Alumni Profile: Stephanie Tinsley M.B.A. '98

March 14, 2008

BY ERIC PESOLA

An avid basketball fan, Stephanie Tinsley M.B.A. '98 is pictured here at an awards celebration for the United Way of South Hampton Roads. The department she leads was recognized for their successful United Way campaign and Tinsley received special congratulations from members of the Harlem Globetrotters.

Stephanie Tinsley M.B.A. '98 is an accounting geek. She'll admit to it freely. And her time at the College helped her get a little bit geekier with her favorite subject -- finance. She graduated with an M.B.A. from the Mason School in 1998, and all sorts of doors have opened up for her since. She now is crunching numbers for the city of Norfolk in Virginia. We asked her a few questions about what she does with all of those budgets and millions.

Tell us what you do for the city.
Currently, I am the assistant director of utilities in finance and administration. I have been in this position for over three years, I provide direct supervision of financial, customer service and administrative divisions and assist the director with oversight of the operational division. I develop and implement departmental strategies, standard operating procedures, policies, and performance measures. I oversee the development of annual budgets and financial reports as well as issuing water revenue bonds, utility billing and collections. I also participate in wholesale water contract negotiations. Our annual operating budget is $100 million with a $340 million 10-year capital improvement plan.

This was a promotion from my previous position of manager of budget and accounting for the department of public works. I was in that position for approximately one and a half years. As the manager of budget and accounting, I oversaw the processing of all accounting and budget activity for the department including the annual evaluation of $1 billion of the city's infrastructure assets.

Also, I participated in recovery efforts from Hurricane Isabel and oversaw the FEMA reimbursement process for over $40 million in hurricane repair expenditures. The annual operating budget was approximately $30 million with an annual capital improvement plan of approximately $90 million.

Prior to joining the City of Norfolk, I was the director of finance for the Chesapeake Redevelopment and Housing Authority for approximately four years. I was responsible for producing our annual financial statements and overseeing the annual audit and budget process for submission to the Department or Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The annual organization budget was $10 million.

Why did you come to WIlliam and Mary?
I already had my undergraduate degree from Marymount College. I chose William and Mary for two reasons. First, the M.B.A. program is broad and covers many business aspects -- yet it was a small program of only 100 students. And second, the campus is beautiful and was located conveniently near my grandmother.

Have new doors opened up in your career since you earned the M.B.A. here?
Yes, I was in the retail/sales industry and looking to make a career change but wasn't sure 'what I wanted to be when I grew up.' The M.B.A. program exposed me to various business subject matter and helped me realize my love for the accounting/finance industry. I earned my CPA after graduating from the College.

Tell us how the W&M experience was for you.
It was tough but a great preparation for the real world. I remember thinking I had very little team/group work responsibility in my undergraduate program. At the College, my first year was nothing but team work projects. We had to learn to work together to meet the deadlines and produce quality projects as a whole because we all got the same grade. There were no silos. I try to bring that thought process to any workplace I am in.

What sort of things do you like to do in your free time?
I like spending time with my family, reading, running and professional development. I am currently finishing up the requirements for the CPFO (certified public finance officer). I'm a geek.

What book are you reading now?
I am working on two right now. First, The Management of State and Local Retirement Plans, which is a CPFO requirement, and Your Best Life Now by Joel Osteen.