HONOREE QUESTIONNAIRE

Name: Andrew Gingerich

Current Position: Director, Water Field Operations

First position with City: Civil Engineer I, PDT

Years with City: 11 years

How did you come to work for the City of Fort Collins?

After graduating from Colorado State University, I was working for a local consulting firm in Fort Collins designing Water Utilities for commercial subdivisions in Windsor.  After 7 years I decided I wanted to work for organization where I would make an impact within the community that I called home.

What are your favorite things about working for the City, and more specifically, your department, and why?

I enjoy working for the City because I know that my work and my Departments work directly impacts the community be providing exceptional service to our customers.  Specifically I enjoy my Department because I get to lead a team of highly trained certified water professionals that provide service to our community 24/7/365 days a year.  They are a hardworking gritty group that doesn’t shy away from the difficult and are able to see direct results of their work each day.

What has been your most memorable project or experience while working for the City, and why?

I am no longer an individual contributor so rarely work on projects myself so I would have to say that my most memorable achievement is working with my staff and subject matter experts to develop a safe to report and near miss safety program.  We have also developed peer to peer run safety groups such as the peer trenching and shoring group.  This allows frontline employees to discuss what they need to be safe and successful and then bring the ideas, equipment and costs to management to help implement.

In your role as a City employee, how do you believe you are making this community a better place to live?

Yes, I believe that in my role I am able to support, advocate for and clear obstacles for my team in order for them to support our community.  We have a get er done culture in Water Field Operations and my role is to allow that work to get done as safely and efficiently as possible in order to support the community and customers we serve.

HONOREE QUESTIONNAIRE

Name: David Thiel

Current Position: Aquatics Maintenance Technician

First position with City:  Lifeguard      

Years with City: Off and on Since 2001 with a short break in 2011

How did you come to work for the City of Fort Collins? Swam on swim team and was just looking for a summer job at the time.

What are your favorite things about working for the City, and more specifically, your department, and why?

I enjoy working with my coworkers on very different projects. Good group of people. I have many different tasks that are the same every day just maintaining the pools. Then something goes sideways and you have a new interesting problem to solve.

What has been your most memorable project or experience while working for the City, and why?

When we had a leak on one of the filters on the main pool at epic. It was at an odd time and odd piece that was in limited supply.

In your role as a City employee, how do you believe you are making this community a better place to live?

I keep the pool chemicals in line so people can enjoy the pools safely. I interact with the public every now and then and I have gotten to know quite a few patrons that use the pool for therapy to just relaxation. Seeing that they can use it safely is a good reward.

Name: David Wimmer

Current Position: Sr. Recreation Coordinator, Fitness Programs

First position with City: Sports Leader/Field Supervisor

Years with City: 10

How did you come to work for the City of Fort Collins?

I studied Health and Exercise Science at CSU and at that time was looking to get into Youth Sports. One semester I did a practicum with the Sports team in Recreation and then did my semester long internship with them as well. In 2013, I was hired to help the sports team as the Sports Leader and field supervisor and have been with Recreation ever since! 

What are your favorite things about working for the City, and more specifically, your department, and why?

I love living in Fort Collins and love being part of the organization that plays a huge role in making Fort Collins such a great place to live! My position within the Recreation department is definitely my favorite though. I get to work with some amazing people on my staff who all share a common goal with me, which is to help improve the fitness & health of members of the community. I often tell them this, but there is no fitness program without them. I also have some pretty great colleagues in Recreation that help make coming to work fun!

What has been your most memorable project or experience while working for the City, and why?

Seeing our personal training program grow over the years has been amazing to see! It’s a project that I’ve been working on since I started in the coordinator position and will be continuing to work on for years to come as there will always be opportunities to continue to improve it. It’s been quite rewarding to see the huge growth in personal training requests over the last year and a half and being able to meet that need with the awesome team of personal trainers we have on staff.

In your role as a City employee, how do you believe you are making this community a better place to live?

