The Itat Quarterly

Q: How long have you been treasurer for Montgomery County?
A: I became treasurer on December 8, 2020.

Q: How did you get your start?
A: I started working in the motor vehicle department of the treasurer’s office in March of 2014.

I ran for office in 2018 when our treasurer was retiring. I lost the election to my co-worker.  She was treasurer for almost two years before resigning. I decided to apply for the position again in November of 2020.  Our Board of Supervisors conducted interviews for three candidates and chose me to fill the position.

I pursued this position because I felt I could make positive changes to the treasurer’s office to benefit the county’s cost efficiency, effectiveness, and improve customer services.

Q: How many team members do you have in your office?
A: I have five employees in the treasurer’s office including myself.

Q: What are some successes that you have had during your time as treasurer?
A: Some of my successes have included cross training employees, reducing staff as a cost savings to the county, and locating all services into one office for customers' convenience.

Q: What are some challenges you have faced and how have you overcome those challenges?
A: I faced challenges when I decided to cross-train my employees. I lost staff members who didn’t want to accept the change. The employees I have now know we will eventually be cross-trained in most of the office duties. There will be a backup for everyone so no downtime will exist. I believe strong customer service, efficiency, and accuracy is the key to a good office structure.

Q: What solutions or accomplishments are you most proud of?
A: I am most proud of the employees I have who work together as a team. I successfully accomplished our County’s first Online Tax Sale in 2021.

Q: What are your future goals for your team and your office?
A: I look forward to a future where all the office employees are continuing to learn, cross-train, and provide better customer service than the day before.

Q: What are you looking forward to most?
A: I look forward to watching my employees grow with the experience and knowledge they will have learned.

Q: What is something about you that most people don't know?
A: Most people do not know I aspired to become a CPA when I graduated from high school.

Q: What is something unique to your county?
A: The Montgomery County Courthouse was pulled by thirty yoke of oxen on sleds to the Red Oak location in a blizzard. The blizzard was so intense that the courthouse was moved off course, oxen were unhitched and the courthouse was allowed to wander on its own.

Jackie Porter, Montgomery County Treasurer