FINE(ance) Fridays

This podcast features a conversation with Francisco Ordaz, MPA Career Services Director at the Romney Institute of Public Service and Ethics at the BYU Marriott School of Business. For Francisco, his challenges were an opportunity to find the beauty out of life and the silver lining of compassion found in simple acts of kindness. You will hear an immigrant’s story of financial struggle and perseverance.

This podcast features a conversation with Sơn Lê Hughes, chief financial officer of the West Linn-Wilsonville School District in Oregon. Sơn Lê grew up in Vietnam during the war that ravished her country. After a trying childhood, she boarded a plane for the West Coast of the United States for a new journey.

This podcast features a conversation with Dean Rear, General Manager of Financial Services and Chief Financial Officer with the Metro Vancouver Regional District. Growing up in Alberta at the foothills of the Rockies, on a mixed farm of crops and beef cattle, Dean describes his childhood as a “boy life” with miles of open space to ride dirt bikes and play hockey.

This podcast features a conversation with Brigitte Elke, Finance Director for the City of San Luis Obispo, California. Brigitte was born and raised in Switzerland with a strong connection to the land. At age 30, she relocated to America to work in advertising and media buying. When the dot-com bubble burst, she responded to an ad for a temp position in public finance. 

This podcast features a conversation with Dr. Kirene Bargas, Director of Finance & Administrative Services for the Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District in Beaumont, California. Dr. Bargas grew up in Hawaii with the ocean right across the street. After high school, she relocated to Ohio looking for work and opportunities. During our conversation, she recounts a harrowing story of being held up at gunpoint and shares a survival outcome that will leave you breathless. After the trauma, she started a job that put her on a path to a 20+ year career in public finance.

This episode features a conversation with Amanda Klapperich, Finance Manager for the County of Rio Grande, Colorado. Amanda grew up in Wisconsin to hardworking parents and a pretty typical childhood. Her first attempt at college didn’t take and she found herself working a fast food job. At 21, she took a job as a corrections officer in the prison system. It wasn't until she was in her 30s that she realized that public finance was her intended career path.

This episode features a conversation with Kevin Bain, Debt Manager for the City of Detroit, Michigan. Kevin grew up in the suburbs of Detroit embracing his diverse community. Described by family as a fearless child, Kevin overcame an early speech impediment to excel in school in both academics and athletics. After college, Kevin worked on Wall Street, completed graduate school at Harvard, and went to work at World Bank. He eventually returned to his community in Detroit committed to tackling the issues of poverty and discrimination.

This episode features a conversation Lisa McCargar, Vice President of Finance and Administration for Golden State Natural Resources. Lisa grew up a shy child in Los Angeles to hardworking blue-collar parents. Money was tight, but that didn’t stop Lisa from dreaming big. Once she entered the workforce, success and opportunity came calling. Her early career included time at Arthur Andersen and in Hollywood working on studio budgets for some of the most successful movies of that time.

Rich Lee is the Finance Director for the City of San Mateo. Growing up in foggy south San Francisco, Rich had to develop a thick skin learning to navigate his parents' divorce as well as a genetic condition that made him a target to the insensitivity of cruel adolescents. Listen as Rich discusses his fascinating journey from wanting to be a musician, to pursuing a career in public finance.

Lisa Marie Harris, Director of Finance at the San Diego Water Authority joined us for episode eight of the podcast. Growing up in San Francisco as the eldest of seven kids, Lisa Marie speaks quite candidly about her experiences of being in a family of limited means.

Richard Sensenbrenner, Assistant Director of Accounting for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, joined us for episode seven of the podcast. Growing up in Troy, Ohio, Richard’s family dynamic centered on the notion that “serving the public was a noble deed.” While both parents took roles in serving their community, it was his grandfather Jack, who loomed the largest in his family’s story.

Our guest for episode six of the podcast was former GFOA President Nancy Zielke. Growing up in Southwest Michigan on sixty acres of farmland, Nancy is no stranger to getting up at 5:00 a.m. and working until the sun goes down. Balancing a career path that is firmly planted with success in both public and private organizations, Nancy acknowledges the many mentors who had a hand in shaping her professional growth as well as her personal drive to understand her community and help influence change for the better.

Our guest for episode five was Chris McCullion, Chief Financial Officer for the City of Orlando, Florida. Chris became CFO in his mid-30s. Our conversation touches on how that happened as well as how Chris and his team handled the enormous tragedy of the 2016 Pulse Nightclub Shooting.

Episode four of the podcast featured a conversation with Jo Ann Giddings, Deputy Director of Financial Administration in the City of Aurora, Colorado. Growing up on her family farm along with her seven siblings, Jo Ann learned to be self-sufficient. With her daily chores around the farm and raising cattle, she developed a strong sense of “team work” and a community of neighbors leaning into each other for support.

Joining us for episode three was Ed Harrington from San Francisco, California. Born the youngest of five children, Ed’s childhood was marked by a tremendous amount of sadness with losing both parents by the time he was a teenager. Acknowledging that this “sets you back a bit,” Ed’s mother was able to impart a certain belief in humanity that stuck to Ed’s core and helped to shape him for the rest of his life.

Joining us for episode two was Veronica Carrillo with the City of San Antonio, Texas. Growing up on a block where the homes of her aunts and uncles, cousins and grandparents were back door or down the street to one another, this tight knit family kept her centered and grounded. But as you’ll hear, there was one voice that rose above the rest and became her guiding compass, her father.

Our first guest was Michael Bryant, GFOA President and Deputy County Manager for Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Michael’s difficult but inspirational story will remind you of the guiding hand of fate, when one is shown a different path forward by the generous soul of others.