Blue Water Woman--Fall 2020--PJS Promo

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Making a Positive Impact During her seven years as supervisor in Fort Gratiot Township, Baldwin more than left her mark on the community, having moved forward with the construction of a new township office center, the expansion of recreation areas, including one of the few dog parks in the county, and an assortment of other municipal projects. Baldwin began making a positive impact on Fort Gratiot Township, however, long before she became supervisor. She began working for the township in 1995 through a high school co-op program. “I worked as the building department clerk,” she said. In a short period of time, she moved on to assignments in assessing and zoning ordinances. She quickly realized it would benefit her, and the community, to know more about the construction process, so within a year she had obtained her builder’s license. “I wanted to know, ‘Does this require a two-penny nail?’” she said. She also realized holding that license would help her earn credibility both within the office and within the community. To this day, she maintains her assessing certification. During her more than 20 year tenure at the township, Baldwin learned that if something needed to be done, she needed to roll up her sleeves and learn how to do it. “You wear a lot of hats,” she said. “If there was a need, I filled it.” Her favorite part of working within government revolves around zoning. “ I realized if I ever wanted to effect some kind of change that will help the next building official or zoning official, then I need to go to the next level. The question becomes, ‘How do you get a ” township or city’s voice to the state level?’ 6 FALL <strong>2020</strong> BLUEWATERWOMAN.COM
“It is the basis for the quality of life in a community,” she said. “It is the playbook for good in a community.” Big Picture Vision When the opportunity to apply for a seat on the county commission arose, Baldwin decided to apply for a number of reasons. “I had started to get frustrated with things I had no control over,” she said of her role as supervisor at the township. “I realized if I ever wanted to effect some kind of change that will help the next building official or zoning official, then I need to go to the next level. The question becomes, ‘How do you get a township or city’s voice to the state level?’ “I feel like I wanted to be at a different level of government to affect that change. “I felt like I’d peaked and this was a next good step to expand my network. County government is focused mostly on revenue and economic development. I felt that was a natural next step.” Baldwin also understands that becoming a a true leader and not just a politician means that politics actually need to be put aside so the big picture can be better viewed. “A lot of people get into politics due to one issue,” she said. “If you can’t move past that issue, you’re never going to work as a team, and if you can’t work as a team, you’re not going to get anything done. “You learn that every relationship is about compromise.” Women in Office Baldwin encourages women who are interested in running for office to move forward and do so. “Sometimes women can be our own worst enemies with overanalyzing everything,” she said. “I think you should just do it. If you have a desire to serve, you should find a way to do it.” She also noted that women sometimes face situations that men do not, whether in public office, or just in the workplace, in general. “My mom always says to me, ‘You have a family to raise,’ and nobody says that to a man,” she said. “I have an equal partner in my husband, Scott. When I am at a meeting at night, people will ask me, ‘Where’s Scott? Who’s with the kids?’ People do not run into my husband and ask about his kids.” All that said, she noted that it is important for women to take a seat at the table. “Women, in general, can bring a different perspective,” she said. “We do see things differently, in general, and there’s a lot of good in that. You need that diversity to represent the whole.” Baldwin said things have changed a lot since she began working for Fort Gratiot Township more than 20 years ago. “I’m not the only girl in the room anymore, and I’m finding some allies with the men in the room,” she said. “We have some really impressive role models in women in St. Clair County and that is something to be very proud of.” Jessica McLarty, VP, Business Loan Officer; Jennifer Briolat, Branch Manager, Lakeport; Amanda Rose, Branch Manager, Marysville; Emily Dehring, Branch Manager, Fort Gratiot; Kim Bowman, VP, Retail Banking Manager; Christi Agostino-Erd, Mortgage Loan Officer; Kathy Wurmlinger, VP, Mortgage Manager S top by a branch today and let us help you get into the driver's seat! Call or visit one of these convenient St. Clair County locations today: • 85% of our staff are women • 67% of our bank officers are women • 50% of our senior management are women • 4 of our 9 directors are women Member FDIC Fort Gratiot - 810.966.2281 Lakeport - 810.385.3211 Marysville - 810.364.4854 Port Huron - 810.987.9777 www.emb.bank FALL <strong>2020</strong> BLUEWATERWOMAN.COM 7
Page 1 and 2: JORJA BALDWIN big picture vision FA
Page 3 and 4: Every day is the perfect day to sen
Page 5 and 6: FROM THE EDITOR EDITOR/PUBLISHER PA
Page 7: BIG PICTURE vision BY PATTI SAMAR I
Page 11 and 12: MAKING fair decisions BY DALE HEMMI
Page 13 and 14: in July of 2019, and she and her te
Page 15 and 16: A VOICE of change BY PATTI SAMAR De
Page 17 and 18: diversity, can be of great benefit
Page 19 and 20: READY to take the wheel BY PATTI SA
Page 21 and 22: 43° North of the Equator. Warmth i
Page 23 and 24: LEANING in BY PATTI SAMAR You could
Page 25 and 26: THE SHOW must go on If the Emmy’s
Page 27 and 28: DETERMINED to win BY DALE HEMMILA K
Page 29 and 30: A “There’s no crying in basebal
Page 31: “We are your out-sourced Marketin

Blue Water Woman--Fall 2020--PJS Promo

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