged me to pursue municipal finance as a career. She told me very early on that I would be a finance director someday. I didn’t believe her at the time, because I was still pursuing a career in music and taking orchestral auditions all over the country. She was the first person I called when I was first appointed a finance director in 2015.

Nick Pegueros and Carl Cahill from the Town of Los Altos Hills took a chance on me. I was very inexperienced, and yet, they gave me my first management role, which served as the impetus for believing that I might have the capacity to be a finance director someday. Jim Steele took me under his wing in South San Francisco, and always made time to show me the insights of what a good Finance Director would do. During my first couple of months of being a director, John DeRussy, CSMFO Past President, was a sage mentor. He encouraged me to get involved with CSMFO leadership – specifically with the Career Development Committee. Drew Corbett, also CSMFO Past President, provided me with the opportunity to take the helm of the Peninsula Chapter. All of which has culminated in my current role as a Board Member. Within CSMFO leadership, there are two colleagues that I am honored to call my closest friends – Will Fuentes and Grace Castaneda. They define and personify exemplary leadership qualities – authenticity, altruism, and dedication. Throughout my adult life, my wife has been my number one fan, my partner, and ardent supporter, no matter the hairbrained idea; whether auditioning for the President’s Own Marine Band in Washington D.C. or taking on the challenge of being a finance director. What led you to your first government job? I was home for the summer after my first year of grad school, seeking any work that I could find to earn some income. My girlfriend’s father (now my father-in-law) asked if I was good with computers. He asked if I would be interested in working part time. I had no idea what he did for a living. He mentioned that he worked for a local city. Being a poor college student, I happily accepted. I soon discovered that he was the finance director, and that I was going to learn accounts payable so that a staff member could take some time off during the summer. I had no idea that what began as a means to pay the bills would become my life’s purpose and calling.

What super power would you like and why? One of my favorite movies is The Green Mile with Tom Hanks. One of the primary protagonists, John Coffey, played by Michael Clarke Duncan (RIP), could heal illness and disease by laying his hands on the afflicted. At salient times during our lives, we are all touched by illness, disease, and death. It’s intriguing to fathom how a power like that would completely shift the landscape of the world we live in. Actuarial mortality assumptions would get completely obliterated! What soft skills and technical skills really impress you when you are interviewing candidates? I prefer the term interpersonal skills rather than soft skills (tip of the hat to Neil Kupchin). The adjective implies that they are less valuable than technical skills. The desired balance of both is dependent upon the position. If the role is managerial, while I expect the candidate to possess a commensurate amount of technical experience and ability, I focus is on their ability to effectively lead and mentor their staff members. I enjoy hearing from candidates that share examples of working with underperforming staff members, emphasizing the importance of accountability, establishing expectations, and guiding them toward the best possible version of themselves. If the role is more technical, I’m more interested in candidates’ capacity to learn and effectively execute to expectations. I value candidates that have successfully led major organizational changes, especially to peers that oppose change, and demonstrate the interpersonal and technical skills that were needed to complete the effort.

Rich Lee has been Finance Director for the City of San Mateo since January 2019. Since 2005, he has worked for local government agencies throughout the San Francisco Peninsula, including South San Francisco, Los Altos Hills, Millbrae, and Foster City. He was elected to the CSMFO Board of Directors in 2018, after previously serving as Chair of the Peninsula Chapter and Vice Chair of the Career Development Committee. In his spare time, he is a freelance bass trombonist, and performs with several jazz groups in the San Francisco Bay Area. One of which is the Electric Squeezebox Orchestra, which will be releasing its third album in June 2019 and performing at the Monterey Jazz Festival in September 2019.

What is your favorite food and why? Before July 2017, I would have said sushi. Since that time, I’ve been on the Keto diet to improve my health and lose weight. By February 2018, I reached my goal of losing 40 pounds, and have maintained my weight by sticking to the diet. As such, cobb salad is a staple for me. You can’t go wrong with a diet that allows bacon, right?

