I became the City Clerk in the fall of 2017. I interviewed for the position of Deputy City Clerk earlier in the summer, and was promoted after a month in the role as the current Clerk/Treasurer retired. It was challenging at the time because I didn’t know anything about how to operate the office and all of the intricacies it entailed. My supervisor was more focused on the financial aspects of his role, and couldn’t pass much information along regarding the role of a City Clerk.
I ended up reverse engineering what the position was supposed to do based on the limited documentation at my disposal. It was honestly a fantastic opportunity to create new, efficient processes for the department. I was looking at everything with a fresh perspective. This allowed me to make desperately needed changes for the Clerk’s Office. As I had questions, I used my resources to determine the best course of actions when new projects were added to my plate. I spoke with other departments and the City Attorney, and we often realized that much of what had been done in the past was either incorrect or severely outdated.
Currently, the Clerk’s Office operates at a completely different level than what it did in the past. We are a crucial part of City operations, assisting with projects that involve all departments in one form or another. It has been a fantastic experience that has provided the opportunity for me to flourish and grow professionally. I am now a Certified Municipal Clerk and a Registered Parliamentarian, giving me a better understanding of my role in local government. The right pieces clicked into place at the right time to afford me this opportunity to make a significant difference in how the City of Sheridan operates and how I can positively impact the community.