C. LaShea Lofton

C. LaShea Lofton serves as Deputy City Manager for the City of Dayton, Ohio — a role she has grown into over a remarkable 38-year career in public service that has touched virtually every corner of city government. She currently provides executive oversight to the Departments of Aviation, Finance, Public Works, and Information Technology.
As a former Director of Finance, Lofton has lived the reality at the heart of this session: the moment when "finding the money" is no longer a viable answer, and finance professionals must instead build the credibility and relationships to help executives and elected officials make genuinely difficult decisions. Her career has required exactly that kind of fearless counsel — advising through fiscal crises, managing tens of millions in public and federal resources, and leading large-scale organizational change with transparency and integrity.
Lofton is a GFOA member and has served on its Debt Policy and Best Practices Committee. She received GFOA's prestigious 2020 Hero Award, recognizing extraordinary leadership during times of financial or civic crisis. In 2024, she testified before the U.S. Senate Finance Committee on behalf of GFOA — speaking directly to Congress about tax-exempt bonds, capital access for small borrowers, and the federal tools cities like Dayton depend on to rebuild and grow. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Dayton and is a recipient of the University's 2022 Alumni Achievement Award.