The Budget as an Important Tool for Management

A budget is more than a financial report. It is a primary tool for development, implementing and measuring policy and program initiatives. Budgets reflect community priorities and values. Each line item reflects a specific policy or programmatic decision. Mastering the budget process is an essential tool for leaders and managers that is frequently misunderstood because of its complexity and level of detail.

This course will explore both public and nonprofit budgeting concepts and practice, how budgets reflect an area’s economy, demographics, and society, and how effective budgeting can be essential for the leader and manager. Using a range of  techniques (presentations, case studies, class discussion, and simulations), concepts will be presented in a way that encourages dialogue among participants.

This course offers 6 hours of CLE credit.

This course is designed for managers in the public and nonprofit sectors who want to understand their budgets and budget processes, as well as all professionals who want to learn how budgets can be used as a management tool.

Instructor:

Mark Barbash has over 30 years of economic development experience, having served with public and private sector economic development and investment banking firms, focusing on real estate and business development, and development financing. In his career, he has had senior level leadership and management responsibilities, served in national association leadership positions, created new development financing programs, as well as working “on the ground” to move projects forward to completion.

Mark Barbash is currently the founder and Director of the Ohio Economic Development Institute, the professional development program for the Ohio Economic Development Association. The Institute provides education and training in both basic and intensive economic and community development.

He is also a Lecturer at the John Glenn College of Public Affairs at The Ohio State University, concentrating on Public Budgeting and Public Finance for the College, which is a public policy and management school at The Ohio State University. The Glenn College offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in public affairs. Mark also serves as Executive in Residence at the George Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service of Ohio University, focusing on assisting the University to improve the economies of Ohio communities.

Through his continuing economic development consulting firm, Mark has provided project financing, strategic planning, keynoting, and training services to many of public, private, and non-profit organizations.

His professional experience includes Director of Development for the City of Columbus, Chief Economic Development Officer for the Ohio Department of Development, Senior Advisor to the Council of Development Financing Agencies, Executive Vice President of the Finance Fund (a CDFI and New Markets non-profit), Executive Director of Community Capital Development Corporation (an SBA small business lender, and Vice President of the National Development Council, a highly regarded nonprofit economic development consulting and training organization. Previously, he worked for a Governor, United States Senator and U.S. Congressman from the State of Wisconsin.