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-- Programs and Services -- Contact Information Meet Nick Kirchner, Elder Services new Fiscal Director
By Louisa Weeden
In 1988 while in his last semester at the former North Adams State College, Nicholas (Nick) Kirchner was hired as Elder Services’ first accountant at age 22. Since then, in addition to his responsibilities as accountant, he has been Elder Services grants manager, HIPAA officer, Non- Harassment officer, and MIS Manager. Recently chosen as Elder Services Fiscal Director, Kirchner oversees all areas of agency finances and is responsible for Elder Services’ accounting, data collection, and MIS functions. The Fiscal Director ensures that the agency’s financial and budgetary processes conform to federal, state, and local regulations as well as to standard accounting principles and procedures. Kirchner is one of three department directors who report to Executive Director Robert P. Dean.
One of 10 children, Kirchner’s family had known hard times, and these early experiences influenced his decision to take a position in a human service agency rather than to choose a more lucrative private sector, for profit job. He sees working for a non-profit as one way of giving back to the community that supported his family as he was growing up.
Kirchner stresses, “I agree with Elder Services’ philosophy and mission and enjoy being part of an organization where all staff, whether direct service or not, share the same values and commitment to elders.”
When asked what degrees he holds, Kirchner, in his typically humorous way, responds, “I’m a certified YMCA swim official.” He is justifiably proud of his daughter Ashley, a St. Joseph’s High School freshman who swims competitively for her high school and for the Y. Kirchner officiates at some of the YMCA meets. He is also certified as an open water scuba diver, and enjoys spending time “down under.”
Kirchner also has an Associate’s Degree in Business with a major in accounting from Berkshire Community College and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from North Adams State College with a double major in accounting and finance and in economics. In addition, Kirchner has been certified as a Novell Network engineer, which allowed him to successfully create a fully-networked set of agency computers, including several located outside the building.
Kirchner recalls, “When I started in 1988, we were doing manual accounting with ledger books. Trial balances were done with paper and pencil. The agency had one unreliable computer – an Apple. It was replaced with an IBM AT, which allowed us to do payroll on the computer. Now everyone has a computer, and client services coordinators are bringing laptop computers with them into elders’ homes, a major time-saving step.”
When asked how being Fiscal Director differs from his years as accountant, Kirchner replies, “As the accountant, I was the person behind the scenes, providing reports and information to the decision-maker. Now that I am the front line person, I own complete responsibility for the overall financial well-being of the agency. I see myself as a steward of Elder Services’ funding, making sure taxpayer money and donations are efficiently and effectively used to provide the help elders need to stay independent in their own homes.”
Kirchner stressed his appreciation for all that the former fiscal director, Stephanie Talanian, did to help him grow and advance. “Without her training, nurturing, and mentoring, I wouldn’t have been able to tackle this new position.”
Nick Kirchner lives in Dalton with his wife of 17 years, Debbie, his daughter Ashley, and their dog, Lucky.
Congratulations to Nick Kirchner in his new management position. May he continue to guide Elder Services financially for years to come.