How long have you been a FCCMA member? 10/2012-present. (I had a student membership during my Master’s program).
Are you an ICMA member and if so, how long? Yes, since 2011. (I had a student membership during my Master’s program).
Please describe your areas of formal/advanced education.
I have a Masters of Public Administration (2006) and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting (1993) both from the University of Akron in Ohio.
What got you interested in public service?
I have always been interested in helping people. I have the spiritual gifts of encouragement, administration and leadership.
I started working for the City of Akron, OH in October of 1988 as an Administrative Assistant. After obtaining my Accounting degree I was promoted to the Income Tax office as a Tax Agent. Then I was promoted to a Loan and Grant Specialist, then finally to the Utilities Analyst (which is the equivalent of a Utility Department Accountant).
While planning for my significant other’s retirement in 2006, we decided it would be beneficial if I were to go back to school to obtain my Master’s to make my resume more attractive. Upon his retirement and my graduation (both in 2006) it took me 18 months to secure the position of Accountant for the Village of Islamorada, in Monroe County.
What is your current occupation?
I currently am the Grants Coordinator for the City of Deltona, in Volusia County.
Please give a brief job description.
I am responsible for all grant compliance and grant reporting to appropriate agencies; I solicit and write new grants, perform analytical work in writing, maintain, review and coordinate federal, state, and county grant programs and contracts administration; and maintain required documentation. And don’t forget the “catch all” phrase: performs other duties as assigned.
Please describe your typical day.
In a typical day I monitor the expenditures charged to grant programs for compliance with grant guidelines. I make sure we stay in compliance with all the Davis Bacon and related acts. I also research grant opportunities and how well they mesh with projects that have been identified in the capital improvement element.
What is your favorite part of the job?
The favorite part of my job is receiving the “you have been funded” letter for an application that I helped one of our departments complete and submit.
What is your least favorite part of the job?
Getting the “thanks for your application, but try again next year” rejection letter when an application has not been funded, is my least favorite part of my position.
What is your most memorable experience on the job?
Participating as an elf in the City of Deltona Christmas Parade in 2012, it was very fun and exciting and way out of my comfort zone.
What are hobbies/interests?
I attend and am very active at Orange City United Methodist Church (OCUMC) where in January 2012 I became the Finance Committee Chair and Lay Member to the Annual Conference. I also have been the OCUMC Group Leader to the Women of Faith Conference since August 2011. In my other spare time I scrapbook and am an Independent Beauty Consultant for Mary Kay Cosmetics.
If you could give one piece of advice to young people interested in a career in public service, what would it be?
Persist and never give up. If it is meant to be it will. Keep an open mind and a positive attitude.
Who were your mentors and how have you passed this information down to other young public administrators?
I decided I wanted to be a City Manager after hearing the City Manager for the City of Hudson, Ohio give a presentation in my Public Budgeting class, during my Masters program. He stressed that the average life cycle for a City Manager in Northeast Ohio was 5-7 years, and that the effective manager should be able to multi-task and not be afraid to delegate. My best mentor to date has been the former City Manager of the City of Deltona, Faith Miller. She has been very supportive of my career goals and is not shy about giving her opinion when asked. She will tell me what she thinks, even if she knows it’s not what I want to hear.
I have not really had the opportunity to pass this information on to other young public administrators, except when speaking with and encouraging them to seek their dreams at the “So You Want to be a Manager” workshop in Orlando.
Have you always been in the public sector or have you had experience in the private sector?
I managed a small frozen food store for Rahe’s Foods out of Cincinnati Ohio for a short time along with my ex-husband in the early 80s. Other than that my career has been in Public Service.
What career would you pick if you were to pick another?
I would have enjoyed being a teacher, I am sure. When I looked into the possibility of teaching after I obtained my Master’s I found out that I would have to take almost another full degree worth of classes (84 credit hours), so decided to pass on the possibility and stick with civil service.
