Thurston County Financial Leadership

For over 20 years, Mr. Wolfe’s tireless efforts and natural
leadership abilities have been a crucial asset in creating vibrant,
financially-secure communities. When he is not tackling the demands of public
service, Joe Wolfe is an active outdoor leader, engaging in several ambitious
mountaineering expeditions that put his leadership on display.
Mr. Wolfe’s current professional endeavor is providing his expertise as the Grant Administrator for the Thurston County Auditor’s Office in Olympia, Washington.
Joe Wolfe’s Educational Background and
Professional Certifications
Joe Wolfe is a strong believer in lifelong education. As a leader, he knows that one cannot rest on his or her laurels but must strive to grow both personally and professionally. Mr. Wolfe received a Baccalaureate from the Central Michigan University School of Industrial Engineering and Technology in 1999. His educational program focused on industrial engineering technologies, including process improvement and manufacturing advances.
His
first experience with professional leadership came as an active member of the
Society of Manufacturing Engineers. As a member, he gained valuable experience
as well as developed a network of professional peers. He was also responsible
for helping in the development and support of outreach programs for the
Society, guiding others to volunteer their time and talents for Society events.
After graduation from Central Michigan, Joe’s first
professional role was with the Washington State Department of Ecology as a
budget analyst. In 2007, he returned to school to further his education. He was
accepted to the Masters of Business program at Saint Martin’s University in
Lacey, Washington. In 2009, he earned an MBA in Finance and Financial
Management Services.
Joe Wolfe then began to amass professional certifications
with the goal of increasing his knowledge. He holds numerous professional
certifications, including:
● Green Belt Certification in Lean Six Sigma, a data-driven
process improvement system.
● Certified Federal Grants Manager
● Certified Government Financial Manager
● Environmental Health Training in Emergency Response
Operations and trained Emergency Operations Center Finance Operations
Chief
Professional Career Highlights
Leadership is an important factor in the public services
sector. Leaders are expected to guide teams through complex processes,
including budget analysis and management. Here, Joe Wolfe and his leadership
have been instrumental in making strong and healthy communities in the state of
Washington.
Mr. Wolfe’s career has been filled with significant
milestones and achievements. One of his proudest achievements as a leader came
when he was working with the City of Yelm, Washington as its Finance Director.
As the official responsible for organizing and managing a dynamic city budget,
Mr. Wolfe was instrumental in strategizing the city’s financials while
implementing cost-saving measures. Working with other agencies, including the
State Auditor, and by serving on executive municipal councils, Joe was able to
share his vision for a stable financial future. As a result, the City of Yelm
was recognized two years in a row with the Distinguished Budget Presentation
Award, a prestigious honor bestowed by the Government Finance Officers
Association. It was Joe’s leadership and vision that made this honor possible.
As the Grant Administrator for Thurston County, Joe Wolfe is responsible for a highly technical and complex set of tasks. His leadership skills have proved valuable, especially in light of coronavirus impacts to the County’s economic stability. To respond to the crisis, Joe was instrumental in developing and implementing multiple Coronavirus Relief Fund programs for affected communities throughout Thurston County. His background in process engineering and improvement served to make these programs run effectively, and he was recognized again for his achievements. He continues to serve the communities of Thurston County by managing grant-related programs and services with a combination of dedication, leadership, and financial expertise.
Mountaineering: Expeditionary Leadership
Having lived in Washington for many years, Joe Wolfe has had
the opportunity to develop a range of outdoor skills. Among his favorite
pastimes is mountaineering. He got his start in the Cascade Range of the state
and quickly amassed the experience he needed to overcome bigger challenges.
Some of his first international mountaineering expeditions took him to the
Andes Mountains in South America. Here, he was able to leverage his
ice-climbing and alpine mountaineering experience to summit some of the range’s most iconic peaks, including
the Ilinizas, Cotopaxi, and Chimborazo. His next goal was to tackle one of the world’s tallest mountains. Mount Kilimanjaro is a volcanic peak and stands as the highest mountain on the African continent. On his expedition there, he shared leadership roles with other climbers over the course of several weeks on the mountain’s lower elevations and base camps. Eventually, he and his group were able to summit the mountain. Today, Joe Wolfe spends time practicing his mountaineering skills and is already planning his next outdoor adventure.
Comments
Post a Comment