Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Affiliations
Certification
Interests
Timeline
Generic

Jacki Athey

Villa Grove,IL

Summary

Dynamic leader with extensive experience as City Administrator and City Treasurer/Comptroller for the City of Villa Grove. Excelled in strategic planning, community revitalization, and highly-focused financial management, securing vital funding and enhancing municipal services. Skilled in intergovernmental relations and team communication with collaboration, significantly improving operational efficiency and community trust.

Overview

31
31
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

City Administrator

City of Villa Grove
10.2018 - Current
  • Improved city services by implementing more efficient administrative processes and procedures.
  • Oversaw infrastructure projects such as building of new water treatment plant and recreation center, ensuring timely completion and adherence to quality standards.
  • Develop and wrote dozens of city ordinances to maintain a safe and orderly community...while saving legal fees.
  • Continuously conduct thorough evaluations of proposed policies/projects ensuring alignment with the city's strategic goals, and long-term vision.
  • Coordinated special events within the city, boosting tourism revenue and showcasing local attractions (Freedom Celebration, Christmas Tree Lighting Festival, Walldogs mural event).
  • Enhanced communication between city departments for better coordination of services and resources, through continuous email updates and calendar events.
  • Supervised multiple grant and loan applications, securing funding for vital community projects.
  • Negotiated contracts with external vendors, ensuring high-quality products/services at competitive prices for the city's benefit.
  • Provided guidance and support to city council members when needed by offering "expert" advice based on my extensive local government knowledge from the past 31+ years with the City.
  • Streamlined budget management for cost-effective use of public funds.
  • Prepared plans for land use and area development.
  • Represented city and interests with community organizations, government agencies and general public; serve as liaison to engineers, consultants, attorneys and auditors.
  • Implemented innovative programs to increase employee morale and loyalty to empower them and reduce turnover, such as annual public service recognition week, employee lunches, and bonuses.
  • Reduced budgetary expenditures by effectively negotiating contracts for more advantageous terms or eliminating services that were no longer needed or outdated.

City Treasurer/Comptroller

City of Villa Grove
10.1993 - Current
  • Helped research and effectuate switch from Appropriations to Budget Officer method of budgeting; served as Budget Officer 20+ years
  • Maintained accurate records of all city funds, ensuring transparency and accountability in financial management.
  • Enhanced financial reporting by streamlining processes and implementing new software.
  • Advised elected officials on matters relating to municipal finance, enabling informed decision-making processes.
  • Played an instrumental role in enhancing community trust through transparent communication about municipal finances.
  • Managed cash flow efficiently for the city, ensuring timely payments and adequate reserves.
  • Established strong relationships with financial institutions, securing favorable terms for city loans and investments.
  • Planned and managed $8M annual budgets, tracking expenses, and investigating discrepancies to maintain optimal controls.
  • Completed journal entries, reconciliations, and account analysis to prepare monthly and annual financial documents and general account management.
  • Managed budgets, assets, portfolios, accounts payable, and receivable and general financial reporting procedures.
  • Provided treasury and cash management by overseeing reconciliation of banking activity, credit card processing, and sales tax returns.
  • Created and distributed reports on internal and external finances, audits, and budgets.

Education

Associate of Arts - Liberal Arts And Sciences

Parkland College
Champaign, IL
12.1991

Associate of Science - Business Administration

Parkland College
Champaign, IL
05.1991

High School Diploma -

Atwood-Hammond High School
Atwood
06.1989

Skills

  • Organizational leadership
  • Budget preparation and maintenance/reporting
  • Intergovernmental relations
  • Community engagement
  • Emergency management
  • Land use planning with ongoing strategic plan focus and execution
  • Successful grant application and administration
  • Economic development and community revitalization planning
  • Verbal/written communication, including attendance and reporting at all Council meetings
  • Team collaboration within departments as well as external civic organizations

Accomplishments

  • Developed land use plans for 200+ undeveloped acres in for Sports Complex, Industrial Park as well as Prairie Fire and Pheasant Pointe residential subdivisions.
  • Spearheaded IDNR PARC grant application for new Community Rec Center, resulting in $2.1M award; successfully administered post-grant activities and required reporting for multiple OSLAD, FEMA and legislative grant awards.
  • Achieved many paperless recordkeeping processes by implementing Google Drive capabilities City-wide with accuracy and efficiency.
  • Helped initiate, research and complete the sale of the City's water and wastewater utilities to a private company in 2022, thus insuring improved services and quality of water to residents for years to come.
  • Supervise departments of Administration, Fire, Police, Public Works and our new Community Programs & Services (which has created 3 FT jobs and 10+ permanent PT positions in less than one year).
  • Currently serve as City TIF Administrator, Authorized Agent for IMRF, Health Plan Representative for CMS LGHP.
  • Formerly served several years as City's Risk Management Coordinator for IMLRMA.

Affiliations

  • VG Chamber of Commerce - Board Member
  • Douglas County Economic Development Corp - DCEDC Board Member
  • Illinois City/County Management Association - ILCMA
  • American Association of Municipal Executives - AAME
  • Illinois Municipal Treasurer's Association - IMTA Board Member
  • Association of Public Treasurers United States and Canada - APTUS&C

Certification

ITMA:

Certified Illinois Municipal Treasurer (CIMT)


APTUS&C:

Certified Public Funds Administrator (CPFA) and Certified Public Funds Investment Manager (CPFIM)


Other:

Currently 2/3 through education/training to test for the Professional Community and Economic Development Certification (PCED)


Interests

  • Avid Reader, Music fan and seeker of Brain Games
  • Love most college-level sports and the St Louis Cardinals
  • I enjoy helping others and giving back to the community

Timeline

City Administrator

City of Villa Grove
10.2018 - Current

City Treasurer/Comptroller

City of Villa Grove
10.1993 - Current

Associate of Arts - Liberal Arts And Sciences

Parkland College

Associate of Science - Business Administration

Parkland College

High School Diploma -

Atwood-Hammond High School

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Jacki Athey