Her Story
About Kimberly
My mother, Maxine Savoy, was actually a custodian for a city, and being that she worked in the government, I got to spend a lot of time over at her jobs with her, and that piqued my interest. As soon as I was able to work, I took the summer intern job working in the Parks and Recreation Department for the City of Beaumont. I left and went to college, came back, and I could not find a job in my field. So I said, well, let's go back to something you know. I went back to Beaumont, which is where I'm from, and I was hired on as an engineering technician doing synchronization of the traffic lights. I just started growing within the municipal government field from there. I worked as assistant city manager, then as city manager for about two and a half years, and now I've been a judge for 10 months. My biggest responsibilities are property maintenance cases, junk cars, and cases related to children, including school-age kids who get in trouble at school. Right now we do not have a police department, so I don't have to look at any cases related to traffic. Besides being a judge, I'm a farmer - I have a quail farm and raise quail. I love serving, and that's what's most important to me.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kimberly
01What do you attribute your success to?
My desire to serve. That's what I attribute my success to - my desire to serve the community and make a difference. I love serving, and that's what piqued my interest in municipal government from the very beginning when I spent time with my mother at her job. Even when I couldn't find work in my engineering field after college, I went back to municipal government because I enjoyed it so much and figured I could make a difference in my community. That desire to serve has driven my entire 40-year career.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Keep trying, don't give up. As soon as someone tells you you can't, you find out the reason they feel you can't, and you just continue to pursue your dream. I remember an old boss of mine told me I could not get a promotion - they hired someone else. But I didn't give up, I didn't quit, I stayed within it, and I proved myself that I could do the job. The person that they hired to do it was coming to me for advice, and they ended up demoting that individual and promoting me. That advice to keep going, do not give up, really stuck with me. I could have easily just quit and walked away and lost, but my biggest thing is to keep going.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Click your heels and hold your head up high, and keep the Christian faith. Being a woman is one of the biggest hurdles in this field, because a lot of times they don't see us being able to do the work of a man. However, it's been proven that we can. I think we pay attention to detail, and that's what makes us so great at it. I want young people, especially young women, to realize you can accomplish anything. I don't care what disability you may have or what someone else may tell you - you can do it. I was born with a speech impediment and my corneal ear and left eye were never developed, and I was told what I could not accomplish because of that, but it just pushed me. I want them to understand it's been done.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Being a woman, I think that's the biggest hurdle in this field, because a lot of times they don't see us being able to do the work of a man. However, it's been proven that we can. I think we pay attention to detail, and that's what makes us so great at it. Despite the challenges of not being seen as capable, women have proven themselves and continue to excel in municipal government and judicial roles.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Family - I value that a lot. Being that I have one son, who's very important to me, I value our connection and the way that we stand together as family. That's what's more important to me than anything. Integrity is something else that's important to me, and honesty. These values guide both my personal life and my work as a judge and in serving my community.
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