CSMFO Prepares for the 2026 Strategic Plan

CSMFO Prepares for the 2026 Strategic Plan 

By: Stephen Parker, CSMFO President-Elect

Each year, CSMFO’s leadership gathers to reflect on progress, evaluate priorities, and chart the course for the organization’s future. During last year’s Strategic Planning Session, three core goals were established - Organizational Sustainability, Professional Development and Member Engagement – along with objectives to help guide progress towards each.

This year, the leadership team built on that foundation with renewed focus and collaboration.  Jacob Green and Associates (JGA), who successfully facilitated the 2024 session, guided this discussion of this year’s Strategic Planning Session, held November 2-4, 2025, at the Renaissance Palm Springs.  

A successful planning session begins well before the first in-person meeting.  Preparation for the 2025 session (with efforts towards establishing the 2026 Strategic Plan) began months in advance.  In August, twenty-five leadership members who would not be attending in-person participated in individual 45-minute interviews with JGA.  In October, all CSMFO leaders were invited to complete a 20-minute survey assessing the organization’s progress towards its three strategic goals. Throughout the fall, JGA collaborated closely with CSMFO’s Executive Committee and Executive Director to synthesize insights from the interviews and surveys.  These findings informed the retreat’s agenda and provided a strong foundation for focused discussion.

The in-person retreat spanned a day and a half of structured, facilitated conversation.  President Jennifer Wakeman opened the session sharing a message from former President Elect Karla Romero, who had recently stepped down from her leadership role for personal reasons. Participants were encouraged to remain focused on CSMFO’s mission and keep in mind the voices of those not in the room. Facilitator Jacob Green led a brief grounding exercise designed to help participants reset and refocus after challenging situations – a meaningful start that set the tone for collaboration and reflection.  

Over the course of the retreat, more than twenty CSMFO leader-volunteers: 

• Reflected on and celebrated the organization’s accomplishments over the past year

• Reviewed objectives tied to CSMFO’s three strategic goals, identifying which had been achieved and which might be de-prioritized
  

• Discussed recurring themes emerging from earlier feedback – chapter development, communication, and inclusion and recognition of members; and
  

• Proposed new objectives to intentionally address those themes in the upcoming plan
  

The exchange of ideas underscored the passion and commitment that CSMFO’s volunteers bring to their roles and reaffirmed the organization’s culture of collaboration.

While additional work remains before the 2026 Strategic Plan is finalized and presented to the Board, the majority of the effort was completed during this productive session.  CSMFO extends its deepest gratitude to everyone who contributed to this important process.  Your time, expertise, and dedication continue to strengthen CSMFO and ensure a bright future for California’s municipal finance community.

CSMFO Leadership gathered in Palm Springs for the 2025 Strategic Planning Session

Stephen Parker, CPA has worked with government agencies for 25 years – the first decade as an external auditor, and since 2010, as a local government department head. Stephen currently serves as the Assistant City Manager for the City of Upland, overseeing the Finance, Information Technology and Human Resources and Risk Management divisions, as well as managing the library and animal shelter contracts. Prior to joining Upland, Stephen held department head roles at the City of Stanton and the Yorba Linda Water District.

A graduate of Biola University, Stephen earned his Bachelor of Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting. He also serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for his local church - Orange County Church Project. Outside of work Stephen is a proud father of three - Sydney (19), Benjamin (17), and Isaac (16), and is deeply grateful for his wife, Koryn, with whom he has shared 24 years of marriage