WHAT NEW ORLEANS NEIGHBORHOOD DO YOU LIVE IN? / WHERE DID YOU GROW UP?
I have lived in New Orleans East, District E, since 1983. Before this, I grew up in Zion City which is now the Xavier University area.
DESCRIBE YOUR JOB TO US!
For almost eight years, I have been employed by the City of New Orleans in the Information Technology and Innovation Department as a Help Desk Technician II. Some of my duties include providing technical support and assistance, whether on the phone, in person, or remotely, related to computer systems, hardware and software. I also respond to customer’s request to provide technical assistance. I was employed with Sewerage and Water Board for 20 years as a Water Service Inspector II before Hurricane Katrina.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR CAREER PATH.
My career path before becoming employed as a Help Desk Technician with the City of New Orleans was with Cox Communication as a Field Technician, served as a front-line representative of the Cox brand and was a key member of a supportive, service-oriented team.
During Hurricane Katrina, my family and I moved to Lake Charles, LA where I went back to school and attended Sowela Technical Community College. I graduated in May 2012 with an associate degree in Information Technology. While studying at Sowela, I became a student intern in the IT Department and later was employed as an IT Technician where I was committed to delivering secure, responsive, efficient, and customer-oriented services that support the mission of the IT Department and college.
Also, I attended Southern University in Baton Rouge studying in Computer Science/ Information Technology.
WHAT ASPECTS OF YOUR JOB DO YOU ENJOY THE MOST?
What I enjoy the most about my job is the sincere appreciation I receive from not only my boss, but also the people I work with. A heartfelt “thanks” goes a long way to improving my attitude and productivity.
I enjoy interacting with employees on all different levels of the organization and across all functional areas. I love that I get to learn new things about the company every day.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT NEW ORLEANS?
My favorite things about New Orleans is family, food and tradition. I am a big fan of Mardi Gras and the New Orleans Saints. I love visiting family in different area of the city, going out to the French Quarters and different restaurants.
FINALLY, AS A SURVIVOR OF COVID-19, CAN YOU TELL US HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT ALL NEW ORLEANS RESIDENTS WEAR MASKS AND TAKE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS?
As a survivor of COVID-19, wearing a mask or face covering is one of the prevention measures that can limit the spread of COVID-19. However, the use of a mask alone is insufficient to provide an adequate level of protection. Other measures should also be taken, such as washing hands often, social distancing and staying home as much as possible.
While I was infected, I did all the above and sanitized everything I touched. As of today, my household is virus free.
It is important to wear a mask in the City of New Orleans because we do not have a cure or vaccine for the virus yet. The only thing we have for now is wearing a mask or face covering, washing your hands and social distancing. We cannot completely stop the virus, but we can limit the spread of the virus by doing the above to save lives.