Making a Plan to Get the Most from Your Membership
Before becoming GFOA’s executive director, I was a GFOA member, as both a city manager and a local government budget director. GFOA programs and services provided tremendous value in navigating technical problems, political challenges, and opportunities for personal and professional growth. I attended the annual conference, volunteered for committees, taught educational sessions, and used consulting services to implement budgeting for outcomes and to procure a new ERP system. As I progressed through my career, I came to value those connections with subject matter experts and interactions with colleagues. At times, though, it was challenging to take advantage of these professional development activities, given the ever-increasing pressures of public service—greater workload, meeting deadlines, and resolving day-today issues. And for many organizations, constrained budgets or lengthy approval processes can make it more difficult.
Publication Date: February 2026
