FHWA Works: Employee Spotlight - Joi Singh

Full Name: Joi Singh
Title: Realty Specialist
Division/Department: Office of Real Estate Services
Location (City/State): Washington, DC

1. What is your current position and how long have you been in this role?
   I serve as the National Program Lead for Outdoor Advertising & Junkyard Control. I also serve as lead for Civil Rights and Environmental Justice where they cross-cut with realty programs. I have been privileged to hold this position for just under a year.

2. What is your typical workday like?
   Ha! There is no such thing as typical. Daily, I interact with division offices, state departments of transportation, attorneys, legislators, and internal stakeholders to provide technical support and guidance on all matters relevant to the Highway Beautification Act, as well as realty programs that are impacted by civil rights and environmental justice concerns. Every day there is a new issue to analyze and a fresh challenge to tackle.

3. What has been your biggest accomplishment over the last year?
   Professionally, my biggest accomplishment over the past year was taking on a new program area and working diligently to become a subject matter expert. It’s a complicated program and I jumped into the deep end, reading, researching, analyzing, asking questions, training, visiting successful programs to discern best practices, and getting myself to a level of competence where I can speak confidently and authoritatively on outdoor advertising topics. It stretched me to grow and I love that! An additional accomplishment of which I am particularly proud is having raised awareness of how realty, civil rights, and environmental justice intersect, using every available avenue to train and educate. Personally, my biggest accomplishment was launching my first born off to college. I am privileged that he allowed me to coach him through his difficult moments and I am pleased to report that he did exceedingly well his first year!

4. Prior to working at FHWA, what was the most unusual or interesting job you've ever had?
   One of the most interesting jobs I’ve ever had was that of interim press secretary for Jesse Jackson and the National Rainbow Coalition. I began as an unpaid volunteer with the nonprofit Coalition and occasionally pitched in when the Press Secretary was overwhelmed with work. When she moved on to a new opportunity, to my utter shock she recommended that I take her place. I was young, inexperienced, and WAY out of my league, but I took the reins and performed all functions, including drafting speeches and press releases, running press operations for visiting dignitaries, executing logistics for all media events, and fielding media requests. Jackson was not long off of his bid for the presidency so it was an incredibly busy time. I got to hang out with heads of State and celebrities. It was thrilling and overwhelmingly pressure filled, all at the same time. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience.  

   Next to that, the most interesting job that I’ve ever had was that of Law Clerk to the Administrative Judge of the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, and then Law Clerk to the Chief Judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals. Having the opportunity as a young attorney to see a broad range of cases adjudicated was an invaluable experience. From contract disputes to high profile criminal cases, every day was an adventure.

5. What are your hobbies in your spare time?
   I have an incurable wanderlust and drink in every conceivable opportunity to travel. I also enjoy reading, writing (there is a novel somewhere inside of me), museums, live music, and am ALWAYS up for a spa day.  I love to antique and am a little bit of a foodie. I have a passion for event planning and hosting. I am my happiest self when surrounded by kith and kin, eating, drinking, and celebrating life.

6. What is one of the biggest lessons you have learned in your career to get you where you are today?
   Treat everyone equally with kindness and respect. From the janitor to the CEO, I make it my ambition to sincerely communicate, “I value you. I respect who you are. I appreciate what you do.” I believe that when your professional relationships function like lubricant, rather than sand paper, there is no limit to what you can accomplish together.

7. Complete this sentence: "People would be surprised if they knew..." that I am a belly dancer, performing all over the east coast for the past 11 years, and recently began learning to dance Bachata.