2019 Annual CCMF Award Winners

Posted by Melanie James on March 6, 2019

The annual League of California Cities City Managers Department Meeting is the largest gathering of city managers, assistant city managers, and county chief administrative officers from throughout the state. Each year, the California City Management Foundation (CCMF) attends this conference to network and keep current on a wide range of issues.

On the second day of the conference at the Awards Luncheon, CCMF President Wade McKinney presented CCMF’s 2019 City Manager of the Year award to Reva Feldman, City Manager of Malibu.

“Reva is one of the strongest and hardest working city managers I know,” said Wade. “Not only did she help organize this year’s League City Managers conference, she is returning to serve on the CCMF Board. She was one of the first to reach out to Santa Rosa of her own accord and assist their Emergency Operations Center during the Tubbs Fire. She is an excellent example for the Malibu community about how to address emergencies and disasters. We are very lucky to count her as one of our allies when it comes to pursuing excellence in the city management profession.”

Wade also presented CCMF’s 2019 Corporate Sponsor of the Year award to Jon Shull, Chief Executive Officer for the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority (CJPIA).

“California JPIA has been a leader in working with city managers to improve and support the profession. For years, this organization has been more than just insurance support – they truly help build better local governments throughout California. And for that, both myself and all California city managers thank California JPIA for their excellent partnership”

Following CCMF’s Awards, Wade was also honored for his career. For nearly four decades, Wade’s expertise and dedication have helped many city managers grow and thrive throughout the years. His guidance has helped shape CCMF as a resource for the city management profession. He has most recently served as the City Manager of Indian Wells and will be retiring in 2019. Executive Director Ken Pulskamp presented Wade with the League of California Cities’ Wes McClure Outstanding Service to the Profession Award, which Wade accepted to a standing ovation from his peers.

“Wade’s sincere desire to connect with people and offer a helpful hand, or ear, is a defining characteristic that causes him to be one of the most recognized and respected managers in the profession,” said Ken. “The Wes McClure award was created to continue the legacy of a manager who spent a career advancing the profession. Wade dedicated his entire career to advancing the profession, and like Wes McClure, is a model for current and future managers to emulate. Wade says he set out after college with the grand ambition of changing the world. Those lucky enough to have learned from Wade know he has achieved his goal within this profession.”

CCMF offers its congratulations to Reva, Jon and Wade on their respective awards. Thank you for all you have done to support the mission to pursue and support excellence in the city management profession.

Mejorando Group joins CCMF as Corporate Benefactor Sponsor

Posted by Saara Lampwalla on January 3, 2019

The California City Management Foundation (CCMF) has announced that Mejorando Group has decided to show its support for the California city management community through its Corporate Benefactor sponsorship of CCMF. Since 2002, the Mejorando Group has partnered with leaders from local governments across the country, including several in California, helping them translate the headwinds of change into a tailwind by providing practical and impactful solutions. Mejorando is Spanish for “getting better all the time” and it reflects the mission to help organizations and members in their collective journey for continuous improvement. The Mejorando Group provides a range of organizational effectiveness services including Succession Planning programs, strategic planning facilitation, leadership development and an extensive series of training workshops to equip workforces with mission-critical capabilities to tackle tomorrow’s challenges today.

“Thank you to the Mejorando Group for joining the team as a CCMF Corporate Benefactor sponsor,” says Wade McKinney, CCMF president. “Their support makes it possible for us to expand our member offerings and better serve the city managers of California. It is always a benefit to have private partners whose focus clearly meshes with our own: making our public servants better.”

CCMF corporate sponsors enjoy a number of benefits including sponsorship recognition on the CCMF website, access to the CCMF weekly electronic newsletter and invitations to members-only activities and special events at the annual League of California Cities City Manager Department conference. Corporate membership fees start at just $1,000. Click here to learn more.

Bob Murray & Associates Renews CCMF Sponsorship

Posted by Saara Lampwalla on December 21, 2018

The California City Management Foundation (CCMF) has announced that Bob Murray & Associates have decided to show their support for the city management community through its sponsorship of CCMF. Bob Murray & Associates provides quality executive recruitment services for cities, counties, special districts and other governmental organizations of all sizes. They work one on one with their clients to identify specific wants and needs, and find outstanding candidates for their consideration.

“We are pleased to welcome the support of Bob Murray & Associates to CCMF for another year,” says Wade McKinney, President of CCMF. “Their dedication to pairing municipal agencies with outstanding executives is an essential part of the CCMF mission to encourage excellence in California’s city managers. We’re thrilled to have their expertise on our team yet again.”

