Ernie Reyna, Director of Finance, City of Perris
Every New Year brings about change within the CSMFO leadership, but at the Board meeting in February, it is an opportunity to say goodbye to those in leadership that will be coming off the Board after serving so proudly alongside their colleagues. For 2021, the three Board Members we said goodbye to were Margaret Moggia, Rich Lee, and Carrie Guarino. A huge thank you to those that served and dedicated their time and input to make the CSMFO Board an awesome organization to be a part of!
Margaret Moggia returned to serve in the role of Past President, which is also the liaison for Chapter Chairs throughout the state. Rich Lee just completed his third year on the Board and was very active volunteering and participating in ad hoc committees and using his many, many talents to assist in any way he could. Lastly, Carrie Guarino also just completed her third year on the Board and for her, it was a goodbye to us all as she is moving on to greener pastures and retiring in another state. Her time and service at CSMFO will be dearly missed!
This meeting was also the introductory meeting for three new board members. CSMFO’s new President-Elect is Scott Catlett of the City of Newport Beach. Scott previously served on the Board from 2017-2020 and was elected to become CSMFO President for the 2022 calendar year. Scott will preside over as CSMFO President at the conference scheduled in San Diego.
The CSMFO Board member elected from the south is Karla Romero, Finance Director / City Treasurer for the City of La Quinta. Karla has been very active in various capacities within CSMFO including Chapter Chair of the Coachella Valley and Chair of the Communications Committee. Karla’s term on the Board will extend from 2021-2023.
Lastly, the CSMFO Board Member from the north is Craig Boyer, Assistant Controller for the County of Alameda. Craig has also been very active within CSMFO including the Chair of the Student Recognition Committee. Craig’s term on the Board will also extend from 2021-2023.
As for the actual Board meeting, there were a few items up for discussion with the Board. The first item was some firm updates from Smith Moore & Associates (SMA) and how staff there has had to adjust with the new normal of Covid-19 and how “business as usual” may look very different in the near and immediate future.
Did you know that CSMFO, through the aid of the Probolsky Research group, undertook a focus group among CSMFO members? This focus group was conducted online on Thursday, December 17, 2020 and was moderated by Adam Probolsky and ascertained member opinions of the resources offered by CSMFO and the organization as a whole.
Next item was a request for a change order brought about because of the challenge of working through the pandemic and putting together a virtual conference. The request was to add a one-time $13K pass-through payment and direct that SMA increase compensation to the 2021 Conference Professional consultants for services and impacts beyond the scope of their current agreements. The Board unanimously approved this item.
Lastly, our newly elected CSMFO President, Marcus Pimentel, provided the Board with an update on the latest with the 2021 Annual Conference. Hopefully, you were able to attend this virtual conference as it was a smashing success and set the bar really high for all other virtual conferences you may attend in the future.
The next CSMFO Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 25 via Zoom.
Ernie Reyna is the Director of Finance for the City of Perris and is currently serving on the Board of Directors for CSMFO. Ernie began volunteering for CSMFO as a Chapter Chair for the Inland Empire beginning in January of 2013 through December of 2014. He then served as Chair of the Administration Committee from 2015 through 2016, followed by Chair of the Membership Committee in 2017. Lastly, Ernie served as Vice-Chair of the Communications Committee in 2018 before being elected to serve on the CSMFO Board in 2019.
Ernie is a licensed CPA and has 22 years of experience working in the field of finance and began his career in gaming working with a local Tribe. After a period of about seven years, Ernie then made the jump to local government where he has worked for agencies such as the Western Riverside Council of Governments, the City of Eastvale, and now with the City of Perris.
In his free time, Ernie enjoys spending time with his family by going to the movies, amusement parks, and baseball games.
