Posted Dec. 4, 2024
Coastlines Georgia | December 2024 | Vol. 7, Iss. 4

Staff Report
Coastal Resources Division

In this edition of Coastlines Georgia, we are doing something a little different. Each edition of our quarterly magazine includes a “Retiree Spotlight,” in which we interview a former employee who (in most cases) retired several years ago. 

This time, we’re doing something special, because it’s an opportunity we couldn’t pass up. One of the longest-serving CRD employees, Cindy Sapp Smith, is retiring from CRD after spending 15,962 days with the agency. For those of you who aren’t “Rainman” mathematicians, that’s 41 years, 8 months, and 11 days. Or 383,088 hours. Or 22,985,280 minutes. 

But who’s counting? 

Smith was working for DNR when the agency moved its coastal region headquarters from 1700 Glynn Ave. (the building now occupied by Marshside Grill), to our present location near the Sidney Lanier Bridge in 1990. In her time, we’ve gone from typewriters to computers, the R/V Anna to the R/V Glynn, and a plethora of other changes. One constant has been her personable attitude and ever-present smile. 

We asked Smith to sit down and answer a few of our questions as one of her last “other duties as assigned” at CRD.

When did you start your career with CRD and how did you come to the agency?

I started working for Coastal Resources Division on March 16, 1981.  I was hired as a YACC.  YACC (Young Adult Conservation Corp) was a yearlong program that Jimmy Carter implemented to give young adults a head start on their careers in conservation.  I was hired full time hourly by CRD on my one-year anniversary.

A friend of my family who was a LED Ranger at the time recommended that I apply for the YACC position.  His name was Mike Evans.

Looking back on your 40 years, what are the most significant changes you’ve witnessed in coastal fisheries management and data collection?

Introducing computer technology into the field significantly changed the ability of field personnel to collect more complete and correct information in a more timely manner.

Can you share a memorable or proud moment from your career that stands out?

I set up the first shellfish laboratory here at Coastal Resources between 1994 and 1996.  The lab made collecting water quality samples and testing those samples so much easier for the program.  It was a proud moment for me when the lab was up and running.

How has technology transformed the way fisheries data is collected and analyzed since you started?

Technology has made getting information collected in the field 100 times faster that it can be analyzed and used so much faster.  When I used to work on the back deck of the R/V Anna in the 80s and early 90s, all data was collected by pencil and paper.

What drew you to this career, and what has kept you passionate about it for four decades?
To be honest, I was an 18-year-old girl looking for a full-time good job.  The job wound up working into me.  My family was big outdoors people and working in the fisheries programs was a great fit for me.

Are there any specific challenges you encountered, and how did you overcome them?

I was very nervous when I first started working in the Commercial Stats Program.  At the time we creel agents were required to go to each seafood dock to collect their landings data, I had heard some real horror stories.  On my very first day out on my own I had a gentleman completely bless me out.  In fact, he told me that DNR was “the devil.”  I figured if I made it through that ordeal unscathed I could pretty much handle anything they could throw at me.  I take pride in the fact that I have learned to be thick skinned and can pretty much turn a hostile conversation around.

What advice would you give to someone just starting out as a fisheries statistics technician?

Always remember that you are working and communicating with Commercial fishermen and women, what you are discussing with them is their livelihood.  They will be looking for you to give them sound advice that will help them to make the best decisions to continue working in their given fishery.

You also need to be patient and take your time when entering landings data.  Know it is OK to get up and walk away any time you need a mental break. You will be sitting in front of a computer 80 percent of the time.

What aspects of your work have had the most impact on Georgia’s coastal resources and communities?

I believe the work that I assisted with during the relief funds distribution after COVID 19 helped a lot of our fishermen and women get some much needed financial relief.  I was glad that I was part of helping them.

It was always my pleasure to help with our annual CoastFest event. I have watched for years as young children’s faces lit up with excitement at seeing just a little taste of the natural resources our state has to offer.

How have relationships with colleagues, stakeholders, or the public influenced your career?

Over the last 42 years, I have worked with five different programs within the Coastal Resources and Wildlife Resources divisions. I have made some amazing friendships during my time here with all that I mentioned above. I believe that I have influenced their careers with advice and they in turn did the same for my career.  You can learn many things from others if you listen to them and keep your communications open to them.

What do you plan to do in retirement, and will it involve staying connected to Georgia’s natural resources?

I am the proud Nonnie of eight grandchildren.  I hope to spend as much time with them as possible.  

I plan to be out in nature as much as possible be it gardening, hunting, fishing or just sitting on my backyard swing and listening to the sounds of it. It does the soul good to step back and enjoy the beauty of our great outdoors!

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