New Sensation with Amanda Stratton, NC Association of Counties and UNC MPA Student

Posted on July 24, 2013

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iV-QGQVZv0k&w=420&h=315]

Since ELGL is not a big fan of icebreakers and since we would rather not know what animal you want to be, this  feature will serve as a way of introducing new members. While you won’t learn about their favorite animal, you will learn about their ideal Sunday morning, which dead people would they FaceTime with, and which song best describes their life.

Vitals

Name: Amanda Stratton

Email: amandas1290@gmail.com

Education: North Carolina State University, B.A, Political Science and Non profit Studies and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Masters in Public Administration, 2012 – 2014 (expected)

Current Position: Intern at the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners

Previous Employment: Research Assistant, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Government; Paralegal, Currin & Currin, Attorneys at Law; and InternWake County Guardian ad Litem

Connect: LinkedIn

Q&A

Three projects you are working on.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVRpCxx-6ls?feature=player_embedded&w=640&h=360]

Related Link: Why Counties Matter?

This summer I am interning with the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners. In this capacity I have been working on the following projects that will ultimately help local government leaders:

  • Updating/rebuilding a database of information about North Carolina counties.
  • Organizing webinars and meetings about how the Affordable Care Act will affect North Carolina counties both as public health providers and as employers.
  • I am also contributing to the Golden LEAF Foundation’s broadband internet initiative through my research assistantship. This initiative is bringing broadband internet to rural communities in North Carolina.

Your longest public meeting.

Though I am just getting my feet wet in State and local government, I have recently been attending many North Carolina General Assembly sessions. With debates taking place about the budget, tax reform, and many other highly politicized issues, these meetings have not only been very heated, most have also lasted for many hours.

Songs on your iPod’s Recently Played list.

  • Dire Straights: The Sultans of Swing
  • Chatham County Line:  (Side note: I highly recommend this North Carolina band for anyone visiting or moving to NC. They always bring a crowd alive as they sing around a vintage style, single microphone)

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPAgFva_37o?feature=player_detailpage&w=640&h=360]

  • Old Crow Medicine Show: Wagon Wheel (This is a necessity if living in Raleigh, NC)

Best piece of advice from your parents.

Work hard in school…not only will you learn more, you will graduate with less student debt

Excluding family, give three of your career mentors.

george-currin-raleigh-lawyerYou mean other than Leslie Knope?

Right after graduating college I got a job as a paralegal at a law firm in Raleigh, NC. The owners of the firm, George and Robin Currin, helped me figure out what path I really want to take and taught me skills that will be easily transferable to all of my future careers.

This summer I am working with the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners. Though I have only been here for about a month and a half, all of the leadership in this group has shown me what it is like to effectively run an organization. I believe they will continue to be awesome mentors as my career progresses.

(Complete the sentence) I know this makes me sound old but……I almost always fall asleep when watching a movie unless I start watching it before 5pm.

Last time you checked your cell phone.

probably less than a minute ago

Describe the inside of your car.

generally my car stays fairly clean except for the relentlessly clingy dog hair

Song(s) that remind you of summer.

  • Viva la Vida by Coldplay
  • Kids by MGMT

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBd46BbdTfs?feature=player_detailpage&w=640&h=360]

(Complete the sentence) In 2018, local government will be …………  that depends on which State you are in.

(Complete the sentence) Before I die I want to……travel to many new, exciting places. 

Should government be run like a business?

I think both sectors have a lot to learn from each other but neither need to/can be run exactly the same way.

Biggest misconception about government.

All bureaucrats work hard to make government inefficient

Three defining news events of your lifetime.

  • 9/11
  • The invention of the Internet
  • Fall of the USSR

What’s the meaning of life?

What would life be if we weren’t constantly trying to answer that question? I’m definitely still trying to figure that one out and trying to have fun in the process!

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