Ozarks Profile

Clerk, city of Springfield, 840 Boonville. The city of Springfield was incorporated in 1838. In 1916, the city elected its first mayor and group of commissioners. In 1953, the citizens of Springfield adopted a charter establishing the city council/city manager form of government, which is still used today. Cirtin was appointed city clerk in November 1993 after serving as the acting city clerk since August of that year when the previous city clerk resigned. Cirtin is the president of the Missouri City Clerks and Finance Officers Association, a member and past officer of the Southwest Missouri City Clerks and Finance Officers Association and a member of the International Institute of Municipal Clerks.

Age: 46

No. of years in Springfield/area: Cirtin and her family have lived in Springfield a total of 14 years at various times.

Education: Cirtin has a bachelor of arts degree in an unrelated field. In 1990, she received her certified municipal clerk status, which is awarded for a combination of education and experience. In 1998, she was accepted into the Advanced Academy of Education, which addresses continuing education aspects of the city clerk profession.

Early career: Cirtin's early work experience was mainly in the clerical field. In 1986, she moved to Jefferson City, where she was encouraged to apply for the city clerk's position, which had recently been vacated. At that time, the position was mainly clerical and doubled as secretary to the city attorney. "During my tenure as city clerk in Jefferson City, I was able to obtain a strong understanding of city government and its workings," she said. It was also during this time that Cirtin attended the educational sessions provided by the Missouri City Clerks and Finance Officers Association and became a certified city clerk. Eventually, the two positions were separated and Cirtin performed the duties of city clerk full-time, which she said allowed her to gain much of the knowledge that she has utilized in her current position. Cirtin worked in the private sector for two years after moving back to Springfield in 1991 and began her employment with the city of Springfield in the Public Works Department in July 1993.

Current projects: "Recently, the city clerk's office obtained a grant from the secretary of state to assist in the development of a records retention manual that will be specific to the city's needs. I am also serving as the chair of a committee to investigate the possibility of obtaining a document imaging system for the city. Once a system is in place, the clerk's office will begin the process of storing city records on electronic media for easy access by staff and citizens."

Management philosophy: "I want to encourage my employees to reach their fullest potential professionally. I let my employees know that we are a team and each one is necessary to the success of the team. I often tell them that the goal is excellence, and I expect everyone to work with me to strive to attain that goal. Our office is fast-paced and very demanding, but it can be rewarding."

Spare-time pursuits: Cirtin said she enjoys reading and walking. She is a member of the choir at Second Baptist Church and also spends a great deal of time between December and March watching her daughter play basketball for the Kickapoo Lady Chiefs.

Family data: Cirtin and her husband, Bob, who teaches criminal justice at Evangel University, have been married 23 years. They have two daughters: Angela, 20, a junior at Evangel, and Jennifer, 17, a senior at Kickapoo High School.