Tripepi Smith Renews CCMF Corporate Benefactor Sponsorship

Posted by Saara Lampwalla on November 14, 2018

The California City Management Foundation (CCMF) has announced that Tripepi Smith has renewed its Corporate Benefactor sponsorship of the organization for the 2018-19 year. Tripepi Smith is a marketing, technology and public affairs firm located in Orange County, CA. Its clients include for-profit, non-profit and public agencies throughout the state of California. Its unique mix of marketing and technology prowess provide a competitive advantage for organizations seeking to leverage the Internet to achieve their communication goals. The firm also provides full content creation services, including: ghost writing, collateral development, photography, video production, search engine marketing, search engine optimization, email marketing campaigns and website design and execution.

“Tripepi Smith has offered steady support to CCMF as both a Corporate Benefactor sponsor and a communications partner to the Foundation for many years. Their dedication to serving California’s local government agencies is clear, and CCMF relies on their team to help us keep CCMF members informed of city manager news in California and our member-only services.” – Wade McKinney, CCMF President

Southern California Edison Renews CCMF Corporate Benefactor Sponsorship

Posted by Saara Lampwalla on November 13, 2018

The California City Management Foundation (CCMF) has announced that Southern California Edison has renewed its Corporate Benefactor sponsorship of CCMF for the 2018-19 year. Southern California Edison (SCE) is one of the largest electric utilities in the U.S. and a longtime leader in renewable energy and energy efficiency. With headquarters in Rosemead, CA, SCE serves approximately 15 million people in a 50,000 square-mile area of central, coastal and southern California. SCE has provided electric service in the region for more than 130 years and is committed to keeping electricity safe, reliable, affordable and clean. SCE’s electric infrastructure includes 1.4 million power poles, 700,000 transformers and 103,000 miles of distribution and transmission power lines.

“We’d like to thank Southern California Edison for believing in the CCMF mission and putting their support behind California’s city managers. As such a huge player in their own industry, it’s wonderful to have them serve as an example and demonstrate the importance of healthy city leadership to other organizations.” – Wade McKinney, CCMF President

Renne Public Law Group Joins Host of CCMF Sponsors

Posted by Saara Lampwalla on November 9, 2018

The California City Management Foundation (CCMF) has announced that Renne Public Law Group has joined the ranks of CCMF supporters as their newest Corporate Benefactor sponsor. Renne Public Law Group (RPLG) is a private law firm that practices throughout California, advising and advocating for public agencies, nonprofit entities, individuals and private entities in need of effective, responsive and creative legal solutions. They provide the tools to strengthen and preserve public services and empower policy makers to further their policy objectives while minimizing legal risks. They work with clients to form a collaborative team with in-house staff to identify workable solutions to complex problems, develop strategy and implement solutions, whether the path is at the bargaining table, city council chambers, the courtroom, or the ballot box.

“Thank you to Renne Public Law Group for joining the team as a CCMF Corporate Benefactor sponsor. Their support makes it possible for us to expand our member offerings and better serve the city managers of California. It is always a benefit to have private partners whose focus clearly meshes with our own.” – Wade McKinney, CCMF President

Indian Wells Benefits from Tripepi Smith Communications Assessment

Posted by Melanie James on October 16, 2018

Tripepi Smith has delivered an Express Communications Assessment to the City of Indian Wells. The Assessment provides a holistic analysis of the City’s current communications efforts and identifies opportunities for enhancements to connect with two distinct audiences: residents and visitors. Indian Wells is an internationally recognized destination for its winter weather, tennis competition and overall quality of life. The City engaged Tripepi Smith as a starting point for moving its resident outreach efforts from good to great.

“Tripepi Smith is the recognized leader in city communications and had a record of success with marketing a recruitment opportunity in Indian Wells. The Express Communications Assessment delivered exactly what we needed to sustain the City’s continuous improvement objectives,” said Wade McKinney, city manager of the City of Indian Wells. “Indian Wells residents have high expectations of their city, and our city staff is committed to delivering for our residents everyday.”

Tripepi Smith’s Express Communications Assessment is a scaled-down version of the firm’s traditional Communications Assessment. While both assessments provide extensive insights, the express version expedites the timeline, reduces some of the content scope and narrows the field of interviewees.

“Indian Wells is a stunning community and an international destination. The city has two complementary objectives with its outreach efforts to residents and visitors, but each requires its own strategy,” said Ryder Todd Smith, president of Tripepi Smith. “City staff are committed to finding innovative ways to inform residents and be most effective, and I was thrilled by their enthusiasm for this project.”

