Christian M. Williams
Executive Management Assistant, City of Goodyear, Arizona
What was the very first paying job you held (that you paid taxes on)?
Traffic Engineering Intern at City of Peoria, Arizona
What was your: undergraduate institution? Graduate institution? What was/were your degree(s) in?
Undergrad: University of Washington-Seattle (2009); Current Grad School: Grand Canyon University (est. 2019)
What class(es) (if any) are applicable to your job today?
Community, Environment and Planning (College of Built Environments) Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Do you have a work or life motto? What is it?
If a task is once begun, never leave it ’til it’s done, be it dread or be it small, do it well or not at all.
What book are you currently reading? Would you recommend it?
The Future of the Suburban City: Lessons from Sustaining Phoenix by Grady Gammage. So far so good.
Other than ELGL – do you belong to any other professional associations? Which one(s)?
ICMA (International City/County Managers Association), ACMA (Arizona City/County Managers Association),
What’s the best networking advice for job seekers you’ve heard or shared?
Go over there and introduce yourself…Sit at a conference table where you don’t know anyone – people get bored and eventually will start a conversation. Ways to get an internship: Be prepared, come as a professional, ask questions, be interested and stay engaged.
Why should an undergraduate student consider a career working in local government?
Local government is full of opportunity! There are a vast array of fields and career paths that intersect with local government service. It is a great way to give back to a community and impact the lives of hundreds to millions of people.