By SPD Communications
Some build careers exclusively focusing on one area of expertise, while others combine all manner of life experiences. For Legal Research Assistant Ashley Warren, the latter holds true. A varied career path has given her vast empathy and a servant’s heart, and for the past five years she has found her purpose as an irreplaceable member of SPD’s Administrative Law Judge division.
“We don’t have people come to our office during their best times,” said Ashley. “We get employees who have been terminated, have discrimination complaints
or licensees who have had had their license suspended or revoked.” Ashley serves the vital function of performing legal support work for the three
Administrative Law Judges. She receives cases, assigns docket numbers, sets up prehearings and hearings, and makes sure the attorneys have what they need.
Prior to SPD, Ashley worked a wide variety of jobs: banking, retail, and even serving in an emergency room. Ashley’s journey as a multihyphenate started early. Her dad built churches, moving to the next location upon completion of each mission, so she moved 34 times while she was young. She’s met a lot of people and explored the world, giving her unique compassion toward her fellow humans. “They just need a supportive person to help them through a hard time. They may have done something wrong, but it doesn’t mean that you don’t need to be kind to them.”
Her positivity is contagious around SPD. “One of Ashley’s greatest strengths is treating people kindly, demonstrated by her positive attitude and goodwill toward co-workers and all who contact our office seeking a remedy to their problems,” said Administrative Law Judge Randy Salle, Ashley’s supervisor. He recounted multiple instances when, despite callers trying to reach entirely different state agencies, she would stay on the phone and track down the correct connection. Ashley’s innate willingness to increase people’s quality of life through kindness can’t easily be trained, but it’s valued at SPD and far beyond.