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Show Wednesday, January 30, 20C B7 DWS DIRECTOR RETIRES Vernal Express Chambley praised for untiring efforts, ideas By ViAfffl Prestwich Uintah Basin News Service Matching the right employee with the right employer has been Judy Chambley 's challenge for nearly 35 years. This week Chambley will retire from her position as regional director of the Eastern Region of the Utah Department of Workforce Services. Ser-vices. For more than three decades, Chambley's overriding concern was helping people find jobs where they could be successful. ; One example illustrates her determination to do what was necessary to insure her clients' success. Several years ago, Chambley ! was trying to help a single mother find adequate employment. The ; woman didn't drive, nor did she have the resources to buy a car. The fact that she was terrified to cross U.S. 40 complicated the I job placement process even further. fur-ther. Chambley spent two weeks walking with the woman to work 1 - crossing the highway to get to the motel where she worked as a maid. "Every day we practiced crossing cross-ing the street. She was able to get off welfare," Chambley said. "I see her walking still, everywhere in town. She's in pretty good shape." Born and raised in Vernal, Chambley attended college in Ogden. She worked part-time when her two daughters were young but went to work full-time in 1970. In 1982, Chambley returned to Vernal and worked with the Work Incentive Program or "WIN" program. One year later, she was named manager of ih Vernal Job Service Office and served in that position for the next 14 years, while becoming heavily involved in many community com-munity activities. Chambley served as president of the Vernal Area Chamber of Commerce as well as in other positions in that organization. She was president of the Dino-saurland Dino-saurland Travel Board for one term and focused a great deal of effort on economic development activities in the Vernal area, especially es-pecially during the "lean" years ofthemid-80s. One of her most visible community com-munity contributions is the profusion of color that tumbles out of the flower boxes along U.S. 40 in Vernal. "She will probably say, 'Oh, it wasn't a big deal,' but it was," said Rae Jacobson about the floral display that has drawn welcome attention to Vernal's main street. Jacobson worked with Chambley for 28 years. "Judy worked very hard to get those flowers established," Jacobson said. "Oricnnnlhr the businesses all had to buy the planters; there was a lot of balking balk-ing at first. But she really fought for it. It is beautiful. We get a lot of compliments nationwide." Bitsy Hislop, Chambley's youngest daughter, remembered' helping her mother and other members of the chamber and the Vernal Job Service Office go up and down the street planting flowers. "She taught me to help out in the community," Hislop said. In January 1997, Chambley was named director of the Utah Department of Workforce Services' Ser-vices' Eastern Region. The region includes the Uintah Basin and Utah's southeastern counties. "At the time most managers manag-ers were men," Jacobson said. "Some people thought a woman wouldn't be able to handle that job. She has done an excellent job." "She has been such a great boss," said Toni Ansel, manager of the Roosevelt Job Service Office. Of-fice. "She was such a good mentor and coach, but she trusts you to do your own job." Bob Gilbert, DWS Regional Council coordinator for 1 1 years, echoed Ansel's sentiments. "She is a really good boss. She is not a micro-manager," he said. "I loved working' with her " Jacobson said. "When Judy was our manager, it was a very personable commitment with employers and clients. She had a lot of trainingprograms to help single mothers gain employment skills." Several of her employees said that Chambley's sense of humor made meetings "fun." Chambley plans to make retirement fun, too. "First I'm going to vegetate for two weeks," she joked. "Not get dressed, read, and watch TV" "What she's really going to do is remodel her house," Hislop said. "She is going to get this beautiful red door from Lowes!" Chambley is also determined to learn how to run the computer programs that allow her to add music to pictures. She'll have more time for that after her retirement party on Thursday. You're Invited: What: An open house to honor Judy Chambley When: Thursday from 1 to 3 p.m. Where: Vernal USU-Uintah Basin building Rnnm 9m Who: Anyone who wants to come and wish Judy the best on her retirement Jy '"""' Judy Chambley has spent nearly 35 years helping people find work. 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