Members at Work
Members at Work
Meet members driving innovation and creating change, as featured in the recent articles below from Government Finance Review.
Building Better Budgets in Wichita Falls
Kaitlin LeVasseur’s mission is clear: “to provide a structured and thorough budget that also incorporates interdepartmental communication and collaboration.” Since joining the City of Wichita Falls, she’s made it her goal to create a budgeting culture that is not only technically sound but also inclusive, transparent, and responsive.
From Policy to Practice: Mike Mastrobuoni on growth, challenges, and community
Mike Mastrobuoni graduated from Northeastern University in 2008, entering the workforce in the middle of the Great Recession. He began his career at the Cambridge Housing Authority, where he learned what it meant to help run a large organization and saw firsthand how operations, finance, and strategic planning intersect.
Rethinking Municipal Finance: A Conversation with Michel Durand-Wood
Think of your city. As you step into the street, every inch of pavement has been paid for, in part, with your dollars. The trees were grown and watered with taxpayer money. The bus stops and local transportation routes are maintained with city funding. Even shopfronts benefit from services and utilities that are paid for from the public’s wallet. You pay for the smallest details that you may not notice, but nonetheless make your life better.
A Career Journey with Ariam Isaac
Ariam Isaac has worked for the City of Bakersfield, California, in multiple roles since 2019, most recently as the fiscal and administrative services manager for the City of Bakersfield Police Department. Ariam spoke with GFOA about how she has been able to make a difference in her various roles.
Trust, Turbines, and Tomorrow’s Water: A Conversation with Matt Bowman
When we turn our faucets and clean water gushes out, few people consider the work that led to that moment, question how it got there, or reflect on the people responsible. One of those people is Matt Bowman. Matt is clearly passionate about his job’s mission and the environment where he accomplishes it.
A Leadership and Teamwork Discussion with Christine Brookshire
Mike Mucha, GFOA’s deputy executive director, spoke with Christine Brookshire, the deputy finance director for the City of Centennial, Colorado, about the value of being a mentor and a mentee, developing leadership styles, and working as part of an effective team.
Rethinking Budgeting in Action: The City of Plano's Fiscal Roadmap
Realizing that its existing budget and financial management practices are not sufficient to address the city’s changing fiscal reality, leaders in the City of Plano, Texas, are rethinking the city’s approach to budgeting and planning.
A Conversation on Growth, Mentorship, and Making Local Government Work
Nate Reinhardt is the finance director for the City of Shakopee, Minnesota, and past president of the Minnesota GFOA. He spoke to GFOA about the city’s growth, the challenges with clearly communicating financial information, the importance of building a strong network, the value of mentorship, and the role of fun in local government.
Camaraderie and Collaboration in Liberty Lake, Washington
The City of Liberty Lake, Washington, located about 17 miles west of Spokane near the Washington Idaho border, was incorporated in 2001, though the area has been home to residents for more than 100 years. With a population of about 14,000 and continued growth, City Administrator Mark McAvoy and Finance Director Kyle Dixon are focused on fostering collaboration and encouraging employees to explore new ways of doing things to better serve the community.