.:Employee Spotlight:.
Keri Fischer, Deputy CFO
by Katie Elwell
Keri Fischer saw a rapid rise in her career with MCCS. Her ambitious spirit and enthusiastic outlook on life play out beyond the walls of the Finance Division though. Every area of the deputy CFO’s life exudes perseverance and dedication, traits that make her selection as July’s employee of the Month clearly deserved.
Q. Please share a brief history as an MCCS employee.
A. I began working for MCCS in Okinawa, Japan in Oct 2004 until April 2007. During this time, I took advantage of their tuition assistance program and completed a
Master’s in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting. My husband retired in Okinawa and we moved back to Twentynine Palms, where I worked for the City of Desert Hot Springs as an Accountant until gaining employment with MCCS Twentynine Palms in May 2008. In the past five years, I
have grown from NF-2 Accounting Technician
to an NF-4 Deputy Chief Financial Officer. I owe my rapid climb and success to my education, family and the quality of experience I gained working for MCCS.
Q. What do you do when not working for MCCS?
A. I have recently taken up golfing. The very first time I golfed was the first week I was in Twentynine Palms in June 1998. I swore I would never play again but here I am, 11 years later, determined to learn golf and really
enjoying it. My husband and I also enjoy traveling. We have been to China, Australia, Taiwan, Spain and Italy.
Q. What influences have had the greatest impact on your work ethic?
A. My parents were extremely hard working people who instilled great work ethic in me from the start. They were both successful in their careers with the federal government. My husband has a terrific work ethic. He is a retired master gunnery sergeant with 25 years of service. He currently works as an education analyst at the Marine Corps Communications and Electronics School. My parents and my husband are respected by their peers and subordinates for their work ethic. I have
always desired to be respected, not because of the position I hold, but because of the way I perform my job and my contribution to the organization.
Q. Can you tell about one experience that has shaped who you are?
A. My husband has shaped who I am. I did not have any realistic goals or desires until I met my husband and began building a life with him. As I mentioned above, he had a wonderful work ethic that was inspiring. In
addition, he was extremely supportive and always told me how capable I was. This is what caused my paradigm to shift and I began making life happen for me instead of waiting for life to happen.
Q. Do you have a word of advice for fellow employees wanting to excel?
A. Roll up your sleeves and dive into education with everything you’ve got. And just when you think you’ve had enough school, get some more. You will be amazed at how much it will increase your professional knowledge
and ability. And for those who have children, I went to school with an individual who was the father of five children and he was the sole source of income for the family. He took two night classes every quarter at Cal State University. It wasn’t easy, but he graduated
with honors and only a year after me. |
