Get to know Shawnyne Garren, the Administrative Services Manager for the Douglas County Recorder’s Office and the incoming chapter president.  We asked Shawnyne a series of questions to get to know her better…

Tell us about yourself:

I am the oldest of four and have raised four amazing young men who I am blessed to call, Son, with my husband of 22 years! I love camping, playing softball, traveling to new places, cooking, spending time with friends, and watching our youngest play baseball. I learned my love of baseball from my Dad and am a lifelong Dodger girl. One of my recent big accomplishments that I am most proud of is achieving my Bachelor’s degree in Business Management while being a full-time employee, mom, wife, and general chaos coordinator!

Where do you work? What is your role with the organization?

As the Administrative Services Manager for the Douglas County Recorder’s Office and Records Management, I supervise an outstanding team of four staff members and work closely with our County Recorder managing daily operations of both offices. I assist with development and support of policy and procedure, applying best industry practices across property records and general information governance. Within our Records Management division, I work closely with various departments throughout the county to provide proper storage, preservation, retention, and destruction of paper and digital records, as well as training and guiding departments within the realm of managing their own records. I am also the program administrator for managing access to digital records for a variety of departments.

What drew you to records management/information governance originally?

I began working in the Recorder’s Office in 2007, as a Deputy Recording Clerk, where land and marriage records get recorded and made public. Our records date back to the mid-1800’s and I have had the opportunity to be highly involved in the digitizing and organizing of those historic and current records to make them more accessible to the public through leveraging available technology resources. Because our Records Management division falls under the responsibility of the County Recorder, it felt like a very natural transition to step into the role of managing that division two years ago, expanding my knowledge and experience into other record types.

What do you like most about records management/information governance?

I am very goal oriented. I like the challenge of tackling the big things and breaking them down into manageable tasks.

What do you find the most challenging about records management/information governance?

I think the most challenging thing about records management in general is understanding that not everyone shares the same enthusiasm about the preservation of records and getting full “buy-in” from all of the players to manage them properly requires much patience and diligence.

What advice do you have for newcomers to our industry?

Be patient. Learn as much as you can, from as many people as you can. (ARMA has been an amazing resource for me in that respect!) Don’t take other peoples’ lack of enthusiasm personally. Be innovative, but understand that change is hard. Be professional, but don’t always take things so seriously – Yes, records can be fun!

What would people be surprised to know about you?

I had enlisted to join the Air National Guard to train to be a medic and wanted to go to school become a neonatal nurse. Two weeks before I was supposed to leave for basic training I reported to my recruiter’s office to receive my written orders for departure when he informed me that my paperwork “slipped through the cracks” and the National Guard Bureau didn’t have a slot for me. Another opportunity presented itself in the meantime and the rest is history…

What is on your bucket list?

Visiting New York City and taking a train tour through Europe are definitely on my bucket list. But my big retirement bucket list item is spending an MLB season traveling the country in a 5^th wheel and hitting every stadium in one season!

Do you have favorite quote?

“On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.” Psalm 138:3 ESV (I even have it tattooed on my left ankle.)