For me it’s the opportunity we provide for the community. The work my staff and I do provides an opportunity for anyone in the community to improve their overall health and achieve their fitness goals. From working out in our three weight/cardio rooms & personal training to group fitness classes like yoga or strength training, there is something for everyone!

HONOREE QUESTIONNAIRE

Name: Heather Cox

Current Position: Communications Specialist 

First position with City: Business Support III

Years with City: 6 

How did you come to work for the City of Fort Collins? 

I moved to Fort Collins from Chicago a few years after grad school. I was working as a freelance writer when I discovered an open position with the City’s Communications Office. I had heard great things about the team and culture, and I thought it could be a fun and interesting way to apply my background in creative writing – I was right! 

What are your favorite things about working for the City, and more specifically, your department, and why? 

I love the people I work with. I’ve met so many smart, passionate and generous people here, and I am constantly in awe of the incredible work by my colleagues and how seriously they view the role of public servant. I hadn’t considered a career in public service before, but it’s rewarding to feel inspired by my colleagues and to see how they work to center the community’s needs and the community’s input in their approach to service delivery every day.

Leaving Chicago, I missed the web of connections I had with artists across the city and how it felt to be surrounded by other artists constantly. Working alongside illustrators, animators, designers and videographers in CPIO—collaborating and having conversations about art—helps keep me rooted in what I left behind. It allows me to apply a creative lens at work without draining every ounce of energy I have for writing in my personal life. That balance is critical for me.

I also love that my role is enterprise-wide, that the scope of my work encompasses the entire City. I love learning, and in my role I get to talk with so many different people across the organization and learn about their projects and programs, the fun facts that you keep in your back pocket for trivia night or—if you’re like me—that you excitedly tell your friends about until they say, “Yeah, you talk about the pothole hotline all the time.”

What has been your most memorable project or experience while working for the City, and why?

For the PRIDE ERG, that’s easy: working to achieve a 100 on the Municipal Equality Index (MEI) for Fort Collins. The MEI rates municipalities on how inclusive their policies, services and culture are for LGBTQIA+ people. It doesn’t mean the City is perfect, but the work to hit 100 included adopting transgender healthcare benefits, visible support from City leaders and updating the City’s Purchasing Policy to include LGBTQIA+ people in the non-discrimination clause – that’s serious and impactful change for our organization and our community. It also puts Fort Collins on the map as a place where queer equity and inclusion have been prioritized.

For my time in CPIO, it’s harder to pick just one project. I loved serving as Associate Editor for the 2020 State of the City magazine. Before joining the City, I spent about a decade as a magazine editor and publisher so it was fun to bring that lens to my work here. I also really enjoyed writing our Welcome to the City brochure, crafting expanded definitions of our Values and honing how we tell our story to prospective employees. Same with our Communications Toolkit – working to frame our department, our philosophy and our services to the wider organization. Much of my day-to-day is dedicated to the online and ephemeral world of social media, so it's exciting to work on more in-depth projects where I get to focus on long-form writing or publications that live off the screen, that I can hold in my hands.

In your role as a City employee, how do you believe you are making this community a better place to live?

Both communications and equity work focus on removing barriers. In those spaces, I see my job as a public servant to make local government more responsive and accessible to our community and our workforce. When I’m able to mentor staff and spark ideas for what’s possible, that’s a good day, that’s the type of impact I aim to have through my relationships.

Progress and social justice don’t happen overnight and it’s impossible not to have moments of fatigue and pessimism. And then there are moments like seeing the pride flag raised for the first time at City Hall and seeing rainbow lights on City buildings. Watching as community members are moved to tears, feeling more seen and feeling safer than the day before, was powerful.

Government isn’t inherently good. Neither is social media. But finding ways to leverage both on behalf of our community, on behalf of historically marginalized people, to level the playing field and to make people feel heard, feel celebrated and welcome – that’s a pretty good reason to get up and go to work every day.

