Hephzibah Children’s Association announces the retirement of Mary Tortorici, director of finance. Mary is retiring after 27 years of dedicated service to Hephzibah.
“I’ve always appreciated Hephzibah’s mission and the staff’s dedication to it,” Mary said. “I stayed as long as I did because of those two things. They are pretty cool. That’s what I’ll miss.”
Mary launched her accounting career right out of school. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Loyola University and her master’s from Dominican. Before Hephzibah, Mary worked as an accountant for Illinois Bell and Amsted.
Members of the Finance team at 2013’s Heart of Gold Ball: Michelle Anderson (left), Mary Tortorici, Ann Gelsomino, Janice Richardson, Diane Thomas and Renee Lawson.
Mary came to Hephzibah in 1993 thanks to her good friend Jim Kiel who was then director of finance. While raising her kids—Joe, Patrick, Vince and Christina—Mary worked part-time as a fill-in accountant. By 1998 she was promoted to director of the finance department.
Since the start of her tenure, Hephzibah was a family affair for the Tortoricis. Her husband Lance has volunteered numerous times at the Heart of Gold Ball. The Perkins clan, Mary’s extended family members, have been regulars at the annual ball and her daughter Christina worked for Hephzibah.
Mary is well-respected by other leaders within Hephzibah.
“Not only has Mary given of her expertise, time and treasure, she has been an amazing ambassador for our organization, connecting her 9 brothers and sisters and 4 children to the organization,” remarked Hephzibah Executive Director Merry Beth Sheets. “She has brought exceptional leadership to the finance department, instituted many systems, checks and balances and best practices resulting in many clean audits of the agency’s financials. She is respected by her staff, her peers, and her colleagues. She has regularly served as an advisor and sounding board for her fellow senior leaders. Her unique perspective will be terribly missed.”
“Mary leaves an indelible mark on the department,” says Mary’s successor Richard Wesley. “She has instituted so many financial controls and policies that will help Hephzibah for many years to come. My role is to keep everything in place and continue the excellent stewardship that Mary created. Moreover, as the new Finance leader, I must continue to provide the excellent customer service that Mary and her team provided daily. I look forward to the challenge.”
“It has been a pleasure working with Mary,” remarked her colleague Director of Human Resources Mary Jane Joyce. “She is a subject matter expert in the Finance area and has shown her passion for the work and her commitment to Hephzibah and the families and children we serve. She will be missed.”
“It was truly a pleasure working with Mary over the past many years at Hephzibah, says her colleague Director of Family Services Julie Dvorsky. “Not only was she knowledgeable about all things financial, but she was very committed and compassionate about the mission of Hephzibah. I will miss her sense of humor, and her great ability to problem solve!”
Mary’s plans for retirement include learning to play the piano, learning to speak Italian and to cruise and travel in Europe.
We all wish her well and look forward to seeing her at the next Heart of Gold Ball.
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