Patrice Alexander recently retired after 10 years of service with Greenville Utilities. Patrice joined GUC in 2007 as Human Resources Director. Her responsibilities included all aspects of HR activities — strategic planning, succession planning, recruitment, compensation, benefits, performance evaluation, and safety and training functions.

In 2014, Patrice was eligible to retire from GUC, but agreed to continue with us by taking on the three-year assignment of OPTICS (Optimizing Processes and Technology to Improve Customer Service) Training Manager. After the first Oracle product, E-Business Suites, rolled out in 2013, it became clear that GUC had a need for ongoing training as the other Oracle applications were launched. Patrice's responsibility as OPTICS Training Manager focused on change management for GUC business processes and Oracle application training.

"Because of the way GUC's organization works, it's been exciting to see people grow and learn and to see how everyone relies on each other and works so well together," Patrice said. "Every day was a learning experience here, and I learned a lot."

Patrice plans to stay busy in retirement. She grew up in New York and is the oldest of seven children, all of whom are scattered across the United States. Her son, Alex, is a freshman at Washington Montessori Public Charter School (WMPCS) and keeps Patrice busy with gymnastics competitions, Boy Scouts, and All Star basketball and cheerleading. Patrice not only serves on the Board of WMPCS, but also on the Greenville Noon Rotary Board, ReLeaf Board, and the NC Coastal Society for Human Resources Chapter Board. Patrice also takes care of her mother, who lives with her and Alex, and plans to become more active with the Cancer Support Community of Eastern North Carolina in helping them open the first cancer support clubhouse in the state. On top of all of this, Patrice is teaching a leadership Capstone course as well as a state and local government course at East Carolina University.

Patrice, we wish you well in retirement!