Kristin Toney, MBA
This month we’re highlighting WPFN Member Kristin Toney, MBA, administrative services director, for the Bend Parks and Recreation District in Bend, Oregon.
How has someone in the public finance community helped you rise in your career—and how do you pay that forward?
I have been incredibly fortunate throughout my career to have been guided by exceptional mentors and supervisors. Paul Squillace played a pivotal role early on introducing me to the fundamentals in my first job and later entrusting me with my first major leadership opportunity. From him, I learned the importance of balancing demanding work with a healthy work-life perspective.
During my time at the Denver Auditor’s Office, I had the privilege of working alongside Dawn Hume and Heather Darlington, who helped me develop emotional intelligence and navigate complex situations with composure and empathy. They modeled what it means to be both a strong supervisor and an effective leader.
Inspired by their example, I have made it a priority to pay it forward—whether through formal mentorship programs like WPFN’s or by supporting the growth and development of my own team and students.
What’s one way you build or contribute to community—at work or outside of it?
Being in a role that helps shape the fabric of a community is something I take immense pride in. Working in local government has given me the privilege to serve the place I call home. From my vantage point in finance, I have had the unique opportunity to witness the full lifecycle of public infrastructure—seeing how roads, water systems, and sewer networks are planned, funded, constructed, and ultimately brought into service. There’s a special kind of satisfaction in driving down a road you helped make possible.
Today, I am fortunate to contribute to the development of parks and recreation—what could be more rewarding than helping create spaces that bring people together? When time allows, I also teach a course at the local community college, hoping to inspire the next generation of accountants. In addition, I serve on the county’s budget committee, where I continue to support thoughtful, community-centered fiscal planning.
What activity, hobby, or interest helps you recharge and show up strong for others?
As a runner, I find energy and clarity in early morning miles, most often alongside fellow working moms at 6am on Bend’s stunning trails and through its vibrant parks. It is my favorite way to recharge before the day begins. I am also an avid reader, drawn exclusively to fiction for the escape it offers. Supporting our local bookstores is something I enjoy—it’s where my love of story meets my love of community.