It is Paralegal Week in Florida – May 27 – June 1
We have two paralegals – Susan Profant and Michelle Leeson who both work in or Field Collections and Services Department.
Susan Profant
Susan Profant is our office paralegal. She is NALA (National Association of Legal Assistants) certified (CLA) and Florida Registered Paralegal (Florida Bar certified). She has been with the office since 1989 and was selected Employee of the Quarter in 1997.
Michele Leeson has been with our office since 1992. She was selected Employee of the Quarter in 2003 and graduated in December 2009 with an A.A.S. in paralegal studies.
Today may be tax day but this Friday April 19th is National Blue and Green Day. Our office will be blue and green on Friday April 21st as we join up with our partners Donate Life Florida. We urge your workplaces to do the same.
This Thursday April 4th marks the 2 year anniversary of the our office taking over driver licenses from the state.
In the two year time period we have some impressive stats:
- Appointments – 7,499 served with average wait time 02:33 minutes
- Road Tests – 6,985 served with average wait time 02:42 minutes
- Written Tests – 8,674 served with average wait time 02:36 minutes
- Non US Citizens – 10,573 served with average wait time 12:32 minutes
- Suspensions/Revocations/Cancellations 19,366 served with average 12:53 minutes
These transactions are by far the most difficult and time consuming to process and because of that they are only offered at our Desoto Branch Office. We offer limited driver license services at all locations.
We spent a whole year making preparations to take these duties on. Our management team did a great job coming up with a game plan and the staff bought into it and have executed way better than expected. I am very proud of them!
We are blessed with a fine group of part timers at the Tax Collectors office. We call them our “OPS staff” which mean “Other Personal Services” which is what the Florida Department of Revenue calls them in our budget preparation documents. They play an integral part to our office goals and objectives.
L-R Director Tony Conboy, Rebecca Bollom, Heric Fregonese, Tamia Mills, Ken Burton, Jr,, Assistant Director Ronda French, Sherrie Gerrits, and Carole Knestaut. Not pictured is Jashay Woodie and Sully Salinas
Our Current Collections part time staff are made up of greeters. They greet the public when they first walk into an office and help get them started with their transaction. As our duties have increased in recent years their job has become more difficult and now has a 3 day training.
L-R Manager Jedidiah Brightbill, Greer Gambill, Zachary Zartman, Raegan Horne, Kim Alfonso, and Director Marie Munford
Our part time Operations staff process the mail and web payments in a timely manner so that these customers see a quick turnaround on their transaction to ensure they will use it again in the future.
L-R Director Michele Schulz, Auditor Sue Sinquefield, Tanya Ranney, and Kristine Reeves
Our Field Services and Collections part time staff handle the collection of the local tourist development tax also known as the “bed tax” or “resort tax.” We have seen record collections in recent years and alot has to do with their collections efforts.
We recognize them every year at a luncheon at our Desoto office reminding them how important they are to the office.
Raegan Lindsay Horne is the 18-year-old daughter of Nathan and Nanette Horne. She has brown hair, blue eyes and is a 2012 graduate of Bayshore High School. Being far from ordinary, Raegan’s hobbies are equally interesting…she loves the outdoors and likes to spend her time frog-gigging, hunting and fishing. In the academic field Raegan has already earned her Associate’s Degree from the State College of Florida, and is now attending the University of South Florida where she is working towards a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management and Marketing. In the future she wants to work in the agriculture industry.
To have a successful organization you need to hire and surround yourself with great people. Raegan is one of many at the Tax Collectors office that are are extraordinary employees and I’m glad to see the De Soto Historical Society is recognizing her. She works in our Operations Department. Raegan we wish you the best of luck this year!!!!
Raegan is the 2nd employee to be selected to the Queen’s Court while working at the Tax Collectors office. The first was Emily Revell who was crowned Queen in 1998.
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For over 70 years the De Soto Heritage Festival has celebrated the beauty and talent of ten special young women from the community by naming them to the De Soto Queen’s Court. These young ladies are a special and select group. Candidates are recommended by the community and then the Hernando De Soto Historical Society makes its choices on the basis of character, appearance, scholastic ability, high morals, and personality. The current De Soto Queen’s Court serves as good-will ambassadors for the Hernando De Soto Historical Society and Manatee County through the Spring of 2014.
Michele Schulz with husband George
Michele Schulz (circled)
Congrats to our Field Services and Collections Director Michele Schulz for being our latest Leadership Manatee graduate. She was selected by her Class of 2013 - Most Likely to Win Survivor.
Michele has been with the office since July 2003. She was selected the Employee of the Quarter in 2006 and was named Director in October 2010. She married to husband George and has a daughter Sophia.
The Leadership Manatee program, begun in 1982, is designed to expose current and future leaders to all aspects of Manatee County. It is Manatee County’s premier leadership training program and has more than 850 graduates.
A critical factor in participant selection is identifying those individuals who are most apt to use their leadership knowledge and skills for the long-term benefit of this community. It is common for individuals to apply more than once before being selected for a class.
Despite being a Manatee County native, Leadership Manatee was an eye opener for me. As a 1990 graduate I wish there was a way to go through it again as our County has changed alot since then.
Michele is our tenth graduate of the class:
- J. Michael Murphy 1987
- Ken Burton, Jr. 1990
- Tony Conboy 1993
- Bette Rickey 1995
- Peggy Johnson 1996
- Ray Williams 1997
- John Marble 1998
- Jan Hilker 2000
- Steve Riley 2002
- Michele Schulz 2013
For more information about the program:
I got a nice surprise visit from my daughter in law Kelly and grandson Charlie today on his 2nd birthday. I also included a picture of him on his first visit on April 21, 2011.
