Voices from Across My Office: Support Services Division

At the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), we’re proud of the broad array of work we do on behalf of the District, and the hundreds of employees who make our agency run. “Voices from Across My Office” is a blog series highlighting some of the people behind our efforts and the variety of work they do to support, defend, and stand up for District residents. This week’s spotlight is on the Support Services Division.

About the Support Services Division

The Support Services Division (SSD) allows OAG to perform its legal mission by providing the office with crucial financial, risk management, procurement, administrative, and investigative services. The members of this division are often referred to as “invisible but invaluable” in that much of the work that SSD does is not public-facing, but is essential to keeping OAG up-and-running and to enabling OAG employees to do their work serving the District. The SSD staff is divided into four sections — Investigations, Finance, Customer Service, and Operations — and is comprised of many Washington natives.

Below are some of the unique and exciting people that make up our Support Services Division.

Staff Spotlights

Name: Floyd Myers Sr.

Title: Investigator

Time at OAG: 2 Years

What do you do as an Investigator for the Support Services Division?

A part of my job involves me finding absentee or putative parents in neglect matters. I do this by researching several different databases and conducting interviews with people. Once I obtain information about a possible location of the parents, I visit the location to serve them with a court notification. I am also charged with retrieving sensitive documents from hospitals and courts.

This work can be challenging because often we are trying to locate people who do not want to be found, are unstable in their housing, or are experiencing homelessness. I’ve learned to try to find clues, such as names, addresses, ages, locations, and family members to help me narrow down my search.

Is there anything special you do before trying to locate a parent?

I always say a prayer before I hit the streets, because you do not know what the person’s temperament, attitude or disposition is going to be like when you encounter them. A good religious base helps me stay grounded with my work in dealing with the public. When I am out on the street, every Bible verse and scripture comes into play because that is all I have. Fortunately, through the grace of God, I have had a 98% success rate.

Where did you work before you came to OAG?

When I was 19 years old, I worked as a chef at the DC General Hospital. I then joined the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) at age 21, where I achieved the grade of Detective II and served as a police detective for over 27 years. After retiring from MPD, I went on to work at the U.S. Marshals Service as a court security officer in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, for four years. In my tenure with MPD, I was honored to serve on the Mayor’s Protection Unit where I was a bodyguard for former DC Mayor Marion Barry and his family.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I’m a man of many passions. I love to cook. My father was a chef, and my mother was a caterer, so cooking runs in my blood. I also love landscaping. I plant shrubs and flowers and love to create beautiful scenes in my yard. I am also very active in my church — where I serve as the trustee — and I have a passion for preaching; I’ve worked with my former pastor in preparing many church sermons.

Name: Emma Clark

Title: Agency Contracting Specialist

Time at OAG: 13 years

Tell us a little bit about your job.

I am responsible for making sure OAG attorneys’ requests for purchase orders are processed and approved in a timely manner, that any problems identified on the purchase order requests are corrected, and that all required documentation is attached to the requisition. I handle OAG’s procurement needs from start to finish. I work with OAG’s requisitioners, the budget office, and the Office of Financial Resource Management to ensure vendor invoices are submitted for processing and checks for services rendered are issued in accordance with the Quick Payment Act. I am responsible for training OAG’s requisitioners on procurement policies and procedures and ensuring that they implement them when performing their assigned tasks.

A large part of the work I do involves providing quality customer service, not only to OAG’s attorneys, but also to the vendors. Indeed, I ensure problems and concerns are resolved quickly in the best interest of all involved.

How does the work you do impact District residents?

I assist OAG’s attorneys in navigating the procurement process to acquire the necessary goods/services needed to litigate OAG’s cases. These cases may involve various District agencies or relate to claims OAG has filed on behalf of District residents. The work I perform helps to protect the public because it allows OAG’s attorneys to zealously defend lawsuits filed against the District and its employees or to pursue claims that will generate funds for the District and its residents.

Where did you work before you came to OAG?

I’ve been employed with the DC government for 35 years. I started my government service with the DC Department of Public Works (DPW).

I worked at DPW for over 22 years before I accepted employment with the Office of the Attorney General. During my tenure with DPW, I served as a legal assistant, an executive assistant, and as a FOIA officer.

What might someone find you doing on the weekend?

I enjoy working on my “to-do list” and do-it-yourself projects, especially the ones I find on HGTV. I also enjoy gardening and making my own jewelry collection.

