Boulder's financial landscape is due for a shakeup as Chief Financial Officer Kara Skinner gears up to exit her city hall role, heading into the world of remote consulting, as announced by City Manager Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde. Skinner has her sights set on the Director, Fiscal spot within the Government Consulting sector of MGT Consulting, providing strategic fiscal guidance while affording her the flexibility to cherish moments with family, especially embracing her role as a grandmother. Skinner's departure is slated for November 8, leaving behind a seven-year legacy with the city, a period marked by steadfast service and financial stewardship beginning from her first city hall engagement back in June 2017.
In her trajectory through Boulder's financial hierarchy, Skinner notched roles as deputy finance director before stepping into an interim director capacity in November 2021, she later secured her CFO position following a national quest for leadership excellence. Despite her tenure's overlap with the trying times of the COVID-19 pandemic, Skinner and her team stood their ground, delivering stellar foundational services to the city, a testament to their endurance and Skinner's pride in their resilience, "It has been an incredible privilege to serve our city for the past seven years, and I am leaving with only the deepest respect for my many talented colleagues and the Boulder community," Skinner said, as obtained by the City of Boulder.
Skinner's track record boasts the implementation of a Budgeting for Resilience Equity approach across a span of three years, a move geared towards enhancing transparency and elucidating program outcomes for community members. Rivera-Vandermyde shared high praise for Skinner's strategic finesse and data-driven zeal, which propelled the city’s ability to serve its populace amidst financial constraints and lofty community ambitions, saying, "With strategic acumen and grace, Kara has helped us strike the right balance between recognizing the constraints we face while also serving our community in its day-to-day needs and in its many aspirations," as per the City of Boulder.
With Skinner's impending departure, the quest for Boulder's financial helm commences anew, Rivera-Vandermyde has voiced plans for a national search to fill Skinner's shoes, but in the interim Joel Wagner, Deputy Director of Finance, is expected to take the reins to ensure the city's fiscal direction remains unwavering “This is a critically important role for our organization both now and as we move into the future," Rivera-Vandermyde said, as noted by the City of Boulder, confident in Wagner's capability to steward the city's finance department in this transitional phase. The community, still adapting to post-pandemic realities, looks forward to what the future financial leadership will bring to the table, as Skinner takes her expertise to virtual frontiers, continuing her professional journey from the comfort of her chosen environment.
