City of Newton
NEWTON, Kan. — Newton City Clerk Denise Duerksen has been selected as the 2024 Mildred Vance City Clerk/Finance Officer of the Year for the State of Kansas. The award was announced at the City Clerks and Municipal Finance Officers Association of Kansas (CCMFOA) Conference in Manhattan on Thursday, March 21.
Duerksen began her career with the City of Newton in 1991 as an administrative assistant to the city manager. She began serving as deputy city clerk in 1997 before being appointed city clerk in 2007.
Because of her long tenure in the field, Duerksen is regarded as an expert and valuable resource among her peers. Because of her caring nature, she’s also become a trusted mentor for many new city officials beginning their careers.
“Denise is such a valued member of our executive team,” City Manager Daniela Rivas said. “She’s a wealth of historical knowledge and is always willing to go the extra mile for her colleagues and the community. We are so fortunate to have her on our team.”
Over the years, Duerksen has led the City of Newton through dozens of projects to improve the organization’s professionalism, customer service, and efficiency – including implementing digital ordinance codification, new agenda management software, new permitting and licensing procedures, and a new records retention policy.
Duerksen earned her Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) designation in 2000. She regularly teaches professional development sessions at state conferences, as well as the annual Clerks Certification Institute at WSU. In 2023, she earned her Master Municipal Clerk (MMC) designation from the IIMC. This is the highest recognition a city clerk can achieve, given only to clerks who complete the most demanding educational requirements and have a record of significant contributions to their communities.
She has served on numerous CCMFOA committees and the board of directors, and this year is serving as board president. She was also one of the founding members of Administrative Assistants of Kansas Cities (AAKC) and has been instrumental in the success of AAKC, serving on the executive board, various committees, reviewing certified municipal assistant applications, as well as playing a key part in the Nancy Crain Administrative Professional of the Year award.
Duerksen has served in a number of community leadership roles over the years, including:
Past Chair of Harvey County United Way Board of Directors and Chair of the Community Investment Committee
Ambassador for Newton Area Chamber of Commerce
Member of Healthy Harvey Coalition
Member of ReNewton Bicycle Initiative
Deacon at Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church
In 2020, Duerksen was honored as the Newton Woman of the Year by the Newton Business & Professional Women (BPW) for her service to the community.
She also has a passion for music and fitness and has taught many community fitness classes over the years. She is well-known in the cycling community across the state. She has been an organizer of Biking Across Kansas (BAK) for more than 20 years and now serves on its Board of Directors.
About the Mildred Vance Award
This award is presented each year to a City Clerk or Finance Officer who has made significant contributions to the State association, the profession and their city. The award was named in honor of Mildred Vance, former auditor and City Clerk/ Municipal Finance Officer of Parsons, who served her community from 1948 to 1988. Mildred was instrumental in developing and promoting professional education programs for city clerks and finance officers at the state and national levels and was one of the first 100 clerks to receive the Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) designation in 1972. She strongly believed that city clerks and finance officers should contribute to their communities, and she unselfishly gave of her time and talents in church, community and civic activities.
To be eligible for the award, nominees must: 1) be a current Kansas city clerk or finance officer who has held the position for at least three years; 2) be a member of CCMFOA for at least three years; and 3) have attained the status of Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC); or have received the GFOA Certificate of Achievement in Financial Reporting.
A five-member panel of judges reviews all nominations and rates candidates on a point system. The Selection Committee consists of two prior year recipients of the award, the Missouri Clerk/Finance Officers Association President, the Illinois Clerk Association President and a League of Kansas Municipalities representative.
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