Friday, Sept. 30, 2005 | ||
Bad Links? | Shelton hits the ground running in Union CityBy BEN NELMS Her prior experiences and education have served Tammy Shelton well. Recently hired as City Clerk in Union City, she believes she found her calling as part of the city and its future. Prior to her hire, Shelton spent the past two years as assistant to the vice president for academic affairs at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville. She comes to Union City with a BBA in management information systems. On Dec. 10, she will be awarded a masters in public administration, a program she began in January 2004. For Shelton, completing the program means more than just obtaining a degree. Im very excited about getting the degree, she said. I started in the business world after I got out of college but found that I didnt want to do something like computer programming all day. So I found myself searching for my calling. I tried public administration and I absolutely fell in love with it. I found that being a public servant was my calling. Twenty-five-year-old Shelton and her husband Pete are currently in the transition phase of relocating to the area. The move helps set the stage to put her training and her desire into motion. Union City represented a new opportunity. I saw in Union City the possibility of coming in and providing the public service I was trained for and spent the past two years in, Shelton said. This works for me because I like to stay behind the scenes and help people. Shelton said the diversity of issues that face any local government is one of the things she found appealing about the prospect of applying for the job. At my prior job I did the same old thing, day after day, she explained. There was nothing wrong with that, but I desired to be exposed to multiple challenges and help solve multiple problems. Now just a few weeks on the job, Shelton said she has found a lot of support among her coworkers. Everyone here is wonderful, so kind and outreaching, she said. That was one of the things in the interview process that really attracted me to Union City. I come here with no predetermined opinions, just with an open mind, open for opportunities for Union City and with excitement for what I feel I can do here. When a citizen walks through the door with a problem I will help them. I know Im new, so if I dont know the answer I do know the resources that can help get that problem addressed. Im big on utilizing resources. For residents of Union City who have not met Tammy Shelton, that first meeting will show someone whose enthusiasm is evident. Shelton sees the glass half-full because her eyes are set on the future of a city that is growing rapidly and facing new challenges. Union City has so much potential in its future and I want to be a part of what it is now and what its going to be, she said. |
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Copyright 2005-Fayette Publishing, Inc. |