The Resource by NC Office of State Human Resources

N O RT H C A R OL I NA O F F I C E OF STATE HUMA N RESOURCES

Third Quarter 2018

North Carolina Incident Management Teams Support Hawaii’s Volcano Response

Student Interns Gain Hands-On Experience in Public Service Career Fields

Big Training from a Small Building: NC OSHR’s Learning Development Center

Portrait by Katy Warner, NCDOT Photographer

Message from THE

DIR ECTOR It’s hard to believe that the end of summer is upon us!

The Office of State Human Resources has spent the season focused on advancing the overhaul of our Classification and Compensation system. Our next steps will involve a Request for Proposals to update labor market rates and salary ranges for state government jobs. I invite you to meet Revenue Secretary Ron Penny in our Meet the Secretary feature. Secretary Penny’s first job out of college was an entry-level position at Revenue, Many of us hold him in high regard from the years he served as State Personnel Director (1993-2000). Learn about the people who inspired him to pursue a legal career focusing on giving a voice to under-represented communities, and how his experiences continue to drive him today at Revenue.

Barbara Gibson

I also want to introduce you to a new member of my team at OSHR. Judy Estevez joined us this month as Deputy Director for Administration. The former chair of the State Human Resource Commission comes to us from the Department of Justice, where she was a Special Deputy Attorney representing the Department of Information Technology. She previously represented the credit union division at the Department of Commerce and the Office of the State Treasurer. She is a graduate of Fordham University Law School and earned a master’s degree from St. John’s University in Government and Politics with a concentration in International Relations and Public Administration. We at OSHR take particular pride in seeing the accomplishments of North Carolina college students who gained hands-on job skills through internships at numerous workplaces across the state. Agencies are in the process of submitting requests for interns for next summer, with a stepped-up focus on placing top students in jobs where their hard work and innovation can provide benefits for rural communities. Be sure to spend some time on pages 10-11, where we take you inside the Learning Development Center to discover the wealth of training opportunities available to state employees. Classes are held here nearly every day, but online training is available to employees in all 100 counties on a wide scope of skills. We always are looking for ways that we can help you achieve your workplace goals.

Barbara Gibson, Director Office of State Human Resources

2018 State Employees Combined Campaign: The Power of Giving The 2018 State Employees Combined Campaign officially launched on August 17 with an event celebrating the Power of Giving on Bicentennial Plaza in the Downtown State Government Complex. Representatives from dozens of eligible charities were on hand to talk about their programs with state employees, who enjoyed barbecue lunch and the chance to win door prizes. Several of this year’s SECC leaders were on hand, including co-chairs Christy Agner and Mark Edwards, both of the Department of Administration.

Below please find a list of representatives organizing campaign activities for their agency.

Photo by Jayce Williams, NCDOA

Department of Administration. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . Angie Dunaway, Aldesha Gore and Nan Sanservino Office of Administrative Hearings . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. Linda Worth Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services . . Diane Cook Department of Commerce . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . Kenny Flowers Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. . .. . .. Fay Mitchell Department of Environmental Quality. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. Cathy Akroyd and John Nicholson Office of Governor. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. Toya Crichlow-Mack, Caroline Farmer and Debra Johnson Department of Health and Human Services. . .. . .. . .. Chris Egan, Kevin Meese and Maggie Sauer Department of Insurance . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . . Kim Campbell Department of Information Technology . . .. . .. . .. . .. . Jon Minshew and Tammy Owens Judicial Branch. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. Sam Stephenson Department of Justice. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . . Donna Byrd and Beth Sykes Department of Labor. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. John Luckado Office of the Lieutenant Governor. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. TBA Department Military & Veterans Affairs . . .. . .. . .. . .. . Nimasheena Burns N.C. Community Colleges . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . Dorrine Fokes and Jane Phillips N.C. Education Lottery. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . Bobby Dawson N.C. General Assembly. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . Jade Adams, Scarlett Chappell and Linda Hearley Department of Public Instruction . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . TBA Department of Public Safety. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . . Doug Holbrook Department of Revenue . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. Steven Brown

Join Us on the State of North Carolina’s LinkedIn Page! This fast-growing social platform is a resource for our vibrant community of state government employees for news and information about employment opportunities. Visit https://www.linkedin.com/ company/state-of-north-carolina/.

