Cherise Hodge Tucker

Cherise Hodge Tucker is a proud Virgin Islander, born and raised on St. Thomas, with the exception of five years spent in West Palm Beach, Florida. A lifelong learner and dedicated professional, Cherise earned both her Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and Master of Business Administration from the University of the Virgin Islands. She also holds certifications in Anti-Money Laundering and Risk Management, reflecting her commitment to excellence in financial oversight and compliance. Family and faith are at the center of Cherise’s life. She is the proud mother of three children, Ne’Kye, Jonathan, and Nia and considers raising them one of her greatest blessings. Guided by her strong faith in God, she is an active member of Living Hope Cathedral Church, where she continues to grow spiritually and serve her community. As the Associate Director of the Federal Grants Management and Compliance Units at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Cherise has found a role that perfectly aligns with her passion for compliance and public service. She enjoys working closely with the Government of the Virgin Islands agencies to strengthen federal grant management practices, improve federal reporting, support Single Audits, assist with agency responses, and direct compliance engagements. Through this work, she plays a vital role in helping agencies maintain accountability while ensuring that federal resources are managed effectively for the benefit of the community. In her current position, Cherise oversees the operations of both the Federal Grants Management and Compliance Units, supervises staff, provides guidance to agencies on the administration of federal funds, and helps coordinate activities related to the Government’s Single Audit. Drawing from extensive experience in both the private and public sectors, she approaches her work with a strong commitment to ethics, integrity, and professional excellence. Cherise’s professional journey began in the private sector, where she spent approximately twenty-one years building a successful career. Starting as an intern in the Accounting Department at LS Wholesale, Inc., doing business as Little Switzerland, Inc., she steadily advanced through the organization and ultimately became Assistant Controller. Her transition into public service led her to the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority, where she spent approximately thirteen years developing a deep appreciation for grant management and compliance. She later served as Controller for the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority for three years and then Director of Accounting at VIYA for approximately three years, before joining OMB in 2024 in her current leadership role. Looking ahead, Cherise envisions continuing her work with OMB and supporting Government agencies in achieving consistent, timely, and clean audit opinions. She is passionate about helping agencies strengthen their financial management practices and ensuring they have the tools and resources needed to spend federal funds efficiently, effectively, and in compliance with applicable regulations. Throughout her career, Cherise has taken great pride in the positive impact she has made within the organizations she has served. Her professional accomplishments include implementing process improvements, developing Standard Operating Policies and Procedures to support business continuity, introducing software solutions that improve operational efficiency, and enhancing reporting systems to support better decision-making. Personally, however, she considers her greatest achievement to be raising her three children. Being their mother, she says, is both an honor and one of the most rewarding experiences of her life. Cherise’s motivation stems from her faith. She approaches every challenge with the belief that she is working unto God rather than for people. This perspective inspires her to give her best effort in every situation, especially when navigating complex challenges or encouraging organizational change. Outside of work, many people may not know that Cherise is deeply involved in the study of worship through movement. She is currently exploring the significance of worship flag colors and their use in liturgical dance, also known as praise dance. This sacred form of worship uses movement to express spiritual joy, offer praise, communicate biblical narratives, and create an atmosphere of worship without spoken words. If given the opportunity to travel anywhere in the world, Cherise would choose London. Her desire to visit is deeply personal, as she would love to spend time with her cousin, LaMoi Hedrington, a professional dancer who has performed in Disney productions including The Lion King and Hercules in London. Watching him perform on stage would be a memorable and meaningful experience. For individuals beginning a career in grant management, compliance, or leadership, Cherise offers valuable advice: never stop learning. She believes that no one enters a role knowing everything, but a willingness to learn and grow is essential for success. She also emphasizes the importance of strong work ethics, effective communication, openness to change, continuous professional development, and a willingness to share knowledge with others. These qualities, she believes, are the foundation of both personal and professional growth.