Valerie Stephens 

What is your name and your job title?

• Valerie Stephens, District Administrative Chief 

How long have you been in this role?

• September 2022

How did you get into this line of work?

• I started my career as a Park Aide, working the front desk at the District Office, in 2008. From there I worked in various administrative positions, such as Office Assistant/Accounting/ATR, Office Technician/Procurement, Management Services Technician/Personnel Timekeeper then left Parks for a promotion for a year but returned as an Administrative Officer I. At the end of 2020, I worked a year Out of Class as the Admin Chief, then in 2022 promoted permanently in the roll.

What is your “why” for doing this job?

• I love helping others, spreadsheets, organizing and a good challenge and what better way to use these passions then in a department like State Parks. I am a Gold, for those of you who took the True Colors training!

Who inspires you/who are some of your role models?

• In the many years with Parks, I have been blessed to encounter countless inspiring leaders and have gained so much knowledge from each of them, but my role model is my grandfather. He grew up in migrate farm camps traveling through California, picking peaches, tomatoes, grapes and watermelons with his family and although he only went to school till the nineth grade, he became a successful concrete business owner. His determination, desire, and hard work are qualities I admire. Starting from the bottom, he always wanted to move up in his career and didn't let obstacles stop him from learning and growing.