Conroe council appoints Ariel Gibbs as chief financial officer

Conroe City Council on April 1, 2025, appointed Ariel Gibbs as the City of Conroe's chief financial officer at a special called meeting, the council announced after a voice vote that met with no recorded opposition.

Council members and city staff said the hire followed a multi-month search. City staff reported they received more than 25 applications, narrowed the field to five candidates and that the mayor interviewed four finalists before the council moved to appoint Gibbs.

City staff described Gibbs's credentials during the meeting: a bachelor's degree in accounting and finance, a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Public Administration and a Certified Government Financial Officer designation. When asked where the CFO would sit in the organization chart, a staff member identified as Gary said the CFO would report to him.

The council made a formal motion to appoint the candidate, which received a second and was approved by voice vote. After the vote, the mayor congratulated Gibbs and welcomed her to the finance department. Gibbs addressed the council, saying, "I promise to devote myself to be one of your best assets as the CFO," and expressed appreciation for the staff she said she had already met.

The council did not identify the motion's mover or seconder by name on the record; the meeting minutes should reflect the formal motion and the unanimous voice vote. Council members present during the appointment included Mayor (name not specified), Mayor Pro Tem Hardman, Councilman Wood, Councilwoman Arthur, Councilman Harrell and Councilwoman Porter.

The council recessed and then adjourned after the appointment. The mayor and staff characterized the appointment as part of restoring leadership in the finance department following the prior vacancy that staff said began in November (the transcript references the vacancy beginning in November). No additional actions or votes on finance policies or budget items were taken at the meeting.