It's been a season of professional accolades for a couple of the City of Edmond's finest. Sheila Briesch, who keeps the city's financial gears turning as Controller, has just leveled up, adding a shiny new credential to her toolkit. Briesch went the distance and nabbed the Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO) certification from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), a feat that's no walk in the park with its seven rigorous exams spanning the wide world of public finance, according to an announcement by the City of Edmond.
The gauntlet thrown down by Government Finance Officers Association includes tests on various disciplines—think Governmental Accounting, Auditing and Financial Reporting, and it doesn't end there, Treasury and Investment Management, Debt Management have a place, as well as Operating and Capital Budgeting, not to mention Retirement & Benefits, plus Risk Management and Procurement—all boxes Briesch had to check to earn her certification, which she did, the City of Edmond articulate in their announcement.
Sharing the spotlight is the City's Director of Emergency Communications and Emergency Management, Benjamin Curry, who's caught the eye of the Oklahoma 9-1-1 Management Authority (OK911MA). He's now the chairman of the team tasked with ensuring that when you dial those three numbers in a panic, you get swift, seamless help. OK911MA holds the reins of the state's 9-1-1 systems, a tall order that involves setting standards for Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1), managing funds, and optimizing training programs for those on the other end of the line, a responsibility the organization elaborates on, as reported by the City of Edmond.
The work is crucial, involving the state's 9-1-1 fees for funding these enhancements and elevating the infrastructure for emergencies, with the grand goal of fostering interoperability across Oklahoma for a quicker, more precise response when crisis strikes, as detailed by the City of Edmond's announcement. With Curry at the helm of OK911MA, it's safe to say that the well-being of Oklahomans in emergencies has a new guardian, with a directive to keep the lifeline of 9-1-1 steadfast and reliable in times of dire need.
