Posted on August 31, 2012 at 3:03 PM by Liz Pharis
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Interview with one of MMASC's newest members, Ana Fernandez, Management Aide at the City of Torrence |
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1. How did you first hear about MMASC? |
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A management associate told me about the website and its resources. Wish I knew about it sooner! |
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2. What made you join? |
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MMASC is the largest organization of its kind which offers a wealth of benefits to its members. I like the resources available for professional growth and the ability to network through committees. |
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3. What keeps you renewing your membership? |
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Although I just joined and haven't needed to renew my membership, I will next year. The resources are invaluable and I enjoy reading about upcoming events and news. |
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4. What’s your favorite part of being a MMASC member? |
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The career postings and news updates. |
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5. What book is on your nightstand? |
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Star Wars. The movies just aren't enough for me. |
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6. If you were to run for elected office, which position would seek? |
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Mayor. I enjoy local political structures rather than larger-scaled ones. I feel much more connected to communities and I feel a real sense of ownership. |
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7. What is your best piece of career advice? |
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If you really want a certain position, do everything you can to attain it. I interviewed three times to get mine and I'm happy I kept my goal in mind. |
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8. What’s your favorite thing to do to unwind? |
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I like to go for a nice, long run at the beach. After a few miles, my mind starts to wander and it's pretty relaxing. When I don't feel like running, yoga or wine are always good stand-by's. I have three dogs and a cat who also keep me entertained. |
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9. What do you think is the biggest issue facing local governments? |
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I hate to bring this up but it seems like all local governments are challenged with doing more with less. Reorganizations, lay-offs, and employment freezes are fairly common. In Southern California, we've already seen a few bankruptcies from cities which makes the issue very real. I think it's important to keep the human element in mind when worrying about the bottom line. |
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10. What would you recommend to a new MMASC Member to make the most of their membership? |
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Explore the MMASC website and find what works for you. Networking also helps. Find out what other people are doing and if you're interested, the MMASC website has a lot of educational or professional resources to help you along. |
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