Name: Lyndell Bush

Title: Program Support Assistant/Security Liaison for the Agency/Support Service Specialist

Time at OAG: 11 years

Describe your current position at OAG.

There are various things I find myself doing here. You can say that I’m one of OAG’s “go-to” guys. As a member of the security team, I deal with security of the agency. I also deal with any incidents that happen in the agency. I build and fix furniture and set up the sound system when AG Racine has onsite/offsite events. I assist in the moving of attorneys’ offices, and deal with the moving vendors. I also assist with dealing with the car share service we have, called the “Fleet.” I also assist with distribution of keys. Down here in operations we do a lot, so I always find myself on the move.

What’s one thing you like most about your job?

The fact that I get to meet and engage with so many different people; I like to work around others. I’m a people person who likes to ask a lot of questions — that’s the law enforcement background in me. And with this job you really do have to be a person who is able to engage with your colleagues and the public. I always say that if you come in with a positive attitude, you’ll get one in return. I love my job and I always put 110% into everything I do.

You mentioned you had a background in law enforcement. Tell us a little more about that.

I worked in law enforcement for nearly 30 years. For 15 of those years, I served as a supervisor. I did security work and served as a Captain for a security company. After that, I worked as an Extradition Agent, meaning that I was responsible for transporting prisoners. I then moved on to work as a security consultant for a couple of years. Then I came to OAG.

When I first came to OAG, I was asked to be an investigator for the agency due to my previous law-enforcement background. However, I decided not to do this because I wanted to get out of law enforcement.

What do you like to do for fun?

I love spending time with my family. Family is my biggest thing. I have three kids who mean the world to me. I also love to cook. I just recently started a catering company. I have a stand every Saturday at RFK Stadium. My company is called “LaDell’s The Best of Both Worlds Sweet and Savory.” I’m also a die-hard Cowboys fan, so I’m always in front of the television watching those games when they’re on.

Name: Paul Simms Sr.

Title: Budget Analyst

Time at OAG: 9 years

Tell us about your role at OAG. What does a Budget Analyst do?

The Office of the Chief Financial Officer, or OCFO, is an independent agency. Every District agency has OCFO employees. OCFO operates separately from OAG; however, our finance section falls under SSD because we support OAG with financial matters.

I do a variety things. I help requesters with purchase orders, invoices, and payments. I also help with direct vouchers and payroll. I oversee the formulation and execution of various budgets at OAG. I also help monitor those budgets.

Tell us about a previous professional experience that is helping you in your current role.

I have worked for the DC government for 19 years. Throughout my years here, I have learned that everything we do as District employees affects the city, and its constituents, either directly or indirectly. Before OAG, I was a Budget Analyst for the DC Lottery Board. All the revenue we brought in was going to the general fund, which helped other government agencies. It’s the same thing with OAG; the office’s mission is to help District residents in some shape, form, or fashion, and everything the office does has either a direct or indirect impact on the city.

What does your typical day look like?

I’d say that there is no “normal” day for me. The beauty of being a budget analyst is that no day is the same. You never know what it is you’re going to encounter. Some days consist of meetings. Some days consist of helping ensure that requestors are getting the necessary information they need to put their purchase orders or requisitions in. Other days consist of me working with my cluster, which is what I call my team, on budgets.

Last book you read?

Outside of the Bible? I’ve recently read a book called God’s Hostage by Andrew Brunson. It tells the story of a minister, who was accused of terrorism, surviving in a Turkish prison and what he endured while in prison.

Name: Amanda Lee

Title: Staff Assistant

Time at OAG: 13 years

Tell us a little bit about your job and how it impacts DC residents.

I am part of the Customer Service Unit and we are the first line providers of quality customer service to external stakeholders. I assist the public with understanding OAG and District government operations, fulfilling constituents requests/inquires by acting as a liaison to other District agencies, guiding the public on how to locate resources and possible legal advice, and informing the public of OAG and District Government policies and procedures.

Where did you work before you came to OAG?

I worked for a call center in Huntsville, Alabama while attending Alabama A&M. Upon returning to DC, I attended a District wide job fair and was hired by OAG.

What does an average workday look like for you?

I wear many hats working under the Chief Administrative Officer, so any day can vary. However, an average day includes routing questions to appropriate staff in OAG and/or the District government for response, explaining OAG and District government operations to the public, resolving customer complaints, and responding to general inquiries.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I like to dine out and consider myself a wanna-be foodie. I’m also a licensed counselor in DC, so I provide therapy on the side.