Position 4

Karen Rhodes-Whitley, director of budget & research, City of Plano, Texas, is a graduate of the 2022 GFOA Leadership Academy. She leads the City of Plano's $1.2 billion operating and capital budget and currently spearheads the fiscal roadmap project—a strategic reinvention of the city’s budget process focused on long-term sustainability, enhanced forecasting, and policy reform. Karen also co-led Plano’s cost recovery model team, aligning fee structures with GFOA’s best practices to strengthen financial resilience. Karen serves as chair of GFOA's Committee on Retirement and Benefits Administration, where she leads the review and development of best practices and advisories for GFOA Executive Board's consideration, and previously served as the GFOA of Texas president, program committee co-chair, and in multiple leadership roles. Recognized with the GFOA of Texas Outstanding Service Award in 2014, Karen also volunteers as an associate director for the Institute of Government Finance at Texas Tech University.

Her goals for GFOA include expanding outreach to the next generation of public finance professionals, enhancing mentorship and onboarding efforts, and keeping the organization at the forefront of innovation and relevance through flexible, timely resources and training.