(Richardson, Texas) – City Manager Don Magner has announced the appointment of Anita Cothran as the successor to Keith Dagen in the role of City Finance Director for Richardson. In this position, Cothran will oversee all aspects and functions of the Finance Department, which includes divisions such as accounting, municipal court, purchasing, tax, and utility customer service.

With more than 36 years of experience in public finance and accounting, Cothran has served in various capacities for educational and municipal organizations. Currently, she holds the position of Chief Financial Officer for the City of Frisco, a role she has held since August 2020. Prior to that, she served as the City of Frisco’s Director of Financial Services for more than 18 years.

“Richardson is a ‘Triple A’ rated community, largely because of the experienced people we have in key positions that help to maintain our leading financial status,” said Magner. “Anita is a proven leader in the profession of public finance, and I am very pleased to see her join our team to add to our strength as a top-rated fiscally responsible institution and people-oriented workplace.”

In her new role, Cothran will serve as a key member of the City’s executive management team. Her responsibilities will include planning, implementing, managing financial activities, providing strategies for organizational development, presenting the City’s financial story to City Council members and bond rating agencies, reviewing rate models, recommending model changes and tax rate implications, and safeguarding the City’s financial position through long-range financial models. Additionally, Cothran will offer guidance on financial regulations and requirements, assist in managing capital improvement program financing, conduct detailed financial analysis, oversee financial report preparation, and establish and monitor effective financial policies to analyze strengths and weaknesses and propose necessary actions.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to join the Richardson team and it’s proven staff of leading financial professionals” said Cothran. “Richardson is recognized as a leader in fiscal management and transparency and it is an honor to continue my service with the community.”

Cothran started her career in government finance in 1987 as an accountant with the City of McKinney. She transitioned to educational financial services in 1993 when she accepted the position of assistant director of accounting with Collin College, where she served until 2001, leaving as its director of accounting and financial reporting. She has served with the City of Frisco since 2002, starting first as assistant director of finance, was then promoted to director of financial services in 2007, and has served as chief financial officer since 2020.

Cothran holds a Master of Accountancy degree from Rutgers University, specializing in governmental accounting. She also earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Business Management from the University of Texas at Dallas. She also possesses certifications as a Certified College Business Manager from the University of Kentucky and as a Certified Government Finance Officer from the Government Finance Officers Association of Texas (GFOAT).

Keith Dagen Retirement

Earlier this year, Keith Dagen announced his intention to retire this September, completing 20 years serving with the City of Richardson and almost 26 years in public service. Dagen was named Director of Finance in July 2015. He joined the Richardson staff in 2003 as a chief accountant and was later promoted to treasurer and revenue manager before being promoted to assistant director of finance in 2009.

Notable achievements include:

  • Accreditation of Richardson as a “Triple A” community as rated by both Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s credit rating agencies.
  • Keith DagenOutgoing Finance DirectorRetiring Sept. 2023 Establishment of Tax Increment Financing District’s #2 and #3 and the development of the CityLine area.
  • Key developments and redevelopment within Tax Increment Financing District #1 including the Digital Realty Datacenter Park, Restaurant Park, and the Lockwood District.
  • Financing the expansion of the Spring Creek Nature Area.
  • Receiving the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada’s (GFOA) Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting each year.

“It has been an honor to lead the finance team for the community that I live in,” Dagen said. “I have been blessed to work with an exceptional team of men and women who strive to provide excellent service every day, whether to our residents, businesses, or other departments within the City, our goal to make the City a little better every day or to help other departments do so.  I will cherish the time that I have worked here and the friendships that have been made along the way.”

Dagen commenced his government career in 1998 as a Rate Analyst and progressed to the position of General Ledger Manager before joining Richardson in 2003. He is a certified public accountant and holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Dallas. Dagen graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas. He has actively contributed to the accounting profession through his membership with the Government Finance Officers Association of Texas (GFOAT) since 2003. Notably, Dagen served as GFOAT’s President during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-2021 and held previous board roles as Secretary and GFOAT’s representative to the Texas Municipal Retirement System’s Advisory Committee on Benefit Design. Additionally, he served on GFOAT’s Financial Reporting and Regulatory Response Committee from 2007 to 2019 and represented GFOAT’s interests before the Governmental Accounting Standards Board. Dagen has been a featured speaker at conferences over the last decade and presented at GFOAT’s Governmental Accounting Academy.

Dagen is also a member of the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) and the Government Treasurers Organization of Texas. He is currently serving his second term on GFOA’s Special Review Committee for the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting program and is a member of its Special Review Executive Committee, which provides feedback to other governments on best practices in financial statement presentation. Dagen is also a graduate of Leadership Richardson Class XXV and served as the Treasurer of the Leadership Richardson Alumni Association for two years.