CSMFO Interview with Board Member Will Fuentes
What are your 2019 goals as CSMFO Board Member?
As a former Vice Chair for the CSMFO Career Development Committee, I have a passion for career growth and development. Thus, one of my primary goals as a CSMFO Board Member for 2019 is to ensure that our training and development opportunities remain current, relevant, and accessible to membership at all levels of a finance organization statewide; whether that organization be big or small. In 2019, I am also the Board Liaison to the CSMFO Technology Committee and I hope to utilize this position and technology to enhance and expand the means by which membership engages with CSMFO, communicates with their peers, obtains valuable knowledge and best practices to solve issues in their organization, and develops their careers. And my last goal as a CSMFO Board Member in 2019 is simply to learn from my other Board Members and make sure we working together to develop a strong strategic vision that carries us into the future and is responsive to the evolving needs of our membership.
What 2019 CSMFO events are you really excited about?
I am very excited to see CSMFO offer a number of great events and educational opportunities for its membership in 2019, but the one upcoming event that I am most excited about this year is “Successful Skills for a Finance Director” being instructed by Neil Kupchin on June 13 at the City of Daly City. Being a Finance Director is a very rewarding job, but it requires not only an in-depth knowledge of complex technical areas, but also the ability to communicate, convince, and inspire a team towards a common set of goals and priorities that cannot be accomplished by one person alone. Some leaders are natural born and others are taught. Whatever may be the case, the public sector is in real need of quality financial leaders who can step up and take over the reins of those leaders who have come before them. And what better person to facilitate this exchange than the well-respected Neil Kuphcin. His blend of real-world experiences, knowledge, humor, honesty, and approachability make his leadership classes a very enjoyable and rewarding experience for all who attend. So, if you want to become a Finance Director, have an inkling that you may want to be a Finance Director, or just want to see what being an effective leader is all about, I highly encourage you to attend this great development opportunity.
What were early obstacles in your career…and how did you overcome them?
Early in my career, I believe the biggest obstacle was just being heard and having my ideas taken seriously. For a long time, I was the youngest person in my department, but one who usually had many ideas for change, innovations, and process improvements. And while many of these ideas were good, I didn’t have the experience to back them up nor the knowledge of how to convey them in a manner that was tactful and convincing. Nevertheless, over time, I continued to persist, continued to develop my messaging so that it was effective, and developed a sense of professionalism and tact. Eventually, my ideas were heard and taken seriously. One of my ideas improved the business license operations at the City of Union City; resulting in an 80% growth in annual revenues. It was after this, that I started to get noticed and started to be placed in leadership positions. Thus, my advice to any up and coming finance professional is simple: be persistent, but also develop your messaging so that it is convincing and professional. This often takes time and sometimes trial and error, but don’t give up or become discouraged. Your hard work and determination will pay off.
Looking back at your career thus far, who would you like to thank for being there for you?
I am thankful to so many people in my career. It is hard to identify just one person because so many have been instrumental in affording me the opportunity to be where I am today. But I am thankful for my first City Manager, Mark Lewis, and my first Finance Director, Joni Pattillo, for taking a chance on me as an Intern nearly 20 years ago at the City of Union City. And I am thankful for the Finance Directors who have taught me professional and life lessons along the way, supported me, and believed in me. This includes Richard Acevedo (deceased), Sheila Mohan, Rich Digre, and David Glasser at the City of Union City and David Baum at the City of San Leandro. And I am extremely thankful for the great City of Milpitas team that selected me to be their Finance Director two years ago; fulfilling a nearly 10-year professional goal that I set for myself. But I would be remiss if I didn’t thank the great teams that I led at the Cities of Union City, San Leandro, and Milpitas. There are too many individuals to name, but without their hard word, dedication, and care for both their work and each other, I would not have been able to accomplish half of what I have. I am eternally in their debt. Thank you for your support and commitment.
What led you to your first government job?
I never intended to have a career in government and thought that I wanted to be an investment banker when I graduated college with a B.S. in Finance. However, life takes one in many interesting turns and it was a love for politics and history that made me consider a very intriguing offer to be an Intern with the City of Union City when I moved to California in 1998. And I have not looked back since. I love making a direct and measurable impact on communities and working for local governmental agencies provides such a wonderful opportunity to do this. There are very few jobs that you can do where you can go out on the street or into the community and see the positive impact you make in people’s everyday lives. That is something which is extremely rewarding.
What is your favorite food and why?
Anything with chocolate. Because chocolate is awesome and delicious!
What super power would you like and why?
As a kid, I had a reoccurring dream where I was flying. And I was always disappointed when I woke up to learn that I was indeed not the next Superman. Thus, if I could choose any super power, it would be the ability to fly. Because people that can fly are cool and Clark Kent would have made a great public sector Finance Director. Kryptonite was his weakness, but unfunded liabilities were not!
What soft skills and technical skills really impress you when you are interviewing candidates?
In terms of technical skills, I am always impressed by candidates that are critical thinkers and have strong analytical minds. I was a Management Analyst for a number of years before I was provided the opportunity to be in leadership roles, and I value having people on my team that can pour through data, analyze trends, and develop innovative solutions for addressing complex problems. As it relates to soft skills, I am always impressed by candidates that demonstrate the ability to effectively convey their message, convince and quickly engage an audience, and show real authenticity. These are signs of leadership potential and I am always searching for the next great financial leaders on my teams.
