Prior to establishing his firm, Len spent over twenty-three years in local government, fourteen of which were as City Manager in the Cities of Rancho Palos Verdes and Claremont. Len has also served as Interim City Manager for the cities of Goleta, Hemet, La Palma, Signal Hill, Bell and Colton.

Len has served as professor at the Graduate Center of Public Policy and Administration at California State Long Beach and at the Political Science Department, Cal Poly Pomona.

He has a Master's Degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California and a Bachelors Degree in Political Science from California State University at Long Beach.

Len is the author of six local government books, the Commissioner's Little Handbook, the Little Budget Book, the Elected Official's Little Handbook, Local Government Dollars & Sense, Tales from the Trenches: Achievements, Blunders and Challenges in Local Government Management and the Tales Instructor's Manual.

Local Government Dollars & Sense: 225 Financial Tips for Guarding the Public Checkbook won the 1998 distinguished Irwin Award in the best nonfiction category.

Website: www.trainingshoppe.com
Email: LenWood@aol.com

Education
Master of Public Administration, University of Southern California
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, California State University, Long Beach

Experience
1988-Present President, Len Wood & Associates
1988-Present Director, The Training Shoppe

Interim Assignments
2008-2009 City Manager & Redevelopment Agency Director, City of Hemet
2007-2008 Deputy City Manager, City of Signal Hill
2005-2006 City Manager, City of Goleta
2001-2001 City Manager, City of La Palma
2000-2001 Human Resources Director, City of Ontario
1997-1997 City Manager, City of Colton
1996-1996 City Manager, City of Signal Hill
1995-1995 City Manager, City of La Palma
1988-1989 City Manager and Redevelopment Agency Director, City of Bell

Full Time Positions
1980-1988 City Manager and Redevelopment Agency Director, City of Claremont
1973-1980 City Manager and City Clerk, City of Rancho Palos Verdes
1970-1973 Deputy City Manager and General Services Director, City of Simi Valley
1967-1970 Senior Administrative Assistant, City of Burbank
1965-1967 Administrative Aide, City of Santa Ana

Leadership Activities and Professional Awards
President, San Gabriel City Managers Association (1984-1985)

International City Management Association (ICMA) Task Force on the Form of Local Government (1974)

President, Society of Governmental Accountants, Ventura County (1972)

Government Finance Officer's Association Award for Distinguished Budget Presentation (1984-1985)

American Institute of Planners Award for the Rancho Palos Verdes General Plan and Coastal Plan (1975)

California Society of Municipal Finance Officers Award for Outstanding Budget and Financial Reporting (1984, 1985 and 1986)

League of California Cities Helen Putnam Award Finalist for Claremont Senior Citizens Volunteer Program (1987)

Co-Chair City of Rancho Palos Verdes, 25th Birthday Committee (1998)

Publications
"Incorporation and Development of a New City," New Developments in Public Management, (September 1976).

"Endowment Plan Guarantees Senior Center Funding," Western City, (March 1985).

"Focus on Volunteerism, Seniors Aid Claremont Police," Western City, (January 1986).

"Building City Council-City Manager Relations," Western City, (July 1987).

"What the City Manager Expects from the Police Chief," Police Chief, (April 1988).

"Budget Tactics: Insights from the Trenches," Public Management, (October 1993).

Books
"Commissioner's Little Handbook: A Portable Guide for Local Government Advisory Board Members," The Training Shoppe, (1992).

"Little Budget Book: A Portable Budgeting Guide for Local Government," The Training Shoppe, (1993).

"Elected Official's Little Handbook: A Portable Guide for Local Government Legislators," The Training Shoppe, (1994).

"Local Government Dollars & Sense: 225 Financial Tips for Guarding the Public Checkbook," The Training Shoppe, (I998).

Teaching & Workshops
Adjunct Faculty, Graduate Center for Public Policy and Administration, California State University, Long Beach. Courses in Public Administration, Public Management, Municipal Finance and Local Government Budgeting.

Instructor, Cal Poly Pomona. Courses in Management and Budgeting.

Workshop Facilitator: Workshops in Professional Management, Performance Measurement, Advisory Boards, Budgeting and Evaluating Financial Condition.