DAVID D. BENDA
Address:
5201 Nakoma Drive
Midland, Michigan 48640
Phone: (989) 859-6611
e-mail: dbenda@bendaconsulting.com
RELEVANT EXPERIENCES
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR/CONTROLLER Midland County, MI. 1999-2009. Chief
administrative and financial officer. $27M General Fund Budget; 350 employees; Pop.
83K. Develop, recommend, and implement strategies, policies and procedures; Assist
Commissioners in developing a general direction for County government and provide
information for efficient decision-making. Represent the County in the community and
media. Supervise 16 Department Heads. Chair of the Building Authority and member of
several community boards, including the Midland Health Plan Corporation Board of
Directors and the Midland County Central Dispatch Authority Board.
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Clinton County, MI. 1993-1999. Chief administrative
and financial officer. $17M General Fund Budget; 150 employees; Pop. 58K. Same
general duties as stated above. Supervise 10 Department Heads and several outsourced
service functions, such as economic development, planning, zoning and construction
codes. Chairperson of the Building Authority and Economic Development Corporation.
BUDGET DIRECTOR Ingham County Budget Office, Ingham County, MI. 19871993. $123M budget; 850 employees; Pop. 282K. Responsible for all phases of the
budget process, including budgetary and position control and long-range forecasting.
Automated the budget process and developed the first capital improvements budget.
Numerous other duties related to accounting, finance, legislative and policy analysis,
fringe benefits, collective bargaining, and grants. Received GFOA Distinguished Budget
Presentation Awards 1985-1993. Position reclassified from BUDGET COORDINATOR
(3/84-4/87) when separate Budget Department was created.
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS COORDINATOR Ingham County Financial Services, Ingham
County, MI. 1983-1984. Responsible for financial reporting for several federal and
state grant programs, including grant development in accordance with the county budget
and monitoring changes in grant legislation. Also responsible for labor negotiation cost
analyses and various research projects.
BUDGET ANALYST INTERN Ingham County Financial Services, Ingham County,
MI.1983. Responsible for research and analysis of departmental budgets for the Law
and Courts Committee and for making budget recommendations to the Budget
Coordinator and Controller.
ENGLISH TEACHER Bergland Community School, Bergland, MI. 1980-1982. 180
students, K-12. English Department Head. Taught all the High School English classes
and Journalism. Also worked as Librarian, Yearbook and Newspaper Adviser, Media
Coordinator, Forensics Coach, and J.V. Basketball Coach. Tenured.
Resume of David D. Benda
Page 2 of 2
OTHER RELEVANT EXPERIENCES
MARKETING CONSULTANT Benda Consulting, LLC. 2010-2011. Self-employed.
New client sales and marketing to public sector clients for Public Employee Benefits
Solutions until 12/2011. Provide Interim Manager Services and Labor Relations assistance
to local governments beginning in 2012.
PRESIDENT Public Employee Benefits Solutions, LLC. 2009-2010. Chief Operating
Officer for a group benefits insurance agency with 50 public sector clients. Primary
responsibilities include general business administration, client retention, and marketing to
potential public sector clients. Account Manager for three large primary accounts.
EDUCATION
MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
Michigan State University, 9/82-12/85.
Emphasis in Urban Administration. Graduate G.P.A. - 3.53.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION Central Michigan University, 8/75-5/80.
Majored in Political Science with Minors in English, Secondary Education, and Reading in
the Secondary Schools. G.P.A. - 3.43. Began Master of Public Administration Program in
June, 1981.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Current:
Michigan Association of County Administrative Officers (Former President
and Lifetime Honorary Member); Michigan Public Employer Labor Relations
Association (current President and Dudley Sherman Award Recipient);
Michigan Local Government Management Association; Midland Health Plan
Corporation (Secretary/Treasurer), Midland County Building Authority (Chair);
Midland County Central Dispatch Authority (Chair).
Recent:
ICMA (25 yrs.); National Association of County Administrators; NACo
Information Technology Committee member, Leadership Midland Alumni
Association, United Way Community Investment Committee, Midland
Tomorrow Ambassadors, Midland Chamber of Commerce, Midland Rotary
Club, St. Johns Rotary Club, Midland County Juvenile Care Center Advisory
Committee, Midland Area Chamber of Commerce, American Society for
Public Administration, Lansing Chapter (Former Treasurer).
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
State of Michigan Licensed Producer for Health, Life and Disability Insurance since 2008.
Completed Michigan Emergency Manager requirements {MCL 141.1515(5)} with “Best
Practices in Local Government Fiscal Management” training in April, 2011.
REFERENCES FOR DAVID D. BENDA
MIDLAND COUNTY, MICHIGAN: 220 W. Ellsworth Street, Midland, MI 48640
Bridgette M. Gransden
Current Administrator/Controller
(Former Finance Director)
Phone: (989) 832-6786
E-mail: bgransden@co.midland.mi.us
Suzanne Ault
Human Resources Director
Phone: (989) 832-6786
E-mail: sault@co.midland.mi.us
Kevin Beeson
Facilities Manager
Phone: (989) 832-6792
E-mail: kbeeson@co.midland.mi.us
Jerome M.P. Kole
Region 4 Administrator, State Court
Administrator’s Office
(Former Trial Court Administrator)
P.O. Box 100
Gaylord, MI 49734-0100
Phone: (989) 732-3311
E-mail: Region4-info@courts.mi.gov
Honorable Jonathon Lauderbach
Chief Judge, 42nd Circuit Court
Midland County Courthouse
301 West Main Street
Midland, MI 48640
Phone: (989) 832-6825
E-mail: jlauderbach@co.midland.mi.us
CLINTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN: 100 State Street, St. Johns, MI 48879
Larry E. Martin, Chairperson
Clinton County Board of Commissioners
673 W. Front Street
Ovid, MI 48866-9617
Home: (989) 834-2644
INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN: 5303 S. Cedar St., Suite 2102, Lansing, MI 48911
Gerald W. Ambrose
(Former Ingham County Controller, 1983-2006)
Chief of Staff/Human Resources Director
City of Lansing
124 W. Michigan Avenue
Lansing, MI 48933
Office: (517) 483-4141
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE BENEFITS SOLUTIONS, LLC
Fred D. Todd, Partner
Attorney at Law
1605 Concentric Blvd. Suite # 1
Saginaw, MI. 48604
Cell: (989) 526-8646
DAVID D. BENDA
Amplification of Midland County Administrator/Controller Experience

