Meet the Board
2023 CCMFOA Officers
Biography
Heather Hillegeist is the City Clerk for the City of Lincoln Center. Heather joined the City of Lincoln Center in 2002 as an office clerk. In 2005, she was promoted to Deputy Clerk and promoted to City Clerk in 2015 after her mentor retired after 34 years of service. Heather received her CMC in 2014 and currently serves on the CCMFOA Executive Board. In 2019-2020 Heather served as Treasurer, Secretary 2020-2021 and is the current Vice President of CCMFOA. Heather and her husband Brett just finished building a house where she was raised in the country. Now that they have spare time it will be enjoying 7 children (1 watching from above), 5 grandchildren, 4 dogs, fishing, golfing and gardening.
Email: lincolncityclerk@nckcn.com
Hashtags to describe #clerklife: #SuperHero
Biography
Denise Duerksen is City Clerk, City of Newton. She joined the city staff 30 years ago and was promoted to City Clerk in 2007 Duerksen earned an Associate of Arts degree from Bethel College and is a Certified Municipal Clerk certified by the International Institute of Municipal Clerks. She is active in CCMFOA of Kansas and serves on the CCMFOA Education Committee and often volunteers or teaches at city clerk events. Duerksen completed the WSU Hugo Wall School’s MiniMPA executive training program in 2008.
Email: dduerksen@newtonkansas.com
Hashtags to describe #clerklife: #keeperofallthings
Biography
Amelia Blackwood has served as Deputy City Clerk for the City of Clay Center since 2016. She serves as the current CCMFOA Treasurer and has served on CCMFOA board of directors since 2020 along with various committees since 2019. When not at work, she can be found at her farm with her family and animals. Between cooking, gardening, and canning Amelia is probably chasing her kids Audrey and Corbyn to and from all their activities.
Email: adminclerk@claycenterks.com
Hashtags to describe #clerklife: #bettertogether #leaders #publicservice #community
Biography
Biography
Email: elizabeth.kelley@opkansas.org
Hashtags to describe #clerklife: #publicservice, #community, #dedicated, #platespinner
City Clerks and Municipal Finance Officers Association
Member at Large
Member at Large
Biography
Alicia Hidalgo is the City Clerk for the City of Liberal. She has worked for the City of Liberal Administration Department for over 18 years and has been the City Clerk since May 2016. Alicia received her CMC in February 2020 and became an Athenian Fellow in December 2020. Alicia has been a part of the CCMFOA Board since 2020. She is the 2022 Kansas City Clerk of the Year. Alicia has also served on the IIMC Conference Committee for the past two years. She graduated from Leadership Liberal and is currently on the LEAD (formerly Leadership Liberal) Board. She is the City liaison for the Liberal Baseball Association and serves on the Liberal High School Advisory Council and is the LHS Booster Club Vice-President. In her spare time, she enjoys visiting her oldest son Mershek and watching her youngest son Malcolm run track for FHSU.
Email: alicia.hidalgo@cityofliberal.org
Hashtags to describe #clerklife: #citybackbone #chaoscoordinator #alwayslearning #makeithappen
Biography
Email: karenw@hutchgov.com
Hashtags to describe #clerklife: #peacekeeper#integrity#notinit4themoney#servewithpurpose
Biography
Eric Strimple is the Assistant City Clerk for the City of Olathe and has been in municipal government for 8 years. He has been a member of CCMFOA since 2016, earning his Certified Municipal Clerk certification in 2019. He was also appointed to the CCMFOA Board of Directors in March of 2022. Serving the community does not stop with his job, Eric and his husband, Eric T., are very active in their local Lions Club and the Lions Club Association. In his spare time, you will find him in the kitchen creating something delicious to share or relaxing with their two dogs.
Email: EStrimple@olatheks.org
Hashtags to describe #clerklife: #Leadership #CommunityService #Transparency #HeartOfItAll
Biography
Kara Rath is the City Clerk of the City of Larned. She has been with the City since 2016 beginning her role as the Utility Clerk and then in 2017 adding the title of City Clerk. Kara is a graduate of Fort Hays State University where she earned a General Studies Degree with and emphasis in Human Services. Kara received her Certified Municipal Clerk from International Institute of Municipal Clerks in December 2022. In her spare time, you can find Kara chasing her two sons, Jayden and Riley, or playing golf with her husband Jason.
Email: krath@cityoflarned.com
#clerklife #wearerofmanyhats #localgov #keeperofallthethings
Biography
Jami Downing is the City Clerk/Administrator for the City of Stafford.
Downing began working for the City of Stafford in 2010 as the Utility Clerk. Jami was promoted to City Clerk in 2015 and then to City Administrator in 2018. She has been a member of CCMFOA since 2011 and has served on multiple committees and has served on the board since 2020. Downing is a volunteer with multiple organizations and committees throughout the community, actively involved with the school and booster club and enjoys helping anywhere she can! Her most important time spent is with her husband, Isaac and kids, Brock, Brody, and Taylee. Whether they are running from one event to the next, spending time with family, at the lake or on a quick getaway, there is never a dull moment!
Hashtags to describe #chaoscoordinator #publicservant #leadership
