The District would like to highlight the dedication and accomplishments of one of our most tenured employees, Financial Supervisor Barbara McGriff, as she looks toward retirement. Barbara came to the District in 1976 as a recent graduate of Woodland High School as a secretary. It just so happened that when Barbara joined the District, it was during a historic drought, and the District did not have water to sell. The ever-enterprising young secretary took it upon herself to learn the ins and outs of District business by pouring over files. She also continued her education by taking classes on payroll processing, budgeting, financial reporting, and computer software training courses. She advanced to the role of Office Manager in 1982 and to Financial Supervisor in 2003 where she currently oversees all District financial matters, including payroll processing, accounts payable and receivable, employee benefit administration, budget preparation and forecasting, and manages the District’s annual audits, among other responsibilities.
Barbara has helped to usher in many changes and improvements over the years, especially as it relates to technology. When she first came to the District ditchtenders used handwritten tags to track water deliveries, and all water sales were typed on ledger cards. Water invoices took about 15 days to process. Barbara was very active in researching, evaluating, and implementing new technology to increase the District’s efficiency, including water management, accounting, and payroll software.
In her nearly forty-eight years with the District, Barbara has worked for seven general managers with different management styles. She has learned from all of them and grew as a professional under their various administrations.
Barbara has been unwavering in service to the District, and her retirement certainly represents a changing of the guard. General Manager Kristin Sicke notes that “Barbara has always been meticulous in her handling of District finances, and for decades we have relied upon her for her ethics, scrupulous attention to detail, ability to manage multiple tasks, and her thoughtful solutions. She will leave big shoes to fill.”
Barbara will miss the structure that working a traditional job provides, but as she steps into the next phase of her life she is looking forward to not having to set an alarm clock. She is also happily anticipating getting home improvement projects done, exploring the California coastline, and having fun with her four grandchildren. The District is grateful for her many contributions over the years and wishes her happiness and health in her retirement.