Carolyn Rice, Elected to Montgomery County Treasurer

After being appointed to complete the term for the Montgomery County Treasurer in February 2007, Carolyn Rice was elected to a four year term this past November. In addition to her duties as Montgomery County Treasurer, Carolyn serves on the County’s Investment Advisory Committee, the Budget Commission, the Community Improvement Corporation, and the Data Processing Board.  Additionally, she also serves on the Board of Directors for Dayton Council on World Affairs and the Community Blood Center/Community Tissue Services.  Carolyn is a long-time resident of Centerville, Ohio, and is married with two adult children.
Prior to her role in government, Carolyn had 17 years experience in the private sector working for a variety of organizations including Reynolds & Reynolds, LexisNexis, Dames & Moore, and Wright State University.  Her leadership and organizational skills saw her promoted to positions of increasing responsibility within the organizations she served.  As County Treasurer, Carolyn is applying her wealth of experience in management and leadership to better serve the citizens of Montgomery County.

The following are highlights of a recent interview with Carolyn about how her MBA has helped advance her career and shape the future priorities and vision for the Montgomery County Treasurer's office. 

Montgomery County and the Dayton area have experienced some of the highest foreclosure rates in the nation.  What programs and services does your office provide to help homeowners and local governments faced with this local situation?

We find that property owners who have difficulty paying their mortgage also often  have trouble paying their property taxes. My office works hard to reach out to property owners who owe on past due real estate taxes so they will understand their payment options in order to meet their tax obligations and avoid further penalties and consequences such as tax liens and foreclosure.  The Treasurer’s office has a unique opportunity to assist citizens to get the help they need to address their financial challenges. All a homeowner needs to do is contact us and explain what their situation is.

For example, in the summer of 2007, my staff cross-trained with United Way’s HelpLink 2-1-1 team  so that my office could learn more about all the resources available to citizens in Montgomery County who face financial challenges, including foreclosure.  These services can range from credit counseling to mortgage counseling to legal aid.  Likewise, the HelpLink 2-1-1 team gained a better understanding of real estate taxes and payment options.  A dedicated phone number was established between our two offices so we can connect homeowners who come into our office with the many community resources that may be available to them to help them stay in their homes and tackle their financial problems.   The hardest step for so many homeowners is simply admitting there is a problem. The Treasurer’s office partnership with United Way’s HelpLink 2-1-1 is a very important first step that we hope will help homeowners take control of their situation.

Foreclosures have impacted every local jurisdiction in Montgomery County. My office welcomes opportunities to work with local government officials and administrators to share information on overall real estate tax collection, establishing real estate acquisition programs to address vacant and abandoned property issues, and alert them to properties that qualify for the tax lien certificate sale or face or have undergone foreclosure.


What other key priorities and innovative services are you considering for the Montgomery County Treasurer's Office over the next four years?

One of the key challenges our county faces is to address the problem of vacant and abandoned properties.  The Ohio legislature recently granted authorization for the Cuyahoga County Treasurer to establish a land reutilization corporation modeled closely after the Genessee County, Michigan landbank.  I am working with our local Ohio legislators, officials and community leaders to gain authorization for Montgomery County to have this option. 

Since receiving your MBA from Wright State in 1990, you have held leadership positions in the private sector and now in government.   What were some of the most valuable insights and skills you have been able to apply as a result of getting your masters degree in business?

I received an outstanding education at Wright State.  My MBA program gave me a strong foundation in business fundamentals and principles and prepared me well to make sound, informed decisions and solve problems. One of the key lessons I learned at Wright State that has been verified throughout my professional career is the importance of communication, communication, communication. Wright State also instilled in me the value of teamwork and the fact that the most important resource of any organization is its people.   I continue to use many of the techniques, principles, ideas and values I learned at Wright State in the way I tackle issues and embrace opportunities I encounter today. 

What advice do you have for potential students considering an MBA and current students who are working on their MBA?

Earning an MBA will provide any individual with a broad-based spectrum of knowledge and skills that will be beneficial to you no matter what career path you may take. Your MBA degree will be of great value to you because regardless of what field you enter, you will belong to an organization and will have problems to solve.   An MBA degree can open doors for you, but you must then step through the doorway and make the most of any opportunity that comes your way. Go for it and enjoy every step of the journey!