HONOREE QUESTIONNAIRE

Name: Jackie Pearson     

Current Position: Personnel and Training Lieutenant, Police 

First position with City: Police Officer

Years with City: 27

How did you come to work for the City of Fort Collins?

I was working in the metro area as a paramedic and started thinking about a career change. I decided to put myself through a police academy.  When I graduated the academy, I was lucky enough to hired by the Fort Collins Police Department. 

Being a CSU alumna, I knew that Fort Collins was a great place to be, so I was very happy to have the opportunity to live and work here.

What are your favorite things about working for the City, and more specifically, your department, and why?

I have always appreciated the true sense of community shared by all who work for the City.  Every service area is focused on doing great things for the people who live here. I also appreciate that City leadership sees employees as individuals. Even though we are working toward common goals, it’s important that employees are more than just a number. 

I’ve had the opportunity to attend law enforcement related training all over the country.  Time and time again I witness that not every agency shares the same level of commitment to professionalism, compassion and service that ours does. Even when we are hearing about other agencies across the nation who may be missing the mark, it makes me proud to know that FCPS is setting the example for how policing should be conducted. My department is full of professional staff and sworn officers who are committed to committed to excellence and serving others. We also take care of each other and are a “second family” who genuinely care for and about one another. That’s a pretty great environment to work in. 

What has been your most memorable project or experience while working for the City, and why?

I’ve had the good fortune to be able to hold several roles in my time with FCPS, including patrol officer, School Resource Officer, Field Training Officer, patrol supervisor, Crisis Negotiator, Peer Support Team Member, academy instructor and now, Personnel and Training Lieutenant.  One of my favorite things has been bringing yoga to our department in our police academy to help promote wellness and resilience.

I’ve loved every role and the variety and challenges they have provided, but my current role in Personnel and Training is especially rewarding for me.  I enjoy being a part of recruiting and hiring and training new employees. It’s great to see them evolve over the entire process and its so important that we find and retain quality people. 

 In your role as a City employee, how do you believe you are making this community a better place to live?

It’s obvious that police officers have an impact on our community in terms of safety and quality of life. I’m proud to be a part of that effort.

Over the last couple of years, I’ve also been able to focus on finding ways to support officer wellness. It’s very exciting for me to be able to help cultivate and expand this concept. It’s a full circle effect. Officers who are resilient and well-adjusted can better serve their community, so everyone benefits! 

Name: James Ellingson   

Current Position: Technician II, HVAC

First position with City: Maintenance Helper

Years with City: 11

How did you come to work for the City of Fort Collins?

I really wanted to work for the City of Fort Collins and was given an opportunity with the Facilities department at Operation Services. 

What are your favorite things about working for the City, and more specifically, your department, and why? 

I really enjoy problem solving, working for the City provides me with the training and support to increase my skill set and do what I enjoy.  I also love working with my colleagues, they bring so much knowledge and experience in the trade. It’s great spending the day with such a great Team.

What has been your most memorable project or experience while working for the city, and why?

While working at Police Services, Jim Byrne requested an area to store new Axon Body cameras. With the help of our Facility Electricians, we built a System that would charge and store the cameras. It was fun collaborating with Jim and his team to build a design that would benefit the officers and make it easy to locate and charge.

In your role as a City employee, how do you believe you are making this community a better place to live?

I provide services for my colleagues and the citizens of Fort Collins, while implementing efficiency programs meeting energy efficiency, conservation and renewable energy objectives.

HONOREE QUESTIONNAIRE

Name: Kelsey Doan

Current Position: Water Conservation Program Specialist

First position with City: Summer Intern for the ClimateWise program

Years with City: 13

How did you come to work for the City of Fort Collins? While studying Natural Resources Management and Environmental Affairs at CSU, I learned about the internship opportunity. It seemed like a perfect fit for my interests. I was fortunate enough to get the position and I have been with the City since.

What are your favorite things about working for the City, and more specifically, your department, and why?

