Vitals
Crystal McLain
City of Novi (MI), Graduate Management Analyst Intern
Education: Wayne State University, Masters in Urban Planning and Wayne State, Undergraduate Degree in Urban Studies and Public Relations
Experience: Preservation Wayne
Q & A with Crystal
(Complete these phrases) Best thing about the….
80’s was……. The Cartoons and the music
90’s was…… Sitcoms (TGIF!)… and the music
00’s was….. Riding my bike everywhere, until I could drive!
Last year was….. The fact that I made it through… it was a hectic year
Today is…. The opportunities!
(Complete this sentence) I feel old when I……..
Realize that the year 2000 was 14 years ago! (what?!)
Tell us about two mistakes that you’ve made that we can learn from.
- Trying to take on too much; there’s a tipping point when quantity starts surpassing quality… stay away from that.
- Underestimating my abilities
Give us three of your favorite YouTube videos.
Anything that makes me laugh – David after the dentist is a classic.
Our annual conference will be held in October 2014. Name three topics or speakers that should be included on the conference agenda.
Topics: Regional cooperation, Retrofitting Suburbia, Sustainable Development
Parent(s) can be influential in career choices of their kids. What was the career path of your parent(s)?
My parents are both blue collar workers and neither of them went to college. They instilled a good work ethic in me at a very young age, and made me realize how important an education was.
Name three of your mentors and describe them in five words.
- My grandmother: Strong, uncompromising, courageous, willful, loving
- Robin Boyle (Departmental Chair at Wayne State University’s Department of Urban Studies and Planning): passionate, patient, ingenious, driven, inspiring
Your hometown…..what is it best known for?
Its main corridor: Gratiot. The Gratiot corridor traverses 9 communities as it stretches over 26 miles across Macomb County.
How can ELGL best contribute to the public sector?
By fostering meaningful dialogue, professional development, and networking opportunities for incoming government leaders.
Give us two items that are broken in local government.
http://youtu.be/og2lX1UJ6rc
- Communication (often, but not always the case)
- The ability to effectively balance citizen need, and a static or dwindling budget
Fast forward one year, what will factor into your decision on whether to renew your ELGL membership?
What I’ve gotten out of it this year.
What questions should we have asked?
What area of local government are you particularly drawn to, and why.