There’s an old leadership adage which says that the best leaders are the ones you have never heard of, suggesting that the most effective leaders are those who work behind the scenes and who let their actions speak for themselves. Retiring Augusta County Treasurer, Jackie Nash, could be seen as falling into this category. Ms. Nash, who took on the Treasurer’s role in March 2023, is now retiring on December 27, after 25+ years of service to Augusta County.
Reflecting on her time with Augusta County has not been easy – Nash has simply not had time. True to form, she has prioritized getting the job done and all the loose ends that come with it finalized for the new treasurer to take office on January 1. Since March, when former Treasurer Richard Homes stepped down early due to medical concerns, Jackie has hit the ground running. Personal property and real estate bills needed to be sent and collected and the office was running short-staffed. And then there were the audits that needed to be dealt with upon the transfer of office per Virginia code – by year’s end Nash will have fulfilled seven audits in 2023, all while performing two roles as treasurer and deputy treasurer, three if you count campaigning.
“I am looking forward to simply having time,” Ms. Nash said. “No plans yet but just time. Change can be about a nudge in a direction that you may not have chosen for yourself but it puts you on another path for your next chapter to begin. I like to believe the truth in that.”
Wanting time for her own pursuits is understandable, given that her schedule for the last 25 years has been dictated by the office’s calendar of business. Nash was hired in 1997 by Treasurer Ellen Maddox. She had previously worked in Culpeper’s treasurer’s office and was in banking six years before that. Since that time, Nash has worked with two treasurers, four finance directors, and two county administrators. So much has happened in that time.
Going from paper ledgers to computer processes is a major milestone and memory for this office during that era. In the early-2000s, the office moved from largely manual and paper processes to data being entered onto a server. The ability to scan checks and send files to the bank was a big game-changer that cut down on manual processes and allowed for quicker deposits. And, of course, payments by credit card at the counters and online have made services more accessible and convenient for citizens.
“That is one thing that I am immensely proud of,” said Nash. “This office has always worked to offer improved services. The use of technology has been the biggest change for the office in my tenure.” Additionally, meeting the requirements and achieving Office Accreditation for twenty years running and working through the career development program for our Deputies, both with the Treasurer’s Association of Virginia, is another accomplishment she set into motion.
Another little-known piece of the treasurer’s role that comes top of mind for Nash is her involvement in steering the investments made by the county. “The county has grown and this office has done well with investments. We have formed good solid relationships with our banks and I feel that I have always nurtured those relations well for the county,” explained Nash. “And we have always had clean audits. We knew our jobs and did them well so our actions audits would have good results. Looking back on these past twenty-five years, I feel that I will leave this office moving forward and in better shape than when I came.”
Steady improvement is important to Jackie. Much of her professional development was done through involvement with the Treasurer’s Association of Virginia. “I was grateful for the opportunities to grow and change,” Jackie said. “Mr. Homes was responsible for opening the door for much of that. He encouraged me to go through the state certification program to attain the title of Master Governmental Deputy Treasurer. This was a first for our office in 2004.”
The respect went both ways. At Mr. Homes’ retirement he spoke of how he entered the role quite overwhelmed and unequipped with treasurer’s office experience and how Jackie trained him. On that Jackie responded, “I always wanted the county to come from a position of strength. I taught him what he needed to know for the questions at hand and he gradually learned. We had a good working relationship.”
Another strong relationship she helped to continue to nurture was that between the Commissioner of Revenue’s office and the Treasurer which has not always been the case for many localities. “Augusta is special in that way. It is a really wonderful relationship that we have here. We work together with the Commissioner because our roles depend on each other. It works best for everyone to keep that relationship strong, and, ultimately, the citizens benefit from it.”
That was always Nash’s end-goal. “We have always worked well with the Commissioner of Revenue, the school board, and all county offices. Those good relationships created better services and experiences for our citizens,” Nash emphasized. “I’ve enjoyed those working relationships and the friendships made over the years. I know that we have great staff between our offices and I hope they will continue to learn and grow.”
Nash is looking forward to having time in retirement for more personal growth. Her interests vary from yoga to new ways of cooking to weaving – activities that she never had time to explore. She will also delve more into her volunteer work with philanthropic societies and local boards. “I’m interested in pursuing joy,” Nash enthuses. “There’s got to be fun in it!”
Congratulations, Ms. Nash. Augusta County appreciates your service. Now, go find your fun.