Department of the Secretary of State. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. Gail Eluwa Office of the State Auditor . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . Lauren Eiswirth Office of State Budget and Management . . .. . .. . .. . . Mary Kathleen Goodwin-Evans and Rachel Stallings Office of the State Controller . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . Jenny Johanns State Employees’ Association of North Carolina. . .. . C.J. Stephens State Employees’ Credit Union. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. Jimmy Goodrum and Susan Bowman Office of State Human Resources. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. Reed Altman, Carl Dean, Barbara Harry and Carla Markham Department of the State Treasurer. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . . Dee Jones and Jeff Smith Department of Transportation . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . Barry Bridges, Sterling Johnson, Brandon Mattox and Jimmy Travis Wildlife Resource Commission. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. Tammy Rundle

Be sure to share with friends and colleagues who are likewise interested in a chance to effect positive change for our residents and visitors.

NORTH CAROLINA INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAMS SUPPORT

Hawaiiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Volcano Response By Keith Acree

wenty-five North Carolina emergency managers and fire officials returned from

The biggest challenge the team faced was earning the trust of local officials. “Even though they asked us to come, we had to get their buy-in and build relationships,” said Wiseman. “They had to learn to trust a bunch of people from North Carolina to basically help them run their county.

Hawaii in June after deploying to help manage the response to the Kilauea volcano eruption, completing perhaps their most unique work experience ever. Deployed at Hawaii’s request, through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), the teams assisted Hawaii County Civil Defense with staffing their local emergency operations center around the clock, and providing much needed help with planning and operations. Since May, three North Carolina teams were dispatched, each for a two-week assignment. EMAC allows states to help each other with personnel and resources in times of emergency. North Carolina has developed a reputation for the quality of its incident management teams, which also served extensively in Puerto Rico last year.

“Within a few days we had great buy-in. We knew that if we did not build those relationships, we would not succeed,” Wiseman said. Witnessing a volcanic eruption was something they will never forget. “Seeing lava spewing from a crack in the ground, up hundreds of feet in the air, and feeling the heat was simply amazing,” said Brooks. While the Kilauea volcano has been active almost continuously since 1983, the current intense eruptions started May 3, and have finally started to slow this month. That long duration, and the nature of damage caused by a lava flow, make things especially difficult for displaced residents.

These emergency response officials are accustomed to dealing with floods, hurricanes and tornadoes in their home state. Although a volcano is a very different type of disaster, the response activities are similar – including evacuations, sheltering and logistics.

“With a flood, fire or hurricane, there is almost always a place to go back to and pieces to pick up,” said Wiseman. “After a lava flow, everything is gone and the landscape is changed forever. They can’t even go back to the same spot. That’s what makes it such a difficult type of disaster for victims.”

Those who deployed to Hawaii are all credentialed Incident Management Team members, trained and certified in positions ranging from incident commander and operations section chief, to situation unit leader and public information officer. “When we first arrived, we were asked to write an evacuation and sheltering plan for areas downstream of the lava flow,” said Eric Wiseman, an area coordinator for N.C. Emergency Management, Eric Wisemen who led the first team that arrived in Hawaii on May 20. The team wrote a nearly 40 page comprehensive evacuation plan that included self-evacuation, buses, wheelchair capable vehicles and even helicopters, explained Scot Brooks, Moore County’s emergency manager.

A third North Carolina team of five departed for Hawaii the weekend of June 16 for a two-week assignment. Two members from the second team extended their stay to help them. “It was a long-time to be gone, but it was a once in a lifetime experience,” said Brooks. “We learned a lot and we accomplished a lot.”

Scot Brooks

Keith Acree is the public information officer for N.C. Emergency Management in the Department of Public Safety.

Student Interns Gain Hands-On Experience in Public Service Career Fields By Aldesha Gore

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Exciting. Inspiring. Rewarding. These are words

used by the 2018 class of interns when describing the annual State of North Carolina Internship Program. Coordinated by the Department of Administration’s (DOA) Council for Women and Youth Involvement Division, this 10-week professional development program offers college students across the state an opportunity to connect lessons learned in the classroom to potential career choices all while serving the young people of North Carolina. “Quality internships strengthen our workforce by giving students an opportunity to try out careers and hone their skills,” said DOA Secretary Machelle Sanders. “Interns bring valuable energy and ideas to the work of state government, and we also hope they will come away from their summer experience with an interest in future public service.” More than 100 college students representing 40 North Carolina counties were selected to intern this summer. Joshua Boll was one of the many who was chosen to participate in the internship program, which began in May. Assigned to the DOA Secretary’s Office, he was eager to learn more about state government as it relates

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4 Evelyn Valentini of Rome, Italy, interned with the Coastal Reserve at the Department of Environmental Quality. A senior at N.C. State University studying environmental science and hydrogeology, she is working with the Rachel Carson Reserve stewardship staff. “My experience here ties together so many of the topics I study in class, including applied ecology, ecosystem restoration and monitoring, hydrology, and geology. I am so excited to be here and very grateful to have the opportunity.”

