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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCD1 CNC Consulting - Statement of Qualification and Expression of Interest - CD.1 - Accounting - Grant Management - 6.28.26 June 28, 2026 Mr. Talmadge Magno, Civil Defense Administrator Hawai‘i County Civil Defense Agency 920 Ululani Street Hilo, HI 96720 Re: Statement of Qualification and Expression of Interest for Accounting (Grant Management) – FY2026-2027 Notice to Providers of Professional Services (HRS 103D-304) Dear Mr. Magno: CNC Consulting respectfully submits this Statement of Qualification and Expression of Interest for the County of Hawai‘i’s Invitation for Professional Services in Category of Services – CD.1) Accounting (Grant Management). Introduction to CNC Consulting As the owner and principal of CNC Consulting, I have more than 36 years of experience in grant writing, grant management, budget development, strategic planning, and contract administration at the local, state, and federal levels. Throughout my career, I have partnered with governmental agencies and institutions of higher education across Alaska, California, Hawaiʻi, Idaho, Nevada and Texas to secure funding, manage complex grant programs, to support organizational and financial success. After retiring in 2020 as the Administrative Services/Financial Officer for the City of Reno Fire Department and relocating to Moscow, Idaho, I founded CNC Consulting to help state, county, and local government agencies, as well as non-profit organizations, navigate the complexities of grant funding. Through my consulting practice, as a sole proprietor, with no employees, I provide comprehensive grant writing, grant management, and compliance services, helping agencies secure and effectively administer grant funding for critical projects and programs. During my tenure with the City of Reno from 2003 to 2020, I experienced both periods of unprecedented growth and significant financial hardship. I witnessed the economic expansion of 2004 through 2008, followed by the severe fiscal challenges brought on by the Great Recession from 2009 through 2016. Throughout that period, I played a key role in managing substantial budget reductions, workforce layoffs, and organizational restructuring while striving to maintain essential public services despite significantly reduced financial resources. These experiences provided me with invaluable expertise in fiscal management, strategic planning, and identifying alternative funding opportunities to sustain critical government operations. Even today, many local, state, and federal government agencies have not fully recovered to their pre-recession staffing and funding levels. For more than a decade, many organizations have operated under flat or zero-based budgets, leaving little capacity to expand services, replace aging equipment, or invest in critical infrastructure. When budget increases have occurred, they have typically been consumed by mandatory personnel costs, including collectively bargained cost-of-living adjustments and steadily rising employee benefit expenses, leaving few discretionary resources available to address operational needs or capital investments. Continued budget constraints have made it increasingly important for public agencies to pursue every available grant opportunity to secure external funding from federal, state, local, and private sources. Having witnessed these financial challenges firsthand and successfully securing millions of dollars in grant funding for the Reno Fire Department during my 18-year tenure, I have continued to apply that experience and expertise to assist public agencies and nonprofit organizations in identifying, securing, and managing grant funding. My current and recent clients include the Hawaiʻi County Fire Department, where I have provided grant consulting services for the past six years; the Deary Rural Fire Department in Idaho for the past four years; the Elm Mott Volunteer Fire Department in Texas for the past two years; and, most recently, the Lake Valley Fire Protection District in California and Adventist Community Services in Idaho in 2026. Grant Writing and Management Services Provided Throughout my career in local government in Nevada and Alaska, and through my consulting work with clients in Hawaiʻi, California, Idaho, and Texas, I have successfully secured and managed more than $90 million in grant funding from federal, state, local, and private funding sources. Although my primary area of expertise is public safety and fire service grants, including funding for personnel, apparatus, equipment, training, communications systems, and facility improvements, I have also successfully obtained and managed grants supporting community development, transportation, and housing and urban development initiatives. This broad experience enables me to identify funding opportunities across multiple disciplines and guide organizations through every stage of the grant process, from identifying funding sources and developing competitive applications to post-award administration and compliance. My current work with the County of Hawaiʻi Fire Department as a grant writer and grant manager has enabled me to develop strong collaborative relationships