UET Online Magazine

Kay Willis is a Customer Service Assistant 2 with the Ohio Department of Public Safety (ODPS),  Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV). Willis enjoys a dynamic working life. In addition to her State of Ohio employment, she is also a cosmetologist and a radio host. Being able to use her OCSEA Union Education Trust benefit for many different educational opportunities is Willis’s favorite feature of the program.

“If the State of Ohio offers it as a job, then you can go to school for it,” said Willis. “Take advantage of this opportunity!”

Willis has used her UET benefit several times in the seven years she’s been a state employee to meet her education and career goals, all the while expanding her skills and knowledge base for the people she serves in the State of Ohio. Most recently Willis completed training from June 2023-February 2024 at the Ohio Media School.

“You learn from a pro to be a pro,” Willis said of her studies there. “It’s a short program, but you’ll learn!”

Willis already had earned a degree in communications/radio/TV from Central State University in 2003, so this training built on those skills. As an employee for the State who deals in customer service, she has found that the skills she has acquired are invaluable. “The education has helped me to maintain a professional manner and communicate well with the public on behalf of the State of Ohio,” Willis says. She has also contemplated using her skills and education to one day transfer to the ODPS Communications department. Recently, the department highlighted Willis and her work for the state in their “DPS Faces” program.

Willis has also found a way to utilize her skills for her community outside of her state employment. She now hosts the “Kay Willis Positive Vibes Talk Show” every Saturday from 9:30-10 a.m. on https://1580thepraise.com, an Internet radio station. This opportunity arose when Willis received the chance to become a board operator as a recent graduate.

“Always be humble enough to accept small opportunities,” Willis said. “You never know where the small opportunities will lead to.”

“The station wanted an alumnus to be a board operator,” Willis explained. “I sent one of the pastors my demo reel and he said, ‘You need a show!’”

“It’s just something I’m doing for the experience,” Willis said.

Willis isn’t afraid of new experiences: as an OCSEA Chapter 2503 BMV board member, she attended the AFSCME conference in Los Angeles in May 2024 and also went to a labor arbitration conference in Cleveland this year.

“I’m an advocate for OCSEA and UET,” Willis said. “I always tell people you should use your UET benefit.”

Willis reminds people to think of themselves.

“You have to market yourself every day,” she said. “Do something for you. This is about you and your family and how you can help them, or how it can make you a better person!”

“I tell people about it all the time. It’s one of the benefits. Utilize it!” Willis said. “It just increased! We have more money this year.”

She promotes UET, which increased its benefits this year, to coworkers by encouraging them to try a class.

“Some people feel school is not for me, but it might be just a class or something. There are other categories – it doesn’t have to be college,” Willis said. “It doesn’t have to be a formal school – it can be vocational work. A lot of stuff is going online.”

“Take it,” Willis said. “It’s going to enhance your job and keep you learning.”

In addition to the variety of trainings and subjects UET can be used for, Willis said the best feature of UET is that it can be used on an employee’s first day working for the state.

“It starts day one,” Willis said. “And you can contact UET any time if you have any questions. They are open and helpful.”

“I wish more people would utilize it – because it’s there,” Willis said.

Training teaches more than just the subject, Willis found. In addition to gaining new radio broadcast skills, she gained insight into her own personality. She discovered that she’s always willing to learn.

“I always keep an open mind to learn,” she said. “There’s always something new out there, there’s always something new to learn, and there’s always a new way to do it.”

Willis also enjoyed meeting new people and working with other students in different groups.

“You might have different backgrounds, but you need to come together to get the job done,” Willis said. “You meet people from all over, from all walks of life. That’s beautiful as well.”

Adding continuing education to a state employee’s schedule is challenging, but Willis recommends prioritizing responsibilities.

“Have a schedule and keep the balance,” she said. “My job is first because it pays the bills. After that, make sure you do your schoolwork and make sure your grades are good. Put everything in order as priorities.”

“We all have 24 hours – utilize that time.”

Willis makes the most of her time and her UET benefit. She’s already considering what training is next.

“I kind of want to take IT courses because a lot of our work is online,” she said. “I want to continue to learn and stay up to date in the information technology field.”

Willis views the UET benefit as part of her salary as an OCSEA member and recommends that eligible state bargaining unit employees consider how it can help pay for their lifelong learning too.

“Think about your future! Think about what you want to do,” Willis said. “Pay yourself!”