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Mayor Reed Names Finalists for Chief Financial Officer and Commissioner of Public Works
After receiving the search committee’s recommendations, Mayor Reed and Chief Operating Officer Peter Aman individually interviewed five candidates and then narrowed the list down to three finalists for both the Chief Financial Officer and Commissioner of Public Works positions.
The three finalists selected by Mayor Reed for the position of Chief Financial Officer are: J. Anthony (Jim) Beard, Michael (Mike) J. Bell and Joya C. De Foor.
“Like many cities and counties across the nation, Atlanta has faced a tough economic environment for more than a year,” said Mayor Reed. “We have had to do more with less. While that has been challenging, I believe we have learned some important lessons about fiscal responsibility. I am looking forward to working with a Chief Financial Officer who is committed to shoring up the City’s coffers and making smart decisions today that ensure Atlanta’s fiscal health tomorrow.”
The Chief Financial Officer Search Committee was chaired by was chaired by Jim Hannan, CEO and President, Georgia Pacific. Other members of the committee included: Jim Glass, the immediate past CFO for the city; Larry Cooper, principal, Bentley Investments, Inc.; Constance Barkley-Lewis, principal, SmartWork Strategy Partners; Susan Bell, managing partner, Ernst & Young; Jocelyn Hunter, attorney, Home Depot; Milton Jones, managing partner, Integrated Capital Strategies; Vicki Palmer, CFO (retired),Coca-Cola Enterprises; Larry Patrick, director and chief diversity officer, Pricewaterhouse Coopers; and former mayoral candidate Jesse Spikes, McKenna Long. The committee worked with the search firm SpencerStuart to interview and recommend candidates to lead the City of Atlanta’s financial team.
J. Anthony (Jim) Beard, Palm Beach, FL Director of Compliance and Revenue
Beard has more than 20 years of experience in finance, treasury and investment management. He has specific expertise in capital project financing and governance and stakeholder relations. He currently serves as the Director of Compliance and Revenue within the office of the County Clerk of Palm Beach County, Florida, a position he has held since 2006. He provides daily management and oversight of all Treasury operations, which includes a $2 billion AAA S&P rated investment portfolio. Prior to joining Palm Beach County, he was the principal consultant of his own financial services firm. Beard also held various senior-level positions at Howard Gary & Company, a Miami-based finance and investment firm. Beard received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and a Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business from Florida International University and a Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Michael (Mike) J. Bell, Director of Finance, DeKalb County, GA
Since 1996, Bell has served as the Director of Finance for DeKalb, County, Georgia, where he is responsible for preparing the county’s $1.6 billion all-funds budget. He worked as the Chief of Staff for Fulton County and was the Chief Financial Officer for the City of Atlanta from 1991-1994. Bell also has experience in the private sector. He worked for several years with Kemper Securities Group and with C&S National Bank’s Government and Investment Banking Divisions. Bell received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and earned both a Masters and a Doctorate in Public Administration from the University of Georgia.
Joya C. De Foor, City Treasurer, Los Angeles, CA
As the City Treasurer for the city of Los Angeles since 2001, De Foor prepares and presents financial and policy recommendations to the Mayor, City Council and department heads on financial issues including public/private partnerships, financial risk management, budget, public finance, capital market developments and emerging regulatory requirements. Prior to her appointment as Los Angeles City Treasurer, De Foor served as the City Treasurer and Revenue Officer for Long Beach, CA. She also worked for several years as a financial officer for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. De Foor has experience as a senior management consultant for both Deloitte and Touche and Coldwell Banker. She earned her Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame and her Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern California.
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Mayor Reed also announced the three finalists for the Commissioner of Public Works. They are Richard Mendoza, Dexter White, and Daniel Worth.
“The City of Atlanta Department of Public Works plays a vital role in maintaining the quality of life for our residents and business owners,” Mayor Reed said. “Our residents expect and deserve City services such as working traffic lights, smooth streets and courteous and timely responses to their requests. I look forward to choosing and working with a leader who will bring strategic thinking and innovative ideas to this critical department and move our City forward.”
Richard Mendoza, Assistant Director of Public Works, San Antonio, TX
Mendoza has executive municipal management skills that include departmental strategic planning, implementing process improvements, fiscal management and budgeting, capital improvements program development and planning, work load and performance measurement, employee recruitment, development and training, department safety and quality program development. As a registered professional civil engineer and current Assistant Director of Public Works for the City of San Antonio, Mendoza is responsible for providing executive leadership for the Department of Public Works, Transportation and Storm Water Divisions. Mendoza earned a Bachelor of Science in Natural Gas Engineering from Texas A&I University and a Master of Public Administration from Texas State University-San Marcos.
Dexter White, Director of Public Works, Richmond, VA
White has over ten years of experience as a public works director in several cities. As the director of Public Works for the City of Richmond, he is responsible for engineering, traffic engineering, capital improvement program, solid waste management, grounds maintenance, urban forestry and roadway maintenance. White’s experience includes establishing paving and tree placement programs for the City of Richmond, implementing a hazard tree removal policy, developing efficient solid waste collection routes, overseeing capital improvement plans for infrastructure and developing and funding bridge maintenance program. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Fort Valley State College and a Master of Public Policy and Administration from Mississippi State University.
Daniel Worth, Public Works Executive Director, Scottsdale, AZ
Worth has more than 25 years of leadership experience in public works management in municipal government and with the U.S. Army. He has experience in leading public works organizations, managing complex projects and programs, planning in both military and municipal environments, and environmental stewardship. Worth’s experience ranges from managing environmental programs to achieving significant efficiencies and maximized value in public works programs. Worth received a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, NY and a Master of Arts in Geography from the University of Maryland in College Park.
The Public Works Commissioner Search Committee was chaired by former City Council President, Cathy Woolard. Other members of the committee included Han Choi, attorney with Schiff Hardin; Bill Fowler, chairman, PATH Foundation; Joan Garner, former chairwoman, NPU M, District 2 who led the development of the Old Fourth Ward Master Plan; Dan Graveline, immediate past president of the Georgia World Congress Center; David Hankerson, Cobb County Manager; Laura Seydel, community advocate and environmentalist; Chuck Taylor, principal, HT Group; and Ron Zirpoli, real estate businessman. Executive search firm, Hodge Partners, worked with this committee.
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