1 Angelena Castro of Lilesville, a senior studying journalism and mass communications at N.C. A&T University, interviewed acclaimed educator and scholar Dr. Lea Williams for a video series for the “She Changed the World: North Carolina Women Breaking Barriers” 2019 campaign. It will highlight the centennial anniversary for women’s suffrage.

5 N.C. Department of Transportation intern Tyler Clowes (far right) showed children attending the Brenda E. Robinson Flight Camp how the state transportation agency uses drones. The N.C. State student interned with DOT’s Division of Aviation. The camp’s namesake was the first African-American female Navy pilot and the first AfricanAmerican female pilot to fly for American Airlines.

2 GIS technician Trevor Stewart of Kernersville, a graduate student studying Geospatial Science and Technology at N.C. State, worked with Facilities Information Section Manager John Cox this summer in the State Property Office at the Department of Administration.

6 Morgan Winstead of Bailey, a senior at N.C. State, sorts fish samples for the Division of Water Quality at the Department of Environmental Quality’s Fish Tissue Contaminant Monitoring Program lab in Raleigh.

3 Nathaniel Jacobs, Krista Mackey and Joshua Boll (from left) joined DOA Secretary Machelle Sanders for a LGBT Pride Month celebration in June. All three students interned in the Secretary’s Office this summer. Jacobs is a Sophomore/Political Science at UNC-Chapel Hill from Autryville. Mackey, of Jamestown, attends UNC-Chapel Hill and is studying Communications. And Boll is a Junior/Economics and Public Policy at UNC-Chapel Hill from Charlotte.

7 Joseph Rodri (left), a junior at Elon University interned with State Capitol Police. Here he is speaking with State Capitol Police Officer D. Proctor about what’s involved in patrolling the Downtown State Government Complex.

to public policy and economics, which he is currently studying at UNC-Chapel Hill.

a meaningful way,” Boll said. “After graduating in the winter of 2019, I plan to attend law school. I will hopefully return to state or federal government after that as it is something I have the passion for.”

The experience reinforced his plan to seek a public service career.

The State of North Carolina Internship program kicked off with a student orientation on May 21 at the Museum of Natural Sciences’ William G. Ross Jr. Environmental Conference Center. In June and July, the interns were

“I was very excited at the idea of working in state government because it gives me an opportunity to gain valuable experience as well as serve the public in

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invited to participate in educational tours to help broaden their perspective of public service and state government. Tours this year included the Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores and the Department of Transportation’s Traffic Monitoring Center. The program concluded with a reception at the Governor’s Mansion. The internship program is open to undergrads, graduate students and law students interested in gaining hands-on work experience in a diverse scope of career fields. A competitive selection process chose 107 students from more than a thousand applicants from various universities, technical schools and community colleges throughout the state. Summer projects and interns are screened and selected by the North Carolina Internship Council. Internship positions are based on project proposals submitted by agency personnel and are designed to provide substantive and career-relevant learning experiences. Since its establishment in 1969, more than 4,000 students have participated in the program. Building for a stronger North Carolina, students will not only take away important skills for the workforce but also the importance of helping others. Intern Krista Mackey, also assigned to the DOA Secretary’s Office, found the experience rewarding.

1 Ivory Schley of Georgia, a student in N.C. A&T University’s Urban and Community Horticulture program, interned at Haw River State Park through the Department of Natural and Cultural Resource’s Division of Parks and Recreation. She promoted the park’s resources on social media and developed new trails as part of an effort to enhance a nature play site. 2 Mimi Tomei, a junior attending UNC’s School of Media and Journalism, interned with the Department of Health and Human Service’s communications office this summer. She worked on several projects, including writing news releases and website content. 3 Samantha Bernard (center, top), a graduate student from Texas at East Carolina University’s Program for Maritime Studies, worked as an educational programming and visitor services intern for the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources at the CSS Neuse Interpretive Center in Kinston. In additional to helping visitors explore the museum, she created an underwater archaeology and conservation exhibit, along with a 3D virtual model of the Neuse.

