The new Festus finance director, Michelle Vaughn, certainly knows the job.
She has worked for Festus since 1997, and before taking over as finance director on Nov. 13, she was the city’s financial administrative assistant.
Michelle Vaughn
Vaughn, 55, even worked as the finance director for a time.
“When I was first hired for the city, I was a clerk-typist at Public Works,” Vaughn said. “I was there, probably, a little over a year when the city administrator, Rick Turley, said he was leaving and wanted me to step in and take over finances until they hired someone to fill the position. The old finance director was also leaving. I would say I worked in that position for five years doing the finance director job until they hired Pat Parsons.
“I’ve done the budget. I’ve invested funds. I’m treasurer for the Jefferson County Water Authority (the entity that oversees the Cathy Jokerst Water Treatment Plant that serves Festus and Herculaneum).”
Parsons was the Festus finance director until retiring in 2020 after nearly 15 years in that job. Stephanie Cunningham, her successor, left the job earlier in the fall to return to the private sector.
Vaughn will be paid an $80,000 annual salary, a $23,029 increase over her $56,971 salary as financial administrative assistant. Cunningham’s last salary as finance director was $90,650.
City Administrator Greg Camp said he was part of a committee that chose Vaughn as finance director out of 12 applicants. The City Council did not need to approve the hiring, he said.
“Michelle brings a depth of experience of the city’s operations,” Camp said. “More than that, her attention to detail, her energy and enthusiasm are unparalleled. I think she’s going to do a great job.”
Vaughn and her husband, David, live in Festus. The couple has a blended family of four children.
“I look forward to serving the city of Festus with integrity and transparency,” she said. “The city has a lot of upcoming projects, and I’ll be overseeing the infrastructure of the projects.”
She said she sees herself retiring as finance director in five years or so and intends to help train the person hired to take over her job.
“I’m hoping whoever fills my old position can step in to take over the finance director job,” Vaughn said.