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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/03/2024 05.A. Introduction of Finance Director Viren Mayani „441110k `4 'b • y BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL YAKIMA, WASHINGTON AGENDA STATEMENT Item No. 5.A. For Meeting of: September 3, 2024 ITEM TITLE: Introduction of Finance Director Viren Mayani SUBMITTED BY: Vicki Baker, City Manager SUMMARY EXPLANATION: Yakima City Manager, Vicki Baker has announced that Viren Mayani has been appointed as the City's Finance and Budget Director. Mayani replaces Mark Roberts, who resigned from the City in January. "The City is fortunate to have Viren as part of its senior management team,” said Baker. "He has financial management experience in a broad range of industries including Government. He has enabled streamlining and modernizing organizations he has served, to enhance their finance and budget operations," said Baker. "Viren is an outstanding addition to the City's senior management team." Viren has already been participating in budget and finance-related meetings remotely. His first day in the office will be September 3rd. "I'm excited to join the management team at the City of Yakima and utilize my cumulative experience and education to help the community," said Viren Mayani. "I look forward to addressing some of the budget and finance issues facing the City, and charting a course towards a transparent and transformative fiscal sustainability" Viren's immediate past includes being a consultant for start-ups and non-profits, besides serving the City of Atlanta from 2006 to 2010. As Business Manager to the Executive Offices of the Mayor, his primary responsibility was to create, publicly defend to a full Council on Live TV, manage and track an annual Budget of$220M for four years, besides managing the business of the ten verticals within the Executive Offices. He has served as the chief financial officer, chief operating officer, and controller for several private sector companies including the nation's 2nd largest alternative news media group "Creative Loafing", an Inc 400 Tech VAR [DCT Systems] as well as Kennesaw State University, among others. Viren earned a bachelor of commerce degree in accounting and financial management from the University of Bombay, India. He also earned a bachelor of general law degree from the same institution. He holds a master of business administration degree in marketing and operations from the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania. He is a past President of the Georgia Indo-American Chamber of Commerce, had a seat at the [ACIR] Atlanta Committee on International Relations, member of the [FENG] Financial Executive Network Group —Atlanta Chapter, a board member of the India, China, American Institute, and a member of the American India Foundation, among others. He has served on Boards of numerous other organizations 4 including the Asian American Heritage Foundation, the Georgia Symphony Orchestra, and the Who's Who in Asian American Communities. Viren has worked with 3 Nobel Laureates and has been a White House guest under two Administrations. As Yakima's finance and budget director, Viren Mayani will oversee a staff of about 35 employees in the Financial Services, Purchasing, and Utility Services divisions. The City's Finance and Budget Department has a total Budget of about $5 million for 2024. ITEM BUDGETED: Yes STRATEGIC PRIORITY 24-25: A Resilient Yakima RECOMMENDATION: ATTACHMENTS: 5