Melanie Bush, Treasurer
Melanie serves as the Montgomery County Treasurer after being elected in 2018.  The Treasurer’s Office handles the county’s accounting and investments.  Melanie is committed to reliability, efficiency and transparency.

Since 2000, Melanie’s professional career has focused on bookkeeping.  Melanie began her bookkeeping career while attending Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.  After graduating from SMU in 2002 with degrees in Political Science, Public Policy and Economics, Melanie continued to expand her personal bookkeeping business.  In 2006, a move to The Woodlands, Texas created a catalyst for significant growth.  Better Bookkeepers, Inc. was founded in July 2010 and has rapidly expanded into a thriving bookkeeping service.  In 2016, Better Bookkeepers was honored to be named Small Business of the Year by Lone Star College – Montgomery’s Small Business Development Center.  Today Better Bookkeepers is managed by an extremely capable management team, leaving Melanie free to focus fully on the Treasurer’s Office.

Melanie is deeply committed to serving her community.   Before she was elected as the County Treasurer on November 6, 2018, Melanie served as an elected (and unpaid) Trustee for the Conroe Independent School District, where she has served as the Secretary and President for the Board of Trustees.  Melanie also served as the President and Lead Mentor for the Executive Women’s Alliance mentoring high-risk young women in high school, as well as a Power Mentor for the Montgomery County Association of Business Women.  She is involved in the Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce, Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce, and Interfaith of the Woodlands, as well as many other community organizations.  In 2016, Melanie was humbled to receive the Citizen of the Year award from the Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce. 

Melanie believes in having a proper work-life balance.  She enjoys spending time with her husband Alan and their two daughters, Rebekah and Audrey. The Bush family is actively involved in the youth and children’s ministries at Crossroads Baptist Church.  Melanie also enjoys training for and competing in sprint triathlons as well as curling up with a good book, when she isn’t busy being a band mom!

Jan Avery, Financial Analyst/Bail Bond Board Administrator
Jan joined the County Treasurer’s Office in May 2004 and is currently Financial Analyst and Bail Bond Board Administrator. She has been integral part of this office as Bail Bond Administrator, Assistant Investment Officer, and jack of all trades. Her depth of knowledge of the Treasurer’s Office and the history of having worked under three Treasurers is invaluable.

Jan’s accounting experience of over 45 years benefits the taxpayers of Montgomery County, working her way up through private companies to VP and CFO of an oil and gas service company. Bringing that private sector knowledge to her day to day handling of county business has helped the county to function at a high efficiency level.

When Jan isn’t found in the Treasurer’s Office, she can be found gardening or decorating. She has a love for DIY handyman projects, “YouTube is a wealth of information.” But her true passion outside of her family is sailing the high seas. Her best trip so far has been a three month long voyage from Clear Lake to Florida to the Bahamas!

Patricia Reaves, Payroll Coordinator
Patricia joined the County Treasurers Office in August 2007 and is currently the Payroll Coordinator. Patricia is the head of the payroll duo! She coordinates with Risk Management, Budget, Human Resources, Audit and all Departments to produce the most accurate payroll week after week. Having worked in many areas of this office, Patricia is bedrock of knowledge.

Prior to joining the Treasurer’s Office, Patricia worked in accounting and insurance for several small businesses, as well as Whatburger’s Corporate Office. After taking some time to work at home with her children, Patricia reentered the workforce, first with her church as the Church Administrator, and then she joined Humble ISD as Assistant to the Director of Maintenance and Construction. Having handled all aspects of small business, construction processes, insurance packages, and payroll, Patricia helps the county be at its best benefitting the taxpayers.

When it isn’t a payroll week and she can be pried away from the office, Patricia’s absolute favorite thing is to spend time with her family and wonderful grandkids. They shoot shotguns competitively as a family and Patricia can be found working registration and scoring for those tournaments if she isn’t shooting herself. Her husband and Patricia love the travel they get to do with the tournaments, but look forward to going to visit Australia again someday!

Lara Pena, Finance Assistant
Lara joined the County Treasurer’s Office in November 2018 and is currently a Finance Assistant. Lara is responsible for the banking related activities in this office. She oversees the cash receipting and reconciles all the bank accounts.

Prior to joining the Treasurer’s Office, Lara worked with a local CPA and enjoyed homeschooling her daughter. Having found her passion with accounting, Lara will complete her BS in Business Administration with a minor in Accounting from Sam Houston State University in May of 2020.

Lara and her family have enjoyed many years with the Montgomery County 4H Club, which has bred a whole new crop of activities they are passionate about. If Lara is feeling extra nice, she will share some of her honey from her bee keeping or vegetables from her garden, or she might just let you pet one of her farm animals! When she is not working or tending to her hobby farm, you can find her shooting in competitive shooting contests!

Brittany Vinson, Finance Assistant
Brittany joined the County Treasurer’s Office in April 2019 and is currently a Finance Assistant. Brittany is responsible for the disbursement of Accounts Payable checks, Jury payments, Unclaimed Property, Refunds for various departments, Fee Reports to the state and assisting with Bail Bond Board Administration.

Prior to joining the Treasurer’s Office, Brittany spent 12 years with retired Judge Connelly in the Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 Court and a little over a year with the Sheriff’s Office.  Brittany’s experience in one of the busiest JP courts in the state has benefitted the tax payers in her ability to properly process the state fees reports. Additionally, her wealth of knowledge as to how monies are processed in the departments is incredibly beneficial.

Brittany holds a BS in General Business Administration from Sam Houston State University. And while she may bleed orange and blue, she is the proud mother of two kids in the Conroe High feeder zone. Brittany doesn’t just work her accounting passion, she translates it into her home life with her mission of saving money, including couponing. And don’t be surprised if her husband mentions her evening Candy Crush addiction!

Tiffany Dupree, Administrative Assistant
Tiffany joined the County Treasurer’s Office in June 2019 and is the Administrative Assistant. Tiffany is the glue that holds this office together. She is in charge of our electronic record retention, assists with Commissioner’s Court document preparation, and backs up our Accounting Clerks.

Prior to joining the Treasurer’s Office, Tiffany was an Office Manager and Paralegal. Her strong skills maintaining documents benefits this office and the taxpayers with her ability to streamline our document retention. Tiffany holds a BS in Business from the University of Phoenix.

When not at work, Tiffany can be found cruising out of Galveston with her husband or cheering on the Texans! With a fun-loving spirit like that, it is no wonder she keeps the office encouraged with their personal health and models it through her running, working out and healthy food meal prepping!

Judy Wall, Accounting Clerk
Judy joined the County Treasurer’s Office in June 2019 and is the Cash Management Accounting Clerk. Judy is responsible for all the monies that come into this office. She ensures proper receipting, coding and depositing of all the taxpayer’s money.

Prior to joining the Treasurer’s Office, Judy was a Court Clerk for the Justice of Peace Court in Precinct 3 for 2 and a half years. Prior to graduating in May 2016 with a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree from University of Houston, Judy had 4 years of extensive customer service experience in the hospitality industry. With her knowledge of all areas of JP 3 and customer service background, Judy was well equipped to step into our office and hit the ground running – and that she did!