CONTRIBUTED BY
the city  OF OPELIKA

City of Opelika announces Russell Jones, city clerk, recently received his Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) designation from the International Insititute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC).

The CMC program is designed to enhance the job performance of the clerk in small and large municipalities. To earn the CMC designation, a municipal clerk must attend extensive education programs. The CMC program prepares the applicants to meet the challenges of the complex role of the municipal clerk by providing them with quality education in partnership with institutions of higher learning, as well as state / provincial / national associations.

Jones received his designation within the required minimum timeframe of two years.

Originally from Beauregard, Jones attended Trinity Christian School in Opelika from kindergarten to eighth grade. Jones then moved to Albertville, Alabama, and graduated from Albertville High School before moving back to Auburn to attend Auburn University. After receiving his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Finance) in 2006 from Auburn University, Jones began a career in banking. After more than six years in retail banking,  Jones began working for the city of Opelika, starting as a customer service representative for Opelika Power Services for a year, and then moving to the city’s accounting department for more than five years. In March 2020, Jones took over as city clerk/Treasurer after Robert “Bob” Shuman retired with more than 30 years of service to the city of Opelika. Jones has been married for almost eight years and has a 6-year-old son and a 2-year-old daughter. Jones and his family recently built a new house in Opelika and love to take family outings to downtown, Tiger Town and Municipal Park to ride the Rocky Brook Rocket.