President's Message
Scott Catlett, CSMFO 2022 President
2022 has been a busy year for CSMFO. Our Cohort Program has entered its second successful year, several new core courses are getting off the ground, and important by-laws changes were approved by the membership. I have very much enjoyed serving as your CSMFO President in 2022, following four prior years on the Board and 12 years in the CSMFO leadership. CSMFO’s Past Presidents include many leaders who I look up to as role models and mentors, and I feel very privileged to have been chosen by all of you to join that list of volunteers. It has been a humbling experience.
As I end my term as President at the conclusion of 2022, CSMFO is in safe hands with Richard Lee, Finance Director for the City of San Mateo assuming the Presidency in 2023. I know that Rich cares deeply about this organization, and with our able team of volunteer leaders, will continue the progress that has been ongoing in recent years in both CSMFO’s membership benefits and career development offerings.
Lastly, I want to share that I will be leaving the CSMFO Board of Directors a year early – not because I do not wish to continue serving, but because my membership status is changing next month and will disqualify me from holding a seat on the Board of Directors. After 17 years serving the cities of Riverside, Yorba Linda, and Newport Beach, I will be returning to my early career roots as a consultant and joining Eide Bailly’s government advisory practice. I plan to keep connected with all of my CSMFO friends and colleagues and look forward to seeing you all at the 2023 CSMFO Annual Conference – this time as a commercial member. Marcus Pimentel has graciously agreed to serve a second term as Immediate Past President in lieu of my final year on the Board. A special thank you to Marcus for agreeing to do so.
I will see you all in Sacramento!
Scott Catlett’s experience in public sector finance includes working directly for cities since 2006, after serving as a management consultant for state and local governments for six years. Scott served California’s 12th largest city, Riverside, for 10 years, ending his time there as Assistant Director of the Finance Department overseeing a staff of 54 employees in four divisions. He subsequently served as the Finance Director for the City of Yorba Linda for five years and the City of Newport Beach for two years. Through these various roles, Scott has managed budgets ranging from $100 million to $1.2 billion and investment portfolios of $75 million to $500 million.
Scott holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Tulane University and a master’s degree in public administration from California State University, San Bernardino, where he has been a part-time professor since 2014 teaching graduate courses in public financial management and public budgeting.
Scott is an active member of the Government Finance Officers Association, the California Municipal Treasurers Association, and the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers (CSMFO). He has been a volunteer leader for CSMFO for over 12 years, serving successively as a Chapter Chair, Committee Chair, and elected statewide Board Member. In 2020, he was elected by CSMFO’s 2,600 members to be the Association’s 2022 President.
Scott recently relocated to College Grove, Tennessee – just outside of Nashville – with his wife Kelli and his three children. Following taking the month of November off to recharge his batteries, he will be returning to consulting and joining Eide Bailly’s government advisory practice. On the weekends you will find him hiking the wooded trails near his home, cheering for his boys at their baseball and basketball games, and battling rabbits and squirrels in his garden.
