(Chicago, Illinois-May 18, 2020) Michael A. Bryant, Assistant County Manager, County of Mecklenburg, North Carolina, was elected as president-elect of the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) on May 18, 2020. The election was held at the association’s annual business meeting during its 2020 Virtual Conference.

Bryant has been a GFOA member for 14 years and has served on GFOA’s Executive Board (2017 to 2020). He is an ex–officio member of GFOA’s Committee on Economic Development and Capital Planning and a past member of GFOA’s Governmental Budgeting and Fiscal Policy Committee. Bryant has attended GFOA’s Annual Conferences for 10 years and has been a frequent conference speaker. In addition to being a GFOA regional training instructor, he authored the article, “Improving the Budget Process,” which appeared in GFOA’s Government Finance Review (2015). Bryant has been a reviewer for GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award (2010 to 2011), and a member of GFOA’s Black Caucus. His government won the Award for Excellence for Financial Management in 2013 and again in 2020 for their Budget Public Engagement Initiative. The County has received GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for 29 years.

As Assistant County Manager for the County of Mecklenburg, North Carolina, Bryant provides Executive oversight of the County’s Finance Department. Prior to his current role, Michael was the Director of the Office of Management & Budget and was responsible for the development, management, and execution of the County’s $2B operating budget He has transformed the County’s operating budget from a traditional department structure to a hybrid program–performance model.

Bryant is a current member and past Board Member of the North Carolina Local Budget Association; past President and First Vice President of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators Southern Piedmont Chapter; current member of the Arts & Science Council Board of Directors; and a member of ICMA. He serves on the Chancellor’s Board of Visitors as well as lecturer at North Carolina Central University and Alumni chapter member. Bryant participated on the University of North Carolina–Charlotte MPA Advisory Board; past Board Member and mentor

for Wayfinders; Community Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity; and Emergency Financial Assistance Committee Member for the Crisis Assistance Ministry. He received the North Carolina Local Government Budget Association Lifetime Achievement award, the North Carolina Central University’s “40 Under 40” award, and Community Buildings Initiative’s “Leaders Under 40” award.

Bryant will serve on GFOA’s Executive Board for one year as president-elect. In June 2021, he will become the association’s president at its Annual Conference in Chicago, Illinois. GFOA Executive Director Chris Morrill said that Bryant was elected by his peers because of his proven leadership in the government finance profession. His experience as Budget Director and Assistant County Manager in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, are very relevant to the challenges our members currently face. GFOA is fortunate to have Michael Bryant’s skills and passion for public service as he leads the organization through these turbulent times.

For more information, contact:

Chris Morrill, Executive Director/CEO

Phone: 312/977-9700

Fax: 312/977-4806

• Publication date: May 2020