Meet Our Staff
We are committed to help serve our counties and their employees
Alan Fernandes
Chief Executive Officer
Alan joined the CSAC Finance Corporation as the Chief Executive Officer in November 2015 after a successful career in government affairs. He has a broad range of professional work experience having worked in both the private and public sector. Alan has published on effective government advocacy including a Law Review Article on the topic of Ethics in Government and is occasionally requested to speak publicly on these topics. He has spent much of his career in government, law and public policy where most recently he was the Chief Legislative Representative for Los Angeles County.
Prior to that, Alan practiced law at a Government Law Firm where he was an active member of the Public Law Section of the State Bar. In addition, Alan worked at a major investment firm where he was an accountant for an international pension fund group. Alan earned his undergraduate degree in Political Science and English minor at UC Davis, and subsequently earned his law degree where he completed a certificated concentration on Taxation.
Rob Pierce
Chief Operating Officer
Rob joined the CSAC Finance Corporation as the Vice President in October 2022 after a successful 25-year career in public business administration and legislative advocacy. Rob is dedicated to assisting public entities and making positive change. Rob served as the Deputy Superintendent of Business Services for the Elk Grove Unified School District, the fifth largest school district in the State with an annual budget in excess of $1 Billion.
Prior to joining EGUSD in 2008, Rob was the Assistant Superintendent of Facilities and Operations for the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District. Rob has served at a Cabinet level for approximately 20 years where he forged positive relationships with elected officials and constituents in multiple jurisdictions. Early in his career, Rob served as a legislative advocate for a lobbying firm and was a consultant with Murdoch Walrath & Holmes.
Rob has served on multiple Statewide committees, public boards, Joint Powers Authorities and benefit trusts. Rob was a constant legislative advocate and directly administered billions of dollars in bonds and special financings. He prides himself on serving others, building positive relationships and being a people person. Rob is a graduate of the University of California at Davis where he earned two Bachelors of Arts degrees in Political Science, emphasis in Public Administration, as well as Nature and Culture and he also studied Religious and Native American Studies.
Jim Manker
Director of Business Development
Jim Manker joined the CSAC team in 2013 after leaving the Sacramento River Cats (AAA affiliate of the Oakland Athletics) and their Corporate Partner team. Prior to that he was a successful Major Accounts Client Executive for the world’s largest payroll company, ADP.
Since Jim’s arrival in 2013 the Corporate Associates program has become a strong revenue source for CSAC. At the CSAC Finance Corporation, Jim is responsible for directing the corporate partnership program, working with new business opportunities, and helping companies expand their footprint in California Counties. Jim’s top 5 strengths according to Clifton StrengthsFinder are: woo, communicator, activator, positivity, and strategic.
Jim earned his undergraduate degree in Communications from Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, CA. He then went on to complete a Master’s Degree in Religious Education at NTS in Kansas City, MO. Jim has spent his entire career connecting people in the private and public sector and helping them pursue personal health and corporate success.
Christy Higgins
Director of Operations
Christy joined CSAC Finance Corporation in 2020 as Operations Manager. She brings an array of experience from the world of Insurance, Public Relations and Real Estate along with a Bachelor degree in Business Administration from California State University, Sacramento. In addition to planning, directing and coordinating the operations of the Finance Corporation and Corporate Associate relations.
For the past 6 years Christy navigated a successful career in real estate. Prior to this, she oversaw the operations of a successful Public Relations firm and worked as a Senior Property & Casualty Claims Adjuster for State Farm Insurance.
Stacie Frerichs
Director of Business Programs
Stacie joined the CSAC Finance Corporation in 2024 as Director of Business Programs. Stacie brings broad experience in nonprofits, business, and finance.
Prior to joining CSAC Finance Corporation, she served as the Executive Director of Davis Arts Center where she successfully led an arts and culture organization during the Covid-19 Pandemic. She also led the development of a visual arts curriculum used by thousands of elementary school students in California.
Prior to Davis Arts Center, Stacie was a Client Services Director at Government Financial Strategies where she helped advise School Districts, Cities, and Counties throughout California on bond issuances. She also consulted on the formation of the Government Financial Services Joint Powers Authority, which supports government entities in their financial needs.
After earning her master’s degree in business administration from UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, she worked as a business analyst for Chevron Corporation. Early in her career, she used her undergraduate Geology degree to work on analyzing and cleaning up contaminated sites in the Western US, where she developed a deep love of the diversity of the land, issues, and people in California.
Active in her community, she is a Certified California Naturalist, serves on the Board of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Yolo County chapter, loves live music and art, and is a season ticket holder to Sacramento Republic FC!
Robbie Bendorf
Director of Strategic Partnerships
Robbie joined the CSAC Finance Corporation as the Director of Strategic Partnerships in 2024 after being a consultant for the Finance Corporation focusing on the National Corporate Associates Program. As a seasoned professional with a drive to provide local government with modern solutions, Robbie brings nearly 10 years of experience working with counties and cities across the country. With a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Holy Names University, where he was a member of the men’s golf team, Robbie has honed his skills in building strategic partnerships and client relations throughout his career. With nearly 10 years as a corporate partner of CSAC Finance Corporation, he has helped companies of all sizes elevate their presence in the state.
Robbie’s expertise has also been recognized by the League of California Cities, where he previously served on the League Partners Executive Committee. He has also shared his insights on the national stage, speaking at the National Association of Counties Annual Conference and attending conferences for multiple national level organizations.
Chase Broffman
Business Development Manager
Chase Broffman joined the CSAC Finance Corporation in 2019 as a Member Services Associate and was subsequently promoted to Business Development Manager. In this capacity, Chase is responsible for business development, member outreach, marketing, and partnership cultivation. Additionally, Chase provides administrative services to Easy Smart Pay, managing the customer service and marketing team, and expanding the program’s county coverage.
Prior to his current role, Chase worked as a residential real estate agent in the Sacramento area, specializing in single-family income property opportunities. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from California State University, Sacramento.
Chase is actively involved in supporting and attending events for the California Association of County Treasurers and Tax Collectors (CACTTC) on behalf of the CSAC Finance Corporation. He also manages all web design and marketing efforts for the organization, leveraging his expertise in digital aesthetics and user experience.
In his leisure time, Chase enjoys golf, snowboarding and mountaineering, reflecting his passion for adventure and the outdoors.
Sendy Young
Executive Assistant
Sendy serves as the Executive Assistant at CSAC Finance Corporation. In this role, she is instrumental in planning the logistics for board meetings, including organizing and compiling comprehensive board packets. Her responsibilities also encompass a wide range of executive support tasks, ensuring the smooth operation of the executive team.
With a keen attention to detail and exceptional organizational skills, Sendy plays a crucial role in maintaining effective communication and coordination within the organization. She excels in managing schedules, facilitating meetings, and handling confidential information with discretion.
Her dedication to providing high-quality support contributes significantly to the efficiency and productivity of the CSAC Finance Corporation’s executive operations.