The people that work at the City are some of the best you will meet and are a big part of why I have been with the City for so long. My co-workers in Water Conservation are no exception. Not only are they knowledgeable and passionate about what they do, they are also incredibly supportive and fun to be around. They are great mentors and motivators and help me do my best work every day. I also love that I can have a tangible impact on my community in helping residents and businesses to save both water and money. The work we do is vital to making Fort Collins thrive!

What has been your most memorable project or experience while working for the City, and why?

One of my most memorable experiences at the City was my time as the interim ClimateWise program manager. In this role, saw the program I worked on for so long in a new light and pushed me out of my comfort zone. It opened my eyes to capabilities I didn’t know I had. I got to represent the program at the Green Business Summit in Chicago and meet others around the country doing similar work. I built partnerships with other Colorado communities and shared lessons learned from our program, which had been in place for 20 years. Additionally, my co-workers and I organized the best Envirovation recognition celebration the program had seen to recognize all the amazing accomplishment of the CimateWise Partners. I enjoyed the creativity and innovation that went into those events. Many of the leadership skills I use in my current position came from my time leading ClimateWise.

In your role as a City employee, how do you believe you are making this community a better place to live?

Water is a precious, limited resource and the steps we take now can help ensure a clean, safe, affordable water supply for generations to come. Fort Collins is my community and my home. My son is growing up here and I want him and his future family to have access to the same resources when he’s older. I am proud to have an active hand in that and to be able to help educate our community around water efficiency and reduce barriers for them to participate in our programs.

HONOREE QUESTIONNAIRE

Name: Mark Young

Current Position: Parks Crew Chief, Cemetery Division 

First position with City: Seasonal/Hourly

Years with City: 25-plus years 

How did you come to work for the City of Fort Collins?

As a college student at CSU, I met a Park Technician who worked for the City of Fort Collins.  He told me about the opportunities for employment at the City.  I applied and when I was hired,, I quickly became enamored with the scope of the jobs and appreciated the service to the community in leisure/recreation spaces. 

What are your favorite things about working for the City, and more specifically, your department, and why?

I really enjoy the people I work with.  We all work with a common goal; to provide the community the “secrete sauce” which help to make Fort Collins stand out form so many other communities.   

What has been your most memorable project or experience while working for the City, and why?

There are so many projects and experiences that I have had the opportunity to work on in different capacities. I am remembering the time I got to inspect all the intake structures in the irrigation ponds after the 1997 Spring Creek flood using scuba gear… Participating in the City Safety and Wellness Team, …One of the more recent projects I worked on was the Unclaimed Cremains Program for the Cemetery Division.  The program allowed the local funeral directors an opportunity to clean their shelves of cremated remains, of which, some had been held for nearly a hundred years waiting for a family member to come and retrieve the remains.  We granted special permissions for them to be placed in Grandview Cemetery in order to have a respectful place of rest. It seemed to be the honorable thing to do for those community members who had passed away.   

In your role as a City employee, how do you believe you are making this community a better place to live? 

My current role affords me opportunities to help explain to the youth of the community how the fort became to be.  From being a town to becoming a city by giving Cemetery historical tours.  The tours hopefully help to give the students a sense of place and a sense of community.  Hopefully, they can use some of our history to improve the community without having to repeat some of the mistakes made in the past.

HONOREE QUESTIONNAIRE

Name: Meaghan Overton

Current Position: Housing Manager

First position with City: Planning Intern

Years with City: 8

How did you come to work for the City of Fort Collins?

I was living and working in Boston, MA as the Executive Director of a small economic development nonprofit. I had finished my Planning degree a couple of years earlier, and I was at the point where I needed to choose - either stay on my career path in Boston or make a big move. My partner at the time LOVED Colorado, so we started looking for job opportunities in Denver and surrounding areas. I had never heard of Fort Collins before applying, and I’m so glad I landed here! I often say moving halfway across the country for an internship was the “dumbest smartest thing I’ve ever done” because it might not have worked out at all. Turns out, Fort Collins is a great fit for me and I have been able to build an amazing career here.