CSMFO MAGAZINE MARCH 2019

INSIDE CSMFO

Top Ways to Boost Your Career Seasoned leaders share their insights with you

Written By Carol Bouchard, Laura Nomura, and Terri Willoughby with Don Maruska

Carol Bouchard, Assistant Finance Director, Monterey

What can you do to boost your career? I asked three seasoned leaders to share what’s worked for them to both advance in their careers and have fun doing it. Read their stories and see what fits for you. Even better, find a volunteer CSMFO coach to work with you to get where you want to go. Enjoy the opportunities to thrive in local government finance.

3. Engage with CSMFO for training and networking.

1. Be proactive.

4. Have a mentor.

Specific to my municipal finance career, CSMFO has made a huge difference. I’ve worked in other sectors and none of them have matched the training and support that the CSMFO network provides. From formal training to chapter meetings, it’s so valuable to have a network of peers to share with and learn from.

I usually will select someone further along in their career with whom I can discuss issues, situations, ideas. This has been very helpful especially when discussing what is needed to get to the next level. I also like to seek out top players in the municipal finance arena for inquiries, offering feedback on a project or topic of theirs that I enjoyed and ask thought provoking questions.

I had a boss who was always calm Laura Nomura, Deputy no matter how chaotic things got. His advice was to “anticipate what General Manager, could happen and prepare for it.” It’s Eastern Municipal Water District sometimes difficult to make the time, but I’ve found that being prepared for the things we can anticipate makes it easier to manage the things we cannot.

5. Ask for more responsibility. 2. Anticipate questions.

You can’t expect to land new responsibilities without first going above and beyond in your current position. So I always worked to tackle all tasks assigned and figure out what else can be done to make it better.

I had another boss who was really, really smart and when I met with him, Terri Willoughby, CFO, he would ask questions I couldn’t Douglas County, NV answer. So I made a game of trying to guess what he would ask, and having the answers ready. This also comes in handy when working with Council or the public.

6. Be a problem solver. Never go to your boss with a problem without offering a solution. It may not be the one ultimately that is implemented but it shows the effort you are making to be a problem solver. This can start with something small like streamlining a process to create a more efficient system, and graduate to something more involved like tackling a complicated project.

Don Maruska, Director, CSMFO Coaching Program 22

7. Take accountability.

PUBLIC FINANCE

Pushing myself outside of my comfort zone and own up to my mistakes, shortcomings and involvement in conflict. By being transparent and being accountable, I show that I am a trustworthy employee who can handle responsibility.

When You Need an Experienced, Connected, Qualified, Partner...

8. Be helpful. I have found that nothing stands out more than being helpful. I always volunteer for tasks that others may not raise their hand for, I don’t wait for opportunities to fall in my lap. I volunteer for activities outside my normal job to support efforts I believe in – like CSMFO – which makes me feel good by giving back, in this case to my profession. I also like to mentor others, hopefully helping them to gain the confidence to make bold steps that are needed to boost their careers. 9. Commit to continuous learning. Lastly I believe that every day there is an opportunity to learn something new no matter what level you are at. Listening to colleagues, reading a leadership book, or participating in a class or webinar are examples. There are so many opportunities daily to learn – it makes the job and your day so much more fulfilling -- especially when you can take that learning and utilize in your daily life. It’s fun to learn!

Since 1979,

The Baker Group’s Public Finance Division has provided financial advisory and underwriting services to municipal issuers across all sectors.

10. Leave to move up.

Our team of experienced professionals work hand-in-hand with issuers across a wide array of debt structures and pricing analyses that are tailored to the unique needs of each issuer.

Sometimes you need to leave an organization to move up. Sometimes it isn’t easy to break other people’s perception of you, and they may not be able to picture you in a different role.

As a fiduciary, our advisors are dedicated to providing issuers with the tools and education necessary to navigate the ever-changing climate of the public finance sector.

