Mary Jane Westphal is the new finance director for Tyrrell County
She was finance director for Pamlico County (2008-2013) and earlier served as controller and director of finance for the Prince Georges Economic Development Corporation and the Southern Maryland Worksource Board (2005-2007).

She holds a Bachelors of Arts Degree from Trinity College and is a certified North Carolina Finance Officer.

Westphal talked about her journey to Tyrrell County:

“Born in Cocoa Beach, Florida, which explains why I love the water, I am the oldest of seven children. My father was in the Air Force so I lived in Holland and Germany. What a wonderful experience growing up! We lived in New Mexico where my sisters and I rode our horses out in the desert every day and eventually competed in riding competitions.

“My family finally settled in Louisiana when my father retired. I finished school and met my husband, a satellite broadcast engineer, there. We moved to southern Maryland, married 35 years ago and raised our three sons.

“Six years ago my husband and I moved to North Carolina for a more congenial lifestyle and we love it. We are boaters and love to go to a new NASCAR track each year, and are unsuccessful fishermen. I love to cook, am an artist mostly painting and some pottery. I love to read and flower garden.”

The offices of administrator and finance director were combined in 1977 when J.D. Brickhouse, then finance director, took on the duties that emerged from the county coordinator position created in 1972. His successor, Willie Mack Carawan Jr., continued to hold both offices until he resigned last April.

The administrator duties were absorbed into the county manager position when David L. Clegg began work here last September.

Assistant finance director Kim Suter was acting finance director until Westphal came on duty at the beginning of this month