What are your favorite things about working for the City, and more specifically, your department, and why?

One of my favorite things about working in local government is also one of the most challenging. We work on issues that impact people’s lives in fundamental ways. Our work has the potential to create better outcomes for all, especially those who have been excluded from the prosperity many have enjoyed for generations. Our responsibility to create more equitable systems and better outcomes for marginalized people is so complex and challenges all of us to create a different kind of future together. I believe local government has a critical role to play in building that future, and doing whatever I can to support that work is what motivates me.

I deeply appreciate all of the teams I work with across the City. We have so much talent in this organization, and people are deeply committed to this community and to each other. I feel incredibly lucky to work alongside my colleagues in Sustainability Services. Their passion, dedication, and steadfast work toward a more equitable future for all keeps me going when things feel challenging. 

What has been your most memorable project or experience while working for the City, and why?

I have been fortunate to work on several meaningful and memorable projects during my time at the City, and it feels hard to choose one as the most memorable. One thing that all of my larger projects have had in common is a phenomenal team of people across the City organization and in the community who came together to accomplish something huge. Whether it was City Plan, the Housing Strategic Plan, a complex development project, or rental registration, I believe I do my best work when working on a team that can share leadership, listen deeply, adjust continuously to new information, and work toward making Fort Collins better for everyone. 

In your role as a City employee, how do you believe you are making this community a better place to live?

When you work on long-term plans or on systemic issues like housing, it can be hard to know whether you are making a difference on any given day. I sometimes joke that I won’t really know whether I made a difference until I retire – it takes a long time for buildings to be built, for regulatory systems to change, or for housing policy to improve affordability. But I think I am making this community a better place to live in small ways every day that will, hopefully, add up to big changes over time. Every time I can engage someone in issues they care about, or help someone find an affordable place to live, that’s a win in my book.

HONOREE QUESTIONNAIRE

Name: Perrie Ann McMillen

Current Position: Manager, Conflict Transformation Works (formerly Mediation and Restorative Justice Services)

First position with City: Hourly Coordinator, Restorative Justice Program

Years with City: 22 years

How did you come to work for the City of Fort Collins?

After serving as a volunteer mediator for the City’s fledgling Mediation Program (1997-2000), I applied for a position to start up a Restorative Justice program in 2000 for the City.  A community task force met for two years to explore how to bring restorative practices into Larimer County. Creating a restorative justice program for youth who commit crimes in our community was a first concrete step for this effort. The position was part-time and grant funded for many years. It resided in the City Police Department until 2013 when the program moved to Neighborhood Services to work collaboratively with the Mediation Program. 

What are your favorite things about working for the City, and more specifically, your department, and why?

As a City employee, the service I provide is supported by the City organization and by my department. This sounds like a simple statement, but it means so much.  This support is shown in many ways, financially through designating dollars to make our services possible; collaboratively by having the wisdom, support and referrals of my colleagues ; professionally by providing endless learning opportunities in my department and others

What has been your most memorable project or experience while working for the City, and why?

Being involved in the foundation of two important services the City offers: Mediation and Restorative Justice. I feel honored to have been part of the beginning of each of these programs and am proud that I am still involved and helping others contribute to peace in our community.

Another memorable part of my work is working side-by-side with the many volunteers who have supported our programs over the years. Currently our programs together are supported by 60+ volunteers. They are the heart of our organization.

In your role as a City employee, how do you believe you are making this community a better place to live?

In my role as a City employee, I make my community a better place to live by helping people build community one conversation at a time.

Even in the nicest communities, if you are in conflict with your neighbor or your family member is affected by crime and involvement in the justice system, it negatively affects the quality of your life.

In Mediation and Restorative Justice programs, we bring people together in proven restorative practices that transform conflict, repair harm and strengthen relationships. This is our mission.

