I have recently earned the Certified Public Finance Administrator certification. These programs include 3-4 years of treasury core work and class experience, over one hundred hours each.  I have earned the Harvard Business School certification in Finance Administration and a Specialization in Leadership and Management from Harvard School of Business. I have earned all four levels of the Michigan Municipal League’s Elected Officials Academy (120 credits), the thirteenth in the state since the inception of the program and first for Dearborn Heights. I am a lifelong learner and dedicated public servant to the community and believe improving the lives of our residents is vital.

I have seen the need for improving the city services offered and delivered by the Treasurer’s office. During the first five years as City Treasurer, I assessed the office and operations, developed a strategy for addressing the needs, and have continued to implement the strategy.  This includes strengthening internal controls, establishing, and implementing securities to safeguard the  public funds. Staff professional development is key to delivering and exceeding the customer service needs for our residents. The treasury team is certified in internal controls, customer service, and financial literacy.

The treasury team assists our customers by providing valuable resources, wrap-around services, and connecting the dots for families. In addition, I offer constituent service days, office hours for our customers, open door policy to meet anytime, and offer several financial resource fairs.    Residents Assistance Days bring together water payment assistance resources, utility assistance, housing assistance and more to our community.

My goal is to continue reviewing the needs of our community and offer the services needed. It is important to build bridges, recognize and assess, and develop long term strategies which benefit our residents. I have expanded the payment platforms for our customers offering new and innovative technology  to better serve our residents. The City of Dearborn Heights offers more payment plans and options than ever before, including ACH Auto pay for taxes, kiosks payment centers in the community, and programs which are secure and save time for busy lifestyles.  Taxpayers may make installment payments for taxes that work for them.  In addition, the City of Dearborn Heights is now beginning an escheatment process and striking uncollectable delinquent personal property tax (business taxes which are eligible) by state law. This is a first for our city.

I am active in the community in numerous ways including a board member for the Dearborn-Dearborn Heights League of Women Voters and the Western Wayne County NAACP.  I am a member of the professional treasury-finance organizations, Michigan Municipal League, serving on the Finance Committee, the Michigan Municipal Treasurers Association, Michigan Government Finance Officers Association, committee member,  and the national Association of Public Treasurers of the United States and Canada.  I formerly served as President for Golfview Manor Civic Association, Neighborhood Watch Coordinator, and founder of the Dearborn Heights Youth Service organization, assisting senior citizens and disabled residents with yard clean ups and delivering food. I provide backpacks to area schools for at risk students and deliver food to food insecure families in southeast Michigan.

I would like our residents and the community to know I am dedicated to being a servant leader. It is important to listen to our residents. Open and honest communication, as well as civic engagement, is critical for good governance. I have stood for transparency.  I believe in bringing people together and developing strategies which work for our community and improving city services. A priority-based budget should be considered as the city is experiencing some financial challenges. Remaining the watch guard of the public funds, I remain firm following federal, state and local laws while fostering responsible spending of the taxpayers’ dollars.