From staff reports The City of Chickasha recently promoted two employees to leadership positions. Rich Edwards was named Finance Director, and Jessica Green was named Community Development Director.
Edwards, who was hired by the City of Chickasha this year as its comptroller, replaces Elaine Jensen, who resigned Aug. 5. “We now have an auditor, someone who has the knowledge we’ve needed,” City Manager Jim Crosby told Southwest Ledger on Oct. 28.
Edwards oversees financial operations, budget development, and implementation of modernized accounting and technology systems.
He previously served as chief financial officer at the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, managing a budget of more than $500 million, directing federal grant administration, and providing oversight of finance operations. He also has worked for the state Office of Management and Enterprise Services and served as co-chair of the Finance Workgroup for Gov. Mary Fallin’s Task Force on an Oklahoma Health Insurance Exchange.
Edwards received a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from the University of Central Oklahoma and a Master of Public Administration degree, with a concentration in public policy, from the University of Oklahoma.
Green has worked for the city since 2021 and replaces Rachel Bernish, who left Sept. 12 to become an assistant city manager at Stillwater.
As community development director, Green manages several divisions, including planning and zoning, building inspections, code compliance, and permitting.
Most recently she served as Chickasha’s senior code enforcement officer, where she oversaw the implementation of Chickasha Cares, a program that connects those in need of assistance getting their home into compliance with resources and helping hands. Green previously worked for the City of Krebs as city clerk and code enforcement officer.
She is active in the Code Enforcement Officer Safety Foundation and serves in a leadership role for the Oklahoma Code Enforcement Association. Green earned a degree in business administration and ethics from Mid-America Christian University.
The City of Chickasha also recently hired Crystal Santos to succeed Edwards as comptroller. Santos previously worked for the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health, the state Transportation Department, Farmers Insurance, and the state Department of Corrections. She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Cameron University.