MMANC 2013 Summer Signature Event

Dr. Frank Benest
Until August 2008, Dr. Frank Benest served as the City Manager of Palo Alto, California. Frank is a noted consultant and trainer on rightsizing public organizations, entrepreneurial government, civic engagement, leadership development and succession planning.

Prior to his appointment in Palo Alto, Frank served as City Manager in Brea and Colton, California. He has a doctorate in management from Brigham Young University; a Masters in Public Administration from California State University, Long Beach; and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University. Frank is a Credentialed ICMA Manager and serves as the Senior Advisor to ICMA on Next Generation Initiatives. Frank also chairs the Cal-ICMA Coaching Program.

Frank is Past President of the California City Managers Department and past Vice President of the International City/County Management Association. Frank teaches at Stanford University and has been inducted into the National Academy of Public Administration. In 2011, Frank was recognized by ICMA with its Distinguished Career Service Award.

Pamela Miller
Pamela Miller currently serves as the Executive Director for the California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions (CALAFCO). CALAFCO is a nonprofit educational association to support the work of Local Agency Formation Commissions (LAFCo) in California. Prior to returning to California, Ms. Miller lived and worked in Benton Harbor, Michigan for six years. As Vice President for The Consortium for Community Development, her work focused primarily on the transformation of the community through individual, organizational, and community capacity building. Ms. Miller also employs her experience in capacity building as the Institute and Executive Director and Trainer for Continuing Education for Public Officials, Inc.

Her public sector experience includes serving over three years as Clerk of the Board of Supervisors and Administrative Manager for the County Executive Office for Napa County. Prior to that, she served as Deputy City Clerk for the City of Vallejo and as a consultant to the Contra Costa County Flood Control District's clean water program.

In addition to her public sector experience, she has 25 years of private sector management and customer care experience, including project management and strategic planning for telecommunications, internet, and employment services companies. Ms. Miller earned a Master's Degree in Organizational Leadership and a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Siena Heights University. She is certified in Total Quality Management, is a graduate of the National Community Development Institute's Community Builders Leadership Institute, and is a Certified Municipal Clerk. She is also a graduate of CEPO, Inc.'s Training of Trainers program.

Rex Osborn
Rex Osborn was born in Eastern South Dakota on a farm. In the late 1970's Rex was a professional bouncer when Disco was still popular. He attended Northern State College to be a funeral director, but changed career paths in 1980 when he became a deputy sheriff. Rex retired after 31 years in law enforcement and municipal government his last assignment was for the City Manager's office as the Director of Community Engagement. He is in the process of writing a book called “I wrote my own lay-off notice."

Rex has been a college adjutant professor for 14 years and a guest lecturer at several universities across California and guest trainer for CEPO, Inc. (Continuing Education for Public Officials). Rex also hosts a live radio talk show on Clear Channel radio which is featured on iheart radio, iTunes and Armed Forces Radio Network. Rex has been a guest consultant for ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CNN and several foreign news stations primarily for law enforcement, media relations and government topics.

Rex has the honor of being a past California Law Officer of the Year, a Boy Scout Silver Beaver award recipient, and Golden Apple Educator Nominee.

Rex for 20 years has operated a consulting company called MoreThanTalk that has two divisions. One is California Safe Schools and the other is Life Caddy.com. Rex is well known for his training programs and keynote addresses throughout the United States and Canada. He is a consultant for the Ken Blanchard Company and for Steve Covey. Rex is a called upon by businesses and government agencies to come and help “fix” problems, earning him the nickname “the fixer”. Rex makes his home in Central California.

Wandzia Rose
Ms. Rose is a management consultant and Integrative Coach professional, partnering with individuals and assisting organizations in identifying opportunities and actions to overcome obstacles and enhance performance (www.rosecoachingandconsultancy.com). As an effective “organizational translator”, Ms. Rose uses her ability to “see the bigger picture” along with her knowledge of behavioral dynamics in effecting transformational change needed to create high-functioning, outcome-driven individuals and teams. Ms. Rose also employs her significant field experience as an information technology executive to assist agencies in aligning their information technology resources with strategic business priorities.

Prior to going into private practice, Ms. Rose served in the public sector for over 25 years, holding key executive positions in large and medium-size public agencies as well as educational institutions, including Interim City Manager and Assistant City Manager (City of San Leandro, 1988-2001), and Chief Information Officer (City of San Jose, 2001-2004). Ms. Rose has earned a B.A. degree from the University of San Francisco, is a certified Sentient System's “Beyond Bravery: The Courage to Lead” as well as “Success Signals” trainer, and co-created the “Performance Leadership” leadership training program (www.DunkinWorks.com). She currently serves as President of the Wladyslaw Poniecki Charitable Foundation and as a retired Member of the CEPO, Inc. Board of Directors. She is an active member of the International Coach Federation and Coach Success Network.

Joann Tilton, MMC
Joann Tilton is a Master Municipal Clerk and serves on the Board of Directors for the International Institute of Municipal Clerks as Region IX Director. Ms. Tilton is City Clerk for the City of Manteca and has served in that capacity for over 28 years, with nearly 31 years in local government.

Ms. Tilton served as City Clerks Association of California President in 2004-2005 and has held a variety of positions on the Board since 1999. She currently serves a member of the IIMC Program Review/Certification Committee. She also currently serves on the CEPO, Inc. Board of Directors.

Ms. Tilton's passion is to educate, coach and mentor others. To that end, she is a graduate of the Training of Trainers Program through CEPO (Continuing Education for Public Officials). Ms. Tilton is a certified trainer in workplace conflict resolution and self-mediation. As well, she provides managerial mediation services to organizations experiencing workplace conflict. Joann has worked with and trained City Clerks in Washington, Oregon, Alaska and throughout California to further their education and professional development. She is a speaker at the annual Women's Conference in her hometown on topics ranging from personal wellness to self-mediation.

Ms. Tilton is the recipient of the coveted 2007 CCAC City Clerk of the Year Award, and, in 2008 received the prestigious IIMC Quill Award. In 2012, Ms. Tilton was inducted into the Manteca Boys' and Girls' Club Hall of Fame in the Government category.