Celebrating Building & Code Staff Appreciation Day
September 2024
Building and Code Staff Appreciation Day is celebrated every year on September 1. These employees look after us all by ensuring buildings are safe.
We hope you enjoy these spotlights as part of the celebration.
Diane Devol
Position: Senior Officer
Department: Code Enforcement
How long with Pinellas County? 6 years.
Describe your job in 25 words or fewer: As a Senior Officer working under the Special Magistrate program, I prepare cases to be presented to the Special Magistrate on noncompliant properties. I perform all facets of the prosecution process such as case exhibits, discovery preparation, and presentation of evidence and penalty recommendations to the Special Magistrate.
Best part of job: The most satisfying part of my job is when a blighted property with a lien, that has been an ongoing problem for the County and the neighbors, finally gets cleaned up, sold, or sometimes demolished. It immediately improves the overall look of the neighborhood and the surrounding communities.
What do you do in your free time? I enjoy volunteering my time working with the Florida Bulldog Rescue. I help with fundraising and fostering of incoming English bulldogs and French bulldogs. I am also a certified referee and official for the United States Powerlifting Association. My free time is spent officiating at powerlifting tournaments held throughout Florida.
Caroline Gonzalez
Position: Code Enforcement Liaison and Pinellas County Contractor Licensing Board (PCCLB) Deputy Clerk for Code Enforcement Special Magistrate and Lot Clearing Divisions
Department: Code Enforcement
How long with Pinellas County? 5 years.
Describe your job in 25 words or fewer: I manage the Special Magistrate Division for the Code Enforcement and PCCLB departments while supporting numerous departments with their Special Magistrate hearings, such as Animal Services, Environmental, and Public Works.
Best part of job: Translating in Spanish for citizens and facilitating their communication with multiple divisions such as Code Enforcement, PCCLB, and the Building Department.
Most challenging part of job: Telling a citizen that they owe hundreds of dollars on a lien.
Most memorable moment? Organizing a team building event for the Code Enforcement Department at Fort De Soto Park and seeing all my colleagues enjoy themselves with a water balloon toss, scavenger hunt, and other activities that really made us laugh.
What do you do in your free time? In my free time, I enjoy outings with my husband, Jaime; playing with the cat, Charlie; reading; and spending time with my family and friends.
Shana Patrick
Position: Code Enforcement Supervisor
Department: Building and Development Review Services, Code Enforcement Division
How long with Pinellas County? I have enjoyed 24 fantastic years of service under the Board of County Commissioners.
How long have you been in this position? 21 years.
Have you had any other positions with Pinellas County? Prior to joining Pinellas County Government, I worked for the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.
Describe your job in 25 words or fewer: I oversee the daily operations of the South County Code Enforcement team; I review all documents prepared by my staff and provide them field support, direction and guidance as needed. I am often a guest speaker at HOA and other civic meetings, providing education while fielding concerns on enforcement related issues.
Best part of job: Partnering with civic and non-profit organizations to assist citizens in enhancing their quality of life and improving diminished communities.
Most challenging part of job: In this assignment, my team and I have occasion to encounter many disturbing issues; from crime to homelessness, poverty and human trafficking, it can be a lot to take in and not take home with us sometimes.
Most memorable moment? I think the best one yet was the most recent. Just last month, one of my long-standing nuisance properties was finally demolished. The property was originally zoned as a motel with 4 rooms, then unlawfully converted into 11 smaller rooms with thin plywood walls and even a garden hose for plumbing in one unit. The tenants lived among raw sewage spewing out of their faucets and garbage continued piling high on the site and spilled into the roadway; all the result of an absentee landlord and neglectful property owner. After citizens were relocated to safer and more favorable homes, the property continued as an attractive nuisance with over 800 calls for service by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office for a myriad of criminal activities. Code Enforcement would board up the windows and doors; we even installed a security fence, but the trespassing never stopped. The site is now a vacant lot. As you can imagine, the removal is a milestone victory for both me and for the grateful citizens of the Lealman community.
What do you do in your free time? I enjoy spending time with my miniature pinscher, Grady (he’s named after Sheriff Grady Judd, lol). We love going on walks at the Botanical Gardens together; it is such a beautiful place! I also enjoy live music and attending charity events.
Nicole Riley
Position: Administrative Support Specialist 1 / Pinellas County Contractor Licensing Board (PCCLB) Special Magistrate Liaison
Department: Code Enforcement
How long with Pinellas County? 17 years.
How long have you been in this position? 3 years.
Have you had any other positions with Pinellas County? Yes, I worked in the Building Department for 3 years as an Office Specialist.
Describe your job in 25 words or fewer: Special Magistrate Liaison for the PCCLB. Serve as Deputy Clerk for Code Enforcement and assist with other departments for Special Magistrate hearings.
Best part of job: Assisting citizens and working with various departments throughout the County.
Most challenging part of job: Taking calls from citizens that have been taken advantage of by unlicensed contractors.
Most memorable moment? My most memorable moment was the look on my colleagues’ faces when they walked into the Christmas Party and saw how nice the decorations were that my colleague and I had set up. It was priceless.
What do you do in your free time? I love to spend time with my family (especially my grandbabies), watch movies, and go shopping.
10/1/24