Experience

The Clark County Public Administrator needs to be someone who has experience working and leading a team toward excellence in a customer-oriented environment.  Rita brings a variety of organizational knowledge and experience to this office, including years of direct involvement with and understanding of Clark County Government agencies, processes, and resources. Rita was born and raised in Clark County and has relentlessly served Clark County for 25 years.  She was hired by the former Public Administrator, John J. Cahill, in 2007 and was instrumental in organizing and leading the Public Administrator’s Office to meet the goals established by the elected Public Administrator.  The priority was to put customers first by building a team who enjoyed coming to work at a tough job, because they knew they were respected, supported, and valued.  Rita has the knowledge, dedication and commitment that will bring the team of estate technician and coordinators, estate investigators and support staff together to reach the shared goals of excellence in work product and service delivery.  This small department cannot be successful without mutual respect and a shared commitment of each member.  Rita will put people first, the customers and the staff, and remain loyal to her home and the residents of Clark County.

Dignity

The dedicated Public Administrator Investigators secure property of individuals who have died in our community when no family or authorized person is immediately available. The property of each decedent deserves to be treated with respect, whether the decedent appeared to own only a few items of possible sentimental value or many items of monetary value.  Some individuals who may have been homeless or near homelessness may have possessed a wallet, a cell phone, a jewelry item, a watch, and/or sometimes a few pictures or other items of possible sentimental value, whereas other decedents may have owned real property, cars, boats, jewelry, and more. Each deserves care in handling, inventorying, and securing on behalf of the family, executor or trustees who may be located or come forward at a future date.  Larger estates with residences, vehicles, and other assets may require follow up, but even the smallest number of items deserves dignified handling and safeguarding.

Rita wants to develop a respectful, conscientious, inclusive, and productive team in the Public Administrator’s office. Rita believes this begins with valuing the contributions, expertise, knowledge, and skills that each individual member brings. When staff members are treated in an undignified manner, it creates a difficult work environment that can diminish morale and quality of service.  Treating staff with Dignity empowers members to do better, go further, care more and excel.

Compassion

Rita has always had a natural compassion for people, especially those going through difficult times.  Rita’s compassion for others has evolved to an even greater degree during her 15 years with the Public Administrator’s Office through her interaction with families and individuals going through loss, hurt and confusion.

Rita has listened to, talked to and served many families, concerned friends, co-worker’s, fellow church members and neighbors who have lost a loved one in our community, who are hurting, concerned or confused.  There are many different emotions and needs that arise in these difficult times and she, like many other dedicated staff members, have offered compassion and condolences by listening and providing Public Administrator services or, based on experience and knowledge, directing individuals to other resources available within the community.

Due to volume of workload for the small staff within the office, the Public Administrator’s team is unable to spend considerable time on each call with a family, but efforts must be taken to ensure the families and others are heard and their concerns addressed to the best level possible, and compassion is shown.  Rita believes a supportive work environment enables experienced and caring staff to provide necessary assistance and services with compassion.