DTMB celebrates Public Service Recognition Week in May by asking employees why they serve

In celebration of Public Service Recognition Week May 7-13, DTMB asked employees to share why they serve as public servants. DTMB is incredibly proud of its nearly 3,000 employees and the work they do every day to Help.Connect.Solve. for fellow state employees and all Michiganders. Check out the two dozen submissions that follow.

DTMB Agency Services supporting the Michigan Department of Attorney General (AG), the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, the Michigan Occupational Health and Safety Administration, and the Unemployment Insurance Appeals Commission, with a combined 146 years of public service, serve because public service empowers them to make purposeful contributions to their communities, driving transformative change that enhances the lives of those they serve.

Andy Kolp, Michigan Office of Retirement Services, with 23.5 years of public service, serves because he gets to be a part of something bigger and make a difference in customer lives.

DTMB Agency Services supporting the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC), with a combined 95 years of public service, share their reasons for serving.

Brian Pillar, Agency Services supporting MDOC and the Michigan State Police, with five years of public service, serves because he believes in improving services for Michigan citizens.

DTMB Agency Services Detroit supporting the Executive Office of the Governor (EOG) and the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO), with a combined 432 years of public service, share more than a dozen reasons why they serve.

A Lansing-based team from DTMB Agency Services supporting EOG and LEO, with a combined 164 years of public service, share more than a dozen reasons about why they serve.

Caleb Buhs, DTMB chief deputy director, with 18 years of public service, serves because he can make a positive impact on Michigan's future.

Michell Lange, DTMB director, with 25 years of public service, serves because she loves helping Michigan be a great place to live, work, and play!

Usha Kandasamy, Agency Services supporting LEO, with one and a half years of public service, serves because she likes to help people and is honored to work here.

TJ Richardson, State Facilities Administration, with 26 years of public service, serves because to serve people is to grow their potential.

Mike Turnquist, State Facilities Administration, with eight years of service, serves because he wants to give something back to the great state of Michigan.

Laura Wotruba, Communications, with seven years of public service, serves because she loves Michigan and the people that live here.

Jason Wilkinson, Office Continuous Improvement, with eight years of public service, serves because he wants to help make a difference.

The team from the Chief Technology Office supporting the Enterprise Operations Center, with over 580 years of public service combined, shared dozens of reasons of why they serve.

David Enslin, Agency Services supporting MDOC, with 34 years of public service, serves because he can help others.

Vickie Smith, Agency Services supporting AG, EOG, LEO, and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), with 19 years of public service, serves because her contribution to improvements is important to Michigan.

Del Rajala, Michigan’s Public Safety Communications System (MPSCS), with 27 years of public service, serves because being a part of a team maintaining the nation's largest public safety communication system, MPSCS, is key in producing results such as this: A lost boy being reunited with his mother after missing in the woods of Upper Michigan for more than two days.

Ulrika Zay, Center for Shared Solutions, with 14 years of public service, serves because making a positive contribution to society and the Earth is of great importance to her.

Linda Meyer, Agency Services supporting MDOT, with 18 years of public service, serves because the work has a real impact on the lives of Michiganders.

Will Mertz, Agency Services supporting the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, with 28 years of public service, serves because he wants to make a difference for all Michiganders.

Anna Versalle, Center for Shared Solutions, with three and a half years of public service, serves because what she does every day makes a positive impact for people all over Michigan.

Christyn Herman, Communications, with 13 years of public service, serves because Michigan is her home.

Ben Cossar, Communications, with 10 years of public service, serves because the work is important.

Andrew Mason, Agency Services supporting the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services, LARA, and the Michigan Secretary of State Office, with 14 years of public service, serves because the cure for what ails you is to serve the needs of others.

Public Service Recognition Week is celebrated each year in the beginning of May to honor those who serve as federal, state, county, local, and tribal government employees.