Linda Humphrey

I attribute my success to hard work, dedication, and a great mentor. My first mentor who really pushed me to do what I needed to do was Robert Henry, who was the warden at West Tennessee State Penitentiary. I remember asking him when he was classification coordinator, 'Will you show me your job?' He looked at me like I was crazy and said nobody wants this job, but I told him I wanted to learn it. He took me up under his wings, and I became the classification coordinator. He would encourage me and push me. If I made a mistake and said 'Rob, I made a mistake,' he'd say, 'Don't ever say you made a mistake' and remind me that I'm human. Having that kind of mentorship, combined with my own hard work and dedication, is what got me where I am today.

The best career advice I ever received came from a correction administrator named John Fisher. He told me once, 'If you stay ready, you don't have to get ready.' I took that advice to heart, especially in the position that I have now. When auditors come through, if you're ready, you don't have to be jumping through hoops. It's advice that has served me well throughout my career.

My advice to young women entering the corrections industry is to come for the right reason. Don't come for a job within a job - meaning, this is your job, so don't come trying to bring in contraband or something else for another job. Come with the right intentions. Get in the field, learn, ask questions, and grow. If you don't know something, say 'I need more training' or 'Can you show me again?' or 'Can you break it down?' - whatever it takes for you to get it. Don't say nobody showed you. Just be honest about what you need to learn and be willing to put in the work.

Right now, I am almost at one of the highest levels as a correction administrator, so there's not a whole lot higher I can go that I would want to go. The next steps would be getting into deep waters that bring on lawsuits - positions like assistant commissioners where if one little thing goes wrong, you're exposed to major liability. I think I'm comfortable with the CA position and just kind of staying where I am. I might do some lateral moves or even some step-backs if it means more learning opportunities. A lot of people look at moving from operations to compliance as a step back, but I see it as a step over - you're not stepping back behind the fence, you're just learning something different. People focus on the money, but I believe the money will come. The real opportunity is in continuing to learn and grow, even if it means taking a different path rather than always climbing up.

The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are simple: say what you mean and mean what you say. You're only as good as your word. It's just that simple. If you can't do something, let somebody know in advance that you can't. Don't pull a no-show or a no-call. Be upfront and honest. If you don't know how to do something, say 'I need more training' or 'Can you show me again?' Don't make excuses like 'nobody showed me.' Just ask for what you need, whether that's having it simplified or broken down differently - whatever it takes. Integrity and honesty are everything.