The city of Duluth announced its selection for the next city finance director in a news release Thursday. Jen Carlson's appointment will go before the City Council for approval on Sept. 14.
Carlson would replace Wayne Parson, who is retiring after 39 years of public service, with fifteen of those years spent working for Duluth.
" Wayne has been an invaluable member of our team," Mayor Emily Larson said in the release. "He has helped the city navigate our finances in the best and worst times. His talents and his overall presence will be truly missed within every department within the city."
Carlson has over 15 years of experience in government financial management. Before working for the city, she served as a senior accountant for the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District and as the finance director for Spirit Mountain Recreation Area.
She has an undergraduate degree in accounting from the University of Wisconsin-Superior, graduate degrees in business administration and management from the College of St. Scholastica, and recently passed the certified public accountant exam.
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“Jen has worked tirelessly as the city’s budget manager for the past five years,” Chief Administrative Officer Noah Schuchman said. “She has worked hard to plan and prepare budgets, has worked with directors to create long-term financial goals, in addition to championing the city’s priority based budgeting initiative. We are excited to have Jen serve in this new role.”
Carlson stated in the release that she is honored to be selected for the position and thanked the finance team.
" I look forward to providing strategic financial leadership and management to city departments so that collaboratively we can achieve city priorities," Carlson said.
