CITY OF HOUSTON CONTROLLER RONALD C. GREEN – pictured with Mayor Allen Owen (left). Ronald C. Green (right) was elected as the first African American Houston City Controller on December 12, 2009, after serving three terms on Houston City Council, At-Large, Position Four. He has been reelected to three consecutive terms and cannot run for reelection as Houston’s city controller in 2015.
On City Council, he chaired the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee, overseeing the City’s annual budget of nearly $4 billion. While he served on City Council, his work entailed regular financial and operations reports, strategic purchasing, and municipal court reform. He also served as a member of the Transportation, Infrastructure and Aviation Committee and the Ad-Hoc Committee on Legislative Affairs. As City Controller, he oversees a $13 billion debt portfolio and over $2 billion of investments. With rates at historic lows during the past three years, the Controller’s Office has sought out several refinancing opportunities that have generated over $220 million in savings without extending the life of the debt. In addition to management of the City’s treasury functions, every payment issued by the City of Houston is processed by the Controller’s Office. The Office also prepares several reports to provide financial data and operational statistics regarding the City, including a monthly report, an annual audited comprehensive statement, and a trends report. The Controller’s Office also includes the Audit Division, which has primarily concentrated on identifying inefficiencies and evaluating the City’s outside contracts. Through Audit’s efforts, the City has realized $7.5 million in savings.
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INTERVIEW: Controller Ronald C. Green (Controller for the City of Houston, Texas) answers a few questions asked by Aubrey R. Taylor about his dream, mission in life, outlook for 2015, and advice to others striving to achieve their dream
QUESTION #1
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: What was life like for you as a child growing up?
CONTROLLER GREEN: I was fortunate to have loving parents and grandparents who encouraged my inquisitiveness and school interests. Even as a youngster, I had a strong sense of community, in my case Houston’s Third Ward—where I still live.
CONTROLLER GREEN: I was fortunate to have loving parents and grandparents who encouraged my inquisitiveness and school interests. Even as a youngster, I had a strong sense of community, in my case Houston’s Third Ward—where I still live.
QUESTION #2
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: What did you dream of becoming as you were a child growing up?
CONTROLLER GREEN: I always knew I wanted to be a part of my community and be of help to others; that came from my parents I think.
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: What did you dream of becoming as you were a child growing up?
CONTROLLER GREEN: I always knew I wanted to be a part of my community and be of help to others; that came from my parents I think.
QUESTION #3
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: Did you achieve your childhood dream, or did it evolve into something different?
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: Did you achieve your childhood dream, or did it evolve into something different?
CONTROLLER
GREEN: Early on, I thought I wanted to be a doctor, and so I attended Debakey
High School for Health Professions. When I was attending the University of
Houston, I became interested in social issues and the sense of serving the
community became even stronger. After I received my BS degree from the UH
School of Social Science, I attended the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at
Texas Southern University, and then while I served on Houston City Council, I
went back to UH and obtained my MBA.
QUESTION #4
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: What is your mission in life?
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: What is your mission in life?
CONTROLLER GREEN: I do not have a single “mission in life.” Rather, I have a mission to serve my city—and to elucidate the complexities of municipal finance to the public; a mission to serve and mentor young people; a mission to especially encourage and empower young African-Americans as they begin their careers; a mission to collaboratively work with other municipalities in our country to address the large challenges cities face—and my position on the Board of Directors of the National League of Cities has given me that opportunity. Finally, of course, I have the all-important mission of being an encouraging and loving father to Christopher, as my parents were to me.
QUESTION #5
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: Do you have a recent accomplishment you would like to share?
CONTROLLER GREEN: I am especially proud that as Controller I have been involved in the aggressive re-financing of the City’ municipal bonds; our office has seen successful bond transactions that will save the city well over $450 million this next decade, money that will fund services for our citizens. I am also proud that the Controller’s Office has a heightened level of transparency and that more people are aware of what exactly this office accomplishes.
