Riley Akervik has worked in public finance since his graduation from the University of Jamestown in the spring of 2021. In his undergraduate program, he received his Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, Business Management, Financial Planning, Wealth Management, and Leadership. Following graduation, he was hired as the Finance Director for the local public health department in the Southeast Central Region of North Dakota.

Riley has taken part in several different functions of GFOA. He currently serves on the Small Government Forum Events Committee, and also attended the GFOA Leadership Academy in Charleston, South Carolina in 2023. Recently, Riley has joined the leadership committee for the Young Professionals Network for GFOA where he will work to increase GFOA membership across a younger demographic while supporting other young professionals in their public finance journey.

Riley is active in his community, where he serves on several non-profit boards as Treasurer. In his free time, Riley enjoys golfing and being with friends/family as much as possible.