Department of Health Services Selects Emelia Gabriele as Chief Financial Officer

The Department of Health Services (DHS) today announced the selection of Emilia Gabriele as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) effective July 30, 2019. As CFO, Gabriele will manage the Department’s $243 million annual budget and lead DHS’ budget development processes and strategies. Gabriele’s leadership as CFO is integral to support the Department’s redesigning behavioral health system of care. 

Gabriele comes to DHS as an executive with over a decade of experience leading the financial operations of government-funded programs in the public and nonprofit sectors. Most recently, she was with Contra Costa County serving as CFO for the Employment and Human Services Department where she lead a team of 45 employees.

A Canadian native, Gabriele has a Master in Science (M.Sc.) degree with concentration in finance and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with concentration in finance and economics from the Universite de Montreal’s business school, HEC Montreal. She is a California licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA), a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). 

“We’re excited to have Emilia Gabriele step into the CFO role and lead DHS’ budget development processes,” said David Rabbitt, Chair of the Board of Supervisors. “Her experience and qualifications will be instrumental as DHS continues to develop new ways to provide essential services to our community”

“Emilia’s extensive financial experience, strong leadership and commitment to ethical standards make her the ideal choice to drive the redesign of the Department’s behavioral health system of care,” stated Barbie Robinson, Director of Health Services. 

Most notably, Gabriele a was a finalist for the Women Who Mean Business Award in 2013 and 2014 and a finalist for the CFO of the Year Award in 2013 by the San Diego Business Journal.