I know this work from the inside
More than 30 years across finance and executive leadership in local government
I have closed the books, built budgets, managed audit deadlines, led complex operations and helped boards and leadership teams understand the decisions in front of them.
As a two-time chief financial officer, budget director, deputy county manager and chief operating officer, I understand both the technical work and the operational and leadership pressures surrounding it.
For three decades, I did that work inside local government — in Wake County, North Carolina, and in Portsmouth and Norfolk, Virginia.
I hold a BSBA in Accounting from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an Executive Certificate in Public Leadership from Harvard Kennedy School.
Putting experience to work
After three decades serving one local government at a time, I wanted to put that experience to work for more than one.
The mission has not changed: help local-government leaders solve real problems with practical solutions that make the work easier to manage.
The SHARPe & Steady™ approach gives a name to the combination I have always brought to the work — clear judgment, calm direction, visible progress and a stronger path forward.
I believe in the value of local government and in the people who work tirelessly to make it possible.
Where the work happens now
I currently focus on North Carolina local governments, particularly counties. I understand the state's operating environment, Local Government Commission expectations, board dynamics and the financial and operational pressures behind local decisions.
Since 2021, I have worked directly with ten North Carolina counties, six of them on audits, including multi-year backlogs. That work has also included onboarding new finance officers, strengthening business processes and improving the budget and management information leaders use to make decisions.
I also bring executive leadership experience from Virginia.
Start with a conversation
A short conversation is usually enough to tell whether I'm the right fit for what you're facing. There is nothing to prepare.