with personnel across multiple County departments, fostering open communication and productive partnerships. To continue preparing competitive, well-supported grant applications and effectively managing awarded grants, I remain committed to staying informed on local, state, and federal policies, funding priorities, and legislative issues that impact the County and the State of Hawaiʻi. This ongoing awareness allows me to identify emerging funding opportunities, anticipate regulatory changes, and ensure that grant proposals and program administration align with the County's strategic priorities and long-term objectives. Moving forward, I will assist your organization in all aspects of the grant writing and grant management process including, but not limited to: Identifying grants applicable to your organization. Justifying fiscal, economic, and service needs to satisfy the grant requirements. Assisting and developing funding plans for your grant priorities. Writing and developing your grant documentation and application. Assisting in the implementation of your successful grant award. Communicating with grant awarding agencies on your behalf. Reporting including preparing your financial status and performance reports. Implementing your award, creating processes for implementation and tracking. Assisting with the processes for procuring your awarded items based on your departmental policies and procedures. Monitoring your grant expenditures, submitting payment requests, reconciling grant awarded items. Complying with grant monitoring, final reporting and policy development for ongoing monitoring and grant adherence. Our Grant Writing and Management Approach To achieve successful grant awards, I utilize a systematic “phased” approach applying various methodologies to develop documents and justification for effective grant applications. The following outline describes my grant application and management processes outlining the phases we will cover when applying for/or managing an existing grant: Phase 1 – Intake Form Identify Contacts & Organizational Information Identify Critical Organization Needs Identify Financial Need Grant Funding – Public/Private/Donations Justification for Budgetary Increases from Current Governing Body Phase 2 – Questionnaire Types of Services Interested In: Grant Identification Grant Justification Application Preparation Grant Implementation Grant Monitoring & Reporting Grant Compliance Based Upon Services Identified Above: Discuss Funding Interests Obtain Direction toward Grant Opportunities to Pursue Personnel Equipment Training Facility Upgrades Communications Other Review of Previous Grant Submittals Including Awards & Rejections Phase 3 – Research & Identification of Applicable Grant Opportunities Identify and research grant opportunities tailored to your needs. Ensure any matching funds required by specific grants are achievable by your organization. Ensure any pre-approval prior to submitting a grant is obtained by your department if required. Discuss opportunities on a continuous basis. Select the most appropriate and advantageous grant to apply for. Review and decipher Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) for specific grants to ensure departmental agreement for compliance. Phase 4 – Grant Application Development Identify/Assist with Data Collection Most of this information is the “boilerplate” for many grant applications: Current SAM Registration/DUNS Number Details on Critical Infrastructure Protected Population Services Provided by Organization Operating & Capital Budgets Funding Reserves & Sources Creation of a Good Grant Narrative This is the “meat & potatoes” of your grant application. We will develop a good narrative that will explain, document, and provide background information on the following five areas: Organization & Community You Serve Description of your organization and community. What are the demands of your organization based on the needs of the community? Financial Need Why do you need assistance and is it consistent with the intent of the grant program? Describe your financial distress, including budget constraints. Describe what attempts have been made to secure funding elsewhere and why financial distress is out of your control. Project Description/Budget Justification Clearly discuss project objectives and their relationship to budget and risk analysis. Describe how the various activities applied for are consistent with project objectives, your mission, and local requirements. Operations and Safety/Cost Benefit What is the benefit to your department if the grant is awarded? How will you address the operations and needs of your organization, including cost effectiveness and sharing assets? Include details about gaining the maximum benefits by citing required costs. Is the request consistent with your mission? Statement of Effect/Impact on Daily Operations What effect will your request, if funded, have on overall effectiveness, daily operations, and the reduction of common risks? How frequently will the items be used and at what capacity? What impact will this project have on your community and the saving of lives and property? Phase 5 – Grant Application Review & Submittal Assist and prepare your grant application