Jessica Lamendola will be the City of Topeka’s Administrative and Financial Services Director starting March 4, 2019. Topeka’s former Director of Finance and Administrative Services, Nickie Lee, accepted a job as the Assistant City Administrator for the City of Smithville, Missouri. Her last day at the City of Topeka was November 9, 2018. Since her departure, Budget and Performance Manager Nick Hawkins has been serving as the Interim Director.
Lamendola is a Kansas native and has been with the City of North Hempstead, New York since July of 2016 where she served as the Director of Finance and Acting Comptroller. Prior to that position she had experience in the Nassau County Office of Management and Budget. Lamendola brings additional relevant experience to the City from working for Moody’s Investor Services for just over 3 years as a Senior Credit and financial analyst responsible for a large portfolio of municipal issuers. She has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Syracuse University and a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Political Science from the University of Portland.
“Lamendola’s education, background and experiences will be very beneficial to the City of Topeka as we start work on the 2020 budget and CIP process,” said City Manager Brent Trout.
Lamedola said she is excited to return to Kansas and begin working in the City of Topeka where she can work on the city’s strong financial management and constituent needs.
Lamendola was selected though a competitive hiring process in which 34 people applied and 4 were interviewed. Her starting salary will be $132,500.