Caught You Doing Good!

by Katie Mulhern on January 10, 2012

Katie Mulhern serves as a legal analyst in the city attorney’s office, Folsom, Calif. She writes:

Sometimes when a new person joins a small office... such as ours, the addition of the right new individual actually raises the performance and satisfaction level of all concerned. That was the experience at the City Attorney’s office in the City of Folsom when Assistant City Attorney Steve Wang joined us in 2008.

At least three times a week, Steve would pause in the doorway to my office and say, “Thank you for everything you do. I am so grateful!” It startled me at first, as expressions of gratitude are rare, particularly in a busy city attorney’s office. But with Steve there was a difference, a sincerity, an obvious taking of time to express something he clearly felt....

As a Captain in the Army Reserve, Steve was placed on active duty and posted to a forward fighting unit in Afghanistan in June 2011 on a 400-day deployment.... He nominated our City Mayor, City Manager, and City Attorney for recognition as patriotic employers for supporting his service.... On his only leave during his deployment he came in to work...appeared at our City Council meeting...and presented us all with a framed flag that had flown over Bagram Air Base on the 10th anniversary of 9-11....

His example has inspired all in our office...to be grateful and to express it with sincerity and humility.

Have you caught someone showing good character? Send an e-mail to editor@cfthemagazine.com, visit our Facebook page, or send us a tweet @Character_First.