for review and approval. Provide a complete application for your submittal. Phase 6 – Grant Award & Management Depending upon your need, assist with: Grant Implementation Create processes for implementation and tracking. Assist with the procurement of awarded items based on policies & procedures. Grant Monitoring Track expenditures Submit payment requests. Reconcile grant awarded items. Grant Compliance Final reporting Policy development for on-going monitoring and grant adherence. List of Recent Projects and References The following is a list of grants I have prepared and managed, the organizations they were prepared for, a brief description of the grant, and a contact for the organization: County of Hawai‘i Fire Department – Assistant Fire Chief Ian Chadwick - (808) 932-2907 Grants Awarded: FY 2024 – Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency (DHS/FEMA) - AFG (Assistance to Firefighters Grant) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) – Personnel Request – 12 Firefighting Positions - $4,343,148 FY 2023 – DHS/FEMA - AFG – Incident Command and Hazard Zone Training Grant for Fire Personnel - $537,595 FY 2021 – DHS/FEMA – AFG – Washer/Extractors & Dryers - $544,390 FY 2020 – DHS/FEMA - AFG Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) – Personnel Request – 9 Firefighting Positions - $3,511,641 FY 2020 – DHS/FEMA – AFG – COVID-19 Supplemental – COVID PPE Response Equipment Reimbursement - $379,911 Grants Applied for (Pending Award Notification): FY 2025 – DHS/FEMA – AFG – Portable Radios - $604,864 Deary Rural Fire District (Deary, ID) – Fire Chief Tim Jones - (208)596-5780 Grants Awarded: FY 2024 – U.S Department of the Interior, Office of Wildland Grant – Slip On Tanker Units - $97,000 FY 2023 – Idaho EMS American Recovery Plan – Ambulance Grant - $189,028 FY 2022 – DHS/FEMA - AFG – Personal Protective Gear (PPE – Turnouts & SCBA’s) - $232,306 FY 2022 – Idaho EMS LifeSaver Grant – Turnouts, Boots & Gloves - $24,850 FY 2020 – Idaho Fire Chiefs Fire Fighter’s License Plate Grant Award – Fire Safety Awareness & Educational Materials - $2,222 Grants Applied for (Pending Award Notification): FY 2025 – DHS/FEMA - AFG – Vehicle Grant - Brush Truck - $350,000 FY 2025 – DHS/FEMA – AFG – Medical Equipment/Defibrillator - $110,000 FY 2025 – Last Call Foundation Grant – Portable Radios - $24,550 FY 2025 – Firehouse Subs Foundation Grant – Washer/Extractor - $15,350 Elm Mott Volunteer Fire Department (Elm Mott, TX) – Fire Chief Chris Pechacek - (254)744-4754 Grants Awarded: FY 2024 – Last Call Foundation – Turnouts - $24,500 FY 2023 – DHS/FEMA - AFG – Personal Protective Gear (SCBAs) - $429,900 Grants Applied for (Pending Award Notification): FY 2025 – DHS/FEMA - AFG – Vehicle Grant – Water Tender - $675,000 FY 2025 – DHS/FEMA – AFG – Portable Radios (Regional Grant) - $1,350,000 FY 2025 – Union Pacific Emergency Responder Grant – Extrication Tools - $36,750 Lake Valley Fire Protection District (Lake Tahoe, CA) – Fire Chief John McNamara – (775) 771-0127 Grants Awarded: FY 2025 – U.S Department of the Interior, Office of Wildland Grant – Slip On Tanker Units - $38,000 Grants Applied for (Pending Award Notification): FY 2025 – DHS/FEMA - AFG – Vehicle Grant - Brush Truck - $866,000 FY 2025 – Last Call Foundation Grant – Wildland Radios - $23,275 FY 2025 – Firehouse Subs Foundation Grant – Thermal Imaging Cameras - $23,800 Reno Fire Department – Fire Chief David Cochran - (775) 334-2300 Grants Awarded: FY 2019 – DHS/FEMA - AFG SAFER – 8 Firefighting Positions - $3,004,000 FY 2019 – Firehouse Subs Foundation – Defibrillator - $42,500 FY 2019 – 2003 – DHS /FEMA – Emergency Management Performance Grants - $284,000 annually – total of $4.5 million dollars for emergency management planning, training, and exercises. FY 2018 – Pennington Foundation – Ladder Truck - $1,5111,000 FY 2018 – DHS/FEMA - AFG – Turnouts - $452,000 FY 2018 – 2010 – DHS/NV Dept of Public Safety – State Homeland Security Program – total of $3.5 million dollars for hazardous materials response training, equipment, and chemical detection equipment for Regional Haz-Mat Team. FY 2017 – DHS/FEMA - AFG – Defibrillators - $240,000 FY 2014 – DHS/FEMA - AFG – SCBAs - $750,000 FY 2013 – DHS/FEMA - AFG – Extrication Equipment - $384,000 FY 2011 – DHS/FEMA – Fire Management Assistance Grant - $2.9 million dollars for wildland fire reimbursements for two major fires, Caughlin Fire and Washoe Fire. FY 2010 – DHS/FEMA - AFG – Regional Communications Grant - $686,945 FY 2010/2011 – DHS/FEMA - AFG SAFER – 74 Firefighting Positions - $15.5 million dollars. Adventist Community Services (Troy, ID) – June Miner, Director – (360) 269-1063 Grants Awarded: FY 2026 – Innovia Foundation – Forklift Battery - $14,800 Closing Statement I am an initiative-taking, results-oriented professional with a strong work ethic and a proven ability to successfully manage demanding workloads with multiple, competing, and evolving priorities. Throughout my career, I have consistently demonstrated sound judgment, diligence, and the ability to deliver high-quality work under tight deadlines. My strong verbal and written communication skills allow me to build productive relationships and effectively collaborate with stakeholders at every level of an organization. I thrive on solving complex challenges and approach demanding situations with professionalism, persistence, and a solutions-focused mindset. I value teamwork and collaboration and would welcome the opportunity to continue contributing to the County of Hawaiʻi and supporting its mission through successful grant development and management. If you have any questions or require additional information, please feel free to contact me at (775) 544-0618. I appreciate your time and consideration and look forward to the opportunity to discuss how my experience and expertise can continue to support the County's grant writing and grant management needs. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Michele Hobbs CNC Consulting STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS Over 36 years of demonstrated experience researching, developing, writing, submitting, securing, administering, and managing local, state, federal, and private grant programs, with a proven record of successfully obtaining funding across a broad range of public sector and nonprofit initiatives, including, but not limited to the grant programs listed below: DHS /FEMA – Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Over $43 million dollars in grant awards for Fire and EMS training, equipment, and vehicles. DHS/FEMA – AFG Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grants Over $26 million dollars in grant awards for firefighting positions. DHS/FEMA – Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAG) Over $7.5 million dollars for wildland fire reimbursements. DHS /FEMA – Emergency Management Performance Grants (EMPG) Over $4.5 million dollars for emergency management planning, training, and exercises. DHS/NV Dept of Public Safety – State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) Over $3.5 million dollars for hazardous materials response training, equipment, and chemical detection equipment for the Regional Haz-Mat Team. USDA/BLM – Fire Mitigation Program $1.5 million dollars for fire fuel mitigation program to reduce wildland fire risk. USDA/DOI – Office of Wildland Fire $133,000 for rural fire wildland response equipment. Washoe County Local Emergency Planning Grants Over $500,000 in grant awards for emergency preparedness equipment. State of Idaho – Emergency Medical Division (EMS) Over $200,000 in grant awards for vehicles and safety equipment. Private Grants, Foundation Grants & Donations $1.5 million dollar grant from Pennington Foundation for Aerial Ladder Truck. $42,500 grant from Firehouse Subs Foundation for a Defibrillator. $24,500 grant from Last Call Foundation for Turnouts. $15,000 donation from Fireman’s Fund Insurance for Fire Prevention Education Materials. $14,800 donation from Innovia Foundation for Forklift Battery. Over 36 years of contract administration experience including specification development, contract preparation, billing, expenditure and revenue management for diverse types of personnel and service contracts. Over 36 years of administrative experience managing programs and personnel, scheduling projects, coordinating resources, and assigning priorities. Over 36 years of budget development, forecasting, management, strategic analysis, and implementation experience with various governmental and higher educational organizations. Proven ability to effectively collaborate and coordinate resources with internal and external stakeholders across all organizational levels to achieve goals and objectives in a professional manner. Proven ability to manage complex workloads, balance competing priorities, and consistently deliver results in fast-paced, high-pressure environments, while maintaining accuracy and meeting critical deadlines under pressure. Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Publisher), SQL databases, Crystal Reports, financial accounting systems, and database management, with extensive experience in data analysis, financial reporting, and the preparation of executive-level reports and presentations. Highly determined and consistently guided by strong professional ethics and integrity. RELEVANT EXPERIENCE Financial, Budgetary & Grant Management Responsible for all financial, budgetary and grant management activities for various local, state, and higher educational organizations: County of Hawai‘i Fire Department – Responsible for grant development, submittal and management of the Department’s DHS/FEMA awarded grants as follows: FY 2024 - DHS/FEMA - AFG Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) – Personnel Request – 12 Firefighting Positions - $4,343,148 FY 2023 – Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program - Incident Command and Hazard Zone Training Grant for Fire Personnel - $537,595 FY 2021 – Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program – Washer/Extractors & Dryers - $544,390 FY 2020 – Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program SAFER – 9 Firefighting Positions - $3,511,641 FY 2020 – Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program – COVID-19 Supplemental – COVID PPE Response Equipment Reimbursement - $379,911 Deary Rural Fire District - Responsible for grant development, submittal and management of the Department’s awarded grants as follows: FY 2024 – U.S