This is the first installment of a new series featuring local people with unique job positions who also play active roles in the community. In this installment, meet Laura Chapman.
As Laura Chapman finishes her first month in her new position of Manager of Planning within the Finance and Accounting department at Owensboro Municipal Utilities, she’s left with the words “interesting” as she continues to adjust.
Chapman has been with OMU since she arrived in Owensboro 10 years ago. Over time, she has worked in the finance and accounting department doing yearly financial tracking. Now in her new position, she handles the forecasting of the budget for the future of the company.
She said before her new role she was marginally familiar with the position and is thankful for taking the deeper dive and it’s full responsibilities.
“It’s been a joy. I didn’t leave my old position because I was bored or didn’t like what I was doing — I absolutely loved what I did,” Chapman said. “I felt like this new role is the same sort of thing but takes it to the next level.”
Taking her position to the next level is a shift in the position. Chapman said forecasting for the future takes a high level of judgement to think ahead. A large portion of the job is compiling the information into a way for the decision makers to make the critical decisions that affect the customers.
She leans on her ability to do short-term budgeting to help make the forecast for the long-term.
Outside of the work office, Chapman finds herself helping the community in multiple ways. She and her husband try their best at “helping young people succeed.”
“Wherever we’re asked, that’s where we are,” Chapman said. “That’s where we love to reinvest in our community in that way.”
She serves on the Board of Trustees for Girls Inc., an organization that she has been with just as long as she’s been with OMU.
When she met them when she first arrived in Owensboro, she remembered being amazed at the way the girls were able to be bold, passionate and overcome their challenges at a young age and immediately wanted to be a part of the organization in any capacity.
“I was excited when the opportunity came to me and they extended an invitation to join the board. It was a very high point in my life because it’s just an organization I really love,” Chapman said.
Outside of her volunteer work, she says her most important job is being a mother to her 14-year-old son and enjoying the time she has with him as a family. She also has found a passion for cooking cheesecakes and reading.
If you know someone with a unique or interesting job position who is also active in the community, please send their name and a brief description to [email protected] and they may be featured in this series.
