Background Check
City of Pasco, Washington, Communications Specialist
Jon Funfar was raised in Enumclaw and graduated from Enumclaw High School in 1987. After graduating from Pacific Lutheran University, Jon worked at a number of video production/audio-visual positions, before being hired by the City of Enumclaw in 2000 as Media Services Manager and worked at the City until taking a similar position for the City of Pasco in 2011.
Jon is an expert photographer. His photographs document his travels locally and worldwide.
Q & A with Jon
(Complete these phrases) Best thing about the….
80’s was nearly any movie by John Hughes
90’s was nearly any movie by Martin Scorsese
00’s was nearly any movie by the Coen Brothers
Last year was the gift of having a productive and worthwhile job
Today is trying to come up with “Best thing about the…” lists
3 accomplishments that you are most proud of.
Winning the Alliance for Community Media Hometown Award for Overall Excellence in Government Access in 2009
Finding the courage to be able to move on to my current position from a job that had become very comfortable
Being a part of a Rotary Club effort to bring a well and a new school for kids in Africa (and being personally there to see it)
(Complete this sentence) I feel old when I……..visit my alma mater and realize how long it has been
Who would be in your dream selfie?
Roy Orbison
Johnny Cash
Elvis Presley
Tell us about two mistakes that you’ve made that we can learn from.
The knowledge when to shut up: Early in my career, I was in a meeting trying to impress and make small talk with a client and divulged information that I shouldn’t have. It very nearly cost me my job for a dumb rookie mistake. However, shortly thereafter on another job, I said too little in a meeting when I should have spoken up and didn’t make a very good impression on a potential client, so “you can always overlearn a lesson” would be the second mistake.
Give us three of your favorite YouTube videos.
Flat Coated Retriever vs. Golden Retriever
Foster Brooks roasts Don Rickles
Planking Boston Terrier
Our annual conference will be held in October 2014. Name three topics or speakers that should be included on the conference agenda.
- Municipal communications with no staff and/or no budget
- Making the most of cable franchising (PEG access, franchise fees, customer service standards) and why it is important.
- So you want to be a manager? Pointers, tips, and lessons
Parent(s) can be influential in career choices of their kids. What was the career path of your parent(s)?
- Electrical Engineering
- Teacher
Name three of your mentors and describe them in five words.
- Vic Nelson: Staff member at my college; taught me volumes on TV and communications.
- Michael Maland: Only a couple of years older than me; also knew volumes on video production.
- Mark Bauer: City Administrator; one of the most professional people I have worked with any field.
Your hometown…..what is it best known for?
- An uncredited appearance in “It Happened at the World’s Fair” (well, maybe not)
- Hometown of Kasey Kahne
How can ELGL best contribute to the public sector?
Help foster a spirit of “customer-first” among public officials
Give us two items that are broken in local government.
- Funding: too many services wanted with too little funding
- “Storytelling”: I don’t think we tell our “story” effectively enough in local government; but I think that is a symptom of workloads.
Fast forward one year, what will factor into your decision on whether to renew your ELGL membership?
Value: am I getting the most “bang for the buck” out of my membership (education, fellowship, knowledge)
Give us two ideas for attracting and retaining talented individuals to the public sector.
- Promoting the ideal of public service as a worthwhile aspiration.
- Telling the story of the importance of the public sector to everyday life.
What questions should we have asked? After all this? Nothing.
What question(s) do you have about ELGL?
- What do you expect out of members?
- How can we/I help get members in the local area?