Employee Spotlight: Pam H.

This time in our employee spotlight, we were able to get in touch with Pam to learn a bit more about her. Keep reading below to find out some of the really awesome things she’s involved in.

 

Q: What do you do at work? What is your job title and who do you work with? Anything fun/interesting you’re working on?

A: Support Mission Assurance work on the EMAP team. Our customer is the National Security Operations Center (NSOC). Currently I’m the lead planner supporting overall design and planning efforts for the annual Agency-wide continuity exercise.

Q: What do you enjoy doing in your personal time? Are you involved in any community activities?

A: Community involvement has always been a priority for me. I suppose I will have to blame my catholic school upbringing… and my parents. I guess this is really all their fault 🙂

My interest in emergency response began in college, where I was earning a degree in Emergency Management, and has continued to play a significant role in my life often taking different forms. I started volunteering as an emergency medical technician (EMT) at Station 10 in Prince George’s County, initially as a way to better understand the “boots on the ground” side of emergencies. I’ve continued to volunteer, riding the ambulance, and as you can imagine have seen and experienced some unforgettable moments. I moved into an Emergency Management profession, and have had many opportunities to volunteer through those efforts.  I’ve also supported FEMA as an instructor at their Emergency Management Institute in Emmittsburg, Maryland teaching portions of a three week Master Exercise Practitioner Program. This program requires individuals to submit an application with evidence of their exercise experience, and is considered one of the most competitive and difficult to gain acceptance. I love supporting this program, and have always found those accepted to the program to be endlessly impressive. I learn new things each time I go through a course with a new group.

Although I grew up in Prince George’s County and remain linked through the fire department and Station 10, Historic Ellicott City has been my community for the past 10 years and in the aftermath of the recent flood that devastated the town, people, businesses… you guessed it. I found myself down on Main Street in “response mode” once again, assessing damage with my friends, many of them business owners or residents that lost everything. We spent weeks in the affected flood zone, working with emergency crews from as far away as Pennsylvania working to coordinate resources, shovel mud from buildings, clear debris, clean out restaurant freezers, etc. I promise you have never smelt something quite like a trash bag of two week old rotten food from a walk in freezer that was under water…. *shuddering at the memory* While the town has mostly recovered and many are back in their spaces, there are still a few that have not been able to open their doors yet. A close friend and business owner of Portalli’s is still working to get his restaurant back open and filled with patrons.

I’m not entirely sure why I do these things, or why I chose emergency response as my method to engage and support my community. Of course I love being part of the community and enjoy the feeling of contributing towards something everyone can benefit from in the long run. Maybe it’s those things…. or maybe it’s the really attractive hazmat suits…. Yep. That’s definitely it. 🙂

Q: Would you like to talk about your family? Or any big life events that have come up or are coming up soon?

My parents (Brian and Patty Hobbs) are proud owners of Hobbs Associates Inc, a commercial real estate business that was started by my grandfather. I have one younger brother, Matt, who just recently got married to a wonderful woman that entertains all his shenanigans. My husband Dale, also works in this community, which makes for really nice coffee breaks mid-day at the fort 🙂 My husband and I are getting ready for a trip to Italy in the fall to celebrate his birthday, so if anyone has recommendations I’m all ears!!

Q: What’s your favorite book?

A: American Gods

Q: What is one of your favorite quotes?

A: “Some days you’re the pigeon, some days you’re the statue.”

Q: If you could talk to any person (past or present), who would it be?

A: Winston Churchill

Q: You have a weekend free of any obligations. What do you do?

A: Work on my home, landscaping or gardening. Kayaking, paddle-boarding or hiking with friends.

Q: What would you name an autobiography of your life?

A: Just Pam. A series of epic comedies.

Q: Who was the most influential person in your life?

A: My mother and father.

Q: What’s your least favorite word?

A: “Irregardless”…which is NOT a word…and yet it still assaults my ears regularly.

Q: If you were immortal for just one day, what would you do?

A; Leap from an airplane without a parachute. Play with lions.

Q: If you have 30 minutes of free-time, how do you pass it?

A: GO OUTSIDE! 🙂