SUPERIOR — The Senior City Council confirmed the appointment of the city’s next Finance Director on Tuesday, Oct. 4.
Contribution / Nick Reinhart
Nick Reinhart, currently the head of Lakes United Way, will take the city’s top position in finance.
After former finance director Ashley Puetz stepped down in June, officials went through two hiring cycles to find a suitable candidate.
Mayor Jim Payne said Reinhart has eight years of professional experience, the same level of experience Puet had when he was hired by the city.
Rhinehart holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and Business Administration (two majors) from Clark University in Dubuque, Iowa.
“I never intended to be an accountant at all, but I had a really great advisor at my school who encouraged me to pursue this path,” Reinhart said.
After college, he said he thought about where he wanted to live and work. He landed in Hayward, worked for a small CPA firm, and was involved in auditing non-profits and local governments.
“I really liked this piece,” said Reinhart. “I really liked the people I worked with.” Among the municipalities he worked with was the town of Superior, which is where he ended up. After his year in the corporate world of Duluth, he returned to work at a nonprofit.
“When choosing a career, I want to do what’s best for as many people as possible,” Reinhart said. “…a town of 26,000 people. I want to do everything I can for them.”
Before joining United Way in 2020, the mayor said in a memo to the city council that Reinhart worked as an accountant for audits, financial statements, budgets, payroll and tax returns for local government and nonprofit organizations. . According to his references, he is smart, a quick learner, a strong critical thinker who offers sound advice and builds effective relationships, writes the mayor.
“One of the most striking things about his resume is that he had fairly advanced IT and financial software skills,” Payne told the council. “This is something that has been of interest to some of us, especially those working on the advancement of the financial system.”
Payne and deputy finance director Deb Kamnen agreed from the start that Reinhart was the first choice after an extensive interview process, Payne said.
“I got the impression that he is very open and honest. He is obviously the best person to work with in any staff position, but in finance it absolutely matters. said Payne. “You need someone who not only tells you the truth about your financial situation, but is also willing to stand up for you if you’re wrong. More importantly, be willing to face yourself. With Mr. Reinhart. I saw it a lot in 2010. He was very candid about what he was good at and what he wasn’t good at.”
Reinhardt will assume his new position in November.
Kamnen, the city’s deputy finance director, will continue to serve as acting finance director until the end of the year, and Reinhart will be trained for his new role, Payne said. The city has contracted retired Senate Finance Minister Jean Vito to provide training.
Vito served as the city’s Finance Director from 2001 until his retirement in 2019. She joined the city’s finance department in her 1993 as Assistant Finance Director.
