Why Do You Work Here?
For many of the North Carolina state employees I met last week, the answer was the same: "I want to help people."
As a governor’s page in North Carolina last week, I had the opportunity to meet with various employees in state departments.
On Tuesday, I met with Hugo Govea, an outreach coordinator for the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. In his position, Hugo shares information about the educational opportunities the department offers to people of all ages across the state. In other words, Hugo is a state ambassador and spreads the wonderful, diverse cultures and natural landscapes that bring smiles to North Carolinians.
Making someone smile or have a better day is the best gift I can ever receive.
-Hugo Govea
On Wednesday, I met with Lieutenant BT Snotherly and Sergeant Steve Smith of the North Carolina Highway Patrol. While many think of the Highway Patrol as an annoying department that issues speeding tickets, they actually do much more than that. The Highway Patrol responds to crashes, vehicle breakdowns, and road closures. Troopers assist in crowded parking lots at sporting events, provide security for the governor, and work alongside football coaches. The Highway Patrol saves lives.
I also met Collin Mellor, a Senior Project Manager for the NC Department of Transportation. Without any electronic presentation, Collin brilliantly captivated our attention and interest in the NCDOT by forcing everyone in the room to not only share everything they already knew about the department, but also to prove their knowledge by asking them difficult scenario-based problems.
One problem was: “Is it a good idea to reconstruct the Alligator River bridge if the Outer Banks are going to be underwater sometime in the next 100 years?”
This question stretched my brain.
Of course, the DMV problem was brought up, as well (Nobody in North Carolina can get a DMV appointment, the documentation you have to bring is insane, and the lines are ridiculously long), but this is the General Assembly’s fault as they set a cap on the number of staff the DMV can employ.
I had a terrific time learning about the great services the state government provides to North Carolinians, and I was blown away by the hospitality and kindness shown by all of the state employees that I had the pleasure of meeting.
I did not expect that nearly every public servant I spoke with shared the same motive for working in government: to have the opportunity to help people.
Being in the world of state government last week brought a new level of solicitude to me regarding the mass layoffs and growing hatred of federal and state employees recently.
North Carolina state department employees aren’t “the rulebook enforcers” or “the bureaucratic police” like many people think they are.
They do so much for so many people. They are the experts, the problem solvers, and most of all, the everyday helpers. They should be loved, not hated.
If you know any state department employees, give them a big thank you.
Because they are here to help.
Sounds like a great learning experience you had in Raleigh, Zach. Good information here. I didn't realize the General Assembly is the problem behind the long waits at DMV, but somehow I'm not surprised.
Ask why the number of offices and employees is capped. The people who work there want to provide better service, but the legislators are preventing them from doing so to the detriment of all. Who benefits? Who are they trying to keep from benefiting from these services?