“I think service to others is an important part of life,” Mackey said. “There is no better way to learn how to serve than working with people who have dedicated their lives to public service.” Aldesha Gore is the public information officer for the Department of Administration.

SECU: RETIREMENT PLANNING

The Future is Now adjustment to income. This approach allows for steady growth in retirement contributions while not decreasing your take-home pay. Set and work toward retirement goals that afford the lifestyle and financial security you desire. Studies show that people who periodically review their retirement plans are far more successful than those who do not. As you approach the date of your projected retirement, the details of your goals and resources should become more apparent.

You have probably heard the phrase: “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” Like Rome, your retirement

Whether you are on track or not, several key decisions and planning strategies could make the difference between achieving your objectives or falling short.

savings will not be built in one day, so you shouldn’t wait to start saving. If you delay investing for your retirement, you may have to work longer than anticipated.

Retirement plans must consider the risks of outliving income, the impact of inflation on fixed income, rising costs of health care, and survivor benefits for spouse and/or dependents. Special care must be taken since elections of Social Security and pension benefits are generally irrevocable.

The best way to start is with small, consistent investments through your employer plan. Contributing to your employer plan, such as a 401(k), is easy because the funds are taken directly from your paycheck. Your money is immediately invested and grows tax deferred, meaning you are not subject to income tax, if any, until the funds are withdrawn. Contributions can be either pre-tax, which are exempt from your income tax for the current year and taxed when withdrawn, or designated as Roth contributions, allowing for the potential of taxfree withdrawals in retirement. The money you and your employer invest in the plan generates compound earnings, which can exponentially increase your balance over time.

Working longer, delaying Social Security benefits, and optimizing withdrawal strategies are a few methods employed to help retirees overcome shortages. Retirement planning is not about how you start, but how you finish. SECU Retirement Planning services are available at every branch to serve you whether retirement is a distant or imminent goal. Please contact your local SECU branch for assistance with your retirement planning objectives today.

At a minimum, you should contribute enough to receive the maximum employer match. Then throughout your working years, aim to increase your retirement savings as your salary increases.

The State Employees Credit Union provides free and low-cost financial services to members, including employees and retirees of state government, public school systems, community colleges, state universities and their immediate families.

A good rule of thumb is to step up your contributions each year as you earn a raise or experience a cost of living

BIG TRAINING FROM A SMALL BUILDING

At 101 W. Peace St., in the shadow of the Archdale Building, sits a nondescript state office – the Office of State

Human Resources (OSHR) Learning Development Center (LDC). From the outside, you would never know that this place is a hub for helping state employees in all 35 agencies and in all 100 counties learn, connect, and grow professionally. The LDC is not private industry; it is an important part of OSHR’s Talent Management Division, and its learning team comprises just 10 state employees. But on any given day, if you stop in, you will hear classroom discussions on Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity Fundamentals, Out of the Box Thinking, Performance Management Labs, and so much more. Peer through the classroom windows at managers gathering to map work processes, tackle a thorny team problem, or simply refining their own growth and learning plans.

By Sarah Harris and Annis Barbee

The building is small, and so is the team inside, but the volume and type of training they offer state employees may just surprise you.

Helping Leaders at any Level Succeed

Leaders craft a vision, create a culture, and inspire others to work hard. Yet, while leaders set the direction, they must also use management skills to guide employees in a professional and efficient way. The learning professionals at the LDC help public service leaders grow and excel with a program called “Leading at All Levels” (LAAL). Specific classes are designed for individual contributors, supervisors and managers, each curriculum centering on the development of such values and skills as integrity, teamwork, communication, problem-solving, change and customer service. LAAL classes are free of charge, and your experience and the learning you apply will more than make up for your time away from the office. Maybe you’d like to know your Meyers-Briggs preferences? Are you interested in learning Situational Sarah Harris observes a training session Leadership? How about discovering a new way to at the LDC. handle an old conversation? The Advanced Skills for Managers (ASM) series is an award-winning program that provides participants with a comprehensive soft skills toolkit for skillful management. Sessions concentrate on leadership best practices and hands-on application of ethical decision-making methods, coaching for effective performance, and managing teams. This intensive program requires 54 instructional hours at a cost of $295 per participant.

