Her Story
About Tiffany
I am the Commissioner of the Revenue for the City of Newport News, Virginia, which is an elected position. In this role, I administer and assess the taxes for the locality and provide services on behalf of the state. I lead an office of over 40 professionals, manage a budget of close to $3 million, and assess over $300 million in taxes. No day is typical for me - I could be leading my team, working on budget matters, going to schools for outreach, or working with the elderly population. I'm also a business owner of an organization called Emerge, which promotes small businesses. Before this, I did business development for a subsidiary of the shipyard, where I worked with nuclear radiation for power plants and shock mounts for the Navy. That experience really helped me learn to work with different types of people all over the nation. I'm proud to be the first African American to hold the Commissioner of the Revenue position for the City of Newport News.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Tiffany
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to being grounded, being grounded in the Lord. That's my foundation. It's what keeps me centered and gives me the strength to lead and serve in the way that I do.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
One of the best pieces of career advice I've ever received was to get off the wall, stop dating on the wall and go out and network. You have to put yourself out there and make connections. Another piece of advice that has stuck with me is that politics makes for strange bedfellows, meaning there are no enemies in politics. It's taught me to keep an open mind and work with everyone.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice would be to really know who you are. Take that journey to find out who you are, because once you really know your strengths, your weaknesses, what makes you tick, what you love, then you build that confidence and can conquer the world. Self-knowledge is the foundation of everything - it gives you the confidence you need to succeed.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges in my field right now are the ever-changing tax laws that come up with different administrations coming into office. It's a constant process of staying current and adapting. Another major challenge is people having financial hardships, so taxes become more of a burden for them to be able to pay. We have to be sensitive to that reality while still doing our jobs.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in my work and personal life are integrity, loyalty, and accountability. These are the principles I live by and lead by, both professionally and personally.
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