Urban Forum

The Urban Forum is a community open to all public finance professionals working in urban government—whether in major cities, metropolitan counties, or other complex jurisdictions—who want to connect, learn, and actively contribute to the dialogue around the challenges facing our communities.  The Urban Forum reflects the evolving fiscal, operational, and policy realities of public finance in today’s cities and metropolitan regions. Members are navigating rapidly changing policies, layered funding structures, growing expectations for transparency, and increased public scrutiny. The Forum offers a space to step back from day-to-day pressures, share experiences, and gain practical insight alongside peers who truly understand the complexity of urban government work. 

The Forum welcomes public finance professionals at every career stage—from those just beginning their work in urban finance to seasoned leaders guiding complex fiscal operations. Through open dialogue, shared learning, and peer collaboration, members explore pressing challenges, strengthen leadership capacity, and build knowledge that supports both immediate performance and long-term professional growth. 

GFOA Staff Contacts:

• Justin Kohls, Manager, Consulting
• Adam Powell, Analyst

The Urban Forum exists to support public finance professionals working in urban government environments by fostering connections, shared learning, and practical collaboration. We support professional development by creating opportunities for hands‑on learning, collaboration across career stages, and shared problem solving around real-world challenges. 

By bringing together both emerging and experienced practitioners, the forum creates space for meaningful knowledge exchange, leadership development, and thoughtful conversations across generations. Through learning from one another’s experiences, members strengthen their own skills while contributing to a stronger, more effective public finance community within complex government environments. 

Because working in urban government means navigating complexity throughout your career, managing layered systems, and contributing to decisions that have significant fiscal and community impact. The Urban Forum is for public finance professionals who want more than a job title and a task list. It’s a place to build practical, real‑world skills, better understand how complex systems work and connect with peers facing similar challenges across cities and large jurisdictions. Members exchange insights, ask questions, and share real-world experiences with professionals who understand the realities of urban public finance at every stage of a career. Click here to join.