September/October 2023

A-C Staff News

1770 STAFF CELEBRATES SALLOWEEN

This year's Halloween Sal-loween celebration kicked off with a spook-tastic celebration including a Pumpkin Decorating and Carving Contest. A-C employees at 1770 Broadway voted on the Scariest, Funniest, and Most Creative pumpkins entered in this year's contest: Congratulations to Krystal Perez (Scariest Pumpkin), Priscilla Aguilar (Funniest Pumpkin), Alex Mederos (Most Creative Pumpkin) and Chamroeun Kim (Special Auditor's Award) for their excellent pumpkin decorating work.

The Executive Management Team also reverse-trick-or-treated, delivering candy to all the units in 1770, including the Barbies and Kens of Financial Reporting, the ghouls and goblins of Admin Services, the spooky accountants in General Accounting, and more (pictured below). Thank you to everyone who participated and we hope you enjoyed this year's celebration!

Krystal Perez - "Scariest Pumpkin"

Priscilla Aguilar - "Funniest Pumpkin"

Alex Mederos - Most Creative Pumpkin

Chamroeun Kim - "Special Auditor's Award"

The Barbies and Kens of the Financial Reporting/Mandated Cost Unit

The General Accounting Unit in their Halloween Eyewear.

From Left to Right - Chief Deputy Salvador Lopez as a Scary Clown, Auditor-Controller Andrew Hamilton as an Ohio State University Quarterback, and Chief of Staff Matt Holder as the shepherd of the flock.

Human Resources Recruiter Sam Apraku getting a trick-or-treat candy delivery from the Executive Team.

Admin Services and Executive Team From left to right: Chief of Staff Matt Holder, Chief Deputy Salvador Lopez, Executive Secretary Heather Brinson dressed as a butterfly, Dane Corsaut dressed as 'the Creeper', Auditor-Controller Andrew Hamilton, and Anthony Kuo dressed as David Hasslehoff in Baywatch.

The Executive Team delivering treats to Yan Bing in Financial Services and Michael Steinhaus dressed as an Auditor, in Internal Audit.

A-C Staff News

Service Awards

Congratulations to the Auditor-Controller recipients of County Service Anniversary Awards for the third quarter of 2023, which included employees celebrating service anniversaries in July, August and September of 2023.

Pictured above are ceremony attendees from left to right: David M. Santalahti (20 Years), Gabriella Cisneros (25 years), Auditor-Controller Andrew Hamilton, Kieu Than Nguyen (5 Years), and Jim Christiansen (20 years).

Congratulations to all the recipients on their service anniversaries and thank you for your dedication and commitment to the County of Orange.

5 Years of Service:

Kieu Thanh T. Nguyen (HCA Accounting)     

Ann Micole C. Rivera (General Accounting)           



20 Years of Service:

James Christiansen (OCPW Accounting)               

David M. Santalahti (OCPW Accounting)

25 Years of Service:

Theresa N. Raymundo (HCA Accounting)        

Gabriella E. Cisneros (SSA Accounting)             

30 Years of Service:

Sarah Quach (A-C IT)

A-C MANAGERS MEETING

Auditor-Controller Managers recently attended an all-hands meeting at the Irvine Regional Water District Duck Club in Irvine. Updates from A-C IT, General Accounting, CEO Real Estate and Human Resource Services were shared. Pictured below are A-C Team members building towers of marshmallows and spaghetti for a surprisingly challenging and sticky team building exercise.

A-C Staff News

What's Happening with A-C Employees

October was a busy month for Kellyann Ball, who travelled to Japan and Saudi Arabi to compete for the United States in World Sumo Events.

Representing the US, she competed at the Sumo World Championships on October 7 in Tachikawa, Japan. Although she lost her first match to a Japanese competitor (who went on to place second), she was given a second chance in the repechage bracket, and won matches against Poland and Estonia, and earned her spot on the podium with a third place finish in the women’s heavyweight category.

This earned Kellyanne the title of the first adult woman to medal for the US at a World Level sumo tournament. She also went on to compete in the women’s team tournament that day, earning a second bronze medal, another first for the US. 

After being back in California for a few days, Kellyann jumped on a flight to Riyadh for the World Combat Games. With USA proudly attached to her mawashi (sumo belt), she competed amongst the16 best heavyweights in the world on October 21 and 22. After an outstanding win in the semifinals against a more experienced Japanese competitor, Kellyann found herself in the finals.

Ultimately losing the finals to a competitor from Ukraine, Kellyann walked away with another podium finish and a silver medal.

What’s next? More practice, as her eyes are set on the 2024 US Nationals.

Congratulations to Kellyann on her amazing accomplishments - we are all rooting for you here at the Auditor-Controller's Office!

New Notary!

Christina Marcale (SSA Accounting) recently took the California Notary and Loan Signing Agent exam and is now a registered Notary and Loan Signing Agent.

Interested in becoming a California Notary? The County offers the EPRP program for employees. To learn more, please take a look at the EPRP Policy.

Thank you and Good Luck to Beth Wylde, who recently took a position with the Metropolitan Water District. Beth's last day was November 2, and was celebrated with a farewell party on Halloween (above).

CEO Accounting

• Gina Kim was promoted to Fiscal Administrator effective 10/23/23
• Chau Le rotated to CEO Finance Accounting effective 10/6/23
• Farimah Khorshidian was hired as an Accounting Technician effective 8/30/23

Cost, Revenue and Budget

• Sophia Hwang was promoted to Fiscal Administrator effective 11/3/2023.
• Joanna Kim was promoted to Fiscal Administrator effective 11/3/2023.

General Accounting Staffing Updates:

• Daiana Hwang was promoted to Sr. Accountant/Auditor I effective 11/3/23
• Khanh Doan was rotated from Property Tax Unit to General Accounting Unit as an Accountant/Auditor II effective 11/3/23

HCA Accounting

• Frank Tuanai Retired from HCA Accounting effective 10/6/23
• Laura Martinez promoted to Fiscal Manager effective 10/6/23

JWA Accounting

• Tasneem Bhaijee was hired as an Accounting Technician effective 9/27/23

SSA Accounting

• Maria Anguiano-Pulido was hired as an Accounting Assistant II effective 9/11/23
• Pauline Phan was hired as an Accounting Assistant II effective 9/8/23
• Wenpei Hao was hired as an Accounting Assistant II effective 9/18/23
• Kathryn Vu was hired as an Accounting Assistant II effective 10/2/23
• Noah Beller was hired as an Accounting Assistant II effective 11/3/23

OCCR Accounting

• Kimberly Baumgartner promoted to Sr. Accounting Assistant effective 8/11/23
• Huong Phi was hired as an Accounting Specialist effective 8/11/23
• Tracy Dao was hired as an Accounting Specialist effective 8/25/23