Position 3
Kimberly Olivares, director of financial services, City of Austin, Texas
Kimberly Olivares is director of financial services for the City of Austin, Texas. She has been a GFOA member since 2012 and is former chair of GFOA's Committee on Economic Development and Capital Planning. Kimberly also served on GFOA's Executive Board Nominating Committee and is a frequent speaker at GFOA trainings and the Annual Conference on topics including strategic planning, infrastructure financing, real estate, and budgeting.
In her role at the City of Austin, Kimberly led the advancement of the $126 million Colony Park redevelopment by crafting a complex funding strategy combining local and federal resources. She also worked to develop a capital asset renewal policy that helped shape GFOA's best practice, Strategies for Establishing Capital Asset Renewal and Replacement Reserve Policies. Kimberly teaches graduate courses in public finance as an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Texas at Austin – Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. She currently serves on several boards, including as treasurer of the Austin Convention Enterprises, Inc.; secretary/treasurer of the Austin Public Facilities Corporation; treasurer of the Waller Creek Local Government Corporation; and member of the Vanguard Music and Performing Arts Board.
As a former GFOA scholarship recipient, Kimberly credits GFOA for helping to launch and sustain her career through training, advocacy, and a strong professional network. Her goals for GFOA include expanding access to mentorship and professional development for new members and enhancing support for mental health and wellness across the profession.