AN INTERVIEW WITH Lori Thomas.

• Author: Fu, Elizabeth
• Position: IN PRACTICE: INTERVIEW - Interview

The Women's Public Finance Network (WPFN) is a networking group within GFOA. It is open at no cost to all active GFOA members who are interested in fostering the careers of women in public finance through education, networking, and mentoring opportunities. GFOA's Elizabeth Fu talks to WPFN President Lori Thomas, assistant county administrator, Richland County, South Carolina, about being a resilient woman finance officer.

Last spring, Lori was thinking about the theme for her upcoming year as WPFN president and felt that nothing could be more fitting than the resilient woman public finance officer. The year would pose many challenges, and as far as Lori is concerned, every challenge comes with opportunities. We had to adapt and do things differently in 2020, leaving us more resilient and smarter in the end.

For WPFN, that has meant taking a step back and re-evaluating the best way to move ahead. "We had to take things to a different level, but I've got to say, I think it actually has worked quite well for WPFN," Lori said. As WPFN president, Lori has been actively involved with the co-chairs of the network's three committees--education/programming, communications, and mentorship--meeting with them monthly to collaborate and to spur ideas about additional opportunities for WPFN members. The virtual environment has bolstered the network's activities; it now offers monthly events that members across the country can join in, including webinars. The group also has plans for new offerings in 2021.

Lori hopes to boost WPFN's membership because many women are taking positions in public finance and local government, and it is important to build a support system that will help them discuss the specific needs and challenges that women face both personally and professionally. "I'd like to be able to further our mentorship program to allow younger members of the public finance community to be able to take advantage of the tools that we offer, from guidance to just words of wisdom," she explained.

When asked about some words of wisdom she wished she had received earlier in her career, Lori said, "There are other opportunities out there. When I was a young mom, I was also a single mom. So, there were times that I had to make very hard decisions. Do I work those extra hours so I can continue to raise and support my children, or do I go to the baseball game? How do I get the kids home from school and make sure they get to the practices? I carried a lot of...