Running to be your next CSSA VP of Finance
Octavio Martinez
About me:
I’m currently a senior at California State University San Marcos, majoring in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing.
As President & CEO of Associated Students, Inc. at CSUSM, I manage a $2.3 million budget and advocate for nearly 17,000 students—ensuring financial stability while advancing our mission to serve, engage and empower our students.
This fall, I’ll begin my MBA program, specializing in Leadership and Finance. As a committed student advocate, I’m excited to continue serving through CSSA as Vice President of Finance—bringing forward my experience in budget management, strategic leadership, and collaborative decision-making to support students systemwide.
Four Main Goals
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#1 Creating a Transparent Budget
Create a more transparent budget so that when reporting, more students fully understand how CSSA fees and revenues are allocated. This will include ensuring budget lines that are important to students are highlighted and expanded on for the 26/27 CSSA Budget.
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#2 Enhancing Operational Efficiencies
Enhancing operational efficiencies to ensure CSSA funds are used effectively. This will include gathering insight from all stakeholders to see what expenses are not necessary.
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#3 Inclusive Decision-Making
Providing inclusive decision-making that reflects the voices of CSU students. This goes for all decisions, including financial policies, fiscal social responsibility initiatives, and financial strategies.
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#4 Long-Term Financial Stability
Securing long-term financial stability to strengthen CSSA’s impact and independence. The main driver is an endowment and finding different funding strategies like campaigns, fundraisers, and partnerships that CSSA members deem appropriate.
Timeline
June- Aug 2025
With the help of CSSA staff, I will start to explore different endowment types and models, ensuring we find one that makes sense for the overall mission of CSSA.
This process will also be a shared process where I will ask government members in August for input to asses needs, goals, and funding methods for this endowment.
During this time, I will dive deep into long-lasting CSSA expenses to determine needs and ways to spend smarter. I will also be looking at all line items to ensure all monies being spent are beneficial to CSSA’s mission.
I will also review financial policies and work on prior VPF’s unfinished business if deemed necessary.
Sept- Oct 2025
I will work with the Vice Chair of the Finance Committee and the finance committee to find different ways to gather members to participate in financial conversations and decisions.
Continue to present and give updates on the 25/26 CSSA Approved Budget with it being more transparent in what was spent on each line item.
I will work with CSSA Staff and the Chancellor’s Office to identify investments and get insight into our funds to stay socially responsible.
Give financial statements that highlight CSUnity costs and compare them to prior years to identify trends and find solutions to any prevalent issues.
Nov- Dec 2025
Present finalized findings for endowment types and models to the finance committee.
During this time I will start the creation of the mid to long-range fiscal plans. These will be projections based on trends, revenue, and inflation to assess the financial standing of CSSA for the next 3-7 years.
Through this process, I will ask the finance committee members to look into different/ undiscovered strategies to maximize the budget.
Jan - Feb 2026
I will present the finalized mid to long-range plans to finance and the board to start implementing and working on strategy.
Share findings from the SIRF report (there has been a slight decline for the past 3 years) and find solutions to decrease the amount of admin opt-outs before the end of term for the next academic year. Create a plan to ensure there is a smaller percentage of students not paying fees/ educate financial aid offices on CSSA’s mission, goals, and benefits to students.
Start the official creation of the 26/27 CSSA Budget.
Mar - April 2026
Present and Approve the 26/27 CSSA Budget with recommendations from findings from the academic year. This budget will be easier for all members to read and follow. I will ensure the budget file is clean and simple enough to understand.
I will ensure I am conservative with projections (using the smallest revenue and the maximum estimated expenses) so we are being financially responsible.
Throughout my time, I will ensure all financial policies are being reviewed and updated with the help of the CSSA Chair through the Joint Finance and Internal Affairs Committee.
May 2026
I will complete all the business and have an outline for the next academic year.
I will ensure all updates and questions from the committee, governing members, and students are answered and any concerns are being addressed throughout my whole term.
Vote Martinez on April 13th!
Please feel free to reach out for question, to connect about my candidacy, or to learn more about me!