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: Do you have a recent accomplishment you would like to share?
CONTROLLER GREEN: I am especially proud that as Controller I have been involved in the aggressive re-financing of the City’ municipal bonds; our office has seen successful bond transactions that will save the city well over $450 million this next decade, money that will fund services for our citizens. I am also proud that the Controller’s Office has a heightened level of transparency and that more people are aware of what exactly this office accomplishes.
QUESTION #6
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: What is your outlook for 2015?
CONTROLLER GREEN: My outlook for 2015 is very optimistic. Houston is doing well, post-recession. The City’s two main sources of revenue—property and sales taxes—have rebounded significantly from their lows during the recession, and that translates into City services such a libraries and parks and health clinics that benefit citizens across the city. There is an infectious civic pride in Houston—and, I think, the notion that we are all better off when there is a lessening of any “prosperity divide” among our citizens.
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: What is your outlook for 2015?
CONTROLLER GREEN: My outlook for 2015 is very optimistic. Houston is doing well, post-recession. The City’s two main sources of revenue—property and sales taxes—have rebounded significantly from their lows during the recession, and that translates into City services such a libraries and parks and health clinics that benefit citizens across the city. There is an infectious civic pride in Houston—and, I think, the notion that we are all better off when there is a lessening of any “prosperity divide” among our citizens.
QUESTION #7
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: What advice would you give to someone out there striving to achieve their dream?
CONTROLLER GREEN: Dreams need a plan. Most dreams that are realized have a lot of hard work and commitment behind them. Most dreams are team efforts really, and include parents and teachers and supportive friends. I do think it is important to choose your friends wisely and to play within the rules. I also think it’s important to not jeopardize your dreams by doing something stupid on Facebook or YouTube!!!
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AUBREY R. TAYLOR: What advice would you give to someone out there striving to achieve their dream?
CONTROLLER GREEN: Dreams need a plan. Most dreams that are realized have a lot of hard work and commitment behind them. Most dreams are team efforts really, and include parents and teachers and supportive friends. I do think it is important to choose your friends wisely and to play within the rules. I also think it’s important to not jeopardize your dreams by doing something stupid on Facebook or YouTube!!!
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"I would like to take this moment to thank City of Houston Controller Ronald C. Green for finding value in our vision to uplift, inspire, inform, and empower others in association with our "2014 Year-End Review" edition of Houston Business Connections Magazine." -- Aubrey
As President and CEO of Aubrey R. Taylor Communications, I encourage you to support the people, small business, organizations, corporations and ministries who support our mission and vision to uplift, inspire, inform, and empower others as we climb.
Best regards,
Aubrey R. Taylor
Publisher of Houston Business Connections Magazine
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HOUSTON, TEXAS 77058-3039
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**** Please do not forget that your support can enable us to reach more people with our message of encouragement, hope, inspiration, and empowerment. So email me your request for a hard-copy of our “2014 Year-End Review” edition of Houston Business Connections Magazine today at: (aubreyrtaylor@gmail.com). And don’t forget that our ad prices start at a very low $40.00 dollars per issue. WE CAN ACHIEVE OUR INDIVIDUAL AND CORPORATE GOALS AND DREAMS BY FINDING CREATIVE WAYS TO WORK TOGETHER!!!
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PEOPLE FEATURED ON THE COVER: Businessman Craig Joseph (owner of Houston's This Is It Soul Food). FBISD Superintendent Dr. Charles Dupre, TSU Program Director Dr. Michael O. Adams (Director of the eMPA and MPA programs at Texas Southern University), Judge Loyd Wright (District Probate Judge for Court #1 in Harris County), Businessman Bill Frazer (2015 Candidate for Controller of Houston), Controller Ronald C. Green (City of Houston Controller), Mayor Allen Owen (the mayor of Missouri City), Judge Christine Riddle Butts (District Probate Judge for Court #4 in Harris County), Grayle James (the FBISD President of the Board of Trustees), and Educator/Attorney Carroll G. Robinson (2015 Candidate for Controller of Houston). Email your request to (aubreyrtaylor@gmail.com) if you would like to have a copy of our "2014 Year-End Review" edition of Houston Business Connections Magazine mailed directly to your home or business.
