The 2024 strategic plan called for the President-Elect to take the goals identified by a subcommittee, intended to stay the same year over year, and build them into a draft strategic planning framework created by the Past President Advisory Committee.  The plan then called for the hiring of a facilitator to implement the draft framework and then incorporate lessons learned before bringing a final framework back to the Board for adoption.

In mid-October, forty-three leaders of CSMFO gathered in Santa Cruz to implement the new framework and begin to develop the 2025 strategic plan.  Under the experienced facilitation of Jacob Green, Dave Brown, and Randy Black of Jacob Green & Associates, the group revised CSMFO’s vision statement, defined the organization’s three goals, and began the work of establishing objectives for each goal.

Below is the result of some of our work:

Vision – CSMFO will shape the future of California public finance by creating the premier professional community for knowledge and resource sharing, cultivating future leaders, while advancing the highest standards for fiscal excellence.

Goal 1 – Organizational Sustainability means ensuring long-range planning for consistent fiscal and operational health, supported by strong staff and volunteer roles.

Goal 2 – Professional Development means delivering high-quality training and educational opportunities, offering programs and networking that meet our members and colleagues where they are, while fostering mentorship, leadership, and career advancement.

Goal 3 – Member Engagement means understanding member needs and promoting participation through networking, courses, and conferences, while encouraging active volunteerism, and building an inclusive and diverse membership through targeted outreach.

 

While a group of 43 leaders in a strategic planning session might seem like a few too many proverbial “chefs in the kitchen,” it speaks to the true collaborative spirit of CSMFO and helps to bring the diverse voices of our membership to leadership and decision-making.  As with all things CSMFO, our time together wasn’t just about hard work.  There was also lots of fun and laughter, as we took advantage of our time together to reconnect and welcome new leadership to the team.  There was much banter around the baseball games and camaraderie throughout the session.  “The work is so much easier when you enjoy the people!” commented Board Director Amber Johnson.  

With this strong foundation in place, leadership is equipped to guide CSMFO towards a future of continued excellence and innovation. The strategic plan for 2025 is not just a document but a roadmap for our collective journey. It is a testament to our dedication to excellence and our unwavering commitment to the professional growth and success of our members.