Simone McFarland

Simone McFarland has more than 15 years of government experience with an emphasis on economic development, communications and marketing along with more than 10 years of managing governmental divisions. Currently, she acts as the Assistant Director for economic development, housing, real estate and homelessness. Additionally, she is the Public Information Officer (PIO) in charge of all communications and marketing for the City of Burbank. As such, she is a member of the executive and policy teams. During her time in Burbank, she has helped to balance the budget forecast (prior to COVID-19), ran communications for three successful educational campaigns, helped the City Council establish goals including to build 12,000 housing units during the next 15 years, created and begun implementation of a homelessness action plan, brought two seemly unrelated divisions together, helped to get approved two housing developments, one industrial development and two hotels. Additionally, she has greatly increased communications with the public, and shares a Golden Mic award for a Mayor’s Show video. During COVID-19, she has overseen communications with the public and businesses. Prior to that Simone worked for the cities of Riverside, Murrieta and Sierra Vista, Arizona, along with the County of San Bernardino. Simone also owns Synergie Associates, a marketing and economic development firm she focused on from 2010 to 2017.