Lauren Lai, CPA, will soon join the City of Milpitas staff as its new Finance Director, having been appointed by City Manager Steve McHarris.
Lai was previously Finance Director for two and a half years in Monterey. Over the course of a 25-year career, she has worked as a Finance Director for 15 years across Monterey, Marina, and Capitola.
She fills a role previously held by Walter Rossman, who became Milpitas’ Finance Director in June, 2019. Rossman then became Deputy City Manager on August 17, 2020.
Said McHarris in a statement, “Lauren’s strength not only lies with her technical knowledge, but in her ability to communicate complex ideas through simple and understandable language. She thinks holistically and will undoubtedly be an asset to the City as we maneuver through this fiscal crisis. Her deep and broad expertise, strategic thinking and team, community approach is a great fit for our team and community. We all look forward to welcoming Lauren.”
The statement went on to cite Lai’s “track record of helping communities obtain fiscal sustainability, engaging the public to solve difficult problems and being a positive leader to any organization she works with.”
Lai is CPA with a Master’s in Public Affairs from the University of Missouri and a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from San Jose State University. The Inaugural 2021 ICMA (International City County Management Association) Leadership Institute for Race, Equity and Inclusion recently selected Lai to serve on it.
Lai’s first day as Milpitas’ Finance Director will be March 8.
