Michelle Jahr

Michelle Jahr, CPA, joined Spring Fire in 2024 as our first Finance Director. She hit the ground running enhancing our financial, procurement and payroll systems. The processes Michelle has put in place have increased accountability while saving days’ worth of staff time. Her projection and budgeting skills are already maximizing every tax dollar for the benefit of our organization and community.

Spring Fire held a national search for the right person to lead our finance division and Michelle stood out above the rest. Prior to coming to Spring Fire, she worked as an auditor in Illinois where she specialized in governmental accounting. Her expertise in auditing financial statements, assessing risk, budgeting and making fiscal projections were exacting what Spring Fire was looking for.

Her local government expertise includes Finance Director/CFO positions with a county health department, local governments and a school district with a $450 million operating budget. Michelle earned her Bachelor of Science degree in accounting while working and raising a family. Prior to becoming a licensed Certified Public Accountant, Michelle was a public aid caseworker. She is often asked how such a major career shift happened, but says she is still helping people. Her people skills enhance her analysis skills because she understands more than just numbers, she understands the human needs.

Michelle and her husband now call Spring home. They love to spend time with their three grown children and seven grandchildren and are avid travelers who like to hike and bike.