Tripepi Smith has delivered communications assessment for numerous other cities, including City of La Puente, City of Duarte, City of Culver City, City of Paramount, City of Cupertino, City of Morgan Hill, City of Norwalk, City of Livermore and Town of Windsor.

About the City of Indian Wells

Located in the heart of Southern California’s Desert Resort communities, the City of Indian Wells is recognized worldwide for its tranquil and luxurious resort environment. Then and now, astute planning and city leadership have helped Indian Wells achieve status as one of the premier residential resorts and vacation destinations in the United States. Guests and residents alike are continually drawn to the many amenities that Indian Wells offers including four world-class resorts, Indian Wells Golf Resort and Indian Wells Tennis Garden, a variety of cultural programs, impressive resident benefits, and much more. Whether you are here for a day, a week or a lifetime, idyllic Indian Wells offers a peerless experience that truly elicits a state of overall well-being. Click/tap here to learn more about the City of Indian Wells.

About Tripepi Smith

Tripepi Smith is a marketing, technology and public affairs firm located in Orange County, CA. Its clients include for-profit, nonprofit and public agencies throughout the state of California. Its unique mix of marketing and technology prowess provide a competitive advantage for organizations seeking to leverage the Internet to achieve their communication goals. The firm also provides full content creation services, including: ghost writing, collateral development, photography, video production, search engine marketing, search engine optimization, email marketing campaigns and website design and execution. Tripepi Smith clients include: City of Culver City, City of Rolling Hills Estates, City of La Puente, City of Tracy, City of Cupertino, City of Duarte, City of Millbrae, City of Daly City, City of La Cañada Flintridge, City of Santa Ana, City of Paramount, Rowland Water District, Valley Water Company, California Contract Cities Association, California City Management Foundation, League of California Cities, Institute for Local Government, Renne Public Law Group, Avenu Insights and Analytics, Inland Empire Utilities Agency and Climatec Energy Services.

Cerrell Renews CCMF Sponsorship

Posted by Saara Lampwalla on October 10, 2018

The California City Management Foundation (CCMF) has announced that Cerrell has renewed its Corporate Benefactor sponsorship of CCMF. As one of the nation’s most respected and successful public affairs and public relations firms, Cerrell has been delivering the results its clients need for nearly a half-century. They combine the power of their legacy with an elite team of forward-thinking communicators to develop winning strategies for a diverse range of clients.

“Thank you once again to Cerrell for supporting the CCMF mission as a Corporate Benefactor Sponsor. Their contributions to our organization make a real impact on the resources we offer our members, and we are grateful to have corporate members that understand the public service space.” – Wade McKinney, CCMF President

eCivis Renews CCMF Sponsorship

Posted by Saara Lampwalla on October 1, 2018

The California City Management Foundation (CCMF) has announced that eCivis has renewed its Corporate Benefactor sponsorship of CCMF. eCivis provides cloud-based grants management software for state and local governments seeking grants management solutions. Since their establishment in 2000, they have been committed to developing solutions for their clients’ grants management needs. Clients range from small nonprofit organizations, to townships, to cities with a population of 10 million, to tribal governments, to states, counties, and large corporations. Their software suite, Grants Network, is used by thousands of government offices, schools, and community-based organizations.

“CCMF thanks eCivis for their support of our organization and fostering excellence in the city management profession. Their support of cities goes back to their roots as a grant management system serving local governments, and it’s a privilege to count such likeminded people as supporters.” – Wade McKinney, CCMF President

Willdan upgrades to CCMF Foundation Circle Sponsor

Posted by Saara Lampwalla on September 28, 2018

The California City Management Foundation (CCMF) has announced that Willdan Financial Services has upgraded its membership to Foundation Circle sponsor status with CCMF. Willdan Financial Services specializes in providing revenue generation, enhancement, and administration services to public and private agencies. Willdan services include water, wastewater, solid waste financial and rate consulting; impact fee studies; infrastructure and public-private financing plans; economic and fiscal impact analysis; strategic economic development plans; real estate advisory services; arbitrage rebate and disclosure reporting; special district formation and administration; and reassessment engineering. Willdan clients include more than 800 cities, counties, state agencies, port authorities, housing agencies, special districts, and school districts in more than 40 states.

Willdan Financial Services has been a steadfast supporter of the CCMF mission, and we are very glad to welcome them as our newest Foundation Circle sponsor. A huge ‘thank you’ to our Board of Trustees member Mark Risco and the rest of the Willdan Financial Services team for their generous partnership that allows us to help our members thrive in their professions and foster a standard of excellence among California’s city managers.” – Wade McKinney, CCMF President