Carol Hadley’s dedicated public service is an outstanding example of how the professionalism of an administrative staff employee can enhance BLM’s image not only in Nevada but nationwide.

Carol Hadley entered BLM employment in 1961, serving as a secretary to the State Office engineering staff.   In only five years, she became the secretary for the State Director.  She used the combination of her position, her capabilities and Reno’s unique situation to mature into what many note as a Bureau icon.  Many of the agency meetings were held in Reno due to the favorable accommodations and services. One call to Carol and everything was in order from meeting rooms to hotel lodgings and whatever it took to have a successful function.  An example of such service and how it facilitated the Bureau’s present and future was the Caldron Training, a major program that orientated new employees.  As a full member of the Caldron staff, Carol made all the background arrangements such as reservations, meeting rooms and assembling of handout packets.  In her usual style, she went the extra mile in her assigned activities to ensure the Caldron mission of a positive beginning for these new employees.  Many still remember her friendly greeting at the entrance table. Such quality performance earned Carol Hadley special universal esteem as evidenced by National Headquarters independently initiating her Distinguished Service Award.

Each of the five State Directors completely trusted Carol, both her loyalty and exceptional capability to independently organize and carry out her duties as well as add to the professionalism of the office.  In many ways, because of her attributes, she could be used as a staff assistant and definitely was considered as an important support member of the management team. Carol was part of that day to day networking because she had the confidence of those in BLM throughout Nevada.

Carol’s community service started long before retirement and includes an exemplary list of activities that utilize the same capabilities she demonstrated in her BLM career.  Some service has resulted in major awards such as the Reno-Sparks Community Gold Service Award in 1994.  Before retiring, she volunteered as secretary and committee member for the annual Wild Horse and Burro Show, a tremendous extra-hours workload. Carol’s many other volunteer community services focus on people-needs to include work for Washoe School District, Washoe Medical Center, VA Hospital, Domestic Violence, Habitat for Humanity and Reno Sparks Convention Center and Visitor Authority

With each new day, Carol continually found ways to improve the level of her performance and the service of her position.  Over a period of nearly thirty years, she served as the only secretary to five State Directors, Nolan Kiel, Ed Rowland, Ed Spang, Billy Templeton and Ann Morgan.  Her perfect record of Superior Performance ratings capped by the coveted Department Of Interior’s Meritorious Service and the rarely given Distinguished Service Awards reflect how she took her position to a new level to be recognized universally throughout the Bureau and the Department of Interior

The aplomb, efficiency, initiative, knowledge and insight she used unerringly over thirty years of service at the front office desk truly supported BLM Nevada’s mission.  Her reputation for assisting and facilitating activities of field and headquarters offices and the professionalism she brought to the workplace became known agency-wide.  Carol Hadley set the standard for those in her position.  Additionally, in the process of doing her duties, she enhanced rapport with key outside entities dealing with BLM Nevada, to include State Government, congressional offices, and all the public who had interest in federal lands.

The Public Land Foundation is honored to recognize Carol Hadley with this Lifetime Service Award.

The award was presented at the Foundation’s Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado in September, 2006.