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Paulette Davy (formerly Stewart), from Alexandria, St. Ann, joins the long list of Jamaicans who continue to excel in various fields abroad, making Jamaica proud. Based at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Marshall Space Flight Centre in Huntsville, Alabama, Davy won the Women's Equality Day award for outstanding administrative service.
The award was presented on August 23 by the Team Redstone Federal Women's Programme, which includes the United States Army Garrison at Redstone Arsenal and NASA's Marshall Space Flight Centre, both in Huntsville. It recognises outstanding Federal employees in professional, administrative and supervisory capacities. The event coincided with the anniversary of the 1920 ratification of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote.
In an exclusive interview with Flair, Davy said she has been guided by the old-time values taught to her by her parents. The Dinthill Technical High School graduate has fond memories of fellow alumni, comedian Oliver Samuels and returns to her roots when time permits.
Progress of career women
Of her work and the progress of career women over the years, she said she has seen more opportunities emerge especially for women since she emigrated in 1970.
"Traditionally, women were mothers who stayed home. But today, there are more female astronauts taking up openings in the American space shuttle programme and all the major professions have seen improvement in our potential for advancement over the years," Davy said.
These developments are music to the ears of Davy who is a human resource specialist in the Marshall Centre's Training and Incentives Office, part of the Office of Human Capital. Since 2002, she has served as Marshall's incentive awards officer. Her role includes supporting the centre's awards programme, recognising employees with superior accomplishments and those who have made special contributions or worked on special projects.
"I make sure that management follows the guidelines that present employees in a professional manner and when they receive awards, these are presented at a ceremony or at the office where they can be recognised," she said.
Davy also ensures that the organisation complies with established award guidelines and oversees all organisational award ceremonies. In 2003, she created the OHC Peer Awards Programme, which allows the Office of Human Capital civil servants and contractors to be nominated and recognised by their peers.
Like many Jamaican companies, Marshall Space Flight Centre has an annual honour awards ceremony for which Davy has responsibility. Across the United States of America, there are 10 such centres carrying out a similar function. All must correspond but the headquarters is in Washington, D.C.
Former secretary
Prior to her present position, Davy worked as a secretary from 1980-1987. She left to focus on raising her children and earned a bachelor's degree in business administration. She returned in 1991. Her next assignment took her to the Office of Human Capital in 1998. Here, her duties included leading a team to remodel Marshall's Self-Study Learning Centre, which offers programmes and resource materials supporting employees' career paths and professional development. She was promoted to incentive awards officer in 2002.
"The transition from secretary to my present duties gave me some anxiety because my predecessor was well known and had established a great reputation. I did not doubt my abilities but I still had concerns. But she paid me the ultimate compliment when she said she could not have turned the job over to a better person," Davy reflected.
She has received several awards, including the NASA Group Achievement award, which recognises employees for meeting and exceeding NASA's values and expectations, and the Sustained Superior Performance award, honouring high-level performance.
Retirement
Like everyone else, she looks forward to retirement when the time comes, but would like to recommend some improvements to the programmes she now supervises before that time comes.
"I enjoy my work and will continue to do my best as long as I can," she said.
Resurgence of racism
With the recent resurgence of racism across the United States, and since it is the norm for Jamaican migrants to reside in New York and Florida, Flair asked Davy to share her experiences as a resident of Alabama. Davy has no regrets about Alabama. "It is great for raising a family; there is diversity here because of the military bases; it attracts a wide variety of people. Huntsville is the most friendly city I have been to, we can move freely and get warm smiles all the time. There are racial issues everywhere but this is a good city."
Davy is married with two adult children. She is actively involved in several ministries at First Missionary Baptist in Huntsville, including the evangelism ministry that reaches college campuses and the wider community.
Advice to women
Davy's advice to women in the corporate ascension mode is grounded in solid family values and she shared them with Flair.
If you are a Christian, prayer is important and women should always be guided by the will of the Lord.
Always look for ways to improve yourself while making the boss look good.
Have a good work ethic, do a good job, be on time and if needed for a weekend or to work late, be willing to do it.
There will be times when you need to have a talk with a boss or supervisor. Don't be confrontational or afraid to ask what is expected of you if you are to get ahead.
Take advantage of every training opportunity that presents itself. If necessary, go back to school, not only as it relates to your job, but for self-improvement.
Learn how to represent your supervisor, how to conduct yourself in meetings and hone your reading and writing skills.
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