FHWA Works: Employee Spotlight - Susie Tingler

Full Name: Susie Tingler
Title: Management Assistant
Division/Department: Director of Field Services
Location: Baltimore, MD

1. What is your typical workday like?
   I work for the Director of Field Services. As an administrative assistant to the DFS office, I help wherever I’m needed. It’s not the most glamorous job in the world and mostly what we do is behind the scenes. However, I pride myself to know that I’m considered one of the experts in my field. If I don’t remember it, I definitely know where to find it. Just the file history I have is enough to make your head spin! I’m entering into my 30th year here at FHWA, and don’t see myself leaving anytime soon. I love all the people I work with and the support that I have always received from my co-workers and supervisors. I’ve made relationships with co-workers that will last forever.

2. What has been your biggest accomplishment over the last year?
   This past year serving as a part time paramedic has brought many challenges—not only to me but to my co-workers. When we walk out the door for a call we always know in the back of our minds that this could be the last time we walk out the door. However, just like many of us we always think “this won’t happen to me.” Early last year the Harford County public safety community lost two sheriff’s deputies to gun violence. These are deputies we work with on a daily basis, and many of us including myself called them close friends. My accomplishment this year along with every other member of my department was picking up the pieces and moving on, going out there to continue to do what we love to do.

3. Prior to working at FHWA, what was the most unusual or interesting job you've ever had?
   I’ve been with the FHWA for 29 years, starting here at 21, so I didn’t really have any interesting jobs before joining FHWA. However, since I transferred to the Baltimore office of FHWA in 1999, I started a part time hobby/career as a volunteer paramedic. In 2013, I became the EMS Chief of my department in Harford County; I am a paramedic and volunteer nearly all my spare time to saving lives and managing others who do what I do. I live right on the I-95 corridor, so many calls involve crashes along the heavily travelled portion in my county. I was fortunate enough back in 2005 to travel down to Louisiana with several other fire and EMS personnel to help victims of Hurricane Katrina just days after the tragedy struck. The fire department is a second family to me. My husband is also a paramedic, and works for the busy Baltimore City Fire Department.

4. What are your hobbies in your spare time?
   As mentioned before, most of my spare time is dedicated to being a paramedic. Just recently my husband and I purchased an RV, so this is our first year enjoying that.

5. What is one of the biggest lessons you have learned in your career to get you where you are today?
   Sometimes it’s not about the money or the grade. You have to make decisions in your career that center around you and your family. For me, leaving HQ meant giving up a job that would have taken me further in my career. However, the decision to take a job in Baltimore was based on family. It’s a decision I will never regret and I love the office I work in as well as the quality of life that I am enjoying.

6. Complete this sentence: "People would be surprised if they knew..."
   that I have the power to shut down I-95! I’ve delivered babies, I perform CPR at least twice a week, I’ve flown in a medevac countless times. We even get the opportunity once in a while to save a furry friend! I unfortunately see people at what is probably their worse day. What keeps me doing it is being a part of making that day a little better for them.