Irma Montao

I attribute my success to my faith in God, which has been my rock throughout my career and life. I'm very faithful and I love my God, so God has helped me do everything I've accomplished. When I obey God's will, things just work out. The world isn't always easy and there are always hurdles, but I remind myself that challenges are only temporary and I ask myself what lesson I can learn from this situation rather than asking why is this happening to me. My faith gave me the strength to balance my demanding schedule of full-time work, full-time evening school for my bachelor's degree, certification courses, and raising four children. I made it very clear that Monday through Friday was for work and school, even if it took me till midnight to finish my assignments and tasks, because I made sure that Saturdays and Sundays were only for my family. That's how I was able to balance that life.

The best career advice I received was about professional growth - that there's always room to learn. If you keep a humble, open mind to learn, then you'll always capture whatever is next. But if you go in thinking you know what you need to know and that's it, that you know it all, then there's no more growth available there. I always found there was always growth and always room for improvement. This advice came from my first building official who was very keen on education and professional growth, and he always encouraged me to do more school and education, which is what I started doing right away.

I would tell young women to always picture yourself where you'd like to be in 10 years, but never forget where you started and who helped you get to where you've gotten so far, because we can't do it alone. For me, my biggest support was falling back on God, because I'm very faithful and God has helped me through everything. Faith has been my rock. The world isn't always easy and you're always going to have hurdles, but remember that whatever challenge you're facing is only temporary. Instead of asking why is this happening to me, ask yourself what lesson can I learn from this or what is this teaching me. That shift in perspective makes all the difference.

Right now there is a shortage of permit technicians in the field, which presents a real opportunity. I would encourage young people, especially those who aren't made for college or other careers, to consider this profession because it's a very satisfying career where you get to be a servant and help those who come seeking help. There's also an opportunity for training and teaching, which is something I'm passionate about. I've always liked to be a teacher since I was young, and I believe there's a need for instructors who can train the next generation of permit technicians. It's important to pass on knowledge for the generational growth of the department and the profession.

The values most important to me are faith, family, humility, accountability, and empathy. My faith in God is my foundation - it's been my rock throughout everything. Family is also central to my life, which is why I made sure that weekends were always dedicated to my family even during my busiest years of work and school. Humility and keeping an open mind to always learn has allowed me to grow throughout my career. Empathy is crucial because you never know what the person on the other side of the counter is going through - they could be holding back tears. In the building division, while we focus on life and safety, we also need compassion to understand that people are human beings and we're supposed to be servants who serve them. I believe in looking for alternative ways to help people get from point A to point B without letting egos get in the way. Some people in authority just say no because they can, but I believe in finding solutions. I also value passing on knowledge to the next generation rather than taking it with me, because that knowledge is for the department and for generational growth.