Guilford Finance Director Honored For Outstanding Public Service

GUILFORD, CT — Guilford Finance Director Maryjane Malavasi has been recognized for outstanding public service by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), highlighting her 33-year career in municipal finance and commitment to public service.

Malavasi began her career after responding to a newspaper ad for part-time help in East Haddam, according to a news release from the town of Guilford.

Initially hired to solve accounting problems, she said she fixed her way out of a job, but her work impressed local officials enough to keep her on. She later became East Haddam’s first finance director.

Malavasi said she always knew her career would be in accounting but discovered a deeper passion for local government. "I just love it," Malavasi said, according to a news release.

In addition to her role in Guilford, Malavasi has served as elected treasurer in East Haddam and volunteers with the Lions Club. She is also treasurer of the Connecticut GFOA and serves on its conference committee.

In Guilford, she said her proudest achievement has been establishing an Other Post-Employment Benefits Trust, which helped reduce the town’s long-term liabilities by half, the town noted. The GFOA also recognized that Guilford has maintained its AAA credit rating under her leadership.

Malavasi said she takes pride in how town employees have worked together to strengthen financial management and maintain the town’s stability.