Q&A with Jeff Sudmeier: Chief Financial Officer of the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT).

• Author: Roque, Rob
• Position: IN PRACTICE: INTERVIEW

Jeff Sudmeier is chief financial officer of the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). He is the principle financial strategist for the department, overseeing an approximately $2 billion annual budget. Jeff leads the Division of Accounting and Finance, which includes accounting operations, finance, budget teams, and contracting and procurement teams. CDOT also works closely with its five business offices to support its operations statewide. Jeff spoke to GFOA's Rob Roque about skiing, the workings of CDOT, and his biggest challenges.

Was it always your plan to go into public finance?

Yes and no. I earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Economics at the University of Iowa and moved to Colorado shortly after graduating. I was always drawn to the notion of public service, so I always pictured myself working in government or a quasi-governmental organization. As it turned out, the public sector was not where I could find work fresh out of college, sol took a job with a financial services firm instead, and then a large investment firm a year later. So I spent the first part of my career in mutual fund accounting and financial reporting--but always felt the draw to public service.

I really wanted to be involved in the public policy of government, so I left the private sector and enrolled in graduate school, where I earned a Master of Public Administration degree and a Master's in urban planning. The planning degree led me to CDOT, where I started as a transportation planner. I spent several years in planning but was slowly drawn into the financial side, particularly budgeting. About 5 years ago, our former chief financial officer left and I applied for the job. I think I was in a unique position since I had a financial and a planning background.

What brought you to Colorado?

I was born and raised in Dubuque, Iowa, which sits along the Mississippi River. I grew up boating and water skiing on the river and, believe it or not, winter ski racing in Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin. I am the oldest of three. I attended the University of Iowa and moved to Colorado approximately 20 years ago to be closer to the mountains and skiing. I went to graduate school at the University of Colorado and met my wife, Molly, at a grad school party. We have been married for ten years and have an 8-year-old daughter, Eleanor, and 4-year-old-son, James. And we have worked hard to make sure that they are "average" skiers like their mom and dad, so we ski...