Municipal Advisory Underwriting Continuing Disclosure Service Bond Portfolio Analytics and Trading

11. Don’t be afraid to go to an agency that has “issues.” Even though it can be challenging, it is great to look back and say that you made a difference and that you were able to help an organization. During my time at the Water Department (four years), I’ve been able to: implement a timekeeping system, issue debt and receive the Department’s first credit rating, oversee three rate increases and received the first ever CAFR & Budget Award for the Department.

...Call The Baker Group at 844.213.0485

12. Being helpful-offer to help other Departments with financial issues. For example. I will often offer to compose the fiscal impact section of our Board reports for other Divisions. It is easy for me, but not so easy for them. This goes a long way to building relationships. When you build relationships with others in your organization, they are more likely to listen to you and seek your advice.

844.213.0485 | Member: FINRA and SIPC | www.GoBaker.com 23

CSMFO MAGAZINE MARCH 2019

13. Build relationships-both within the organization and with your peers. Being involved in CSMFO is life-changing.

POWERFUL SOLUTIONS, PROVEN RESULTS

14. Be a good listener. Ask others outside the Finance Department what they think of Finance and how we can improve. Finance’s role is to function as an internal service department/division, so it is good to know where we can improve in providing customer service.

Delivering Revenue, Insight and Efficiency to Local Government Since 1983

Coaching Notes: a. What advice fits for you where you are in your career?

OUR SERVICES

b. Tap a CSMFO volunteer coach to support your efforts. www.csmfo.org/coaching

Sales Tax

c. Consider organizing a small group to meet on a regular basis to pick points above and discuss ways that you can apply them and support one another in the process.

Property Tax Business Tax

You don’t need to go it alone. Reach out and make 2019 your best year yet!

Lodging Tax Short Term Rental Compliance Economic Solutions • • • • • •

Business Attraction Support Trade Area and Void Analysis Site Selection Assistance Economic Development Action Plans Community Profiles Financial Analysis and Revenue Projections

Cannabis Regulation • • • • • •

Regulatory and Tax Ordinances Application Processing Cost Recovery and Fiscal Analysis Revenue Modeling Financial Audits Compliance Inspections

And More

INSIDE CSMFO

CSMFO Board Interview - Carrie Corder Written By Carrie Corder Looking back at your career thus far, who would you like to thank for being there for you?

What are your 2019 goals as CSMFO Board Member?

My family has been so supportive over the years. I also am grateful to Vavrinek, Trine Day & Co. for giving me my first shot at learning this field of municipal accounting. The leaders at the City of Claremont taught me so much, especially how to maneuver the political side of our business. Lastly, the Cucamonga Valley Water District has helped make my career goals a reality over the past 18 years.

I am a liaison to the Recognition, and Professional Standards committees. The Carrie Corder, CPA, committee chairs, Sarah Roush and Jason Al-Imam are great leaders and I want Assistant General Manager, Cucamonga to provide any assistance and boardValley Water District perspective that they want. In addition, I am a liaison for three amazing chapters: Inland Empire, Channel Counties and South Bay (LA). Lastly, I serve on the 2020 Host Committee and our goal is to make the Anaheim conference amazing and magical!

What led you to your first government job? Traveling so much during the audit season was great in that you meet new people every week – I miss that, but travelling so much can be hard on family life.

What 2019 CSMFO events are you really excited about?

What is your favorite food and why? My favorite food is dark chocolate since it has so many healthy benefits, right?

The Chapter meetings are on fire! The Chapter Chairs and Vice Chairs are putting so much energy in finding dynamic speakers and of course, the networking is always great.

What super power would you like and why? I would love to fly

What were early obstacles in your career…and how did you overcome them?

What soft skills and technical skills really impress you when you are interviewing candidates? Accountants get a bad rap for being boring. I am impressed with candidates who have a good sense of humor and show their creative side.

