In a society where employees change jobs as often as they change their hairstyle, Plant City resident Patsy Frier has proven she has staying power. According to a 2022 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics study, the median number of years that wage and salary workers had been with their current employer was 4.1 years.
Frier has been employed by The City of Plant City for 45 years. She and other city employees were recognized for reaching major service milestones at an awards ceremony last week.
Frier, who currently works as an administrative assistant II in the Streets & Stormwater Department, started working for the city in Oct. 1977 when she was 20 years old. She was newly married, lived in Plant City and was looking for a job that would be closer to home. “I was working for Watson Clinic in Lakeland and didn’t want to make the drive,” said Frier. A friend told her about the job opening in Plant City government. She applied and was offered the job as a secretary for former city engineer Salvador “Bud” Nabong. She worked for him for 17 years. In 1994 she transferred to the Utilities Department and then in 2003 she left to work for the Water Resource Management team. A year later she was transferred to Utilities Operations, the department where she currently works. During her career, she had two daughters, a stepdaughter and six grandchildren.
She had her first daughter while working for “Bud” and appreciated his flexibility, always accommodating her time-off requests when she had a sick child. “City government really offers a good work/life balance,” said Frier. “I still have time to be Nana to my grandchildren.”
Over the years, she considered switching employers, but when she factored in the extra gas and longer commuting time to get to another job (Frier works a mile from her home) she’d decide it wasn’t worth it. “When I think about how quickly time goes by, when I think about 45 years it’s so hard to comprehend but it’s been a blessing to work for the city,” she said. “They’re my extended family and home away from home.”
Does Frier plan to work another 45 years? No, she laughed. She already has a countdown clock running on her phone. “I’m retiring in less than two years and look forward to volunteering, spending time with my grandkids, traveling and working in my yard,” she said.
Other city employees recognized for reaching major service milestones include:
- Dale Geller, Streets & Stormwater, Foreman II- 35 years
- Felicia Broom, Library, Circulation Service Assistant- 25 years
- Candace Holding, Police, Records Tech II- 25 years
- Fred Baxter, Traffic Operations, Manager- 20 years
- Mark Woodward, Environmental Compliance, Water Conservation Coordinator- 20 years
- Jeffrey Griggs, Fire Rescue, Captain/Medic- 20 years
- Justin Lee, Police, Sergeant- 20 years
- Dave Millich, Police, Captain- 20 years
- John Carter, Fire Rescue, Battalion Chief/Medic- 20 years
- David Stevens, Utility Operations, Plant Operator IV- 20 years