THE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE

Thomas Ciesynski retired in November 2017 as Chief Financial Officer of Washoe County School District (WCSD), whose principal city is Reno, Nevada. WCSD is the second largest school district in the State of Nevada with approximately 64,000 students. Mr. Ciesynski spent twenty-six years at WCSD also serving as the Chief Accountant after being hired in 1991 as a Senior Accountant.  During his time with the WCSD, Mr. Ciesynski worked with and supervised all aspects of the District’s financial operations including the implementation of the existing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system as well as working on legislative matters for over twenty years. Prior to coming to WCSD, Mr. Ciesynski worked for Universal Health Services and the international accounting firm Ernst & Young.  He graduated from the University of Nevada-Reno where he received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Accounting).  He currently assists the Nevada Association of School Boards with their finances.  

 

Felicia O’Carroll received her Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from the
University of Nevada, Reno in 1976 and her Masters of Science degree in Taxation
from Golden Gate University in 1988. Felicia currently serves as a quality control
consultant for two Nevada based CPA firms, following a four-year period as a
partner with the accounting firm of Eide Bailly, LLP. Prior to that, she spent more
than 35 years with the accounting firm of Kafoury, Armstrong & Co, joining the firm
as an intern while a student at the University of Nevada in 1976. In 1989, she became
the first woman elected Shareholder in the Company’s history. Felicia served as the
Managing Shareholder of the firm’s largest office for several years prior to its
merger with Eide Bailly, LLP. She practices primarily in the areas of governmental
and not-for-profit auditing. Her audit clients have included entities ranging in size
from the Lovelock Meadows Water District to the State of Nevada. Felicia is a
member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Nevada
Society of Certified Public Accountants and served a six-year term on the Nevada
State Board of Accountancy. She is also a member of the Government Finance
Officers Association and has been a reviewer for that organization’s Certificate of
Achievement program. Felicia is a native Nevadan and believes strongly in giving
back to her community.

Abbe Yacoben is Washoe County’s Chief Financial Officer. She holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy Studies with a concentration in finance, as well as a Certified Public Finance Officer certification. Before moving to Washoe County, she served as Deputy Finance Director and City Treasurer for the City of Las Vegas, where she and her team oversaw the City’s $2 billion annual budget. She began her public service at the Village of Forest Park, Illinois, in 2003 and has almost 20 years of municipal finance leadership experience. 

She is particularly interested in local government taxation and impacts of public policy decisions on community stakeholders, and looking forward to serving the taxpayers of Nevada on the Committee on Local Government Finance.

Abbe is married with two teenage children, and likes spending time with her family, gardening and making homemade pizza. 

Paul Johnson, Chief Financial Officer
Paul has served as the Chief Financial Officer for the White Pine County School District since March 1997 and has had the privilege of serving on a number of Nevada fiscal panels and funding studies to evaluate the Nevada Plan funding formula for K-12 education.  Most recently, he was involved on a committee tasked with repairing and simplifying the current Nevada Plan funding formula.  In 2013 through 2014 he served as a member of the Task Force on K-12 Public Education Funding Technical Advisory Committee.  The Task Force was created to recommend a plan for funding public schools based upon a weighted formula that takes into consideration the individual educational needs and demographic characteristics of pupils.  Through his efforts and involvement with various committees that serve to improve Nevada's funding, he has earned the following awards:  

• Nevada Association of School Boards:  District Level Administrator Impacting Student Achievement
• Nevada Association of School Boards:  Executive Director's Award for Outstanding Contributions to Public Education and Nevada School Boards Service During the 2015 Session of the Nevada Legislature
• Nevada Association of School Boards:  Executive Director's Award for Outstanding Contributions to Public Education and Nevada School Boards Service as a Member of the Technical Advisory Committee to the Task Force on K-12 Public Education Funding
• Nevada Association of School Administrators:  Central Office Professional-Technical Administrator of the Year 

In September 2002, he was appointed to the White Pine County Commission by Governor Kenny C. Guinn and served the remaining term through 2004.  During this period he served as the Vice Chair and Chairman of the Commission and served on several advisory committees.

 

Mr. Johnson graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from UNLV and has a diverse background including experience with small businesses, corporations and local government operations.  He is actively involved in civic organizations, local government affairs, economic development and youth athletics/activities.

Josh Foli attended undergraduate courses at Harvard University, Brigham Young University, and the University of Nevada, Reno…finally graduating with a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Nevada, Reno with a dual major in Accounting and Computer Information Systems.  He has previously worked as a bank manager, investment advisor, and as a partner in a local CPA firm specializing in taxes and governmental auditing.  He was appointed as the Lyon County Comptroller in 2004. 

Josh is a Certified Public Accountant and a Chartered Global Management Accountant.  He is also a member of the American Institute of Public Accountants, Government Finance Officers Association, and County Fiscal Officers Association of Nevada.