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Boasting accreditation from the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration (NASPAA), the master of public administration (MPA) program at TSU is a 48-credit-hour program that has produced key change agents in human resources, international development and policy. For more information about these programs, please contact Dr. Michael O. Adams, 713-313-7760.
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Launched in Fall 2013, the emergency management and homeland security (EMHS) program is designed to create graduates with extensive theoretical and applied knowledge in emergency management and disaster research. The Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management and Homeland Security prepares students for careers in emergency management and public safety careers and will introduce students to the all-hazards approach, emergency disaster management phases, risk assessment, prevention and management, counter-terrorism, consequence management, mitigation, and recovery. For more information about these programs, please contact Dr. Michael O. Adams, 713-313-7760.
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Boasting accreditation from the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration (NASPAA), the master of public administration (MPA) program at TSU is a 48-credit-hour program that has produced key change agents in human resources, international development and policy. For more information about these programs, please contact Dr. Michael O. Adams, 713-313-7760.
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Launched in Fall 2013, the emergency management and homeland security (EMHS) program is designed to create graduates with extensive theoretical and applied knowledge in emergency management and disaster research. The Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management and Homeland Security prepares students for careers in emergency management and public safety careers and will introduce students to the all-hazards approach, emergency disaster management phases, risk assessment, prevention and management, counter-terrorism, consequence management, mitigation, and recovery. For more information about these programs, please contact Dr. Michael O. Adams, 713-313-7760.
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About Carroll G. Robinson
Carroll G. Robinson is an Associate Professor and a former Associate Dean of External Affairs at the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs at Texas Southern University (TSU) in Houston, Texas. Professor Robinson is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of the Houston Community College System (HCC) and a Citizen Member of the Board of Trustees of the Houston Firefighters’ Relief and Retirement Fund. He is a former member of the Board of Directors and Board of Advisors of K9s4COPs. He is also a past chairman of the Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce.
Professor Robinson is a former At-Large (elected citywide) member of the Houston (Texas) City Council. As a member of the City Council, Professor Robinson chaired the city’s Transportation, Technology and Infrastructure Committee.
Professor Robinson represented the City of Houston on the Board of Directors of the Houston-Galveston Area Council, the local council of regional governments. He served as a member of the Board’s Budget Committee and was a Vice Chair of the Transportation Policy Council. He also represented the City of Houston on the Board of Directors of the Alliance for I-69 Texas and TEX-21, a statewide transportation coalition of elected officials, business leaders and transportation and infrastructure professionals.
Professor Robinson is a former member of the Board of Directors of the National League of Cities where he served as a member of the Board’s Finance Committee and was a member of the Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Steering Committee. He is a former member of the Texas Municipal League’s Utilities and Environment Committee, and Transportation Task Force; Advisory Board of the Texas Environmental Defense Fund; a past President of the Texas Association of Black City Council Members where he was also a member of the Housing Committee; a former member of the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials (NBC-LEO); a former member of the Texas Attorney General’s Municipal Advisory Committee (1998); Founding Chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council’s Local Elected Officials Network; a former Chairman of the National League of Cities Democratic Municipal Officials; a former member of the Democratic National Committee (DNC); and a former General Counsel of the Texas Democratic Party.
Prior to his election to the Houston City Council, Professor Robinson was an Associate Professor at the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University. He has also worked as an adjunct Professor at South Texas College of Law.
Professor Robinson has worked in the Texas Legislature as Chief of Staff and General Counsel to Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis. He received his Bachelor of Arts (with Honors) in Political Science from Richard Stockton State College in Pomona, New Jersey (where he received a Certificate of Academic Accomplishment in African-American Studies) and his Juris Doctorate from the National Law Center at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
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