Minneapolis Issues list writers and readers:
I though your dialogue on the appointment of a new Finance Officer for the
City of Minneapolis could be informed by an outline of the search process.
I began the search process to fill the position of Finance Officer when John
Moir, the incumbent, resigned in August. I hired Al Giesen, Stone, Murphy
and Olson, an experienced management selection firm, to do the search. I
appointed a search committee that included:
Jay Kiedrowski who was the first budget director for Minneapolis, budget and
finance director for the state of Minnesota and currently Executive Vice
President Institutional Investments at Wells Fargo;
Judith Johnson who holds a law degree and CPA, worked at Coopers and
Lybrands, as a manager in the State Auditor's office during the term of Arne
Carlson, as state budget director and currently serves as Executive Director
of the Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund (MERF);
Jim Ufer who is the Chief Finance Officer for Hennepin County.
Each of these individuals is a highly qualified finance professional that
know the needs of the City of Minneapolis and that volunteered their time
and expertise to assist me and the City in the recruitment and selection of
a new Finance Officer. They worked with me to define the position, identify
and assess candidates and to interview and rank the finalists. Mr. Giesen
conducted an extension nationwide search of potential candidates through
advertising and utilizing professional organizations and referrals that
included phone interviews with close to 200 potential candidates.
Because of the Governor's cap on government salaries in Minnesota, the
finance director position is less competitive than other comparable
positions that are currently available. Even with this constraint, Mr.
Giesen provided the search committee and me a highly qualified pool of four
candidates; two local and two from outside this region.
After the interview, reference calls, a professional management assessment
and background check, the search committee and I agreed on the ranking of
the four candidates. Pat Born was clearly the most qualified and best match
for the position of City of Minneapolis Finance Officer.
He also happens to live in the city (for 25 years) and be highly committed
to Minneapolis and returning to the public sector to make a contribution to
our city.
It is absolutely inaccurate that Mr. Born was hired because of his skills in
any one area. His expertise in sports arena financing was not discussed
during his interview nor was it a part of the deliberations regarding his
selection. Mr. Born is a Senior Vice President and Principal at Evensen
Dodge, Inc., headquartered in Minneapolis. For almost two decades he has
advised cities and counties across the country on financial management
issues. His expertise and financial advisory experience spans economic
development, infrastructure, health care, higher education, housing, sports
and convention facilities and transportation.
In his early career, he served as Director, Financial Management for the
Department of Finance, State of Minnesota, as a Legislative Fiscal Analyst
for the Minnesota Senate and as a Project Administrator for the Minnesota
Pollution Control Agency. He earned two Master's degrees from the
University of Minnesota--a M.B.A. and a M.S. in Physiology. His B.A. is
from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.
I work hard as your City Coordinator to recruit the best professionals to
work for our city government. We are fortunate to have some one of Mr.
Born's professional stature, experience and expertise working as our city
Finance Officer.
Kathleen O'Brien
Kathleen.O'[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Forwarded by David Brauer, list manager, Mpls-issues, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
