Tools to Support Better Local Government Financial Decisions

About Mario

Mario Diaz is the VP Career Advancement at LGHN. Former City Manager for North Miami Beach, Florida, where he led the city's day-to-day operations with a vision shaped by the enduring wisdom of his parents. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Communications from the University of North Florida (2004) and a Master's in Public Administration from Florida International University (2015). Mario's entrepreneur father instilled in him the importance of integrity, empathy, and continuous learning. Following the examples of his parents and mentors early in his career, Mario established a professional motto of the acronym SIGHT, which stands for being Supportive, Integrity, Generosity, Honesty, and Transparency. These principles guide his every decision and action. Before his role in North Miami Beach, Mario served as the Village Manager for the Village of Biscayne Park and Chief of Staff at North Bay Village, contributing to policy initiatives that drive sustainable growth and positive change. He also contributed his expertise as the Public Information Manager for the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority, implementing innovative communication strategies that fostered greater public awareness and participation. Mario's dedication to giving back is reflected in his active involvement in the Florida City/County Managers Association (FCCMA) Membership Committee, where he was honored as the FCCMA Rising Star in 2023. Presently, he serves on the Board of Directors of the Miami-Dade City/County Managers Association. Having recently completed his term on the board of the Hialeah Housing Authority, Mario emphasizes the importance of integrity, empathy, and a relentless pursuit of knowledge in building strong communities and fostering growth. His leadership journey is a testament to his commitment to lifelong learning and making a meaningful difference in the lives of those he serves.

About Marcus

Marcus Steele, MPA, CPFO serves as the Division Finance Manager for the City of Scottsdale, Arizona. He has extensive experience in leading teams in budget and finance, grant management, capital improvement programs, and process improvement. He is a leader building and developing data-driven teams that seek to promote public value.

Marcus also serves as the President of the Local Government Hispanic Network (LGHN), an Affiliate of the Internation City/County Managers association. LGHN has 2,000 members nationwide with several local chapters. LGHN's purpose is to encourage professional excellence among Hispanic/Latino local government administrators, to improve the management of local government, to provide unique resources to Hispanic local government executives and public managers, and to advance the goals of professional, effective, and ethical local government administration.

About Aricka

Aricka Johnson is the Structural Innovation Manager for the City of Fort Lauderdale, where she leads strategic planning and prioritization efforts that guide the City’s budget and long-term goals. Through the City’s Quality Management System, FL2STAT, she helps align the Vision Plan, Strategic Plan, Commission priorities, and performance programs to drive continuous improvement. Aricka’s work focuses on building cross-department collaboration, streamlining processes, and ensuring resources are tied to strategic outcomes that deliver quality services to the community.