WPFN Member Spotlight: Vanessa Aguilar

This month we're highlighting WPFN Member Vanessa Aguilar, deputy director of utilities, Financial Services, City of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

How has someone in the public finance community helped you rise in your career—and how do you pay that forward?
I have worked for the City of Oklahoma City for over thirteen years, working for the Utilities Department, starting as a financial specialist to currently, deputy director of utilities, Financial Services. During this time, I had the privilege of working with Assistant Director, Bret Weingart (retired in 2024 with over 30 years of service). His dedication to public finance, staff empowerment, and support for innovative strategies enabled me to gain valuable experience and knowledge related to financial planning strategies, financial metrics, financial policies, prudent Public Trust management, and contract management, which have been key ingredients to our utility maintaining AAA/Aaa bond ratings. He was always a teacher at heart, encouraging learning and critical thinking through the Socratic Method, allowing you to come to conclusions, through critical thinking. This provided key ingredients for me to transition from a contributor to a leader. From those experiences, I have valued and fully supported continuing to lay the path forward for all our financial staff to grow in their knowledge, experience, and skills. A great leader is one who supports their team and encourages and supports their development and career aspirations. My hope is that as I continue my career journey, there are team members that benefit from the learnings and experiences and rise as leaders to continue our dedication to public finance.

What’s one way you build or contribute to community—at work or outside of it?
I am very passionate about how my work contributes to the community. In my role, I oversee the financial responsibilities that include developing rates and charges to fund revenue requirements to execute our O&M and capital plan improvements to enable the Utilities Department to provide essential services to Central Oklahoma. Being a good steward for our ratepayer funds to provide the essential services is how I see myself contributing to our community. We are able to provide affordable utility rates while still providing safe and reliable drinking water. 

What activity, hobby, or interest helps you recharge and show up strong for others?
I am an avid reader and a soccer mom of two young kids. You can find me on a soccer field year-round cheering on the team and usually reading a good fiction book on the road to a game. I enjoy supporting my kids' activities as it provides family time outdoors and allows me to recharge for work.