Managing Resources,
Resourcefully
by
Bernie Fratto
March 2003
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Tia
Gronlund-Fox
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As the Director of Human Resources for the City of Novi, if you ask Tia
Gronlund-Fox to define her role, the response is clear and
concise: "We're in the service business," she candidly states. Presiding over 265 employees in multiple departments, she is acutely aware that at the end of the day, her ultimate goal is "to perform a service for our citizens."
Tia joined the city on May 18, 1998 and has been
intimately
involved in many changes on all levels. |
To that end, her responsibilities have landed her on the front lines of an evolution that has helped to create a team of professionals, a group that is thoroughly prepared to accommodate the exponential growth that has been so prevalent in Novi.
Tia emphatically believes that, "our employees are our most important asset," and as such, recruiting, hiring, and training are activist pursuits that she is very involved in on a daily basis.
When one considers the various departmental components that make up a city, you begin to understand the awesome responsibility that exists.
The Police force, the Fire Department, Parks-Recreation and Forestry, Engineering and
Environmental Services, Finance, the City Clerk's Office (record keeping, contracts, etc.) and clerical personnel are just a few of the many areas that must be staffed with highly competent, motivated, technically proficient people.
Each employee in every department represents a precious asset that must be able to function independently while acting in concert with fellow team members. For this reason, on-going training and evaluation are critical.
Every employee is counted on to be able to perform their duties with the highest degree of skill and professionalism. As a result, to a great degree, in-depth analysis and close scrutiny is evident during the recruitment and hiring process. It's important that any prospective employee have the background, track record, and history of performance to maintain and improve upon the high standards the city has set for it's workforce.
And it doesn't stop there. City of Novi employees are provided a vehicle to avail themselves to the best and newest information available so they can stay on top of their game.
"I'm here to help," Gronlund-Fox added. "We help our people to acquire and maintain the skills they need to do their job." In addition to providing accurate and timely information to all line and staff employees, health care, labor negotiations, and refining internal processes are also an important part of the mix.
Keeping track of benefits, applicant tracking, general personnel data, education, skills and employee history provide a wealth of information on each employee.
In order to maintain excellence in the "customer service business," it's of paramount importance that the job skills required of each team member are sharp, up-to-date, and consistently honed and refined. This is also true of the selection process. Each prospective employee must exhibit competency, knowledge in their field, and a clear understanding of their responsibilities.
And, it's important to enjoy what you do and have fun with your work. "I love my career," Tia Gronlund-Fox proudly states. In fact while on the job, she considers her fellow co-workers her family away from her family, and for this she is very appreciative.
"I appreciate the efforts of my staff," she added, " and I believe if people feel appreciated, they will do a better job."
"I know you can't always make everybody happy, but we're doing our best, and we'll always do our best to provide the tools for success."
As the Director of Human Resources for the City of Novi, Michigan, let the record show that Tia Gronlund-Fox has been very resourceful while plying the tools of her trade.
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Previous
Articles from Profile Novi
Profile Novi is a feature by Novi's own Bernie
Fratto. Each month, Bernie provides insight
into the People behind Novi -- your community
leaders. Look for Profile Novi on the first Monday of every
month.
Bernie
Fratto
is a freelance writer, radio personality, and
motivational speaker. His passion for sports
comes in part from his experience as a former
Cincinnati Red farm-hand. "Behind every
sports story lies the hearts and minds of real
human beings" said Fratto. "These
athletic endeavors often serve as a metaphor for
the game we call life."
Bernie writes the Speaking
of Sports
column on your community website, and is also the
voice of Novi
Wildcat Hockey
and host of Wildcat
Face-off,
a local radio program dedicated to youth sports in
Novi.
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