Jennifer Mellor honored at MML conference

Jennifer Mellor honored at MML conference

Posted: Tuesday, August 3, 2010 by Brett Lake, Advocate Staff Writer

http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/advocate_of_westminster/news/article_041db5e8-9f0b-11df-9cdb-001cc4c002e0.html

Jennifer Mellor has served as the program director for the City of Westminster’s recreation and activities department since March of 2006.

http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/2010/08/jennifer-mellor-honored-at-mml.html

Heading up and organizing many of the city’s favorite community events, Mellor said she takes pride in serving the people of the community in which she grew up in.

On June 29, Mellor was awarded the Roland B. Sweitzer Municipal Employee of the Year Award by the Maryland Municipal League in Ocean City.

Q: According to the Maryland Municipal League, the Employee of the Year Award is intended to recognize high standards of professionalism in service to a municipality and outstanding performance over and above required duty for a single event or program; or for an extended period of time. Why did you fit the bill?

A: Well I was nominated by Marge Wolf, our city administrator. I guess the thing that made me stand out was the fact that when we had the blizzards, I came in and helped with snow removal. I helped the public works department. I started out with a shovel, and then I said ‘I got to do better than this,’ and then they gave me a leaf blower and I used that for a little while. Then I got the confidence to run a snow blower, so I kind of graduated up. Next winter they’re going to teach me how to run the snow plow.

Anyway with that I do special events, I do the Flower and Jazz Festival, I’m the organizer for that event. I also organize the Month of Sunday’s summer concert series, and I’m the event chair for Westminster Fallfest. And in between that I have lots of children’s programs — programs that bring families together. We do four mother/son, daddy/daughter dates — two each. One in the spring and one in the fall. We also do a father/son golf tournament. We do Santa’s Treat, which is connected with the holiday parade and the tree lighting ceremony. And summer camp, I have 11 weeks of summer camp programs that I supervise. I also have a hand in helping with the pool a little bit because I started out with the City of Westminster as the pool manager.

Q: Sounds like a lot, where do you find all of the time?

A: Well I like to be busy. I like to be challenged, I’m not one to sit around and twiddle my thumbs. I like action; I’m a high-action gal.

Q: What does it mean to you to earn this award for the City of Westminster?

A: Well for me, Westminster is my hometown. I was born in Carroll Hospital Center. I went to Westminster Elementary, to East Middle and Westminster High. And I grew up on Main Street in Westminster, so I spent many summer’s in City Park playing on the playground equipment and playing stickball on the basketball court. So I grew up here, and I take great pride in being able to serve the citizens of this community and bringing them events and activities that they can enjoy. I’m just so fortunate. I guess I love what I do and I love where I do it.

Q: You said you started out as the pool manager, how’d you get to your current position?

A: Yep I was a seasonal pool manager. I went through my first summer, and then a position opened up; a permanent, full-time position with benefits down in the fitness center. So I applied for that and got the job and was a floor attendant. I did basic workout programs, gave tours and basically cleaned the floors and cleaned, cleaned and cleaned.  While I was in fitness center as the floor attendant I still went out in the summer and worked at the swimming pool for two more summers. And then I was promoted to co-manager of the fitness center and was told that I could no longer do the swimming pool. After working in the fitness center for a few years the program assistant for special events came open, there was a vacancy, and I applied for that and got the position. A year later the program director position became open and I applied and slid into that position. So the only position left is the director’s position, and I hope to have that one day.

Q: So what’s next for Jennifer Mellor?

A: I’m also a part-time student. In 2006 I enrolled at CCBC in the Recreation Parks and Tourism program. So I have one more semester to go and I’ll have my associate degree, and I hope to move on and get my bachelor’s degree either in Recreation Parks and Tourism or in Business Management.

Honestly, after I get my bachelor’s degree I would like to get involved in, and run for a commissioner’s seat in my hometown now, which is Emmitsburg, and be the parks and recreation liaison. Hopefully in the future I’ll run for mayor of Emmitsburg.

Reach Advocate Staff Writer Brett Lake at 410-857-3316 or brett.lake@westminsteradvocate.com.

20100803 CCT Mellor honored at MML conference

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