THOMAS COUNTY – The Nebraska Association of County Officials (NACO) has bestowed their annual Treasurer of the Year award upon Thomas County’s own Andrea Thomas.
Thomas is just getting her third term as the county treasurer underway; she was first elected to the position in 2015. During her first two terms, she’s pioneered a mentorship program to help give new county treasurers the tools and network they’ll need to be successful, as well as helped her association implement an online learning management system to get county treasurers across the state identical access to identical information.
The award should come as no surprise, then, for anyone: except Thomas. At the annual NACO event in Kearney where the award was announced, Thomas says the accolade came when she least expected it, almost literally.
“I honestly had a mouthful of food,” Thomas laughed, “I didn’t think I was going to get it at all.”
Thomas says that part of the surprise, and the honor, of receiving the annual award comes from the incredible group that nominated her.
“I’m super honored that it came from my peers; I don’t see them very often, but I communicate with them as much as possible. It’s one thing if it comes from you coworkers, those who see you every day, but when it comes from other treasurers, those who are doing much bigger things than me, it just meant a lot.”
While it may be true that other county treasurers could possibly have more work to do, it isn’t only NACO that believes Thomas is among the hardest-working. The State Treasurers Association has recognized Thomas’ efforts, as well.
In 2019, she took home that organization’s Next Generation Award, which is given to treasurers who have been in office for less than two terms and have displayed exceptional leadership skill.
Despite her habit of packing her personal trophy case, Thomas says that nothing about her achievements is individual.
“I have a wonderful clerk who has given me resources to help me get going when I first got in. We communicate well, and we just have a really good team here. We’d be lost without all of us. I’m very thankful for that.”
Thomas says that the goals for her coming term involve continuing to provide a high level of service for her constituents, build up the treasurers association, and giving new treasurers the confidence they’ll need to succeed as they step into their roles, which means she might be just as surprised when the inevitable next award comes her way.