Annis Barbee (left) and La’Quita Altson lead a group of agency HR professionals in a highly engaged discussion about process improvement and documentation.

To move your leadership skills to the highest levels of effectiveness, take a closer look at the Certified Public Manager® (CPM) Program, an in-depth, nationally accredited learning experience for middle and upperlevel managers from state and local government organizations. The core CPM Program includes an intensive 14-month study of development planning, managing daily operations, interacting across all levels and strategic leadership. To top it all off, participants are personally guided through work on a capstone project that improves a work process or solves a work problem for their agency, and graduates even receive 9 credit hours toward a Master of Public Administration from N.C. State University. At only $1,400 per participant, this program is a good value.

managing performance to technology step-by-step guides. All you need to do is visit the NC Learning Center – log into the system through BEACON – and start your search.

Learning in The Zones

OSHR’s LDC team works every day to hear your feedback and meet so many of your training needs. At your desk in Sylva or Stella, or in Raleigh at the LDC, your learning journey awaits. Get started now by logging on or stopping by. The parking is free.

If you are a leader and need human resources information, journey into the HR Learning Zones – an online portal containing information on benefits, organizational effectiveness, personal growth, safety and so much more. It is an entire HR library at your fingertips. You never have to leave your desk! So, the next time you need to know how to complete an NCVIP process or learn about handling conflict, you will probably find a guide or online module in the N.C. Learning Center (LMS).

Not all of the content is delivered in that small building on Peace Street. To keep pace with the growing demand for digital information, the LDC learning team also designs and delivers a library of online training modules, quick reference guides, videos, and other materials to support learning “just in time” and “in place.”

Sarah Harris is Talent Management Director and Annis Barbee is Learning & Organizational Effectiveness Manager for OSHR’s Learning Development Center.

This online library contains dozens of courses on topics ranging from preventing workplace harassment to

Wellness & Safety Expo

More than 4,000 state employees, retirees and members of their families

attended this year’s Wellness & Safety Expo at the State Fairgrounds, setting a new record for the biennial event. About 150 exhibitors participated, offering everything from medical screenings to discounts on products and services.

A jubilant Lauren Davis of the Department of Health and Human Resources won the Echo Dot provided by Quicken Loans.

The generosity of state employees was in clear evidence at the six-hour event. Seventy-seven units of blood were drawn by the American Red Cross, and 250 pounds of food and hygiene products were collected for people served by the Food Bank of Eastern and Central North Carolina. Among wellness opportunities, the National Kidney Foundation provided 80 free kidney screenings and the DKMS booth identified six new bone marrow donors. These and other screenings helped participants learn about topics that they can pursue further with their personal physicians. Additionally, several attendees scored Department of Transportation mascots Connie terrific door prizes from Gold Sponsor Cone and Buddy Barrel greeted visitors to the donors, whose commitment helps to large Safety City exhibit. underwrite the cost of presenting the Wellness & Safety Expo. For more information about statewide wellness programs, such as the Miles for Wellness team walking challenges, visit https://oshr.nc.gov/state-employee-resources/ benefits/wellness. Photos by Jess Law, NCDOT

Gold Sponsors Who Donated Door Prizes

Otterbox Gift Card (Sprint). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . April Tibbs: Community Colleges FireTV Stick (WeSave). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dora Boissy: DHHS FireTV Stick (WeSave). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nina Baccanari: DHHS Galaxy Tab A (Samsung) . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . Melissa Evans: DOI Echo Dot (Quicken Loans) . . . . . . . . . . . . Lauren Davis: Division of Child Development, DHHS RCA Viking 10’ Tab (IDShield) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LaVeta Davidson-Waller: DHHS FitBit HR2 (Nationwide Pet Insurance). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Caren McKoy: DOI $25 O‘Charleys Gift Card and Costco Tote. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Becky Peterson: DOJ $100 Amazon Gift Card (Associated Urology of NC). . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kathleen Prosseda: DHHS

OSHR Director Barbara Gibson (left) and Kristi Jones, chief of staff to Governor Roy Cooper, prepare to cut the ribbon to officially open the 2018 Wellness & Safety Expo.

Staff from the Department of Transportation used virtual reality gear to help teach Expo visitors how to use a fire extinguisher to safely put out a fire.

