How long have you been an FCCMA member and why did you join?
I have been an FCCMA member for five years. I joined because there were colleagues of mine that who how much this professional organization has to offer and how much they have gained from their membership!
Are you an ICMA member? Why did you join, and how long have you been a member?
I have been an ICMA member for five years as well; joining both FCCMA and ICMA for professional growth based on how valuable my professional network found both organizations.
Please describe your areas of formal/advanced education.
I obtained my Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, with a double major in Spanish and Political Science. I obtained my master’s degree from Loyola University-Chicago, studying Human Resources and Labor Relations.
Why did you select a career in public service?
I have always had a passion for public service! Out of college, I served as a Fellow for the Secretary of State’s Office for the State of Illinois. I then accepted a position as a paid staffer for Governor Jim Edgar’s initial gubernatorial race, which he won and served for two terms as the Governor of Illinois. During that time, I worked for Public Aid in Human Resources, doing interviews in English and Spanish. I also completed my master’s degree in the evening. I then accepted a position with the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority; ultimately becoming Chief of Administration of the Illinois Toll Highway Authority. After serving 12 years in the Governor’s Office, I accepted the position of Director of Human Resources for the City of Largo, Florida, which has been an honor for the last 20 years.😊
Have you always been in the public sector, or have you had experience in the private sector?
I have always worked in the public sector.
Please tell us about your current position and give a brief job description if you are not a City Administrator/Manager.
Currently, I serve as the Director of Human Resources for the City of Largo, Florida. Our organization has about 1,000 team members and 12 different municipal departments. Human Resources supports a high performing and transformational team member experience including recruitment and retention, team member relations and recognition, organizational development (compensation management, comprehensive benefits programming, policy development/implementation/compliance), training, collective bargaining/labor relations for International Association of Firefighters (IAFF), Police Benevolent Association (PBA) and our general employees union (CWA-Communication Workers of America), Risk Management-General Liability Claims/Insurance coverages/Workers’ Compensation/Safety Training, Human Resources Information Systems, Public Records Requests, etc.
Please describe your typical day.
My typical day involves checking in with HR team members to ensure they have all they need to move forward on projects and any issues they are working on. Daily, I work with City Administration and all Departments; participating in meetings that move forward organizational initiatives involving all HR disciplines and departmental operations as it relates to our comprehensive services. Before we all know it ….. it’s Friday!
What is your favorite part of the job?
My favorite part of my job is serving team members in all parts of our organization and helping them do great things to serve our community.😊Whether it is collaborating with departments to optimize employee efficiency and effectiveness as it relates to comprehensive HR programming, working through team member relations situations, celebrating team member accomplishments, working with our Executive Leadership Team on a transformational HPO (high performing organization) project, interpreting policies/statutory language to ensure compliance-it is a joy to be a part of such a dynamic organization that is dedicated to serving our community with passion, creativity and integrity!
What is your least favorite part of the job?
Not enough hours in the day:)
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 just completed the Leadership Pinellas program, which is a year-long program teaching many aspects of public sector and private sector programming in Pinellas County. The program also provides leadership training and an outstanding opportunity to network with private and public sector professionals who inspire, assist and motivate each other in their professional development.
What is your most memorable experience on the job?
There are so many! It begins with our amazing Team Largo, outstanding HR Department and National Top Workplace designation for the last three years!! The City of Largo has grown and developed to be a high-performing workplace that has an exceptional dedication to our values (Integrity, Collaboration, Passion and Creativity) and mission-to Provide Superior Service that Inspires Community Pride. That said, an experience that happened earlier on in my tenure, was when I was asked to represent the City of Largo on CNN American Morning after Hurricane Charlie due to our termination of a primary responder that didn’t show up for his emergency management shift assignment. Representing our City on CNN was an opportunity to underscore the empathy we have as an organization to allow team members to take care of their families, as well as the importance of public service and the commitment we make to serve our community in difficult times … that is what we do as public servants.
What are your hobbies/interests?
I enjoy singing and I have directed a group of city team members who sing holiday songs and Christmas Carols around the City of Largo.😊 If you were wondering – Santa is real and lives in the City of Largo-lol! I have led this group for 19 years ….. in addition to singing during the holidays, we have sung the National Anthem at the Tampa Bay Rays game three different times!
I also enjoy being active with my church. I have three daughters and have been married for 32 years. We have been blessed with being able to be active in our church, Heritage United Methodist, in the life of our family and enjoy attending and supporting the community involvement!
If you could give one piece of advice to people interested in a career in public service, what would it be?
The advice I would give is to do the right things for the right reasons, when people are watching and not watching, assume positive intent, and seek to understand. Then you will be the team member who sets the example, treats people with grace/integrity, and is trusted and engaged; working to make the organization and community something great!
Who were your mentors, and how have you passed this information down to other aspiring public administrators?
I had a powerful mentor in the Illinois Governor’s Office and Illinois Secretary of State’s Office, Janis Cellini. She observed me, made time for me and believed in me; seeing great things for me in the future of the Governor’s Office. It was a blessing to have someone be invested in your success and advocate for professional opportunities. Additionally, I observed Janis and learned how amazing she was with people, always keeping her word and working so hard to do the right thing for the right reasons. She was involved with labor relations as well, which inspired me to obtain my Master’s Degree in Human Resources and Labor Relations, which is now part of Loyola Chicago’s MBA program.
What career would you pick if you were to pick another?
I wouldn’t pick another career.
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?
The professional colleagues that are a part of FCCMA and the committees they serve on have inspired me to get more involved with FCCMA. Currently, I serve as a first-year member of the Awards & Scholarships Committee.
