How long have you been a FCCMA member? 16 years
Are you an ICMA member and if so, how long? No
Please describe your areas of formal/advanced education. MPA FROM BRENAU UNIVERSITY
What got you interested in public service? After spending 20 years in the military, wanted to continue working in government arena.
What is your current occupation? City Manager – Chattahoochee, Florida
Please give a brief job description. As the CAO of the city, I am charged with the daily operations of a full service city which delivers Electricity, Natural Gas, Water/ Sewer, Sanitation, Recreation, Police and Fire Services, along with City Hall Administrative/Financial Services under the direction and policies set by the Elected City Council
Please describe your typical day. Most days get to work around 7 AM and spend a few minutes chatting with my city foremen and other employees, as my job location is the City Warehouse and not at City Hall since I do not have a Public Works Director. Since I see all my Department Foreman nearly every day, we do not have to have many staff meetings, as we discuss what is going on and what is planned for the day. I normally pick up the mail and deliver the deposit to the bank in an effort to segregate duties as much as possible, as I do not sign checks on behalf of the city. I do all my typing and report preparation, along with administer grants received by the city, and responding to suggestions from council or citizens.
What is your favorite part of the job? Being around the best employees anyone in the world could be associated with and dealing with the public.
What is your least favorite part of the job? Telling some of the citizens that they must pay their utility bill or be cut off and getting blessed out because it is my fault their bill is so high and they think we should let them slide until the next month, which would make the situation even worse.
What is your most memorable experience on the job? Being selected by the American Public Power Association for the award of the The Larry Hobart Seven Hats Award in 2008. There are lots of others, but this one stands out.
What are hobbies/interests? Fishing and traveling. Very involved in my church activities
If you could give one piece of advice to young people interested in a career in public service, what would it be? Always do the right thing and watch out for pitfalls as everything that is legal is not always the right thing to do.
Who were your mentors and how have you passed this information down to other young public administrators? My principle mentor was Jim Burgess who was the Executive Director of the Georgia Municipal Association for many years who always gave me good guidance during my early years as a Manager in Georgia. I have tried to set the example in both on the job and off the job activities and hope to be a good role model for them to follow.
Have you always been in the public sector or have you had experience in the private sector? When I retired from the Army in 1976, I worked in the private sector for about 8 years prior to becoming a city manager, most of it in retail operations.
What career would you pick if you were to pick another? I would probably attempt to teach college courses some place.
