August 11, 2023 – The City of Midland is pleased to announce that City Controller Laura Stowell has been promoted to director of fiscal services effective July 31, 2023. She succeeds former finance director and assistant city manager Dave Keenan, who retired after 23 years of service with the City in July 2023.
Stowell was hired as the City of Midland’s city controller in March 2023, bringing with her nearly 40 years of financial management experience and over 20 years’ experience in public fiscal services. Previously, she has served as finance director for the cities of St. Clair Shores and Harper Woods, Michigan. Stowell holds a bachelor’s degree in management from Central Michigan University.
In her new role, she will oversee the Finance, Assessing, Information Services, and Treasurer departments and lead the City’s annual budgeting process.
“Laura possesses a high level of well-rounded municipal governmental accounting experience and will bring a great deal of accounting and leadership knowledge into this position,” said City Manager Brad Kaye. ”We look forward to her leadership of the City’s Finance Department.”
Stowell’s promotion has led to two additional role changes within the City’s Finance Department: Assistant City Controller Laurel Gonyaw has been promoted to city controller and Payroll Coordinator Sara Savage has been promoted to assistant city controller.
For more information on the City’s Finance Department, visit www.cityofmidlandmi.gov/finance.com.
