CCMSD engages mentor for new financial officer

Now Crook County Medical Services District (CCMSD) no longer employs the services of a management company, certain tasks will need to be performed internally. Among these are the duties of a chief financial officer CFO, a position that financial controller Alayna Marten is now stepping into.

Interim CEO Micki Lyons, herself taking on a role that was made vacant by the departure of Health Management Services, has asked the board of trustees for a little help for Marten as she navigates the new responsibilities of CFO. Lyons asked the board to enter into a consultancy agreement with Casey Peterson LLC, the CPA firm responsible for performing the district’s recent audits.

This, said Lyons, would mean Marten has a mentor available when she has questions and concerns.

“She doesn’t know what she doesn’t know. You don’t know what to ask if you’ve never been taught,” Lyons said.

Chairman Mark Erickson agreed that this would be a positive plan for CCMSD.

“I think we absolutely should,” said Erickson, stating that it would be no different to the district tapping into the expertise of the Wyoming Hospital Association on such topics as changing regulations, or hiring legal representation for the board.

Lyons requested that the district engage with Casey Peterson specifically because they are familiar with the business and its workings and already have a relationship with the staff. Casey Peterson could provide CFO and other advice based on their expertise and training, she said.

“We don’t want them to do our financials monthly, she is more than capable of doing that. What I’m asking for is just the opportunity to engage with them to mentor her – not in the things she’s already been doing, but in the higher level things that [HMS] was doing,” Lyons said.

Trustee Sandy Neiman asked what the cost would be. Lyons explained that she does not yet know as she wanted the blessing of the board before pursuing it as an option.

A motion was passed to approve a financial consultancy agreement with Casey Peterson due to the recent change in administration.