Worked with a citizen-based Jail Advisory Board to analyze jail data and obtain a
recommendation to Board to build a 250-bed jail on a new site. Made numerous presentations
to various community groups. Developed a detailed financial model to provide for construction
and operational costs without raising taxes. Worked with judges to reach agreement on annual
limits on the number county inmates to allow for rental of beds to other jurisdictions. Increased
the County’s S&P bond rating from A+ to AA-, and maintained a Moody’s rating at A2.

Recruited a citizen-based Site Selection Committee and developed a jail site selection process
based upon National Institute of Corrections guidelines that allowed for ample public input.
Successfully negotiated a land for infrastructure improvements with a local developer and the
City of Midland. Chaired the Building Authority, which hired the Architect and Construction
Manager and which approved the design and all construction-related activities. The building
opened in October, 2009. Continue to serve as Building Authority Chairperson.

Worked with the media and public groups to address deteriorating building conditions and
income at the County Infirmary, Pinecrest Farms. Recommended a 20-year debt and operating
millage that voters overwhelmingly approved. Served as Chairperson of the Building
Committee, which hired the Architect and Construction Manager and approved all aspects of the
design and construction-related activities, until the building opened in June, 2010.

Successfully implemented a financial plan to respond to tax appeals by the county’s largest
taxpayers that resulted in a 20%+ reduction in general fund revenue. Set aside an amount
greater than the Michigan Court of Appeals judgment in each of the ten years the appeals were
pending; then further reduced the county budget by 10%, with significant input from
stakeholders, when the City settled with the largest taxpayer at ¼ of its original assessed value.

Worked actively with judges to implement a Next Generation Trial Courts process that resulted
in creation of a judicial council to govern the trial courts, and to create a full-time Trial Court
Administrator to manage all three courts and the Friend of the Court.

Engaged Community Mental Health (CMH), the Community Corrections Board and
Coordinator to create a position to screen at jail intake for mental illness, substance abuse, and
behavioral needs. Worked closely with CMH to continue its partial funding of this position.

Worked with Health Director, hospital officials, FIA, the Board of Commissioners and
consultants to organize the Midland Health Plan Corporation, which provides basic primary care
coverage to approximately 2,000 indigent and working poor individuals between the ages of 18
and 65. Secretary/Treasurer of the MHP Board of Directors since its inception in 2001.

Worked with Michigan Association of Counties (MAC) and legislators on revenue sharing tax
shift, purchase of foster care services, forfeiture and foreclosure, tax increment financing,
records media act and many other pieces of legislation over the past several years. Made many
presentations and wrote many newsletter articles for MAC and MACAO over the years.
David D. Benda
Amplification of Midland County Experience
Page Two

Implemented changes to the budget process to allow commissioners to focus on substantive
issues and shorten the time necessary for budget review. Expanded use of the capital budget
and improved information presented in the annual budget document and online. Contained
costs for several years without program or position reductions in spite of tax appeals by the
county’s four largest taxpayers that ultimately resulted in a 20% reduction in tax revenue.