Chef Doreen Colondres, who promote healthy eating on her The Kitchen Doesn’t Bite blog, demonstrated simple ways to turn fresh ingredients into satisfying meals.

Dozens of state employees rolled up their sleeves to donate blood to the American Red Cross. None were discouraged by the wait to participate.

Members of the Murdoch Development Center’s MDC Moves group delivered an exuberant Zumba demonstration. Coworkers meet for classes offered each week.

Officers from Wilson and Apex were part of the Safety City exhibit, which included the newest BATMobile – a breath-alcohol testing unit used at impaired driving checkpoints.

M E E T

T H E

S E C R E T A R Y :

Ronald Penny

Revenue Secretary Ronald Penny displays characteristic good cheer as he participates in a dunkingbooth fundraiser for last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s State Employeesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Combined Campaign.

With 29 years of public service, Ronald Penny is the most senior member of Governor Cooper’s Cabinet. As Secretary of the Department of Revenue, he oversees a staff of over 1,300 employees that connect with about 12 million state taxpayers and collect fees that support essential services and programs.

There was a wood stove in the middle of the store. I thought, where have my parents brought me to?

It’s a long way from his first job out of college, where he toiled in the Old Revenue Building in a task now called submissions processing. This was January 1975, months before starting law school and decades before online tax filing. Penny’s days were filled with unstapling W2 forms, using a calculator to check math on the first page of tax returns, and pushing a mail cart.

I went to junior high and high school here in Raleigh, which was quite a difference place then. It was nowhere near as crowded. North Hills was just being built. You didn’t have a Beltline. Apex and Cary were rural places with cows and farms. My cousins grew up in Johnston and Duplin counties, which also were very rural. My grandfather worked at the Mt. Olive pickle factory and they’d go out with him to pick cucumbers. We had very different childhoods but we all knew we wanted something more than that. We all went to North Carolina A&T; they majored in science and I studied economics.

What do you remember most about your youth in Raleigh?

“It wasn’t glamorous work, but it was important,” Penny says from his sunny office on the 6th floor of the Revenue Building on North Wilmington Street. “Commissioner Howard Coble had a practice of talking with new employees on their first days. The message he gave us is pretty much the same message I give today, about collecting taxes in an effective and ethical manner. It’s important because the revenue funds all the programs.

Who and what influenced you as a child?

My parents. My father was a colonel in the Army. I grew up in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s. There was no shortage of dinner table conversation about civil rights and things in the news. Neighborhood kids were always welcome.

“I didn’t think then I’d ever be the one giving that message today,” Penny adds with a chuckle. “It’s evidence that God has a sense of humor.”

“We read stories or told stories almost every night with dad,” Penny says, recalling this photo taken when Leon Penny was stationed in Alaska. “His theory was Facebook photo, courtesy Ronald Penny: Father Leon Penny reading with he was away Ron Penny and his older brother Leon during the day Penny in Alaska. for training and when in a war zone, and he needed time to bond and talk to these boys who did not listen well to instructions.” The future Revenue Secretary is seen here in 1958 with his dad and older brother, Leon.

Where did you grow up? Please describe your childhood.

I’m a product of a military family so I grew up in a series of places. My father was a military science professor and I was born on the campus of Florida A&M University. We moved often but were always North Carolina residents and planned to return. When he was in Korea and other places, we stayed in Raleigh, just a few blocks from my office today. I think moving so often helped make me who I am. It exposed me to different people, different ways of thinking. You constantly had to adjust and adapt to the various conditions. And you were probably more aware of current events than other children your age. In Alaska, we would have the air raid drills. You would have classes that taught you what a Russian solider looked like, in terms of their uniform. It had an impact on your family life. It was a sort of culture shock when we came back to North Carolina. I remember visiting my grandfather in Calypso, where we went to a corner store and saw this big jar of pickled pig’s feet on the counter. We didn’t see that in Alaska and I was just shocked. It was virtually a stereotypical, Andy Griffith-type store in Duplin County.

