How long have you been a FCCMA member and why did you join?
I have been a member of FCCMA since 2017. I joined when I was awarded the Raymond C. Sittig Scholarship in my senior year of my undergraduate studies at Nova Southeastern University.
Are you an ICMA member, why did you join, and how long have you been a member?
I am not currently a member of ICMA but have been interested in becoming a member and plan to this year.
Please describe your areas of formal/advanced education.
I am proud to have a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelors of Sociology both from Nova Southeastern University.
Why did you select a career in public service?
I am someone who loves to give back to my community and I genuinely believe that people should make this world a better place. A famous quote that I love and live by is “Be the change you wish to see in the world – Gandhi.” If we all have this mentality, we have the power to make positive impacts.
Have you always been in the public sector or have you had experience in the private sector?
I have experience in both. I have worked in the public sector the past three years and previous to that in the private sector for nine years.
Please tell us about your current position and give a brief job description if you are not a City Administrator/Manager.
In my position as the Administrative Assistant to the City Clerk Department in the City of Coconut Creek, I am the main point of contact of my department. I perform all administrative duties and execute multilevel directives. I am the trusted assistant to the City Clerk and Deputy City Clerk. I am privileged to create the first digital board/committee system, start the first American with Disabilities Act policy/procedure for the city, work on making the city’s website documents ADA compliant, and I am the leader for all lobbyist registrations/renewals. I am proud to be both a resident and employee of my city.
Please describe your typical day.
The City Clerk Department is small but mighty. We work on agendas throughout the week and posting public notices for all public meetings. In my role, I answer all department phone calls, manage public meeting space calendars, assist the City Clerk and Deputy City Clerk with projects, pay invoices, manage the department budget, submit payroll, and assist with process improvement. A typical day requires me to be adaptable and quick on my feet.
What is your favorite part of the job?
My favorite part of the job is building connections with people. I truly love to work with people and see tasks and projects come to their completion. By building genuine relationships with people, it allows for a smoother working environment which allows for more efficiency. I also love seeing how our city is impacting the residents. It brings me so much joy to see and assist in building a thriving community.
What is your least favorite part of the job?
Our city works Monday through Thursday from 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., thus the days are very long. Ideally, I would prefer the five day work week but do enjoy having Friday’s off.
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.
Prior to the pandemic, I would volunteer at my church. I also love to volunteer for organizations such as Women in Distress, March of Dimes, Alzheimer’s Walkathon, and NSU Honors College Alumni Association. I feel it is extremely important to volunteer and help advocate for organizations that represent a good cause.
What is your most memorable experience on the job?
My most memorable experience within the City Clerk Department is when I had the opportunity to work on a project creating the first digital board/committee system and present it to the City Manager. Her willingness to allow me to be instrumental on this big project showed that she trusted me to not only get the job done but make a system that would be user friendly and technologically advanced for residents, commissioners, staff, and the city manager to maneuver. I take so much pride in this project and am thankful for the opportunity to make this system come to life with the help of IT.
What are your hobbies/interests?
Some of my hobbies/interests include physical fitness, working out, playing volleyball, and learning. I truly enjoy outdoor activities in which I can meet other people. I truly am a book worm who loves school and learning as much as I can as well.
If you could give one piece of advice to people interested in a career in public service, what would it be?
One piece of advice, I would give to people interested in a career in public service is to know this career is selfless. It is a career in which other people come first and therefore it is so rewarding. Knowing that you are making a difference to others makes my heart glow. It provides this fulfillment to my soul to know that we are helping others.
Who were your mentors and how have you passed this information down to other aspiring public administrators?
I have a great mentor named Mr. Jeff Tillman. Mr. Tillman is the current city manager for the City of Auburndale and was a past FCCMA scholarship recipient. He was also on my interview panel when I won my first FCCMA scholarship. Because of him and the other interview panelists, I was able to attend Nova Southeastern University and start my MPA program. He has seen me grow in my public sector career and is a great leader who is honest and truly wants to help the future generation. His knowledge and experience in local government has been invaluable. I am extremely blessed to have him as my mentor.
City Manager, Karen Brooks has also been a great mentor to me and was the supporting force that allowed me to go to the 2021 FCCMA conference. She saw the potential in me, she has shown me that she is there to help me grow professionally and reach my dreams. Ms. Brooks has provided great insight on how our city is run and what skills she has learned throughout her journey. I am thankful to work for a wonderful city manager mentor who believes in me and wants me to succeed.
What career would you pick if you were to pick another?
I truly would continue to be a public servant. I love being community oriented and have an extreme passion to help others and make a difference within society.
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?
FCCMA was my first professional local government organization that I joined. FCCMA provided me the platform to meet and network with so many local government professionals. It has been one of the best decisions that I have made in my local government career. I have learned so much from the various seminars, especially the ‘So You Want to Be a City/County Manager’ seminar. I am so honored to be a part of this amazing association as it has allowed me to create great professional mentorships and friendships.
