Lisa Rickert, President

Specializing in the development of financial software, Lisa Rickert brings 33 years of system design in accounting applications.  Utilizing her knowledge as a MUD board director for 29 years, her primary role with Artesian is to represent the firm to its clientele as well as implement the processes and infrastructure assets necessary for the Special District practice.  A cum laude graduate of Tulane University New Orleans with a degree in Computer Information Systems, Lisa brings a fresh perspective to the Bookkeeping Industry.

Lisa currently serves as a director on the board of Fort Bend MUD 139.  She is a past board member of the Association of Water Board Directors (AWBD) from 2014-2018, serving in multiple positions including Vice-President. Lisa is also a current member of the AWBD Recognition Committee and has served as a speaker for various sessions over the years at AWBD conferences.   In addition, Lisa has served the community as a Leader and Coordinator for Girl Scouts in Fort Bend County, Trustee of FBISD and Health Exchange Advisory Board for Oakbend Medical.

Lisa is a member of St. Laurence Catholic Church and spends her spare time supporting numerous non-profit organizations, gardening and traveling.

Cara Sliva, Director of Client Relations

Cara is a graduate with a BBA in Accounting from the University of Texas, Austin.  Receiving her CPA in 1987, she spent 15 years as an accountant in the public banking and construction industries.  

With over 8 years of experience in the water district industry, Cara has managed many complicated districts, including several master districts.  As part of her role, she assists with transitioning districts from other bookkeeping firms. She can make the onboarding process a smooth transition and have the district ready for a successful audit.  

Outside of work, Cara is a member and active volunteer of Kingsland Baptist Church. She is also involved in the National Charity League, Katy Chapter.

Debbie Depinet, Director of Operations

Debbie Depinet has 24 years of experience serving as a board member for Water Districts.  Since 2015, Debbie has had comprehensive experience as a full charge bookkeeper for Texas Special Districts with strong experience in operational reporting.  She maintains client general ledger entry activities at the fund level including the tax and bond funds and performs comprehensive reconciliation activities on general fund financial institution accounts.

Debbie’s prior experience as a Systems Analyst and computer programmer allows Debbie to provide systems design and support as well as bookkeeping duties.  Debbie received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science from Miami University in Ohio

Debbie is the Taysom Hill of Artesian, she can do everything!

Tia Wright, Managing Accountant 

Tia Wright brings a specialized set of skills to Artesian with 25 years of experience in accounting as a Senior Accountant and Office Management Experience. Her experience includes providing land management and GIS Software/Services to manage land rights for various companies.  In addition, she has experience in developing applications for Billing, Accounting and Time-Tracking processes to increase efficiency. 

Tia has experience in providing Bookkeeping services to Special Districts and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from Grambling State University.

Mallika Chittavajhula, Accountant

An experienced accountant with expertise in payment processing, operational oversight, and process improvement, Mallika brings proficiency in team leadership, problem solving, and adapting to changing business conditions.  Her diverse background in financial based software and ERP systems brings experience that allows our firm to grow and evolve with changing technology.

Mallika holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from the University of Maryland College along with a master’s degree in International Enterprise Management from the same university.

Miranda Irick, Bookkeeper

Miranda has industry experience as an office clerk, an accounts payable clerk, and a bookkeeper in the Texas Special Districts industry over a 6-year period.  She has demonstrated great organizational skills and her attention to detail makes for an asset to Artesian.  She is proficient in using Intacct (Sage), QuickBooks, SharePoint, Word, and Excel. 

Miranda holds an Associate of Arts Degree and an Associate of Science Degree from Blinn College.

Tina Johnston, Bookkeeper

Tina is an experienced AP Specialist with a strong background in diverse accounts payable tasks, including real estate, ranch, and personal investment. Previously, she served as a full-charge office manager and bookkeeper for a residential and commercial construction company. Tina holds an Associates Degree in Literature with a Minor in Business from Blinn College, Brenham, TX, and is a bonded Texas Notary.

