“I could’ve gone to operate for what was Boeing at the time, but it’s these kinds of a massive company. What I like about the dimension of Derby was you get a task from get started to complete and I actually love the persons I function with it’s my get the job done relatives,” Epperson mentioned. “There’s a crew ambiance listed here and you expand to genuinely treatment about these persons.”

Prior to Derby, Epperson labored for the city of Wichita and her very first work after earning her degree from Kansas Point out University was as City Clerk/Finance Director in Atchison, exactly where she achieved her husband. They later on moved to the Wichita place so Epperson could end her Masters of Enterprise Administration at Wichita Condition University.

The Bennington indigenous admitted it was a professor at Kansas State that helped forge that vocation route she has followed.

“We had a great professor who manufactured finance enjoyment, which not quite numerous people feel of finance as getting exciting. That lit the fire,” Epperson claimed.

Amongst the achievements Epperson has obtained in her time as Derby Director of Finance is upgrading the city’s bond ranking to AA, with town management noting her seem fiscal management and plan practices leave Derby in exceptional economic condition.

Respecting the hard operate of her fellow city personnel, Epperson stated they all are fully commited to observing their projects as a result of. For her that indicates creating positive the metropolis is insured, it has its assets invested, is not getting targeted for fraud, and so forth., so that nothing at all terrible occurs on her look at. Most importantly, maybe, she claimed any budgetary ballot troubles are taken significantly to honor the funding requests voted upon by Derby residents and be certain good funding strategies.

“I’ve usually seen my part as a protector of the community property that is aspect of what finance does,” Epperson claimed. “You try to be very good stewards of the general public cash simply because individuals have entrusted you with it, and as soon as you split that belief it is incredibly complicated to acquire that have faith in again.”

Coming into retirement, Epperson explained she options to invest much more time in her back garden, at the Derby Recreation Centre and expects her new position will lead to more volunteer get the job done with her church.

Around the several years, Epperson reported she has been happy to see the transformation of Derby and the city’s expenditure in public infrastructure mirrored in facilities like Town Corridor, the library, Warren Riverview Park and additional. She claimed she will overlook the individuals most on leaving, provided the motivation to the community, but she feels confident in her get the job done as properly as the capabilities of those remaining in demand – like Megan Sneller, a present city finance personnel set to acquire more than Epperson’s job.

“What I want to do is go away her in the greatest possible placement and know Derby’s a lively, growing city and we want to do the very best we can with what we’ve been entrusted. There are some issues down the road as the finances regulation alterations. We don’t know what the upcoming holds for inflation. My hope is that we’re positioned as very best as we can correct now and we can satisfy those issues,” Epperson mentioned. “I’m happy there’s somebody coming up guiding me that can come in with a new set of eyes, and she’s acquired that mind-set.”

“Jean is just one-of-a variety and will be considerably missed,” said City Supervisor Kiel Mangus. “We have valued not only her understanding and expertise, but also her pleasant, client demeanor. She has been a huge asset to the Derby local community and I’m delighted for her and would like nothing at all but the best as she commences the next chapter of her everyday living.”