Florida Catholic | CFO Says Goodbye To Florida And Hello To Louisiana

CFO says goodbye to Florida and hello to Louisiana

Deacon Jeff Trumps, former chief financial officer for the diocese, will assume CFO responsibilities in his home state of Louisiana for the Diocese of Lafayette.

AMY FERRARA SMITH | FLORIDA CATHOLIC STAFF

Published: 04.11.08

AMY FERRARA SMITH | FC
New diocesan chief financial officer, Bob Massey (left), talks with Deacon Jeff Trumps, who resigned from the CFO position so that he and his wife could move closer to their parents in Louisiana. Deacon Trumps will assume the position of CFO for the Diocese of Lafayette on April 14.

PENSACOLA | Bishop John H. Ricard, SSJ, and the diocesan staff officially said farewell to former chief financial officer Deacon Jeff Trumps at an April 4 gathering at the Pastoral Center.

Deacon Trumps’ decision to leave his job as CFO for the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee has a bittersweet element.

“It’s the toughest decision I’ve ever had to make,” he said. “I love our diocese, and the bishop and I have such a good relationship.”

Yet, while Deacon Trumps said he is sad to leave this diocese, he is looking forward to moving to his home state of Louisiana, where he and his wife, Lisa, will be an hour’s drive from both of their parents. Deacon Trumps will assume the position of CFO for the Diocese of Lafayette April 14.

“The diocese is about twice the size,” he said. “It will present a whole different set of challenges.”

Just over four years ago, Deacon Trumps assumed the CFO position for the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee. Not long after, hurricanes Ivan and Dennis put a new set of challenges to his job. It wasn’t until June 2007 that he could say the diocese was finished with repairs from the storms.

“We’re about to do a lot of great stuff,” he continued. “It makes me sad (not to be able to take part).”

Lisa Trumps will also be leaving a diocesan position to move with her husband to Lafayette. For four years, Lisa Trumps served as the director of music ministry for Holy Spirit Parish in Pensacola, where Deacon Trumps also practiced his diaconate ministry. Although she does not plan to look for employment in music ministry, she assured that she is not “a pew sitter.” She can’t sit still very long, she added, without getting involved.

Although, according to Lisa Trumps, the couple developed “brief but deep” relationships with the people of this diocese, they look forward to reconnecting with both immediate and extended family in “the Louisiana culture that we love so much.”

“We are thrilled to move closer to our parents,” she said, “but Florida has a special place in our hearts.”

Their residence in Lafayette will put them about one hour from Deacon Trumps’ parents in Pineville, La., one hour from their alma mater, Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La., one hour from where he grew up in Houma, La., and about one hour from where Lisa Trumps’ parents live in Alexandria, La.

“We realize that we are going to be the caretakers for our parents,” Deacon Trumps said. “We want to enjoy them before we need to take care of them.”

Deacon Trumps explained that 15 years ago, he and his wife decided that whenever God presented something, they’d say yes to him. At this time, he feels that God’s wish is for his wife and him to move closer to their families, where he can continue to combine faith and finance into one job.

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CFO says goodbye to Florida and hello to Louisiana

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