CSMFO Board Interview with Ernie Reyna.
What are your 2019 goals as CSMFO Board Member?
My goals for 2019 are to promote CSMFO as much as possible to both members and non-members. There are many opportunities for training and education and I want to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to attend these great events. I would also like to continue getting more people involved on committees and/or with their local chapters. There is a lot of great talent out there that I would love to tap into and it is important to create the future for CSMFO.
What 2019 CSMFO events are you really excited about?
I love being a part of my local chapter events and it is always exciting to see what great content the Chapter Chairs will be bringing for 2019. The Inland Empire Chapter’s members are very involved and regularly attend chapter meetings so its always nice to see familiar faces at those meetings.
It is also very excited to be able to attend the annual Planning Session every year around September/October in order to get a preview of the following year’s Annual Conference. I would highly recommend to Members that they try and make their way up to a Chapter/Vice Chair or a Committee/Vice Chair so they can experience the magic that goes on behind the scene!
What were early obstacles in your career…and how did you overcome them?
My earlier career was actually in gaming (as in casino gaming). My first job right out of college was for a local Tribal Casino as their accountant, which I truly loved. I always thought my career would stay in gaming as it was very fast paced and diverse. When you work in a 24/7 operation, however, it is very difficult to create a work/family balance so I decided to shift gears and try something different.
Fortunately for me, the Tribe also had a government side that was just like a city where I learned how to interact with the council and community. It was also there that I began taking governmental accounting classes and sat for and passed the CPA exam. Talk about doing a 180 in careers!
Looking back at your career thus far, who would you like to thank for being there for you?
Earlier on it was my parents that supported me through college and the first couple of years of my career at the casino. As I got married, it has been my wife, Dolores, that has been my rock and has really helped my career sky- rocket!
What led you to your first government job?
Like most people, I fell into government by luck. Working at a casino is not exactly the way into government, but the Indian Tribe gave me an opportunity to work for their community and the rest is history.
What is your favorite food and why?
I’m obviously very biased, but I would have to say Mexican food. There is not one dish in particular that I love, but its how all the flavors come together and I cannot get enough of the spicy salsas and the wonderful cheeses.
What super power would you like and why?
Ever since I was young, I always thought the best super power would be the ability to fly. I guess I watched too many comic book movies growing up.
What soft skills and technical skills really impress you when you are interviewing candidates?
For me, I really value someone’s EQ (emotional intelligence) over their IQ. My personal feeling is that I can train anyone on accounting skills, but it takes a certain someone to be able to handle everyone’s personality. These traits are especially important as you rise up in the rankings and deal with your community and council.
