Public Service Recognition Week is a time to celebrate the dedication, resilience, and impact of public servants across the country. It was established in 1985 and is celebrated annually during the first full week of May. Organized by the Partnership for Public Service, the week honors the contributions of federal, state, and local government employees who serve their communities with dedication and integrity.

At PayIt, we’re fortunate to work alongside government professionals who show up every day with a deep commitment to their communities. This week, we asked our team to reflect on what they’ve learned from our clients — and what inspires them most about serving the public sector.

Honoring public servants: What we’ve learned from our clients

Working in government technology means more than building digital tools; it means supporting the people who make an impact in their communities. During Public Service Recognition Week, we’re reflecting on the lessons we’ve learned from our government clients. 

Here’s what our team had to say about the experience of working alongside public servants:

Alison Boelsche | Director, Client Success

What’s something you’ve learned from your clients about public service, its importance, or how to serve the community? 

Having the privilege to partner with our clients has shown me just how much heart and dedication go into building and supporting resident services. For these agencies, no problem raised by their communities is too small. Our clients listen closely, advocate fiercely, and work tirelessly to find solutions that make their residents’ lives better. They remind me daily that everything they do is about people.

What’s your favorite part about working with public servants?

My favorite part of working with public servants is how solutions-oriented they are. They never stop pushing for better, asking the hard questions, and challenging us to deliver the best possible tools and services to support. Their passion and commitment to serve inspires us to be better too.

Debbie Brannan | Client Success Director

What’s something you’ve learned from your clients about public service, its importance, or how to serve the community? 

After 30 years in local government, and now 3 and 1/2 years at PayIt, I’ve learned that public service is all about heart. It’s about listening, adapting, and putting the community first. My clients remind me daily that public service is a calling, not just a job.

What’s your favorite part about working with public servants?

Their passion. Whether in my decades of government work or now supporting public servants at PayIt, I’ve always been inspired by their drive to make things better. It’s an honor to work alongside people who care so deeply.

Ali Keegan | Client Success Manager

What’s something you’ve learned from your clients about public service, its importance, or how to serve the community?

Working with public servants has taught me so much about the importance of adaptability and resilience. Public service often comes with unexpected challenges, but I’ve seen firsthand how my clients adjust, stay focused, and continue making a difference no matter what. It’s clear they’re in it for the long haul — not just to fix quick problems, but to build real, lasting change in their communities.

What’s your favorite part about working with public servants?

My favorite part about working with public servants is seeing how deeply they care about making a difference. Their dedication to their communities runs deep, and it makes the work we do feel so meaningful.

Kyla McAuliffe | Client Success Manager

What’s something you’ve learned from your clients about public service, its importance, or how to serve the community?

One of the most impactful lessons I’ve learned from my clients is that true public service is rooted in empathy. Time and again, I’ve seen public servants make decisions with their residents’ best interests at heart — even when those decisions are complex or difficult. Whether it’s implementing a new digital service or adjusting a fee structure, they’re always asking, “How will this affect our residents?” That people-first mindset has reshaped how I view service and collaboration. 

It’s a powerful reminder that serving a community isn’t just about providing a solution — it’s about listening, understanding, and ensuring accessibility and equity in every interaction.

What’s your favorite part about working with public servants?

My favorite part is their unwavering commitment to doing the right thing, even when it’s hard. Public servants are some of the most mission-driven, thoughtful people I’ve worked with. They care deeply about their communities and bring a level of passion and dedication that inspires me daily. I love being able to support them in making government more accessible and efficient — it feels like a true partnership with a shared goal of making a positive impact.

Angie Melson, EdD, PMP | Customer Success Director, North Carolina

What’s something you’ve learned from your clients about public service, its importance, or how to serve the community?

Coming from a public service background myself (as a former educator), I’ve always believed in the power of service to create meaningful change. But working with state agencies in North Carolina and Florida has deepened that understanding in ways I didn’t expect.

