2021 GFOA Hero Award Recipients

2021 GFOA Hero Award Recipients

GFOA's Third Annual Hero Award recognizes finance officers who have demonstrated extraordinary actions during a time of health, financial, natural, or human-made crisis.

Catherine McClary, Treasurer, Washtenaw County, Ann Arbor, Michigan

There are several critical measures Catherine worked on this year specific to the COVID-19 pandemic and racial inequity that clearly distinguish her as an influencer whose leadership has led to recovery and renewal in her community. Safety requirement stemming from the pandemic gave her and staff an opportunity to rethink old business practices and provide an urgency to accept change.

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Darin Kamradt, Director of Finance, WaterOne, Lenexa, Kansas

WaterOne is an independent, public water utility serving over 455,000 people in the suburban Kansas City area. Darin’s leadership during this pandemic was critical to ensure the safety of the organization’s essential workers and the reliability of water service to the public.

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Matthew Trine, Assistant City Manager/Finance Director, City of Rockledge, Florida

While this award is for 2021, the leadership, service, and perseverance Matt has demonstrated to the City has gone on for years.

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Paul Miller, Director of Finance, Ohio Public Employees Deferred Compensation Plan, Columbus, Ohio

The Ohio Deferred Compensation (Ohio DC) is a public supplemental retirement plan that provides retirement investment services to nearly 250,000 public servants in the state of Ohio.

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Jené Jess, Finance Director, City of Bondurant, Iowa

Recognizing that residents could easily accumulate huge balances with the suspension of utility shutoffs at the beginning of the pandemic, Jené worked with customers to develop payment plans and reduced the City’s overall delinquent utility balances, while helping customers figure out how to cope with individual financial setbacks.

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Albert Stanley, Chief Financial Officer, City of Ventnor, New Jersey

During the pandemic, Albert was instrumental in keeping the City operating, functioning, and the Finance department working.

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