How long have you been a FCCMA member and why did you join?
I became a member in March 2020, just after being appointed to the Assistant County Administrator’s role.
Are you an ICMA member, why did you join, and how long have you been a member?
I am, I joined ICMA at the same time I joined FCCMA.
Please describe your areas of formal/advanced education.
My degree is in Business Administration with a concentration in Public and Service Sector Management from the University of Wales, College Cardiff in the UK. I am also a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners and a Certified Floodplain Manager.
Why did you select a career in public service?
I fell into public service, but I think I was always meant to be here. I was looking for a job after relocating from the UK to Florida and one was available in the county’s Building Department. I have a background through my Father in construction and it seemed to be a good fit. That was in 2003, I found my passion and haven’t looked back since.
Have you always been in the public sector or have you had experience in the private sector?
I worked in the private sector before relocating to Florida. I worked for several years in the complaints department for the call center for one of the UK’s largest banks – it was fantastic training for a life in public service!
Please tell us about your current position and give a brief job description if you are not a City Administrator/Manager.
I am the Assistant County Administrator for Charlotte County, currently overseeing Community Development, Human Services, Facilities and Construction Maintenance and Water Quality.
Please describe your typical day.
I don’t think there ever is a typical day – we have our regular meetings with Commissioners, Board meetings etc., but everything else very much depends on the priorities for that day and making sure my team have the support they need to be effective.
What is your favorite part of the job?
I have two favorites – one is being able to welcome new employees into the organization and provide an example to them of what a long-term career in this organization can look like. The second is when I get to recognize employees for exceptional service to the county and our citizens. Recognizing the hard work our employees put in every day with something small such as a thank you note or gift card, especially when we get to surprise them, never gets old. They do amazing things every day.
What is your least favorite part of the job?
The least favorite is dealing with the fundamental mis-trust in government and what we do. Especially when that spills over into hostility against our employees and this organization. Public Service is not easy, and it takes a dedicated person to do this job. I still get frustrated when those efforts are not understood nor appreciated by some citizens, yet those same citizens rely on the services we provide and are quick to complain when they do not get the level of service they think they should get.
If you are involved in any volunteer or leadership activities in your community, please share with us a bit about what you do and why it is important to you.
I do volunteer within my community supporting several local organizations and events. My main volunteer work however is with the Florida Floodplain Managers Association and the Association of State Floodplain Managers. Both of these organizations work to make our local community’s resilient to the impacts of flooding and concentrate on the provision affordable flood insurance to those in our community.
What is your most memorable experience on the job?
This is a hard one, there have been so many – I think that one that comes to mind illustrates the way my colleagues and this organization pull together in the face of adversity. In 2004, we took a direct hit from a Cat 4 Hurricane (Charley) that devastated a lot of our community. Being a part of this recovery effort and seeing how our community came together to support each other is something that will live with me forever and helps guide my actions in everything I do. This experience has been echoed in the past year during the pandemic with the same sense of community resiliency.
What are your hobbies/interests?
I am an amateur potter – I am not very good, but I find pottery centers (pottery joke for all the potters out there!) me and forces me to focus on nothing but the clay taking me away from the day to day challenges we in public service face. I also love travelling, reading and spending time with my husband, four dogs and my cockatoo!
If you could give one piece of advice to people interested in a career in public service, what would it be?
The best piece of advice I could give is to be brave. Speak out, ask for what you want and don’t wait for things to come to you. If you don’t ask for something, you are not going to get it so don’t be afraid to speak up and speak out.
Who were your mentors and how have you passed this information down to other aspiring public administrators?
I don’t have formal mentors but have a group of people I have collected throughout my career that I can go to for help and advice as I need it. That works better for me than a more formal mentoring program. I do mentor several people both within my organization and outside of it and make sure I keep myself available to help anyone who reaches out to me.
What career would you pick if you were to pick another?
I was always destined to be in the service sector although I initially thought this would be in the banking industry. That changed as I started my career with Charlotte County and I can’t imagine doing anything else. I have brief periods of thinking how fun it would be to be a full-time potter – but then I realize I have bills to pay!
Do you have a story you can share about how being a member of FCCMA has helped you or impacted you in a positive way?
One of the first things I was encouraged to do as a new member of FCCMA was to become involved in a committee. I was lucky enough to be appointed to the Communications Committee and through that I have met some inspirational people, learned so much more about the organization and been able to provide input to help the organization grow. I would highly recommend signing up to a committee and get involved!
