Sometimes the most rewarding career journeys are the ones we never planned. For Virginia Redlon, that unexpected journey has come full circle—bringing together her career in civil service, her commitment to young people, and a lifelong enthusiasm for learning.

A Putnam County native and SUNY Purchase College graduate, Virginia Redlon earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism. She was the first Sports Editor and writer for her college newspaper and captained the school’s Division III lacrosse team. Human Resources, however, wasn’t part of the plan.

“I don’t think I ever really intended to go into the journalism field, but I also had no clue I would end up working in Human Resources.”

Finding Her Place in Civil Service

Virginia began working part-time in the Putnam County Personnel Department before moving into a full-time Personnel Specialist Trainee position. Today, she is a Senior Personnel Specialist, approaching her seventh year with the department.

Her work includes personnel and civil service transactions, onboarding, classifications, and answering the many questions that come from County departments and agencies. Her journalism background remains useful, too, particularly when writing job specifications, memos, and press releases.

Virginia’s professional growth has come through hands-on experience, adapting to new situations, and learning from others. She credits her former Personnel Officer, Paul Eldridge, as her ultimate civil service mentor, recalling the many “Civil Service 101” lessons that helped build her knowledge.

One lesson has stayed with her: knowing when to pause and find the right answer.

“You know what? I’m not sure. Let me take that back and do some research, and I’ll get you an answer.”

For Virginia, accuracy and follow-through matter more than having an immediate response. It’s a practical approach to a profession where questions, circumstances, and requirements are continually changing.

A Full-Circle Connection

Virginia’s connection to County government began as a summer intern in the Cornell Cooperative Extension office through the PILOT program—Putnam Invests in Leaders of Tomorrow. She returned to work there for three additional summers.

Today, she administers that same program, which provides high school juniors and seniors, as well as undergraduate and graduate students, opportunities to intern in County departments over summer break.

Seeing former interns now working for the County makes the experience especially rewarding. Virginia knows firsthand what these opportunities can mean, having started her own County journey as a student exploring the workplace.

Her commitment to young people extends into the community through Putnam County 4-H, where she has been involved since childhood. She continues to volunteer, helping provide young people with the life skills, citizenship, and community service experiences that shaped her own upbringing.

She has led the Teen Action Group, organized outdoor survival and woodworking workshops, and even makes milkshakes at the County 4-H Fair!

Turning Community Needs Into Action

This year, Virginia received two community honors: the Carmel Rotary Club’s New Generations Award and the Putnam County Youth Bureau’s Judge James F. Reitz Adult Service Award.

One project she was particularly proud to support involved two high school seniors from the 4-H Teen Action Group. After identifying a need in their community, the students worked with Virginia to create two Community Health Pantries stocked with travel-sized personal hygiene products for people in need.

The boxes were placed outside the County’s Department of Social Services and Mental Health and a local nonprofit providing mental health and counseling services. Community members contributed donations, helping sustain the project over the course of a year.

For Virginia, the handwritten thank-you notes left in the pantries made the effort well worth it.

Curiosity Beyond the Workplace

When Virginia turns off her civil service brain, she enjoys hiking, biking, kayaking, camping, and gardening. She’s also a hands-on DIY enthusiast who enjoys woodworking, carpentry, painting, tiling, and working on her cars—including a 1963 Buick Skylark convertible.

Her curiosity extends to travel, too. This summer, she spent two weeks exploring Alaska solo, hiking on a glacier, taking a wildlife cruise, and traveling by floatplane to see brown bears at Brooks Falls. Alaska was the 49th state she has seen or visited. Hawaii is next!

Building on a Strong Foundation

Virginia is excited about modernizing civil service, making government careers more accessible, and better informing the public about opportunities in government. At the same time, she emphasizes preserving the principles of merit and fitness, impartiality, and fairness.

Her advice to newcomers is to learn as much as possible, take notes, understand the people and processes around them, and remain adaptable. She also encourages attending the annual NYSAPCSO conference to learn from fellow professionals and build valuable relationships.

From an unexpected career beginning to helping students discover opportunities of their own, Virginia Redlon’s journey reflects the value of learning, community involvement, and staying open to where life may lead.

NYSAPCSO is proud to recognize Virginia Redlon and her contributions to civil service and her community.