Ms Aretha Thomas.

Ms Thomas, second from right, clutching her 'Employee of the Year' Award.

Admirers often call her “tall, dark and lovely” and without even knowing you, she is always willing to offer a sincere smile that would make you feel most welcomed.

She is none other than Ms. Aretha Thomas, Technology Support Services Officer for the Department of Information Technology (IT) under the Ministry of Finance and an exemplary asset to the department.

Her duties are varied and include monitoring and maintaining computer systems, diagnosing hardware and software faults and solving technical and applications problems.

A bubbly and quite humorous Ms. Thomas, who spoke with VINO at her office earlier this week, was born in Tortola and grew up in Sea Cow’s Bay, where she presently lives.

Ms. Thomas holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Management Information Systems from the Alabama A&M University.

She is a certified Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS), a Technical Trainer and also the Public Relations Officer for the Performance, Integrity and Teamwork Crew (aka) the P.I.T. Crew under the Ministry of Finance.

Prior to being the Technology Support Services Officer, Ms. Thomas served as the Computer Training Coordinator and provided excellent coaching and guidance to civil servants while learning new programmes.  She also taught "Microcomputer applications" courses as an adjunct instructor at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College.

“In IT, it’s very busy on a day-to-day basis because we cater to the entire government, so in terms of delivering services, I try to always deliver such in a professional manner to the public and encourage my colleagues to do the same thing. It [her work experience] has been challenging but it has been a learning experience as I go along,” Ms. Thomas related.

Asked what helps her to balance her professional and “hectic” work life with her personal life, family and friends, Ms. Thomas said she has a schedule in place.

“I’m very big on organisation. If we are not organized, then we will not make much progress. I make time to get things done by a deadline. I make time for family. I work around a schedule...but sometimes it just doesn't happen,” she revealed.

Thanks to her good organizational skills, Ms. Thomas still manages to keep her schedule intact even when it goes out of place at times.

“If you put things down in a calendar, that way you remember what you have planned for the next day. I always try to work ahead of time!   I don’t mind last minute stuff because it puts a lot of pressure on you. Even if I have to do something at the last minute, I try my best, but I don’t recommend it,” the young woman stated.

In carrying out her daily duties, Ms. Thomas pays great care and attention to detail to ensure that projects and assignments are executed with a high level of quality.  She has served as the catalyst for good employee loyalty, team player attitude and spirit and training development initiatives.

Ms Thomas graduated from the Ebenezer Thomas Primary School and the BVI High School, which is now the Elmore Stoutt High School. She furthered her education abroad and subsequently returned to Tortola.

Despite being well informed, Ms. Thomas makes it a practice in her line of work to ask others for help if she is in need of assistance.

“In IT, we encounter many computer issues, and you may need to rely on a colleague from time to time and visa versa.”

Ms Thomas likes to travel and read a lot or at times, simply ‘sit around’ with her family members.

Describing some of her traits, Ms Thomas said: “I love to work a lot. I just like things tidy and flawless.  If I see something needs to be done, I will take the initiative and do it, or I will ask for assistance. If they take too long.....then I will do it myself.”

The young professional said her goal is to continue to achieve excellence and to learn new aspects of technology as she is in this field.

Ms. Thomas, a member of the Sea Cow’s Bay Methodist Church, is bent on achieving at her highest potential and credits the Almighty God for everything.

“In everything you do, give thanks and your efforts will be crowned with success,” she advised, adding, “I’m not at the top of the ladder as yet but every year, I take it step by step.”

She observed that when it comes to employee recognition, there are persons who everyday go to work and try their best and there are a lot of times when people just get discouraged because they are not being noticed.

A simple ‘thank you’ to such individuals is in order or a small gesture to show that you are interested in them or you appreciate their work, she mentioned.

“I believe that the public service is among the most noble and important vocations. As professionals, a strong commitment to personal integrity, ethics and values, respectfulness, continual learning and innovation are all essential when serving the government and the public. We must therefore be dedicated to excellence!”

Her advice to other employees within the public service is: “Note the value of time, the success of perseverance, the virtue of patience, the power of kindness and the influence of example.”