- April 24, 2024
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By: Shanna Fortier
Contributing writer
For 20 years, Samantha Whitfield was a bomb builder in the United States Air Force.
Now, she is bringing her knowledge of risk assessment to the human resource department of Flagler County and encouraging employee fellowship with candy.
“If there’s one thing that I’ve learned, it’s that you can always draw people in with candy, chocolate, food,” Whitfield said. “People just like food. So I thought the best way to get people in here was with a smile and some candy.”
When Whitfield started working with the county two years ago, she set up a candy dish in the front of the human resources office — right next to a window. Each day the number of visitors to the candy dish grew.
"Samantha's kind gesture can often turn around an otherwise rough day for an employee, which improves customer service overall."
ANITA STOKER, Flagler County Benefits and Wellness Manager
“Now I know more faces,” Whitfield said. “Even if it’s just a 30-second conversation while they’re eating the candy, it’s my opportunity to get to know them real quick, know their name, know their role here. And let them know that I’m here for them and that HR really is an open door.”
That was Whitfield’s goal: to let employees know that her department is there to help.
“She genuinely cares about the employees and cares about their well being,” said Pamela Wu, the human resources director for the county. “It’s very important to her that we work collaboratively with our departments and she strives to bring employees into our office and makes sure our employees know we are there for them with something as simple as making sure the candy dish is full.”
This holiday season, the candy dish was the inspiration for the department’s door decorating theme: an old-fashioned candy shop.
Each day, the candy shop hosted an event — root beer floats, a chocolate fountain, an espresso bar.
“The holiday time is really the time for fellowship and that’s exactly what we wanted,” Whitfield said. “It was a great feeling to see so many people chatting that would not normally chat.”
As the risk manager for the county's human services department, Whitfield manages the safety aspects for the county, including liability, workers compensation and insurance claims. She also assesses safe and unsafe practices at county facilities.
“I am a big advocate for safety,” Whitfield said, noting her time in the Air Force. She joined shortly after graduating from Flagler Palm Coast High School in 1996 and retired two years ago as a master sergeant.
“When you’re in the bay and they’re building bombs and missiles, you’re looking for unsafe practices,” Whitfield explained. “You’re looking for complacency. Complacency is huge in safety. And just really ensuring that my airmen are following things by the book because that is more of a life or death situation.”
These situations, Whitfield said, have taught her about risk and safety.
“She’s very passionate about her career — military or civilian,” said Kris Collora, who has known Whitfield since they were 11 years old. “And she’s great at what she does. She’s enthusiastic and just empowering because it’s nice to have that kind of enthusiasm to boost morale.”
