City of Zephyrhills "Staff Spotlight"

"Staff Spotlight" with Zephyrhills Code Enforcement Officer, Joel Bacon

What is your role with the City of Zephyrhills?Headshot photo of Joel Bacon, City of Zephyrhills Code Enforcement Officer
"As a Code Enforcement Officer, my role is to enforce land and property codes in an effort to eliminate conditions that threaten the life, health, safety, and general welfare of Zephyrhills residents. Our department investigates complaints about possible violations."
What do you enjoy about your job?
"I enjoy working with my co-workers; I’ve got a really great, awesome team to work with.”
Who, or what inspires you?
“My daughter inspires me."
Tell us something people may not know about you?
“I’m a huge Tampa Bay Rays baseball fan. I’ve been following the team since 2010. My favorite player is former Rays third baseman Evan Longoria.”
What is your favorite thing to do in Zephyrhills?
“I like walking my dog out by Krusen Field and Gunnar Paw Park out by Alston Avenue, because you get the whole feel of the park. You see the airport, you watch the planes flying in, you can take your dog to the dog park and then go play with all the dogs; it’s kind of relaxing.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                      

"Staff Spotlight" with Zephyrhills Finance Director, Ted Beason

What is your role with the City of Zephyrhills? 
“I oversee the City’s finances. I look at collections and our expenditures, and make sure that our vendors are paid in a timely basis. I make sure that our City employees are paid properly, and that our Utility customers have accurate bills, and that payments are flowing to us as they should.” 

What do you enjoy about your job?Finance Director, Ted Beason, pictured at Gettsburg
“I enjoy mentoring fellow staff members. Like, whatever things I’ve stubbed my toe on in the past, I can advise, ‘This has been my past experience, so here’s my two or three things that might prove challenging in this situation,’ and then watch them make their decisions, and learn from it.” 

Who, or what inspires you?

“I think good public policy, where we go ahead and hash things out, and kind of vet them before we launch them. In other words, we had all parties participate in the process; good public policymaking, and getting the right people to be involved in that process.” 

Tell us something people may not know about you?
“I have three dogs. One of my dogs, Rosebud, wakes me up each morning. She’s a Pitbull. When I see that nose in my face each morning, then I know it’s time to get with it. I also have nine grandchildren. None biological, by the way. I married into the family.”

What is your favorite thing to do in Zephyrhills?
“I really enjoy taking walks in downtown Zephyrhills, especially during my lunch break.” 
                                                                                                                                                                                            

"Staff Spotlight" with Zephyrhills Environmental Stormwater Coordinator, Amy Knoechelman

Photo of City of Zephyrhills Employee, Amy KnoechelmanWhat is your role with the City of Zephyrhills?
"Majorly, I do reporting on stormwater issues and sanitation issues." 
 
What do you enjoy about your job?
"It would be the challenge of a new role outside of what I have normally done with the promotion I received in December 2020. Going outside my normal during a very difficult time in my life kept me going, to be honest. I look for learning opportunities to learn more about my position weekly."
 
Who, or what inspires you?
"It would have to be my dad, who passed in October of last year. He was a hard worker all day, every day. I can remember him coming home with print outs from the whole wall computer he worked with. He was a maintenance mechanic but also worked on the computer. My brothers have all followed his footsteps and are maintenance mechanic supervisors (they, like my dad, can rig anything to get it working). Even though my dad had medical issues from the age of 3 years old, he made the most of everyday and thanked God for every day he lived up until the end. I come from a long line of hard workers!"
 
Tell us something people may not know about you?
"I come from a little town called Dialton, Ohio. It wasn't even on a map until Google Maps came out (chuckles)! I moved to Florida about six years ago; I actually flew in from Ohio for my job interview."
 
What is your favorite thing to do in Zephyrhills?
"Trying the different restaurants. I also like to walk around Zephyr Park, in the evenings."

                                                                                                                                                                                                      

"Staff Spotlight" with Zephyrhills Wastewater Collections Foreman, Joey Theel

What is your role with the City of ZephyrhillsImage of Zephyrhills Wastewater Collections Foreman, Joey Theel
"I handle anything wastewater-related in the field, which comes to customers, so that would be contractors, complaints, running the crew, any new construction, inspections; it just goes on and on. I've been with the City for 23 years, since Aug. 3, 1998. I was with the Parks Department for nine months, and ever since then, I've been in Wastewater Collections."

What do you enjoy about your job?
"I actually love my job. It's challenging, but for being here for years, it's not hard for me. It's like putting on my pants everyday, because I've done it for so long. I like it because it's easy for me to do. I like the people, and I like to make sure that the people know what's going on, and I like to be right up with the residents one-on-one, so the people get to know what they need to know."

