By SANDRA THAMES / Community Columnist

In 2004, Kenyatta Dunnigan was hired at the Alabaster Water Board as a customer service representative.

A graduate of Oak Grove High School and Bessemer State Technical College, Dunnigan also has her Bachelor of Arts from Miles College and in 2010 earned her master’s degree in public administration from UAB.

Dunnigan was promoted to customer service manager in 2013.

Last year all water board employees received customer service training provided by Integrity Services.

“This training re-emphasizes to us the importance of listening, creating value and showing appreciation in every customer interaction,” she said.

“I start every day by getting to work early to prepare myself for that day,” she said. “I’ve learned that as a manager you must be flexible and able to switch gears quickly to respond to the demands of the tasks at hand, knowledgeable about all aspects of the profession or industry you are in and lastly able to receive, evaluate and provide solutions.”

Dunnigan typically generates a “to-do list” or a stack of tasks and projects which she would like to complete or accomplish by the end of the work day or work week.  There are different interactions and correspondence during the day from answering questions concerning billing of water, sewer, and garbage accounts, handling payment arrangements and speaking to customers concerning leak detection methods.

She also fills in where necessary from working the front counter to filling in for the business manager.

Dunnigan is one busy lady. She was raised and still lives in North Johns, Ala., in western Jefferson County (the last municipality before entering Tuscaloosa County).  There she is serving her second term as the District 1 council member.

She is also an active member of New Bethlehem Baptist Church of Johns, where she serves in the music ministry and the outreach ministry.

When asked about “what makes her day,” Dunnigan replied, “Knowing that my family is safe and healthy and that I have set a good Christian example in serving my customers.”