My biggest obstacle was studying for and passing the CPA exam. This was a challenge because I was working as an auditor right out of college and we travelled a lot. Thanks to my mother’s nagging, I focused on each part of the exam and passed them one-by-one.

Carrie Corder, CPA, has been with the Cucamonga Valley Water District since 2001 and is the Assistant General Manager. She oversees the Finance and Administration Departments which performs the functions of Accounting, Customer Service, Legislative Affairs, Communications and Outreach, Human Resources, Risk Management, Information Technology Services and Purchasing/Warehouse. Prior to coming to the District she was employed for four years at a regional public accounting firm, specializing in audits of school districts and financial institutions. She also worked for the City of Claremont for six years as the Finance Manager and City Treasurer. 25

CSMFO MAGAZINE MARCH 2019

INSIDE CSMFO

CSMFO Board Interview - Ernie Reyna Written By Ernie Reyna What were early obstacles in your career…and how did you overcome them?

What are your 2019 goals as CSMFO Board Member?

My earlier career was actually in gaming (as in casino gaming). My first job right out of college was for a local Tribal Casino as their accountant, which I truly loved. I always thought my career would stay in gaming as it was very fast paced and diverse. When you work in a 24/7 operation, however, it is very difficult to create a work/family balance so I decided to shift gears and try something different.

My goals for 2019 are to promote CSMFO as much as possible to both Ernie Reyna, CSMFO members and non-members. There Board of Director, are many opportunities for training and Finance Director, City education and I want to ensure that of Eastvale everyone has an opportunity to attend these great events. I would also like to continue getting more people involved on committees and/or with their local chapters. There is a lot of great talent out there that I would love to tap into and it is important to create the future for CSMFO.

Fortunately for me, the Tribe also had a government side that was just like a city where I learned how to interact with the council and community. It was also there that I began taking governmental accounting classes and sat for and passed the CPA exam. Talk about doing a 180 in careers!

What 2019 CSMFO events are you really excited about?

Looking back at your career thus far, who would you like to thank for being there for you?

I love being a part of my local chapter events and it is always exciting to see what great content the Chapter Chairs will be bringing for 2019. The Inland Empire Chapter’s members are very involved and regularly attend chapter meetings so its always nice to see familiar faces at those meetings.

Earlier on it was my parents that supported me through college and the first couple of years of my career at the casino. As I got married, it has been my wife, Dolores, that has been my rock and has really helped my career sky- rocket! What led you to your first government job? Like most people, I fell into government by luck. Working at a casino is not exactly the way into government, but the Indian Tribe gave me an opportunity to work for their community and the rest is history.

It is also very excited to be able to attend the annual Planning Session every year around September/October in order to get a preview of the following year’s Annual Conference. I would highly recommend to Members that they try and make their way up to a Chapter/Vice Chair or a Committee/Vice Chair so they can experience the magic that goes on behind the scene!

What is your favorite food and why? I’m obviously very biased, but I would have to say Mexican food. There is not one dish in particular that I love, but its how all the flavors come together and I cannot get enough of the spicy salsas and the wonderful cheeses.

What super power would you like and why? Ever since I was young, I always thought the best super power would be the ability to fly. I guess I watched too many comic book movies growing up. What soft skills and technical skills really impress you when you are interviewing candidates? For me, I really value someone’s EQ (emotional intelligence) over their IQ. My personal feeling is that I can train anyone on accounting skills, but it takes a certain someone to be able to handle everyone’s personality. These traits are especially important as you rise up in the rankings and deal with your community and council.

Ernie Reyna has been with the City of Eastvale since June of 2018 and serves as their Finance Director and City Treasurer. Ernie was recently elected to the CSMFO Board of Directors after serving in various roles including the Chair of the Administration and Membership Committees, Vice Chair of the Communication Committee, and Chapter Chair of the Inland Empire for two years.

CSMFO MAGAZINE MARCH 2019