Background Photo Credit: James Pressley / CC
By Ellis Smith and The Tennessee Conservative Staff –
Daisy Madison, the city’s longtime chief financial officer, will conclude her career at City Hall this year as she begins her transition into retirement, she told senior staff Monday.
Madison was hired as deputy chief finance officer in 1992 by former mayor Gene Roberts. She served under a succession of mayors, including Jon Kinsey, Bob Corker, Ron Littlefield, Andy Berke and Tim Kelly.
“I didn’t think of it as a job, I really took ownership of the position and looked at it as my opportunity to contribute to the city in which I live,” Madison said. “Because I was serving my community, it was important to do the best job that I could, and it was important that it be done professionally and with the highest standards of honesty and integrity.”
As senior staff arrived and departed under each new administration, Madison rose through the ranks and was appointed to city treasurer in 2002, and in 2005 she was elevated to chief financial officer and administrator of the department of Finance & Administration, where she has continued to serve under each new mayor.
“The one thing I’d want people to know about the government is that the people who work for this city are loyal, dedicated individuals who work hard and care about the residents of this community,” Madison said.
Madison stated the part of her work she is most proud of is creating additional accountability and transparency around how funds are collected and spent at the city, as well as the comprehensive annual reports that help residents better understand the inner workings of local government.
For her efforts, Madison and the city were awarded the Government Finance Officers Association certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting, as well as the award for distinguished budget presentation.
In addition, Madison has been recognized for her work upgrading and maintaining the city’s AAA bond rating, which both saves taxpayer money and ensures that more resources flow to city services instead of debt service.
“I was thrilled when Daisy agreed to stay on through our first budget and the reorganization of government, but the loss of such an experienced and talented financial manager is certainly going to sting,” said Mayor Tim Kelly. “Our community has long been blessed by Daisy’s calm competence, her composure under fire, and her enduring kindness to those around her. On behalf of a grateful city, I thank her for her service and salute her on such a dignified conclusion to a career defined by integrity, accountability and leadership.”
Prior to her service with the city, she served as a staff auditor for the US General Accounting Office, worked at accounting firm Arthur Anderson & Co., and was internal audit manager for Hamilton County Government, as well as director of financial management for Hamilton County for nearly 15 years.
Given the role of the CFO position is integral to all budgeting, spending, finance, purchasing and other decisions, Kelly has asked his senior staff to begin a transition in which Brent Goldberg will assume the duties of CFO moving forward.
Goldberg, who has served as Kelly’s chief of staff, helped manage Kelly’s transition into the Mayor’s office, the reorganization of government in the initial months, as well as passing the administration’s first budget.
He will continue to report directly to the mayor and, as CFO, will manage an expanded portfolio that includes the Finance & Administration, Purchasing, Treasury, and Grants & Opportunities departments and teams.
“If Chattanooga is to solve our big systemic challenges like affordable housing, homelessness, and persistent poverty, we have to be strategic about the way that we think about our city’s financial management and tools,” Kelly said. “That’s exactly the background and approach that Brent will bring to the CFO role.”
“I have always been drawn to public service and I have a particular passion for public finance and the strategic role it can have in local government,” Goldberg said.
Goldberg is a Certified Public Accountant who previously served as chief business officer for Hamilton County Schools. Prior to that role, he served as executive VP and CFO of Lync Logistics, chief financial officer for the Public Education Foundation, chief operating officer of the City of Chattanooga, director of accounting at U.S. Xpress, and was a senior auditor at a number of nationally recognized accounting firms.
“Joda Thongnopnua, who currently serves as Mayor Kelly’s chief policy officer, will serve as interim chief of staff during the transition period.
About the Author: Ellis Smith is the Director of Special Projects for the City of Chattanooga. Follow Ellis on Twitter @ellisthered
