Voting for the 2023 Board of Directors Election is now open! Please cast your vote for one candidate each for President-Elect; Board Member – North; and Board Member – South. Voting closes November 30, 2022.
All members in good standing, regardless of member type, may vote.
Nominee for President-Elect
(Southern California)
Statement of Ideas and Goals for CSMFO
CSMFO has provided me with so many tools that I have used to facilitate the growth of my career. I have been involved with CSMFO for over 10 years and in that time, I have seen the membership grow tremendously thanks in part to the amazing leadership of the Board of Directors, as well as the chairs of the committees and chapters. Because of this, I would like to give back and lead this wonderful organization utilizing the talented volunteers that make CSMFO what it currently is, and focus on the following goals:
• Growing the future leaders of tomorrow by tapping into the student membership
• Continuing succession planning in all areas impactful to CSMFO
• Advancing the coaching program through the cohorts and other areas to ensure members have the confidence they need to develop into finance leaders
• Provide a welcoming environment for new members to feel as though they are part of CSMFO from day one
CSMFO needs to grow the future leaders of tomorrow and can do so through one of the newest committees, student membership. Students coming out of college can receive a firsthand look at just how the organization operates so they can use all the available tools to advance their professional career. Students should have the opportunity to see how CSMFO leaders conduct business so they can get a sense of what their future with CSMFO may hold.
Succession planning is such an important task simply because those providing trainings for CSMFO will not be around forever and it is important to identify who will be replacing these trainers. This will be an on-going function of CSMFO, but it is important that this duty is not overlooked.
It is so important to have the confidence to succeed in your profession and having the right coach can make all the difference. Having the leadership serve as coaches will provide the cohorts and members with someone who can guide them in their careers and with CSMFO.
Sometimes taking the first step in your professional development can be the most difficult one, but CSMFO should be able to help guide you and extend a warm and welcoming hand whether at a chapter meeting, or your first committee meeting, feeling part of the CSMFO team needs to be a goal of the leadership.
Each of the committees I have served on have provided me with insight as to how CSMFO operates and the hard work that goes in to making the organization move forward. I truly believe that the volunteers that serve on the committees and chapters are the heart and soul of the organization, and it is through these avenues that CSMFO will continue to be successful and see its future leaders advance. It is for these reasons that I would be honored to serve as your next CSMFO president.
Education
- BS Business Administration, UC Riverside
- MPA, Cal Baptist University (Expected May 2023)
- Certified Public Accountant
Professional Experience
- Deputy City Manager, City of Perris , July 2021-Current
- Director of Finance, City of Peris, November 2019-July 2021
- Finance Director, City of Eastvale, June 2018 – October 2019
- Chief Financial Officer, WRCOG, February 2011-May 2018
- Assistant Controller, Morongo Band of Mission Indians, February 2005-February 2011
CSMFO Involvement
- Inland Empire Chapter Chair, 2013-2014
- Chair, Administration Committee, 2015-2016
- Chair, Membership Committee, 2017
- Vice Chair, Communications Committee 2018
- Board of Directors, 2019-2021
- Vice Chair, Program Committee 2022
Other Professional Affiliations
- GFOA Member
Nominee for Board
(Northern California)
Statement of Ideas and Goals for CSMFO
Fellow members of the CSMFO, I am honored to express my interest in serving as a member of the Board of Directors for this wonderful organization. I began volunteering in CSMFO in 2015, and since then, CSMFO has grown not only in membership, but in complexity and in resources offered to our membership.
My principal goal as a Board member will be to continue the momentum of the last few years, building upon the jumps forward CSMFO has taken, for example the implementation of a consolidated learning management system, our first virtual conference, and the hiring of CSMFO’s first dedicated executive director. My priorities will be to maintain the high quality of educational opportunities available to our members, to increase student engagement to highlight municipal finance as a fulfilling career choice for new professionals, and to build on the progress CSMFO has made in creating a mentorship pipeline for members who are earlier in their careers to help foster their development and grow their professional networks.
I am excited about the projects and initiatives that CSMFO is planning for 2023 and beyond, and I hope you will consider me to represent you on the CSMFO Board.
Education
- MBA Candidate
- BS – Business Administration: Accounting
- AA – Accounting
- AA – Economics
Professional Experience
I entered the field of municipal finance over 15 years ago as an auditor of local governments in 2007. In 2011, I began my career as a public servant, joining the City of Tustin, California as an Accountant, and then as a Senior Accountant before moving to Northern California in 2016. There, I joined the Citrus Heights Water District as a Senior Accountant before becoming its Accounting Manager in 2019. This November, I joined the City of Citrus Heights as its Accounting Manager.