One thing I’ve learned from my clients is that public service is often about solving complex problems with limited resources, all while staying deeply connected to the communities they serve. It’s not just about delivering services; it’s about doing it with empathy, resilience, and an unwavering sense of responsibility. Watching our government partners navigate challenges with creativity and care has been a powerful reminder of why this work matters — and why digital transformation needs to honor the human side of government.

What’s your favorite part about working with public servants?

My favorite part is the shared sense of mission. Public servants care deeply — about their communities, about doing the right thing, and about leaving systems better than they found them. That resonates with me personally because it’s why I became an educator in the first place. 

Now, in my role at PayIt, I get to be a partner in helping public servants do what they do best: serve. Collaborating with people who are so committed to equity, access, and impact makes the work more than just a job — it feels like a continuation of my own public service journey, just in a new form.

Jean Nobile | SVP, Operations

What’s something you’ve learned from your clients about public service, its importance, or how to serve the community?

Public servants have taught me that service isn’t a job — it’s a mindset. I’ve seen them show up after hours, in storms, during crises, not because it’s required, but because it’s needed. They’ve shown me that truly serving a community means understanding the quiet struggles and solving for the unseen. It’s humbling to work alongside people who make decisions not for recognition, but for impact — every trash pickup, every permit, every policy is someone’s real life being made a little easier.

What’s your favorite part about working with public servants?

They are the most mission-driven, heart-forward people I’ve ever met. My favorite part is witnessing their passion collide with their persistence. They’re often under-resourced and overburdened, yet they still advocate fiercely for what their communities need. It’s not just inspiring — it’s a daily reminder of why our work matters. Supporting them is one of the most meaningful privileges of my career.

Kevin Ritz | Client Success Manager

What’s something you’ve learned from your clients about public service, its importance, or how to serve the community?

Working with state conservation agencies, I’ve learned that my clients care deeply about protecting wildlife and natural habitats, not just for today but for future generations. They’ve shown me that serving the public can mean making sure a species has a place to thrive or that families can enjoy nature in their own communities. It’s all connected, and that bigger-picture mindset has really stuck with me.

What’s your favorite part about working with public servants?

The passion. Hands down. The people I work with are so committed to their mission, whether it’s restoring habitat, tracking wildlife populations, or helping communities connect with the outdoors. You can tell they love what they do, and it’s super inspiring to support folks who care so much.

Emily Schrader | Senior Client Success Manager

What’s your favorite part about working with public servants?

What I love most about working with public servants is their mission-driven passion. When we collaborate, we’re not just building solutions, we’re building trust in their public service. The outdoors is for everyone, and our work reflects that shared commitment to conservation and excellence. 

Bradley Styles | Client Success Director

What’s something you’ve learned from your clients about public service, its importance, or how to serve the community?

Public service is the selfless desire to make life a little better for your neighbors, be it in your city, across the county, or throughout the state. It is often related to requirements that residents do not want to do, which means little respect and support for the considerable work it takes to deliver well. Despite this, our clients show time and time again the fortitude, care and attention to provide as good a customer experience as they can.

What’s your favorite part about working with public servants?

I love their attitude! It is both humbling and inspiring. Regardless of how difficult a situation is, they give their best every time. Also, even though we are just a small part of their world, they treat us like partners — and, in many cases, friends.

Daniel Zapata | Client Success Manager 

What’s something you’ve learned from your clients about public service, its importance, or how to serve the community?

Working with our clients has taught me that public service is rooted in consistency, empathy, and a genuine commitment to community. I’ve come to really admire how focused public servants are on improving the systems people rely on every day — making them more intuitive, accessible, and responsive. Their dedication to removing barriers and creating better experiences shows just how deeply they care about serving everyone fairly and effectively.

What’s your favorite part about working with public servants?

My favorite part is collaborating with people who care deeply about making life easier and more equitable for the communities they serve. Public servants bring a sense of purpose and humility to their work that’s truly inspiring. Partnering with them to solve problems and improve processes feels meaningful because every solution we support has the potential to directly improve someone’s day-to-day experience.

From PayIt, thank you public servants 

We’re proud to work alongside individuals who make government more responsive and more effective every day. Thank you to all public servants for the incredible work you do and for inspiring us along the way.