For our first spotlight of 2024, we're thrilled to shine a light on our dynamic leader, Patrick Griffin, the Managing Director of Advisory and Consulting Practice for SLED-West. Patricks's wealth of knowledge and unmatched expertise stems from his past experience as a CIO.
Welcome back to SDI, Patrick! Please tell us about your current role at SDI.
SDI recently reorganized its overall structure, and all West Coast activities are now under the leadership of SVP of SLED-West, Terry Hackelman. I manage all aspects of the Advisory and Consulting practice including client engagement, relationship management, SDI resources, and project delivery.
What led you to come back to the firm?
Terry asked me to return to SDI to oversee the Advisory and Consulting practice. We have a long and successful history of working together, and I am delighted to be working with Terry again.
What do you find most rewarding about leading a team?
Watching the members of our team be successful. We have an incredible team of consultants who know how to effectively deliver quality advisory services to our clients.
How do you foster a collaborative and motivated work culture within your team at SDI?
Communication! Nothing is more important than connecting with the team through our weekly huddle up meetings, along with one-on-one discussions and my occasional participation in client status meetings.
What strategies do you implement to ensure successful project delivery and client satisfaction?
I check in regularly with the Advisory team on specific aspects of their client engagements, and I participate in project status meetings. I also reach out directly to clients to ensure that our team is meeting their needs and exceeding expectations.
What are some of the key challenges facing local government?
Number one is funding. With the cost of goods and services rising, along with rising pension costs, local governments are struggling to generate the funds needed to keep services at the levels their constituency demands.
The second challenge is employee retention—our workforce dynamics have evolved, and today’s workforce is motivated by factors other than money. The challenge is to find out what motivates our employees and to do our best to provide them with what they are looking for—otherwise they will not hesitate to move on to the next opportunity.
What advice do you have for individuals aspiring to grow into leadership positions in local government?
Talk to folks who are working there now—find out what they love and don’t love about their careers. Take an entry-level position in any city department—you will learn quickly all you need to know about how an organization runs, and the exposure will help you decide if it’s the career for you.
As a former CIO, how do you stay up to date on industry trends and advancements?
First and foremost, networking with peers is an invaluable tool for keeping up to date. Second, the California CIO group MISAC provides an incredible breadth of information through newsletters, webinars, and their annual conference.
As we begin a new year, do you have any personal resolutions or goals?
I’m working on getting better sleep, reducing my reaction to stress, and taking off a few pounds.
Outside of work, what are your favorite hobbies or activities to unwind and relax?
Cars, cars, cars.
We know you love to travel, tell us about your favorite place you’ve been? And tell us what destination sits at the top of your list?
I have 4 “favorites”: Patagonia; St. Petersburg; Paris; and Thailand. Next on my list to visit is Prague—hopefully this year.
What's a hidden talent or interest, not many people know about you?
I read minds—just kidding! I do play a mean piano though.
At SDI, we thrive on collaboration, communication, and delivering top-notch advisory services to our clients. Ready to embark on a journey of success with SDI? Contact us today to explore how we can work together to achieve your goals.
We celebrate diversity; the views expressed above are those of the interviewed individual, not SDI.
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