Central Valley Chapter Round-up
by DeAnna Christensen, Central Valley Chapter Co-Chair
On November 30, 2023, the Central Valley Chapter hosted a topic focused on recruitment and retention strategies for Finance professionals which is a that challenge many local government agencies are facing at this time. The presenters included Sara Cowell – Director of Finance for the City of Tracy, Karin Schnaider -Assistant City Manager for the City of Tracy (previously Director of Finance for City of Tracy), and myself, DeAnna Christensen – Director of Finance for the City of Modesto.
Many leaders within local government organizations face the challenges of an increase in staff turnover and the potential burning out of current employees. Looking at ways to retain these employees, many agencies have provided more flexibility with allowing telework, providing alternative work schedules, developing employee recognition and award programs and investing in employees with professional development opportunities.
Many agencies have also developed a robust professional development program focused on developing future leaders and building on important skill sets to provide career growth such as customer service, organizational skills, team building and much more. More engagement with our employees in guiding them in achieving their career goals is essential in the battle to retain our employees. In addition, developing employee recognition programs to recognize your employees for a ‘job well done’ and taking the time to acknowledge the public service they provide your agency provides an incredible amount of value for their contribution to the team.
Another area of focus under this topic included how to find new talent for our Finance professional positions. Actively engaging with our local colleges and participating in career fairs or business programs is a key component as many students are not even aware of the Finance positions available within local governments. Many college students may not know of the benefits offered through CSMFO such as scholarship opportunities and free memberships to learn more about public finance. As college students draw interest in government positions, agencies should be prepared to offer internship programs to allow these students to learn how governments operate and explore the different opportunities available within public finance.
We look forward to seeing everyone at the 2024 CSMFO conference in Anaheim, CA!
DeAnna Christensen was recently appointed as a Co-Chair for the Central Valley Chapter of CSMFO and has been a member for over 14 years. She is currently the Director of Finance for the City of Modesto and has worked in public finance for over 20 years.
