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Paulk begins career with NMDOT
For Gene Paulk, his new job is not necessarily a step up, but rather a step in a new direction.
Paulk has been on board with the City of Deming as the Community Services Director for three years and will soon begin work at the local New Mexico Department of Transportation Office, 2912 E. Pine St. "The city has been very good to me," he said, citing training opportunities he has had, such as the Leadership New Mexico program. Leadership New Mexico is a non-profit agency which identifies "emerging leaders throughout New Mexico," according to its website, www.leadershipnm.org, to enhance leadership skills and to expand knowledge of "the challenges and opportunities facing our state."
Paulk will begin with the NMDOT as a technical support engineer, a position closer to his roots. Paulk graduated from New Mexico State University in 1996 with a degree in civil engineering. He is also a licensed engineer in New Mexico.
"It wasn't an easy decision to make," he said. "I think I'm more excited about getting into the engineer realm."
He currently has engineering work as part of his services to the city, but the scope of his work is not dedicated to engineering.
"Mostly the complaints," he said on what he will miss least about working for the city.
What will he miss most? The people. During his tenure at the John Strand Municipal Building, 309 S. Gold Ave., he has had a hand in many projects, from the inconspicuous to the opposite.
"Being involved in the community and getting positive things done," he said.
An obvious change to Deming in which Paulk has had a hand has been one of his favorite projects during his time at the city, the late-2008 installation of shade structures and playgrounds at various city parks. As a father of three, those projects hit closer to home than the boring, yet useful, infrastructure improvements.
"I get to see how much they enjoy it," he said. "I'm not taking all of the credit, the crews did all the work (construction)."
Paulk and his family will get to stay in town, as he is moving from working on Gold Ave. to working on Deming's east side.
His favorite project, he said, has been the recent creation of a detention pond in Deming's Industrial Park to help reduce flooding. Air National Guard units were sought to help dig the pond and move earth. With four-and-a-half years as an active duty member in the U.S. Army, working with military service members is nothing new.
He graduated from Deming High School in 1987. His last day at the city will be Nov. 13 and he will start at the NMDOT on Nov. 16.
Matt Robinson
Deming Headlight
Publication Date: 09/30/2009 12:00 AM