He never forced us to think like he thought, but to understand history and reach our own conclusions. After he retired, he ran Johnston-Lee-Harnett Community Action. Mother was a trained teacher; she substitute-taught because we moved around a lot. I have an older brother and younger sister. I was the middle kid always trying to get attention. Tell us about your favorite mentors. My father was one. He understood people and was good about talking to me about people. Large parts of my legal career dealt with organizations and organizations of people. And voting rights cases. Marion Thorpe, who was a chancellor at Elizabeth City State University, also inspired me a great deal. Dr. Thorpe was a practicing psychologist and took a lot of time to talk and develop me as a leader. Another person would be Julius Chambers. His work, his demeanor and style, was highly influential in how I practiced law, and the work ethic of our law firm. Secretary Penny eagerly embraces opportunities to volunteer with Revenue colleagues, such as this National Volunteer Week service at the Food Bank of Eastern and Central North Carolina.

What was your college major? Did that major lead to your career?

You can study anything and go to law school. It requires analysis. I studied economics, which is totally analytics. You do the math, look at the graphs – then figure out what it tells you. It certainly helped in that regard.

As (a former State) personnel director, I tried to develop policies that would attract a diverse set of people to build a strong workforce.

But I have always been interested in communities, helping communities and people reach their potential. As a lawyer, I tried to give voice to people who didn’t have it.

Even here, a large portion of my job is to seek and attract business, especially to rural communities. Hometown Strong, Governor Cooper’s initiative to leverage state resources to help local government and community-based agencies support rural communities, is very important. In Elizabeth City, I’ve seen literally hundreds of brilliant young people growing up who are now physicians and lawyers. None are back in Elizabeth City. They’re all somewhere else. It’s certainly tragic that this city produces these brilliant people, but they tend to take their talents to other places.

Was this your original career path?

My joke is, I grew up watching soap operas. The only things there was a lawyer or a doctor, and I couldn’t stand the sight of blood. Also, I found it very exhilarating to argue with my brother, mother and father about current events they would make me defend my positions. It was sort of a natural fit to do the analysis and defend my positions. In my high school yearbook, I said I wanted to be a lawyer and ended up being that. It probably was my goal from the 10th grade on. I was growing up in an era of civil rights. It was a way of contributing to the African-American community and to American diversity, to building the nation we have today.

Ronald Penny was State Personnel Director from 1993-2000.

What is your favorite hobby?

Because of the way we are organized, it becomes very important for us to attract, retain and develop a competent and diverse workforce that helps us meet our mission. That’s a challenge to every public-sector employer. It is incumbent upon me to continue to develop policies and practices, and management and leadership, that can bring to us the kind of workforce we need – and then, to organize them in a way to get the job done.

What are your favorite books?

I retired once, but I get bored easily. It goes back to that sense of public service. I still remember watching TV when John Kennedy said: “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” That has always been something that motivated me throughout my life.

I’m a Sunday school teacher, so obviously I like the Bible. I like Paul Samuelson’s “Economics.” He makes you look at economics from a social science standpoint, which helps people understand how they make decisions. I like “Freakonomics,” too, by Stephen Dubner and Steven Levitt. I read the book and they made it into a series on Hulu. It shows the social science side of economics.

Candid photos are courtesy of Department of Revenue

I love biking. I’ll ride on average 25-30 miles at a time. You create your own air conditioning as you’re riding. There is a sort of peace as you’re riding that gives you a chance to think. I ride in a group but also on my own on the greenway, which starts in Clayton and runs all the way to Falls of the Neuse. There are some really beautiful spots to appreciate nature on the greenway. My favorite book is “Profiles in Courage” by John F. Kennedy. I read that as a youth and reread it just a few years ago. It may be a book I would recommend to the Congress of the United States. They are examples of people who put country over party and political survival.

What motivates you?

My sense of justice and social equity is probably the thread that runs throughout my life. I am consistently wanting to serve and help people. My most common statement to staff is that I want every taxpayer treated as if they were your parents or grandparents. Everybody needs to be treated fairly.

What is your mission as Secretary of the Department of Revenue?

There are constitutional requirements that dictate that I administer the tax laws in a fair and equitable way to every taxpayer in North Carolina. I want to be sure that political considerations are not a part of how we administer the tax laws.

Secretary Penny joined coworkers Beverly Gilbert (middle) and Myra Brantley at a Department of Revenue picnic in celebration of 2018 State Employee Appreciation Day.

N ORT H C AR OLIN A OFFI CE O F STATE H UMAN RESO U RC ES

BARBARA GIBSON , Director, Office of State Human Resources JILL WARRE N LUCAS, Communications Director

the.resource@nc.gov Designed by Patricia Campbell, with photography by Katy Warner and Jess Law of the Department of Transportation and Jayce Williams of the Department of Administration.