School district hires new business manager

By Angie Landsverk

John Kiefer brings a variety of experience to his new position in the Weyauwega-Fremont School District.

It includes working for a large company, a nonprofit, colleges, churches and a smaller school district.

Kiefer became W-F’s new director of business services on July 1.

“I’m happy to be in this new position,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the new challenges.”

Kiefer grew up in Oshkosh, and that is where he and his wife Julie live there with their three children – Luke, Elizabeth and Levi.

He explained his decision to pursue a career in accounting.

During high school, he took a lot of accounting and business courses.

However, he also enjoyed writing.

“It was a decision between accounting and journalism,” Kiefer said.

He decided to study accounting because he saw it as a more promising field with more opportunities.

Kiefer figured he could still continue writing and did so throughout college.

He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh with a degree in accounting, marketing and finance.

After college, Kiefer moved to southern California, where he was a cost analyst for Kimberly-Clark.

“That was a big life change. I stayed out there about 2 1/2 years,” he said. “I got homesick and wanted to get back to Wisconsin.”

A position at a nonprofit in Green Bay brought him back to the state.

That is also where he met Julie.

Kiefer was the nonprofit’s senior accountant.

Working for UW

His work there peaked an interest in public administration.

While working at the organization, Kiefer obtained a master’s degree in public administration from UW-Oshkosh.

He was interested in working in city or county government, but his next job opportunity was at UW-Fond du Lac.

“I basically ended up being their business manager,” Kiefer said. “That is where I started getting business manager experience, wearing multiple hats throughout the day.”

He did accounting and budget work, while also managing areas like food service, facilities and the bookstore.
Kiefer worked there just over eight years.

That was followed by working at UW-Fox Valley, serving as the business manager for two churches in Menasha and then going to Fox Valley Technical College, where he worked in purchasing.

From there, Kiefer went to CESA 6 in Oshkosh, where he was the financial controller.

The work he did with school districts took him to his next position.

That was to become the director of financial services in the Hustisford School District.

Kiefer worked in that district for about three years before he accepted the position in the W-F School District.

Among the things drawing him here were W-F being a larger school district and having a shorter commute.

He likes the challenges the position will bring.

That includes a return to working with a variety of departments.

“I think having the variety here is interesting,” Kiefer said.

He is in the process of completing his school business management license through UW-Whitewater.

Kiefer likes to golf, do landscaping and vacation with his family.

Of his role at W-F, Kiefer said he likes “being able to have answers at his fingertips,” so he can give people information and be transparent.