We meet people at a difficult time in their lives and relationships with others to help them have difficult conversations, learn and understand more about each other, which helps them find a way forward.

When a conflict between neighbors is discussed and resolved, the lives of all involved parties are improved. The tension and stress involved in living with conflict is transformed and neighbors are able to relax and go on with their lives.

When a family’s youth is involved in the justice system and goes through a restorative justice process, the youth is supported in being accountable for what they did, doing work to repair the harm and empowered to move on with their life with a hard lesson learned rather than a criminal record. This improves the lives of all friends and family connected to this youth.

Building community one conversation at a time – that’s how I make my community a better place to live.

HONOREE QUESTIONNAIRE

Name: Rebecca Pomering

Current Position: Technician I Trails and Visitor Amenities, Natural Areas

First position with City: Seasonal Horticulture Worker, Parks

Years with City: 6

How did you come to work for the City of Fort Collins?

I graduated from CSU with my BS in Conservation Biology in 2016, quit my job at the time, and rode my bicycle from California to Florida. After which, I knew I needed a job. I got a seasonal position with the Parks Department, with the intention on finding something more related to by education later down the line. However, it did not take long for me to fall in love with the culture within the City as well as the enjoyment of being able to provide such significant services to our community.

What are your favorite things about working for the City, and more specifically, your department, and why?

I enjoy many aspects for work for the City, to name my top three, I would say the people, the culture, and the work itself. I have made lasting friendships on every crew I have been a part of. For the most part, people maintain a positive attitude so even a hard day of work in the heat can be like hanging out with friends just getting in a workout. I love the culture within the City of Fort Collins because of the commitment to employee well-being. In addition to a Wellness Team that provides resources and incentives, both the Parks and Natural areas departments have Safety and Wellness Committees that are devoted towards providing trainings, resources, and additional incentive programs for employees. Lastly, I love the work that I do. I enjoy being able to get outside, work with my hands, and provide a service to the community.

What has been your most memorable project or experience while working for the City, and why?

In my current position with the Natural Areas Department Trails and Visitor Amenities crew, in spring of 2021, our crew undertook a major trail project at Maxwell Natural Area. The project involved closing the site for several weeks in order to get a helicopter in to help transport roughly 100 tons of soil back onto the eroded sections of trail. Our crew was able to work directly with the helicopter throughout this process and although we were not allowed to go for a ride, it was still a massive adrenaline rush. Delivering the soil to the trail was only the first step of the project. We then had several weeks of handwork to make the trail safe and sustainable. This project was where I learned the many of the fundamentals of trail building. We were even able to complete a re-alignment which later received an additional soil amendment delivered via llama! After completing the Maxwell project, I learned how controversial our trail work could be when factoring in all the different user groups our Natural Areas serve. It was interesting to hear the different perspectives from those who enjoyed the more accessible trail as well as those who were disappointed that it was no longer as technical. More importantly, I enjoyed learning the “why” behind our work, to make the trail safer, more sustainable, and more accessible as a gateway into the foothills.

In your role as a City employee, how do you believe you are making this community a better place to live?

I feel confident that I make the community a better place on a daily basis through both small- and large-scale projects. I feel accomplished when I show up to a restroom that has been completely empty of toilet paper to get it cleaned and re-stocked – I know I made at least one person’s day better. Larger scale, much of the work I do within trails and visitor amenities is directly related to the visitors of our Natural Areas. Because of this, we resolve many safety concerns/hazards. This could mean repairing a damaged section of trail, or replacing a boardwalk, or removing a downed tree. Lastly, I also work on the team that handles encampment cleanup operations for the City. Although we have contractors that do most of the physical cleanups, I am able to direct them to our priority locations based on several criteria such as public safety, infrastructure security, and environmental hazards. This work is only one aspect of the City-wide effort for helping to resolve homelessness issues across the city. I love being part of a team that works on big-picture initiatives and is constantly thinking of ways to improve our processes so we can help the most people and provide the best service we can for the community.