The GFOA's new president-elect and executive board.

• Position: Government Finance Officers Association appoints Len Brittain, Timothy Firestine and Lisa Marie Harris

The Government Finance Officers Association is governed by an 18-member executive board, which consists of 15 members-at-large serving staggered three-year terms, the current president, the previous year's president, and the president-elect. At the association's annual meeting in June, GFOA members voted for a slate of nominees for president-elect and five new members-at-large, each of whom is profiled below.

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PRESIDENT-ELECT LEN BRITTAIN

Director, Corporate Finance

City of Toronto, Ontario

Len Brittain has served in various leadership positions for the GFOA and has been on the Executive Board since 2006. While serving on the Executive Board, he has been co-chair of the GFOA's Committee on Canadian Issues and was co-chair of the committee's professional development task force. In 2006, Brittain's jurisdiction, the City of Toronto, won an Award for Excellence in Government Finance for the city's long-term fiscal plan, which has served as a model for other entities. In 2007 and 2008, Brittain taught at GFOA training seminars on financial planning and multiyear budgeting.

Brittain is active in the Ontario Municipal Finance Officers Association, serving on the finance policy committee. He is past chair of Ontario Inter-Municipal Team on New Revenue Sources and a board member and treasurer of a non-profit corporation that invests capital reserves for social housing providers in Ontario.

Goals for GFOA

* Continuously raise the bar of the government finance profession

* Protect the financial interests of state and local governments

* Provide unique services to governments in an independent manner

* Lead by example by operating in a transparent, reputable, and leading-edge manner

I consider the position of president of the GFOA to be the ultimate expression of contribution and commitment to the government finance officer's profession. I also feel that I can make a positive contribution to the position and the organization based on my experiences over the years with the GFOA, my related background in the government finance field, and my core personal beliefs, which I feel closely match those of the organization.

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TIMOTHY L. FIRESTINE

Chief Administrative Officer

Montgomery County, Maryland

Timothy Firestine, an 18-year GFOA member, served two terms on the GFOA Committee on Governmental Debt Administration and was the 2005-2006 committee chair. He frequently represents the GFOA before the U.S. Congress on...