YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY

Springfield, MO

Log in Subscribe

Pamela Buck-Shay to head building dept.

Posted online

by Paul Flemming

SBJ Staff

Pamela Buck-Shay is Springfield's new director of Building Development Services. City officials announced the appointment July 8, making Buck-Shay the third person in the position in the last year. Builders, architects and other city employees hailed the selection.

"Pam has always been very straightforward; reasonable to deal with. She's got the background to know the code and why it's there. She knows her stuff," said architect Mike Pentecost.

Buck-Shay will head the 26-member city department that issues building permits and conducts inspections. City Manager Tom Finnie said she was chosen from an initial field of 40 applicants that a selection committee winnowed to six final candidates.

"She's a solution person over there" at Building Development, said Morris Dock, president of MoDoCo Inc. "Our office staff knows, if you've got a problem over there, Pam is the one to go to to get that resolved."

Buck-Shay has worked for six years in the department she now leads. Previously she was permitting coordinator.

Prior to working in Springfield, Buck-Shay was a plans examiner for the city of Overland Park, Kan., a project manager for McDonald's Corp. and a construction services manager for Discovery Zone Inc. in Kansas City.

Buck-Shay points to her position with Discovery Zone as good preparation for her new post.

"Discovery Zone was a challenge. It was a startup when I went to work for them. Things were very busy and hectic. It required a lot of patience, and I got to really practice my people skills. It was a juggle," she said.

The juggle of serving those in the construction industry, as well as other city departments, is part of the $55,827-a-year job.

Buck-Shay said promoting harmonious work among city departments will be one of her aims.

"She's been there a long time. There are a lot of different people in the departments who have respect for her," Pentecost said.

"She's a good person to come in and heal that interdepartmental strife that was there."

Gareld "Borgie" Borgstadt retired from the job in August 1997 and was replaced by Bob Turner, who resigned in February to take a job in Little Rock.

Jerry King, also a candidate for the

job, has been acting director since February.

"The selection of Pam is an indication we want to continue moving in the direction that Pam has taken the permitting process," Finnie said.

"We have three or four different departments that have a role in permitting and enforcement. The goal is, as a city we will be together as a single decision-making unit."

Communication, assisting as opposed to taking a regulatory stance in the development of high-quality buildings, and forging the single front of multiple city departments are the three top goals of achieving what Finnie said is the city's top priority: safe buildings.

The city manager said the implementation of a multi-departmental computerized cooperative permitting system that Buck-Shay led was an example of work that will continue under her leadership.

Finnie was one of five city officials who comprised the selection committee to fill the post.

The city's announcement of Buck-Shay's appointment said the selection committee considered input from private building professionals and Building Development Services staff in making its decision.

Finnie said the six finalists were all qualified for the job, with different strengths among them.

"When you have that situation, you promote from within," he said.

"We felt like we had a say in Bob's (Turner) selection, and the same with Pam," said Patty Wingert, administrative clerk in the department.

"We were allowed a part in the pro-

cess, and that's good. This is the neatest thing. Pam is such a genuinely nice person."

Buck-Shay is a graduate of Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kan., with a degree in technology construction management.

She is a member of the American Concrete Institute, the American Institute of Architects, the Building Officials and Code Administrators International and

the Springfield Permit Process User's Group.

July 13 is her first official day on the job in the new position. Buck-Shay said working on a smooth transition will be the first order of business, with any changes or initiatives in the department's work coming after a period of adjustment to her new duties.

She said Springfield is notable for the public involvement of those in the construction business. "There's a lot of local involvement by people who care about the community."

[[In-content Ad]]

Comments

No comments on this story |
Please log in to add your comment

Comments

No comments on this story |
Please log in to add your comment
Editors' Pick
2025 Coolest Things Made in the Ozarks

The Coolest Things finalists reflect the diversity of the local manufacturing community.

Most Read
SBJ.net Poll
Does your organization operate a diversity, equity and inclusion program?

*

View results

Update cookies preferences