Today’s ITA Spotlight highlights one of our most essential backbones - the Finance, Administration and Internal Operations Bureau (FAIO), led by Chief Management Analyst Maria Ramos. FAIO ensures that our core services have the support they need by securing funding and proper administrative approvals; coordinating with City leadership such as the Mayor and Council; and collaborating closely with the Chief Administrative Officer, the City Attorney’s Office, the Controller’s Office and other departments.
FAIO provides a variety of essential services. They manage ITA’s core administrative functions - budgeting, purchasing, contracting, facilities, accounting and payroll needs, and administrative support - while also delivering key internal services such as strategic staffing, resource utilization, process management and operations, and safety and risk management
Despite substantial reductions in staffing over the past two fiscal years, FAIO has continued to deliver department-wide support without any reduction in service levels, thanks to internal reorganization and process management.
FAIO’s accomplishments in 2025 include:
Budget Team: Helped pass and administer the department’s 2025-26 budget of $93 million, and finalized 867 purchasing documents, including purchase orders.
Process Management and Operations Team (PMO): In addition to internal process development and collaborating with other FAIO teams to launch training for division managers on administrative functions, PMO reviewed and processed over 1,450 communications services requests.
Contracts Team: Executed over 12 contracts, contract amendments, and service level agreements and completed more than 79 requests to use ITA contracts by other departments.
Accounting Team: Completed approximately 1,000 transactions necessary to keep departmental operations running smoothly.
Executive Support Team: As the frontline for visitors and callers, they ensure seamless day-to-day operations. They sent out 210 official correspondences, performed a wide range of administrative tasks, and supported ITA’s Executive team with utmost professionalism and care.
Keep up the excellent work, everyone!
FAIO Bureau Team Members
Management
Maria Ramos
Budget and Finance Services
Maggie McNally - Supervisor
Maria Norwall
Trina Lee
Process Management and Operations
Rhea Jarvis - Supervisor
Elvira Mendez
Valerieann Palazzolo
Lorna Tolentino
Finn Greenberg (Student Worker)
Contract Administration
Mei Ly - Supervisor
Ryan Ellefson
Baltazar Dasalla
Timothy Jennings
Accounting and Payroll Services
Niva Verma - Supervisor
Dakota Edison
Jackelin Ortiz-Lopez
Anthony Bizarro
Sandra Corbett
Veronica Torres
Executive Administrative Support
Marina Sanchez
Elsa Silvestre
Wendy Aguirre
We also want to recognize those who have contributed to our success this year: Tita Zara (retirement), Mary Lee (promotion), and Aaron Millager and Pamela Alfaro (pursuing outside opportunities).