LACMC Education Committee Presents “Determining Budget Priorities: Three County of LA Departments”
When: August 19, 2021
Time: 09:00 AM To 11:00 AM

 

LACMC Education Committee 

Presents

Determining Budget Priorities: A Look at 3 County of Los Angeles Departments

Budgets are critical and important tools to implementing the County’s strategic plan, initiatives and each Department’s mission and core programs.  Given limited resources, how do County Departments, as financial stewards, make ends meet, and accomplish their goals and objectives? This seminar will examine best budgetary practices used to determine budget priorities and effectively communicate them to varied stakeholders. Seasoned budget experts will share their insights into their budgetary process and discuss how they plan and navigate this multi-faceted process.

What You'll Learn

  • Gain valuable insights into how to determine Budget Priorities
  • Review the budgetary process steps
  • Learn strategies to effectively communicate budget priorities to the public and your peers.
  • Determine how to weigh budget priorities while considering constraints and strategic priorities
  • Receive valuable insights into the process from the perspective of different County Departments

Speakers

Sheila Williams, Senior Manager,

Budget and Operations Management, Chief Executive Office

Sheila Williams is responsible for leading, coordinating, monitoring, and evaluating processes, activities and services of the Public Safety, Operations and Community and Municipal Services Clusters. This includes implementation of Board directed policies and County programmatic goals of each cluster which consists of the direct oversight and management of all financial, personnel, operational and programmatic functions; ensuring the integration of County services and the optimal use of resources; and the continuous improvement of the County’s organization and operational processes.

Ms. Williams has more than 25 years of experience in County government as an administrator over budgeting, revenue generation, contracts, grants, capital projects and formulating policy.

Ms. Williams earned a Bachelor’s degree from University of California at Berkeley, Paralegal Certificate from University of California at Los Angeles and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from California State University, Long Beach

 

Robert Smythe, Administrative Deputy, Probation

Robert Smythe is responsible for a variety of administrative functions including a budget of over $1 billion, human resources operations for 6,000 employees, information technology, facilities, procurement, contracts, and approximately 775 team members.

Robert has previously served as Chief of the Auditor-Controller’s Audit Division, as a Chief Investigator conducting fraud investigations, and in operational capacities managing juvenile halls and camps. He has also held a variety of leadership positions in professional organizations, and has spoken at conferences across the country on topics involving auditing, accounting, fraud prevention, internal controls, and information technology security. Robert has also taught accounting and finance courses for over twenty years at the University of Southern California.

 

Jose Perez, Assistant Director, Workforce Development, Aging and Community Services

Jose Perez Jose currently oversees the County’s workforce development program and its mission to engage employers to employ trained and qualified job seekers in career pathways that lead to family sustaining wages. In his 30-year career in public service, he has had many challenging assignments, including executive leadership roles in finance and budget, program and policy, and contracting. 

Jose received his M.A. in Public Policy from Claremont Graduate University and his B.A. in Psychology from Stanford University.  He resides in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles with his wife and their three children.  

 

James Blunt, Administrative Deputy, Department of Public and Social Services

James A. Blunt has served the County of Los Angeles for 30 years.  His county career began with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.  At the Sheriff’s Department, Mr. Blunt held multiple accounting related positions, and was part of the Department’s first team of Internal Auditors.   Seeking new challenges and experience, in 2000 he transferred to the Chief Executive Office (CEO) as a Budget Analyst.  At the CEO’s office he expanded his budgetary acumen and mentored a number of interns

In 2014, Mr. Blunt was appointed to the position of Budget Deputy for the newly elected First District Supervisor, and former Secretary of Labor in the Obama Administration, Hilda L. Solis. In this role, Mr. Blunt helped draft Board motions to create the County’s Mentoring Program, and the Temporary Services Registry. In 2018, after serving a full term with Supervisor Solis, Mr. Blunt transferred to the Department of Public Social Services (DPSS), where he serves as the Department’s Assistant Director overseeing Administrative Services.  DPSS is the County’s third largest department, with approximately 14,000 staff, and a budget of $4.6 billion.

Additionally, Mr. Blunt has served as a Commissioner of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority and has been a member of the County’s Audit Committee.

In his time away from work, Mr. Blunt is an avid movie fan, and previously co-hosted a weekly movie review podcast.  He also enjoys attending concerts and live music venues.

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Seminar Information

Date: Thursday, August 19, 2021 

Time: 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. (Registration available online at posting)

Location: Online Only via WEBEX

Seminar Questions: Tracy Jordan-Johnson, at 213-713-9216 or via email at TJordan-Johnson@coc.lacounty.gov or Nicole White-Gamble at (213) 893-6923 or via email at Ngamble@assessor.lacounty.gov

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Registration Information 

MEMBER Registration (Required): Click Here

Cost: $0 (Free for Members)

Once registered, a direct link to the seminar will be emailed to you.

Registrar Questions: Contact Nicole White-Gamble at (213) 893-6923 or via email: ngamble@assessor.lacounty.gov  

Reminder: Only LACMC Members may register for this training.

To find out about other LACMC educational opportunities, speaker bios and photos, and more, check out our website at Los Angeles County Management Council.   If you have a colleague interested in becoming a LACMC member, please refer them to the LACMC website for eligibility requirements, membership benefits, and the application (click here).

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“Disclaimer – The Los Angeles County Management Council invites speakers to share their knowledge with the membership; however, LACMC is in no way endorsing the individuals or the companies presenting information at our seminars.”