Baggett
Brewton's Director of Program Management Connie Baggett was recently honored as the city's Employee of the Quarter for her outstanding work for the city.
For more than 20 years, Baggett followed news around the southern end of the state, covering government, crime, education and human interest stories in a nine-county region. When print news lost ground to online media, she was one of some 400 people out of work as three major daily papers in the state made big changes.
Baggett went to work for a workforce development grant program that offered industrial technical training through community colleges in the area. Halfway through that contract, she decided to accept a job as the Director of Program Management with the city of Brewton.
"I have always had strong ties here," she said. "I was born at D.W. McMillan, and graduated from T.R. Miller in 1983. My kids all graduatedfrom Miller, too."
Mayor Yank Lovelace said he knew Baggett had skills that would help accomplish his aggressive agenda, including better communication between government and citizens, improved public areas and a focus on quality of life improvements.
"I know there were many people who really were not sure about what I would do, why I was here," Baggett said, "but I jumped in working right alongside of people in all city departments to get things done. I have done everything from events planning and promotion to grant writing, economic development, designing public spaces, weeding beds, picking up litter along streets--and I love it all."
Baggett credited co-workers like Public Works Director Craig Jerkins and his crew, Fire Chief Jeff Salter and his crew, Police Chief Monte McGougin and his staff and officers, Library Director Lynn Likely and the library staff, Ray Madden and all the workers at the Utilities Department, City Clerk Alex McDowell and the city office staff for always helping get things done.
"We have really all become a great team and we help each other out with challenges and do what we can to make the city better," Baggett said.
Baggett helped launch the Choo-choo Farmers' Market and has managed it for several years on Saturdays from April through December. Downtown Concerts, geocaching, holiday decorations, Battle of Burnt Corn Creek Reenactment, Haunted Trail and a long list of other activities and events have all been part of her work over the last five years.
Along the way, there have been hundreds of people who volunteered their time and effort to help with city projects.
"Without volunteers, we could not get it all done," Baggett said. "Brewton is special in that there are so many people willing to give their time, talent and even financial resources to help the greater good. I can't list them all, but I love them every one."
Baggett holds a degree in communication from the University of South Alabama. She has three grown daughters and in her spare time enjoys kayaking, singing and playing guitar.
