Jack of All Trades

Growing up on a farm and ranch, you need to be a jack of all trades to keep equipment running, and getting things done..  From fixing a sugar beet cultivator, being able to use a cutting torch and welder, to knowing your way around an engine, not being afraid to get a little greasy might be one day on the job. The next day it may be animal science, being able to recognize a sick acting calf and knowing what to do around an overprotective cow as you need to get close and doctor the young.  Breaking a new horse to ride.  or playing fireman as irrigation ditches are burned, it was never boring or the same day to day.  Knowing and understanding Horticulture, Mechanics, Animal Husbandry, and Construction are just some of the great life skills I learned growing up where I did. This sometimes hard lifestyle installed a work ethic in me I think has served me well.

Emergency Managers in years past has a history of being career folk from Law Enforcement and Fire/EMS.  For decades, many have thought having someone retired from one of these fields as your Emergency Manager was a perfect fit in filling this role.  These professions share a lot of similar areas, and I for one am glad and proud of my volunteer years in Fire/EMS  These years helped give me a solid foundation of understanding the IC system, logisitcs, operations, support and some of the other basic knowledge I needed when I took this role.  Honestly it was an easy transition understanding the roles, and responsibilities I now shared.  The hardest part for me as I was reminded for several months, was that I was NOT the Fire Chief any longer.  I could no longer only think of the incident from a solely response aspect.  I was no longer the first responder.  My role is support, at least during an incident. But times change and as times change, hazards change and with that the role of the Emergency Manager needs to to change also.  People now have choices to actually study and receive a degree in Emergency Management.  Even more with the daily changes and additions of Social Media, the roles are constantly changing in how an effective Emergency Manager does his or her job.

As an Emergency Manager you spend many hours working behind the scenes building relationships, planning, working on mitigation projects, scheduling and building training's to test the systems in place, and mix in plenty of office work, dealing with budgets, grants, and government officials.I quickly learned as I stepped into this role there really wasn't a true check list in how to do this job.  Maybe a basic outline, but an Emergency Manager needs to be highly motivated and willing to do what is needed without little direction.  I'm not saying its a requirement but having a "Type A" personality definitely helps you master this career choice.  Being  a "Jack of all Trades" and managing your time efficiently only helps one do this job well.   Just like on the farm, you needed to just get things done without little direction.  There was no time card punched, no quota that had to be met each day.  The only project deadline was having a crop to sell at the end of the season.  In the same way an Emergency Manager needs to manage time, and balance being an organizational planner, trainer, budget and finance expert, and public information officer at any given time with not little notice.  Many days I have "changed hats" from one role to another to get everything accomplished that needs to be.

Its funny how life prepares you for your role in life.  Growing up on the farm and ranch I learned from an early age many different things to keep the farm moving.  Some of these activities I really enjoyed while others not so much.  I'm always up for a challenge and as I look back over my life thus far, its funny to see some of the directions life has taken me.  Seems like I've done a bit of everything, from working in bars and restaurants while going to college, to working in health care, as a CNA, and Phlebotomist.  Volunteering in the community as a firefighter/EMT and as a youth leader in my church.  Even working some construction along the way before settling into a career at an environmental lab before taking the position as the Emergency Manager for Stillwater County has lent me the skills to be a jack of all trades needed for my current position.

All of these choices in life have helped form the person I am today.  Along the way I always thought as long as I met one criteria for what I did, I was happy.  That one criteria is and always has been wanting to make a difference in the world.  I'm very thankful for the childhood I had growing up in rural Montana.  I certainly have no idea where life may have taken me without the background I do have.  I also do know that working in Emergency Management seems to complete the puzzle for me.  Never in any of the roles I have had does a position allow me the flexibility yet satisfaction in doing something I truly enjoy.   Its funny I recently read a couple quotes that hit home and actually are the basis of this writing.  "Out of frustration grows patience, from tears you find strength, and from your failures you find success." As I look back now I can see this so easily in my life thus far. "Life is a book with many chapters. Some are hard to get through, some are easy, but you have to keep turning the page to get to the next adventure."  I never realized that the skills I had gained from all the previous chapters in my life were preparing me for this.  Looking back I am pleased with the direction my life has taken me professionally and provided me the opportunities in life to be a "Jack of all Trades" in this adventure more fitting for my life.