'On the Job' with Juliann Lehman

Juliann Lehman

Case management specialist and Sister Cities coordinator for the city of Gastonia

How long have you been in this field?

“I have worked for the city of Gastonia since November 2006. I started out through a temp agency and then was officially hired the next fiscal year in July 2007.”

What is your favorite part about this job?

“I have two very interesting positions with the city. In one, I help first-time homebuyers achieve their dream of buying a home, and in the other, I send local high school students to a foreign country for two weeks each summer and then play host to students from both countries in fall, showing them all the area has to offer. Both positions surround me with people on a daily basis.”

“I actually started with the city as a case management specialist managing the first-time homebuyer program. The city receives a HUD-funded grant called “HOME” funds that provides assistance to first-time buyers who are low/moderate income. We give up to $5,000 per household when they are ready to close on their first home. I counsel clients through the homebuying process to improve their credit scores, save money, and walk them through the entire process until they close on their homes. I see about 250 clients per year and close about 75 loans. The best part of the homebuyer portion of my job is seeing my clients succeed by making changes, even small ones, to better themselves and create a home for their families.

“I was then asked to take on the Sister Cities coordinator position when the housing market was declining in 2008; however, my homebuyer client caseload never changed. I took on the challenge and have been forever grateful for this position. Gastonia Sister Cities has been a nonprofit within the city and we just celebrated our 25th anniversary in 2018. We mainly focus on providing an equal exchange program for local high school students to travel to our two Sister Cities in Gotha, Germany, and Santiago de Surco, Peru. We help prepare them for their big trips by creating cultural classes for them to attend before they depart on their international adventure. They get a chance to know each other better and learn about where they are going on a deeper level.

“Some might think the best part of this job would be that I would get to travel to each country every year. That would be nice, and I have been to both countries, but it’s hard for me to be away from my young family for two weeks. Instead, my favorite part is seeing the students come back to the states with a better appreciation for what they have and where they fit in the world. They learn that their decisions and actions have a global impact. I had one student this year say that he broke down all the typical stereotypes that people have about Americans, and it’s those answers that make me proud to be a small part of those students who travel with our program.”

What’s the hardest part about this job?

“Every day is a balancing act. Some days, Sister Cities has to take a “backseat” because of the time demands involved in the real estate business. With the homebuyer portion, the hardest part is not being able to assist those who really want to become homeowners. It took me a while to realize that not everyone is meant to be a homeowner. Not everyone has the capacity or capability to maintain a home and a house payment. So telling people that their dream might not come true can be difficult.”

If you could do anything else for a job, what would it be?

“When I retire, I want to get into real estate. Until then, the city of Gastonia is where I belong. Whether it’s in my current positions or somewhere else within the city, I hope to continue making an impact in the community and stay until I get my 30 years.”

What would you tell someone who is interested in getting into this field?

“It’s extremely rewarding to help people realize their potential. When you work as a civil servant, you don’t do your job for the accolades. I’m not waiting for an ‘atta girl.’ I do my job because it truly does bring me joy! I do not dread walking into work. Every day is different and that’s what I really enjoy. You never realize the small impact you might have on someone by just doing your job.”

Do you love your job?

Is what you do for a living so rewarding or impactful, you’d like more people to know about it? Or do you know someone who warrants being highlighted for any of those reasons?

If so, we would like to feature you or someone you feel is deserving in our On the Job series. To take part, contact staff writer Michael Barrett at 704-869-1826 or mbarrett@gastongazette.com.

5743516007