David Eichenthal is a managing director with PFM’s Management and Budget Consulting practice and leads the firm’s New Orleans office. He is also the Executive Director of the National Resource Network, a consortium of organizations that has provided cross-cutting technical assistance to more than 60 economically challenged communities across the nation: the Network’s efforts have been funded by $10 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and a $4 million grant from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation.
Through the Network, Mr. Eichenthal led a year-long engagement with Waco, Texas to support efforts to improve government efficiency and reduce poverty. He has also led the development of multi-year financial plans in Danville, Virginia and Rockford, Illinois, among many other engagements across the country.
In addition to his work on the Network’s financial planning engagements, Mr. Eichenthal has led the development of multi-year financial plans for Houston, Texas and Memphis, Tennessee, as well as an operational efficiency study of Youngstown, Ohio.
Mr. Eichenthal is also the Executive Director of the PFM Center for Justice and Safety Finance, where he is leads a $1.2 million program to assist county governments in reducing reliance on criminal justice fees and fines as a source of revenue.
Prior to joining PFM, Mr. Eichenthal was finance officer and director of performance review for the City of Chattanooga where he oversaw the development of the City’s $150 million budget, implementation of one of the nation’s first 311 systems, creation of a citywide performance management initiative and managed 175 employees. In New York, he served as Chief of Staff to the Public Advocate – the City’s second highest elected official -- and as Chief of Policy, Assistant Advocate for Research and Investigation. Under the Public Advocate, Mr. Eichenthal co-directed the City Performance Review (CPR), tasked to “re-invent” New York City government with the goal of delivering better services at a lower cost. In that role, Mr. Eichenthal managed a 15-member board steering committee of prominent New York officials, legislators, and leaders from the corporate community to commission a series of reports to improve New York City government operations and services. Mr. Eichenthal also was also an Assistant Inspector General for Policy in the New York City School Construction Authority and Assistant Deputy Comptroller for Policy/Counsel for Special Projects.
Mr. Eichenthal has presented at the White House Convening on Strong Cities Strong Communities; the convening of the Sustainable Communities Initiative grantees; and the Government Finance Officers Association and the Association of Government Accountants annual conferences. He has taught college courses in American government, public policy, public administration and criminal justice at New York University, Georgia State University, Baruch College and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Mr. Eichenthal holds a B.A. in Public Policy from the University of Chicago and a J.D. from the New York University School of Law.
