Riverside Military Academy’s long time chief financial officer, Kelly Smith, has announced her retirement effective May 31.
Smith joined the RMA business office in 1994 as an accounting supervisor and was named CFO in May 1999.
“Kelly has provided stability, financial leadership, and prudence over the many years of her tenure at Riverside,” said Col. (R) Staś Preczewski, president. “I’ve been grateful for the institutional knowledge she has shared with me. I’m not sure where the Academy would be today without her guidance.”
“It has been a rewarding and, at times, very challenging career, but I’m honored to have been a part of RMA’s history,” said Smith. “I want to thank the RMA Board of Trustees, executive staff and the business office and cadet store staffs for their support over the years.”
Laura Maxwell, former vice president of business and finance at Georgia Gwinnett College, has been named Smith’s successor. Maxwell also served on the faculty of GGC and as controller.
“Laura’s orientation to business is in an educational setting, and she has extensive leadership, business planning, and problem-solving skills,” said Preczewski. “I am confident she is the right CFO for this time at RMA.”
Maxwell earned a B.S. in business management and an MBA from SUNY (State University of New York) Empire State College. Before coming to GGC, she worked for 20 years at the United States Military Academy, West Point, as assistant dean for resources and later as senior associate athletic director and CFO, army athletics.
“My experience at West Point makes me very comfortable in a military school setting. I appreciate the mission of a college preparatory school that teaches young men leadership skills, so I’m happy to be serving RMA in this capacity at this time,” said Maxwell.
Maxwell and her husband, Mickey, live in Dacula.
