Heather N. Garay is the Controller for the City of Hammond, Indiana. As Controller, Heather
serves as the Chief Financial Officer for the City and is responsible for preparing annual budgets,
investing City funds, compiling accounting data to prepare the annual financial reports,
administering payroll and payment of claims, and managing the City’s insurance and retirement
plans. She also serves as President of the Board of Public Health and Safety for Hammond and
the Assistant Treasurer of the Hammond Local Public Improvement Bond Bank.
Prior to joining the City of Hammond full time as Controller in 2014, Heather was Treasurer for
the Hammond Water Works Board of Directors from 2010 to 2014 and Vice Chairperson and
Legislative Compliance Commissioner for the Hammond Human Relations Commission from
2009 to 2014. During this time, she practiced Social Security and Veterans disability law as an
associate at Thomas J. Scully, III. and Associates in Munster, Indiana.
Heather is committed to improving access to quality education for Hammond’s youth and
supporting their continued scholastic endeavors beyond the local classroom. She has focused her community efforts on supporting local students and serves as the Finance Chairperson for the
Hammond Academy of Science and Technology Board of Directors, and a member of the
Hammond Education Foundation Board of Directors and Blueprint Advisory Board. In 2018,
Heather created The Compass Project, a foundation focused on mentoring, networking and
career-skill building, in an effort to improve the college graduation and career placement rate
among female graduates of Hammond schools.
She graduated from Valparaiso University with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and
History and received her J.D. from Northern Illinois College of Law in 2009. Heather is a finalist
for the 2018 Up & Coming Women of the Year in Economic Development & Government
award.