With her expertise in accounts payable, financial management, and real estate operations, Tina consistently provides exceptional attention to detail, fostering operational efficiency. She is dedicated to the success and growth of Artesian Financial Services, ensuring accurate financial transactions, nurturing strong vendor relationships, and supporting the achievement of overall financial objectives.

Millie Dunmire, Bookkeeper

Millie brings a wealth of experience in bookkeeping and accounting, working in the oil industry for many years and acting as Accounting Manager for a small business.  Her responsibilities included compliance reporting with the state and working closely with auditors.  As a Full Charge Bookkeeper, Millie was responsible for all aspects of the business, from AR, AP, payroll, collections and reconciliations, she assisted the accountant with monthly and annual reporting.

She holds as Associate Degree in Office Technology /Accounting from Wharton Junior College and pursued a Business/Accounting Degree from Houston Baptist University.  

Joy White, Bookkeeper

Serving as Treasury & Business Operations Specialist III for the Ft Bend County Treasurer’s Office, Joy brings a great deal of experience in the public accounting sector. Her responsibilities included reconciling revenue, reporting of deposits, detailed reporting and always working to increase efficiencies.  She trained staff to perform daily duties such verifying, balancing, and reporting for banking and collections of court collections.

Joy attended Wharton Junior College and studied Business Computer Information Systems. Her main focus was business and accounting application software, presentation graphics and business-oriented utilization of the internet.

Kymberlie Smith, Bookkeeper

Kym provides a vast array of skills that benefit Artesian in many ways.  Her previous experience and skills include being a business owner, office administrator, AP/AR manager, procurement specialist and human resources officer. Her attention to detail and her experience over the last 20 years are an asset to our organization.

Kymberlie holds a BA, Business Administration, in Organizational Leadership from Southern New Hampshire in Manchester New Hampshire.

Jane Sullivan, Administrative Assistant

Jane has over 25 years’ experience in the field of education, including managing teams and coordinating curriculum.  Her organizational skills and knowledge of computer applications make her a valued asset to Artesian.

Jane graduated with honors from Texas A&M, College Station, TX and holds a BBA in Education. 

Bill Rickert, Advisory Consultant

Currently in his second term as Fort Bend County Treasurer, Bill Rickert brings a wealth of experience from an extensive career in Executive Management within the Oil & Gas Exploration and Information Technology sectors. Serving as Vice President of Imaging Compute Services, he played a pivotal role in navigating the challenging Exploration & Production market. Overseeing the $200M global seismic imaging business, he achieved operational efficiency through process optimization and successfully negotiated contracts for hardware, software, and service providers.

With over 30 years in the oil and gas exploration and technology industries, Bill’s career highlights include serving as Regional President of Imaging for North & South America, managing the $90M annual seismic data processing business. His responsibilities spanned across imaging center operations in Houston, Villahermosa, and Rio de Janeiro, showcasing his strategic leadership and profit and loss (P&L) expertise.

His commitment to community service is evident through his roles as a past board member for the Fort Bend County Municipal Utility District 206 and as Board President for the Rosenberg Railroad Museum.

Beyond his professional roles, Bill has become a sought-after consultant, offering valuable insights to improve business processes and technology optimization across various industries. His services include developing business plans for new initiatives, evaluating processes for mid to large companies, and providing cost-effective technology solutions.

Bill’s dedication to public service is reflected in his continuous efforts to seek improved optimizations and efficiencies, crucial to his role as County Treasurer. His current and past affiliations include membership in the County Treasurers Association of Texas, Texas Association of Counties, Government Finance Officers Association, Rosenberg Railroad Museum, Fort Bend Republican Party, Association of Water Board Directors, and the Society of HPC Professionals.

Actively involved in professional committees and boards, Bill is part of the Texas Association of Counties Investment Academy Committee, Texas Association of Counties Core Legislative Group, and serves as the County Treasurers Association Region 12 President. He also contributes to committees such as the County Treasurers Association Legislative Committee and Public Relations Committee.

Certified in the Texas Public Investment Act, Bill earned his education at Loyola University New Orleans, studying Computer Information Systems. In 2003, he received an MBA certificate from the A.B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Artesian Financial Services is ready to provide your district the best and most complete bookkeeping services.