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Laura Yoder joined TCE in January 2019 as assistant budget director for the college. She works closely with the budget director in coordinating overall budget and administrative operations.

“I will help to establish goals, objectives, policies, procedures and priorities related to fiscal operations,” she said. “Most of the role’s responsibilities will be assisting the budget director in analyzing financial information for the purpose of providing direction and support to the college, along with making recommendations in procedures and streamlining processes.”

Faculty and staff can visit Yoder for assistance with any budget or financial questions.

“Or just to say ‘hi,’” she said. “I will be monitoring grants and projects as well as compliance policies. I want to meet everyone and help any way I am able.”

Yoder has more than 25 years of accounting experience in various financial roles. She previously worked for Professor Kevin Tomsovic as the financial analyst for CURENT. Prior to that, she was the business analyst with the Knoxville Utilities Board and business manager at the Kankakee Valley Park District in Illinois.

“I worked in cooperation with the local community college and the City of Kankakee to design and build an Ice Arena and Aquatic Center,” said Yoder. “I began my career as finance director at Moore Industries in Bradley, Illinois, opening up sales distributorships throughout the Midwest.

Kankakee, a suburb of Chicago, is Yoder’s hometown. She earned her BA degree in business administration and management information systems from nearby Governors State University. A love of the mountains and the outdoor climate inspired her move to East Tennessee.

“I love anything outdoors: gardening, biking, walking my dog, enjoying the sunshine and on rainy days, reading,” she said. Yoder and husband John are proud parents of son Nicholas—a software engineer in the Knoxville area—and have a cockapoo named Lacie.