May 7, 2012

Vern McHargue, Controller for Finance and Operations.

“The quality of people associated with Heritage is very high,” The Heritage Foundation’s Vern McHargue says. “Everyone understands and is committed to advancing the same principles.”

As Heritage’s Controller for Finance and Operations, McHargue helps Heritage be a good steward of our members’ contributions. He ensures we have the right people and processes in place to ensure money is spent effectively and that Heritage is here for generations to come.

“Money touches everything,” he explains. That means he is involved, if indirectly, in every facet of what Heritage does—from our work to educate Congressional staff to our policy research to our media and grassroots outreach.

Every person on his team is a committed conservative and 100 percent aligned with Heritage’s vision. This makes the job easier, he says, because everyone in the office is highly motivated.

McHargue explains why he believes so strongly in Heritage’s mission:

My wife and I have four young sons. The principles that Heritage stands for are what I want this country to be when they are my age and out in the working world. Many organizations have mission statements that are unattainable. However, I see Heritage working every day to see to it that we are attaining our mission statement. [Heritage President Ed] Feulner always says, “There are no permanent victories.” This factor drives me in continuing to be vigilant because freedom is not free and can be taken away very quickly.

Of particular inspiration to McHargue is a quote from Justice Clarence Thomas: “In the strongest of storms, true north is still true north.”

“I believe that Heritage can be that kind of institution,” he concludes, “that will be around for the next generation, pointing them in the direction of truth.”