I first got into Planning when I was in college and couldn’t decide on a major. I came across a sign on campus that got my attention. “Can’t decide on a major? Want to help people and make a difference in your community?” Yes, yes, and YES! I went to the meeting for aspiring Planners and was hooked. After graduating from East Carolina University with a degree in Urban and Regional Planning, I went on to work in a variety of positions including Planner and Assistant Director of Planning & Inspections. Most recently, I served as Raleigh’s Development Services Customer Service Center Manager.

I first arrived in Raleigh in 2009 and was tasked with opening the new Development Services Customer Service Center (DSCSC). My first objectives were to hire and train staff, and develop and implement new business rules for the permit center. We opened our doors on February 10, 2010. It was exciting and challenging – we had a new team, in a new space, with new leadership, and greater expectations – but we endured and worked really hard to improve transparency, predictability, and efficiency.

Five years later, the DSCSC is a lively one-stop-shop for permitting staffed with friendly, knowledgeable people; but we know that there is room for improvement. Over the years, we have gotten a lot of feedback from our stakeholders and we listened! In response to industry needs, we now provide lending letters, fee estimates, pre-application conferences, and project coordination services. We have also added more time slots and expanded our offering of expedited review services and face-to-face meetings. I’ll go into more detail about each of these in future blog posts.

Getting the DSCSC up and running and managing the day-to-day operations was a life-changing experience. I grew a lot, both personally and professionally. This past year, however, I found myself at a crossroads and sought a position in the Planning & Development Communications office.  I spend my days doing something that I love – writing articles and press releases for Planning, Development Services, and Economic Development. I also update the web and keep citizens informed via social media. And now I can add writing a blog to that list!