Department of the Interior, Office of Wildland Grant – Slip On Tanker Units - $97,000 FY 2023 – Idaho EMS American Recovery Plan – Ambulance Grant - $189,028 FY 2022 – DHS/FEMA - AFG – Personal Protective Gear (PPE – Turnouts & SCBA’s) - $232,306 FY 2022 – Idaho EMS LifeSaver Grant – Turnouts, Boots & Gloves - $24,850 FY 2020 – Idaho Fire Chiefs Fire Fighter’s License Plate Grant Award – Fire Safety Awareness & Educational Materials - $2,222 Elm Mott Volunteer Fire Department - Responsible for grant development, submittal and management of the Department’s awarded grants as follows: FY 2023 – DHS/FEMA - AFG – Personal Protective Gear (SCBAs) - $429,900 FY 2024 – Last Call Foundation – Turnouts - $24,500 City of Reno Fire Department - Responsible for the overall development, preparation, administration and management of the Department’s $45.0 Million-dollar annual operating, capital and grant funded budget. Forecast budget requirement for annual program staffing, (wages, benefits, and overtime), equipment, materials, services, supplies, and capital equipment. Translate decisions and data into required budgetary documentation and justification to support annual budget request. Prepare, present, and justify the Department's annual budget submission, both operating and capital, to Finance, City Manager, and the City Council for adoption. Manage Departmental grant and contract programs of more than $15 Million dollars annually with federal, state, and local agencies for personnel services and supplies. City of Reno Finance Department, Budget Division – Responsible for the development and preparation of the City’s $365.0 Million dollar operating and capital budget. Coordinate with all City departments in the annual development, analysis, and review of individual budget submissions. Establish budget periods, processes, and communication plans for all departments. Communicate final approved budgets to all departments. Ensure budgets are established correctly in the financial tracking system. Monitor expenditures and revenues for all City departments; provide monthly analysis; and communicate concerns to department heads identifying adjustments required. Administer and oversee budget revisions and augmentations for all departments. Provide budget analysis and information to City Council requests. State of Alaska, Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) - Provide budgetary development, grant management, analysis and monitoring for Section Managers and the Regional Director for the annual $12.5 Million-dollar FAA/FHA grant funded departmental budget. Prepare monthly and annual budgetary reports on revenues and expenditures; provide financial contract and grant management; and forecast budgetary needs based on divisional objectives and missions. Administrative and Personnel Management As the Administrative Services Manager for the City of Reno Fire Department, responsible for the daily oversight, planning, management, supervision and coordination of personnel resources and programmatic activities of the Administrative Services Division. Supervise positions in the Administrative Services Division, including fiscal affairs and budgeting; payroll; supply; purchasing; records management; customer service; accounts receivable; accounts payable; grants management; facilities management; workers compensation and contract and agreement management. Provide staff guidance and support as needed to promote a positive work environment for increased work activity, providing a higher quality of client services. Manage the development and implementation of the Reno Fire Department mission; goals; objectives; priorities; and policies and procedures for each Division. Establish appropriate service and staffing levels within budgetary restrictions; monitor and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures for the Administrative Services Division, as well as other Divisions within the Fire Department. WORK HISTORY 1/20 – Current Chief Principal Officer, CNC Consulting Moscow, ID 9/06 – 1/20 Administrative Services Manager, City of Reno - Reno, NV Reno Fire Department 10/03-9/06 Senior Management Analyst, City of Reno - Reno, NV Finance Department, Budget Division 8/02 – 10/03 Coordinator, Budget and Personnel, University of Nevada Reno, NV Reno, University Studies Abroad Consortium 4/98 – 5/02 Administrative Manager II, State of Alaska – Department Fairbanks, AK of Transportation & Public Facilities, Construction and CIP Support 2/93 – 4/98 Administrative Manager I, State of Alaska – Department Fairbanks, AK of Transportation & Public Facilities, Maintenance and Operations, Buildings 9/97 - 1/98 Acting Program Budget Analyst III, State of Alaska – Fairbanks, AK Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, Northern Region Administration 7/92 - 2/93 Construction Accountant, University of Alaska Fairbanks, AK Fairbanks – Statewide Planning & Construction 9/90 - 6/92 Administrative Assistant I, State of Alaska – Department Anchorage, AK of Military & Veterans Affairs, Facility Mgmt. Office 9/89 - 9/90 Personnel & Operations Manager, Lamonts Apparel, Inc. Anchorage, AK EDUCATION University of Alaska, Fairbanks Bachelor of Business Administration Degree, B.B.A., Marketing/Management, May 1989