Page 24 - Mar-Apr2022 Vol39 No7

ERWIN Upper East Tennessee Branch
PW Spotlight: Tim Bailey

Tell us your name and where you work. Public Health in 2006. ethic from them, always making sure to
My name is Tim Bailey. I am the I hired on as Carter County’s Public have a new skillset just in case my career
current Public Works Director as well as Health Educator and stayed there for takes me on another path. From my dad,
the Parks Director for the Town of Erwin. a little over a decade. Working as a I’ve learned how to take care of house
health educator has left me with many maintenance and cars. I’ll never know
Where did you previously work and what interesting stories, since most of my time as much as he does about cars, but I’ll
was your career path? was spent teaching Family Life (sex ed) in know enough to save a lot on expenses.
I’ve lived in Erwin for most of my life. 11 different schools. I also started my own In whatever spare time I can find, I enjoy
I started working full time when I was 15 asphalt maintenance business which I ran working on old cars and woodworking.
years old, working for my brother-in-law’s for about seven years. In 2019, I became My mom taught me to cook and
heating and air company. I was employed Public Works Director for the Town of how to take care of the house from a
there for almost ten years: while in high Erwin. homemaker’s perspective. I have two
school and college, and then a few years older sisters. Being the baby of three
after that. It’s where I learned my skills of Who taught you your work ethic? kids and the only boy definitely had its
construction, metal working, plumbing, Growing up, my dad (Pawy as all the challenges, but also had its advantages. I
electrical and extermination. grandkids call him) worked at a local appreciate everything my parents taught
During this time I had multiple jobs ball bearing plant and he was an auto me and will be forever grateful for the life
such as working at East Tennessee State mechanic on the side. My mom (Nana they allowed all of us to have. I have two
University’s daycare, at a full-service gas as all the grandkids call her) was the daughters, Laurel, 13, and Greta, 10.
station and at small construction jobsites. head lunch lady at an elementary school,
I graduated from ETSU in 2003 with an and a homemaker during the summer If it breaks or makes a mess in the town,
AAS in Medical Laboratory Technology. months. She always took care of all the my guys take care of it.
I worked as a phlebotomist and in the neighborhood kids. As the public works director, I
lab at a small hospital in Pickens, South Nana and Pawy now both work at have eleven employees in the Street
Carolina. Then I moved back to Erwin home, still mechanicing and babysitting Department and four employees
and went back to ETSU, receiving a BS in and homemaking. I learned my work in the Parks Department. We have

24 TPW March/April 2022