Who, or what inspires you?
"I get inspired by everything running smoothly, and that's my goal; because if everything's running smoothly, then my stress levels go way down (laughs). And if my stress levels go down, everybody else's stress levels around me, go down."

What is something people may not know about you?
"I consider myself a funny guy, but I'm also serious. I'm funny, but professional."

What is your favorite thing to do in the Zephyrhills area?
"I'm an outdoors guy, so I'm a hunter and fisherman. But, what I enjoy most about Zephyrhills is getting together with my family here, where we grew up."

                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Staff Spotlight" with Zephyrhills Water Treatment Plant Operator, Eric Martin

Image of Zephyrhills Water Treatment Plant Operator Eric Martin

What is your role with the City of Zephyrhills? 
“I help oversee water treatment. We basically make sure the water that we put out to the distribution system is safe to drink. We make sure that we have enough water to provide for the demand of the system, and ensure that it stays safe and clean throughout the distribution system.” 

What do you enjoy about your job? 
“It’s something new every day, it seems like. It gets me out and about. It gives me new problems to solve.”       

Who, or what inspires you? 
“I’d say my grandparents’ work ethic, and learning from them, up in Michigan. One grandfather worked for General Motors and is a farmer. My other grandpa was in the Army, and worked multiple jobs throughout the years. Just seeing their work ethic and the way they take care of their families is inspiring.” 

What is something people may not know about you? 
“I do woodworking on the side, and I like to cook. I do a lot of barbecue; I smoke cheese. I’ve built every table in my house, as well as for friends and families.”

What is your favorite activity in the Zephyrhills area? 
“I like to spend time with my kids and take them fishing throughout the area. We also go to Busch Gardens, together as a family.” 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

"Staff Spotlight" with Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe

What is your role with the City of Zephyrhills? 
“As City Manager, my role is managing the day-to day operations of the City of Zephyrhills. I work with the Zephyrhills City Council; they form the policy and I ensure that the policies and direction of the Council are being met, to improve the City as much as possible.”

What do you enjoy about your job? Image of Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe“I enjoy how every day is different. There’s never a day that is the same. No matter how good or bad it gets, I know the next day is going to bring a different challenge. And specifically here, I get to work for a community and help to define a community that helped raise me. It’s special to be able to work here, knowing that I've lived here all my life and was a part of the community; and now I get to work in the government that helps the community as a whole.”

Who, or what inspires you?
“I would say my family, my wife and kids. Getting to be able to see them and see my kids grow, and to be able to be in a great community. I’m pretty family-oriented, so I love seeing my kids; that’s what kind of brightens my day. They’re older now — 23, 17, and 15 years old; but still, if I have a not-so-great day at the office, I can come go home and things change a little bit.”

Tell us something people may not know about you?
"When I was four-and-a-half years old, my mom was pregnant with my brother, and she decided that she needed to take a shower and get all her makeup done before she went to the hospital. And, my grandmother came over and picked us up to drive my mom to the hospital, and my mom delivered my brother on the side of the interstate, and I was in the backseat at four-and-a-half years old. I wasn't necessarily watching the delivery, but I was present; she was in the front seat of the car, giving birth to my brother. They grabbed my favorite blanket, wrapped my brother up in it, and my grandmother drives us to the hospital, and my mom and newborn brother were taken into the hospital."

What is your favorite thing to do in Zephyrhills?
“Watching my kids play sports at Zephyrhills High School. I would say, that’s probably the biggest thing, just because that’s my focus right now in my personal life. They both run cross country, soccer and track. My daughter has also played tennis and volleyball. And my son, played baseball last year."

                                                                                                                                                                                                      

"Staff Spotlight" with Zephyrhills Utility Billing Supervisor Brianne Mosher

What is your role with the City of Zephyrhills? 
"I was recently promoted to Utility Billing Supervisor. I have been with the City for eight years, where I mostly did Customer Service in Utility Billing."

What do you enjoy about your job?
"I love problem solving and helping out customers; love seeing customers who come in on a regular basis."

Who, or what inspires you?
"My Grandma Jones was a very strong woman who went through a lot. She is no longer with us, but she inspires me."

Tell us something people may not know about you?
"I started off at the City as a temporary employee on a temporary contract, who is now Supervisor. I was born in Plant City and raised here in the Zephyrhills local area. I also graduated from Zephyrhills High School. I was a single mom."

What is your favorite thing to do in Zephyrhills?
"My son and I enjoy going to the movies at the Cinema 10 here in Zephyrhills. My family likes to eat at Breakfast Station. I do love to explore and do adventures with some of my best friends. We love to find new things to do in the whole state or even out of state. It is interesting; there is a lot to do in Florida."