New Directors of Budget and Management, Strategic Marketing, and DHS Communications Director
The City of Denver has announced three new appointments, including
Edward Scholz as the new
Director of Budget and Management,
Steve Sander as the new
Director of Strategic Marketing and
Benilda “Benny” Samuels as the
new
Communications Director for
Denver Human Services.
Ed Scholz, New Director of Budget & Management
Claude Pumilia, the City and County of Denver’s Chief Financial Officer, announced the hiring of Edward Scholz as the City and County of Denver’s new Director of Budget and Management. Scholz has been acting director since June, 2007. “Ed’s experience working with budgets in municipal government will be a great addition to Denver’s Budget and Management team,” Pumilia said. “He understands the relationship between balancing sound fiscal practices and fully utilizing the City’s resources and is constantly aware of Budget and Management’s stewardship of taxpayer dollars.”
When Pumilia was appointed as Denver’s first CFO in 2007, he was charged with creating a new City agency that integrated the City’s various financial functions into a new, cabinet-rank Denver Department of Finance. Those include the City Controller, Budget and Management, Treasury, Revenue, Assessment, Risk Management and Department of Motor Vehicles.
“It’s great to be back serving the citizens and employees of the City and County of Denver,” Scholz said. “This role is about helping departments meet the needs of citizens in a fiscally sustainable manner that we can be proud of. I look forward to working with Claude Pumilia and the City team to strategically allocate resources where they are needed most.”
Scholz replaces Melvin Thompson, who left last summer to join the Mayor’s Office of Safety as deputy manager. Thompson had served as budget director for six years.
A proven organizational leader and manager, Scholz has extensive experience with public finance, including capital projects, resource allocation and revenue forecasting. Scholz has served as Acting Budget Director for Denver since June 2007. Prior to that, Scholz served four years as Budget Director for the City and County of Broomfield, managing a $200 million budget process that included capital improvements, debt financing, grants and utility enterprises.
Before joining Broomfield, he worked as Financial Management Specialist for the City and County of Denver, preparing capital improvement and revenue budgets, cost benefit and debt analysis. He holds an MBA in Human Resources and Non-Profit Management from Binghamton University in New York and is a Certified Public Finance Officer. A member of the Government Finance Officers Association, he has taught classes and delivered presentations on topics ranging from long-range capital planning to conducting citizen surveys.
Steve Sander, New Marketing Director
Mayor John Hickenlooper announced his appointment of local marketing and advertising veteran Steve Sander as the City of Denver’s new Director of Strategic Marketing. Sander will assume his new post Jan. 2, 2008. “Steve Sander will be a tremendous asset to our marketing efforts at this important time,” Hickenlooper said. “His broad experience implementing strategic and innovative communications programs will serve us well as we promote our city programs and initiatives and prepare for the Democratic National Convention.”
Sander will be based in the City’s Office of Economic Development. He will coordinate the City’s departmental marketing efforts while working with regional partners on integrated marketing initiatives related to economic development, tourism and the delivery of City services.
“This is a tremendously exciting opportunity,” Sander said. “I look forward to working with Mayor Hickenlooper and the City’s marketing team to support Denver’s innovative programs and events. The next two years offer an unparalleled time in the City’s history to attract national and international attention.”
Sander brings to his new position 30 years of experience with local marketing, advertising and public relations firms. Most recently, as head of Sander Marketing, he formed a marketing consulting company with Inline Media serving clients such as Water World, University of Colorado Business School and Ciber.
From 1996 to 2005, Sander served as president of Sander/GBSM, heading the firm’s marketing and advertising division. In that capacity, he developed marketing programs for national, regional and local businesses and organizations including The International Golf Tournament, National Hockey League, Kroenke Sports, Mercedes-Benz, Ciber and Water World. He also handled marketing and promotional efforts for the 1998 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, the 2001 National Hockey League All-Star Game and the 2005 NBA All-Star Game.
Sander also spent a year with Karsh & Hagan in Denver and ten years in various management capacities with locally based Barnhart Advertising. While at Barnhart, he managed major consumer accounts such as the Denver Nuggets, Breckenridge Ski Area, Total Petroleum and the Colorado Rockies.
Sander serves on the boards of the Denver Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau, Denver Sports Commission, Metro Denver Health and Wellness Commission, the Cherry Creek Arts Festival and the New Denver Ad Club.
Sander was named Denver Advertising Federation Ad Pro of the Year in 2002. He is a graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder where he earned bachelor’s degrees in journalism and geography.
Benilda "Benny" Samuels, New Communications Director at Denver Human Services
Denver Human Services has appointed Benilda “Benny” Samuels as its communications director. In her new role, Samuels will oversee and direct the agency’s media relations, communications, public relations, marketing and promotions, and provide strategic leadership.
“Ms. Samuels brings both an understanding of human services and a passion for the work to the job,” said Denver Human Services Manager Roxane White. “She is committed to providing timely, accurate information to the media and to our customers and clients. She had the opportunity to work for several months with Sue Cobb before Sue transferred to the Mayor’s Office, and she has proven herself to be a good fit with the community and the agency.”
Before this appointment, Samuels served as the public information officer for the department. Prior to this, she was the marketing manager for the Community Voices program at Denver Health where she managed the communications, marketing and media relations and acted as a spokesperson for the program and hospital. Her past professional experience includes working at Karsh & Hagan advertising and Solis Advertising. She has extensive expertise communicating social marketing messages and in organizing communities. She has also taught Spanish and facilitated groups. She sits on the board of directors at Denver Great Kid’s Head Start and The Conflict Center, an organization dedicated to reducing violence.
She holds a master’s in mass communications and journalism from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a bachelor’s in graphic communications from the University of Denver. Samuels started her new position on Dec. 3, 2007.