Khalfani Stephens Email & Phone Number

United States

Chief Operating Officer for City of Pontiac, MI

Flint, Mi

Greater Atlanta Area

Create and implement a growth strategy for Clayton County Georgia.Implemented new access to capital programs.Launched successful re-brand of the county.Began new partnership with the SBA.

Farmington Hills, Mi

I promoted the City of Farmington Hills as a business location by providing resources and technical assistance to businesses contemplating investment and growth in the City. I linked businesses to appropriate local, regional, state and federal resources/programs. I provided professional expertise and assisted in organizing and coordinating the City’s economic development efforts and acted as a representative to both local and non-resident businesses in order to coordinate available city assistance and to perform advocacy. I hosted international delegations and worked with community partners such as the school district and chamber of commerce to produce special events.

I worked directly with businesses throughout Oakland and Genesee Counties to help them grow and expand. I managed relationships with over 1,500 different businesses and provided them with counseling services on the various assistance programs available at all levels of government. I worked with them to determine their opportunities and impediments to growth and then matched them with the correct programs based on their needs.I also worked very closely with the Community and Economic Development teams at Oakland County and the Flint and Genesee Chamber of Commerce as embedded staff. In these roles, I provided technical support to core communities in each county. I assisted with updating master plans, along with developing and implementing new business retention and growth strategies.

I provided strategic direction for the City of Pontiac in the field of Community and Economic Development. I successfully managed a $12 million budget across three departments. I updated budgeting procedures, which resulted in accurate revenue forecasts and increased cash reserves, while still providing excellent customer service and debt coverage. I reorganized the City of Pontiac parking division to create new efficiencies in workflow and reduce losses. I assisted the Emergency manager in negotiations to realign other City of Pontiac departments. I also facilitated the first major private investments in the downtown area in over 20 years, as well as negotiated other major investments to the benefit of Pontiac Tax Payers. In addition, I directed legal staff in resolving longstanding disputes and continued to promote small and independent business growth in the City through producing the Business Today cable show.

I created major presentations for the Economic Development department and edited presentations for the Mayor. I represented the City in the absence of Mayor. I performed site searches, created business assistance proposals, and led a team of State and City officials for the Cities of Promise and Cool Cities initiatives. These programs brought new funding and technical assistance to the City of Pontiac by direction of the Governor’s office.

Post Graduate Certificate, Economic Development

Mba, Finance/ Marketing

Ba, History, Linguistics

Master Citizen Planner Certification

Economic Development Finance Professional (Edfp)

Selling Skills And Sales Operations

Cecd, Economic Development