CSMFO Involvement
I am privileged to have served CSMFO in the following positions:
- 2015-18 Administration Committee, Member
- 2019-20 Administration Committee, Vice Chair
- 2019 Sacramento Valley Chapter, Vice Chair
- 2020-22 Sacramento Valley Chapter, Chair
- 2021-22 Administration Committee, Chair
- 2021 Technology Committee, Member
- 2021 Ad Hoc Committee (Ex. Director Recruitment Firm), Member
- 2022 Host Committee, Member
- 2022-23 Speaker, CSMFO Conference
Other Professional Affiliations
- Governmental Finance Officers Association (GFOA)
- California Special Districts Association (CSDA)
Statement of Ideas and Goals for CSMFO
One of the most wonderful things about CSMFO is the people. So many dedicated volunteers come together through the chapters, committees, and Board of Directors to make the association function smoothly and to help move the mission forward. CSMFO has enriched my career and I want to ensure that CSMFO’s critical mission is supported for the benefit all of members – whether they be county, city, special district, school district, or commercial members.
If elected to serve on the Board of Directors, my goals would be centered around encouraging more members to get involved, thereby naturally developing the organization’s leaders for the future. CSMFO has recently made great strides in this area, by changing its dues structure to encourage finance professionals at all career levels to join the organization and enjoy the benefits of membership. In addition, innovative new programs like the Cohorts program have cast a wide net among existing members and created an energy that has encouraged new leaders to emerge. CSMFO also recently re-introduced weekend training, a tried-and-true offering that provides premier professional education, while simultaneously providing opportunity to network and form lasting friendships in a small group setting.
As a member of the Board, I would seek to continue this momentum – embracing new ideas and shaking up existing structures, while also remaining enthusiastic about existing offerings that promote excellence in our field and encourage camaraderie among members. I firmly believe that CSMFO is an essential organization for our industry, and I am truly excited to be a part of this amazing group of people.
Education
- B.S. Organizational Management, Patten University
- Certified Public Finance Officer since 2017
Professional Experience
- Chief Financial Officer, County Connection (2021 – present)
- Director of Administrative Services, City of Belvedere (2017 – 2021)
- Senior Accounting Analyst, Marin Transit (2011 – 2017)
- Over 20 years in accounting and finance including the private sector
CSMFO Involvement
After joining CSMFO in 2017, I soon realized that I wanted to get involved and be a part of the amazing network of volunteers who serve within the organization. I was given this opportunity in 2019 when I was invited to join the (then) ad-hoc committee on Student Engagement. When this ad-hoc committee was established as a standing committee in 2020, I accepted the role of Vice Chair, and I have been serving as the Chair of the committee since 2021.
In this role I have helped coordinate efforts to engage the next generation of potential municipal finance officers, to let them know about CSMFO and promote municipal finance as a rewarding career choice. I was humbled to be recognized as Volunteer of the Year at the 2022 CSMFO Conference for my work in this area.
I actively participate in monthly CSMFO Board meetings in my leadership role with the Student Engagement Committee, so I am well versed in the role and responsibilities of CSMFO board members.
Other Professional Affiliations
- Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) – member since 2015 and earned designation as Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO) in 2017
Nominee for Board
(Southern California)
Statement of Ideas and Goals for CSMFO
CSMFO has been a part of my life since I was a young child. Our family vacations were often planned around CSMFO annual conferences for which my dad, Ken Al-Imam, was a frequent speaker. I have fond memories of those family road trips in the 80s and 90s as we drove across the State of California from San Diego to Monterey to Sacramento. During those formative years, I knew that CSMFO was special, which eventually led me into a career in municipal finance.
I have served CSMFO in various capacities over the past eight years, which includes serving as the Chair of the Professional Standards Committee, whose primary mission is to operate as a technical resource by keeping CSMFO members informed of emerging issues and best practices.
As a member of the Board, I would work to continue to support CSMFO’s primary mission, which is to serve as the preeminent resource for promoting excellence in government finance. I’d also like to build on the work that has been done involving student engagement because students are the next generation of leaders.
Thank you for your consideration of my candidacy for a southern Board member.
Education
- Bachelors of Arts in Business Administration – Vanguard University of Southern California
Professional Experience
I have nineteen years of experience in municipal finance and accounting. I started my career in public accounting, auditing local governments throughout California. I have also worked for the cities of Fountain Valley, Los Alamitos, and Riverside, and I currently serve as the Finance Director and City Treasurer for the City of Tustin, a full-service city located in Orange County.
CSMFO Involvement
I have been a member of CSMFO since 2009 and have served in various leadership roles in the organization since 2014. Since 2019, I have served as the Chair of the Professional Standards Committee, and previously served as the Vice Chair and a member of the Professional Standards and Recognition Committee.
Other Professional Affiliations
- Member of the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA)
- Member of the California Municipal Treasurer’s Association (CMTA)