Collaborated with the city and the schools to obtain governmental and foundation support for a
county-wide fiber optic network. County representative on the three-person governing board to
oversee the implementation, maintenance and expansion of the county-based fiber network to
not-for-profit and other agencies throughout the county.

Developed a rational and non-controversial process for implementation of a comprehensive
employee classification study, conducted by O. William Rye and Associates, which was
completed within six months, with minimal appeals and grievances.

Presented fair and balanced negotiation strategies to commissioners, judicial council and
employee groups to achieve consensus on the need for significant changes to health insurance,
retirement and retiree health care prior to the onset of negotiations, which resulted in substantial
annual savings. Implemented a defined contribution retirement plan and eliminated defined
benefit retirement and retiree health care for new hires for all employee groups.

Implemented county intranet and revamped website to provide increased functionality that
allows county employees to easily create and modify web pages using a content management
system. Formed employee user group with IT facilitation to increase content sophistication.

Implemented GIS with web access. Worked with the city, school districts and local units to
create an intergovernmental coordinating agency to share costs and increase efficiency.

Implemented televised county meetings on cable access and the web, without adding staff.
Recommended the hiring of a Public Information Coordinator, and implemented a county public
relations program, including a speaker’s bureau, countywide monthly newsletter, and numerous
videos highlighting county services on the local government access channel.

Prior to departure, worked with Ambulance staff at hospital to change billing procedures to shift
costs to insurance and reduce millage subsidy by several hundred thousand dollars per year.

Presenter at New County Commissioner Budget and Finance Training sessions from 1989-2009.
Also a MAC representative to “The Future of Local Government in Michigan,” June, 1999.

Administered websites for the Michigan Public Employer Labor Relations Association
(MPELRA) and the Michigan Association of County Administrative Officers (MACAO).
Facilitated strategic planning sessions for both organizations.
DAVID D. BENDA
Amplification of Clinton County Administrator Experience

Held community meetings and gained broad support for demolition of the 1871 Clinton County
Courthouse. Relocated offices and worked with Building Authority to design and construct a
new $17 million County Courthouse without increasing taxes. Negotiated a condominium
agreement with the City of St. Johns to house city offices inside new courthouse. Increased the
county’s bond rating from A to A+.

Implemented and conducted the first strategic planning sessions with county commissioners.

Planned and implemented countywide Geographic Information System with cost sharing with
local units for digital orthophotos and rectification. Formed county-led GIS Committee, which
included local units, schools, the City of St. Johns, and the Road Commission.

Planned and coordinated conversion from outsourced mainframe to in-house Ethernet network.
State of the art technology implemented without increase in Data Processing budget for first
four years. Implemented financials, deeds, and tax administration; Upgraded 911 system to 800
MHz., court record management system, online law library, inmate booking, inkless fingerprints
and mug shots, e-mail, scheduling, internet connections, and GIS with digital orthophotos, an
active website with an FTP site, and video arraignment and teleconferencing.

New telephone system purchased with 35% savings through active management of phone lines
and rates. Implementation of two 800-numbers for county residents to contact county offices.

Negotiated win-win change in health care, without reducing benefits that reduced costs by 19%
the first year, based upon analysis of high-cost services and providers utilized by employees.

Implemented various employee morale programs, including: Monthly county newsletter
(without additional staff), cellular phone program, computer loan program, wellness incentive
program, Clinton County Day at Lugnuts Stadium and county sweatshirts and polo shirts.

Implemented a budget process that allowed commissioners to focus on policy issues.
Incorporated first capital improvements plan for major improvements and equipment needs.
Recommended and implemented sound fiscal policies that resulted in a general fund balance
equal to 15% of budget, full funding of delinquent taxes for all taxing units, establishment of a
budget stabilization fund, and creation of several new funds to cover various liabilities.

In conjunction with associations, including Counties (MAC), Townships (MTA), Cities (MML),
School Boards (MASB) and Michigan State University (MSU), planned and organized a
county-sponsored strategic planning session of all elected officials in Clinton County. As a
result, several intergovernmental cooperation groups were formed for Economic Development,
Comprehensive Planning, Fire Protection, Utilities, and Roads. Facilitated initial meetings of
these groups, and worked with planning consultants to create organized input from general law
townships on major revisions to the county zoning ordinance and master plan.

Worked closely with Michigan Association of Counties (MAC) on many pieces of legislation,
including court reform, foreclosure and forfeitures, records retention, revenue sharing, and tax
increment financing. Made several presentations at MAC conferences and wrote several articles
for the MAC and MACAO newsletters.