A smiling face, a helping hand, someone to guide us through the thorny thicket of paperwork, the maze of complex, confusing administrative policies. We see them every day, friendly and eager to assist us when necessary.

These are some of the women who guide us when we think we’re lost in an overwhelming avalanche of tedious, boring details trying to get something done – an insurance claim, an investment matter or personal complaint settled.





Cynthia “Cindy” Goodwin

Human Resource Director, Cullman County Commission



“I like my position because I am able to help people,” said Cindy Goodwin, Cullman County human resource director. “Especially with medical insurance claims, I try to make sure our employees are treated fairly and settle any disputes quickly.”

Goodwin, 41, has been with the Cullman County Commission for 21 years. Her job duties include handling all employee benefit issues, including medical insurance, retirement, and other personnel problems as well as helping with payroll and quarterly taxes.

Ellen Nail, a co-worker, said, “She assists several people every day, often with payroll adjustments or problems. Cindy is wonderful to work with, and accomplishes a lot in her position.”

Goodwin says, “I sometimes have an employee come in who has already paid on a medical bill, and when I look at the statement, I see our medical insurance coverage will pay that. I want our employees to always get their full benefits, that is important.”

“I also like the renovated area for the county commission here in the courthouse. It’s much more convenient for the public to find since we’re downstairs where the Sheriff’s Department used to be. And I have arranged my office space so I can do my job more efficiently,” Goodwin explained.

Nearly every county employee has met Goodwin at one time or another, and found she is helpful to them.

“When we hire new employees, Cindy helps answer any questions they have about payroll, medical insurance and retirement pension deductions. She’s a great asset to the county commission,” said Lt. David Sandlin of the Sheriff’s Department.

The only frustrating aspect of the work, Goodwin said, is when she can’t do something to straighten out a medical insurance claim. “I spend a lot of time on the phone with our insurance provider, trying to get to the bottom of a claim adjustment.”

Recently she lost one of her nephews and told about his long battle with cancer. Having a supportive family was important to him, she said, and everyone still misses him greatly.

Her husband, Dewayne, is Paramedic Supervisor with Cullman Emergency Medical Services. He has been an EMT over 20 years, and Goodwin says she has known her share of worries about his safety. “But he truly loves his work, and helping people when they need it most.”

A lifelong resident of Cullman County, Goodwin and her husband have four children and two grandchildren. She says spending time with her family is what she enjoys most in her free time.





Pam Miller

Investigative Assistant, Cullman County Sheriff’s Department



Well-known at the Cullman County Sheriff’s office, Pam Miller has worked as an administrative assistant to the investigators for six years. Prior to that, she was in the front office, and her friendly personality was noted by many in the community.

Miller, 42, says, “I like my job now, I really do. I enjoyed being at the front desk too, meeting so many people and trying to get them whatever help they needed.”

In her current position, Miller says she enters offense reports, processes evidence, follows up on public complaints, transcribes investigative interview tapes and helps co-ordinate between several investigators.

Receptionist Renee Holcomb said, “I’ve been here 11 years and really enjoy working with Pam. She’s a very pleasant person.”

Miller said, “I worked in Huntsville at Intergraph for 15 years before starting with the Sheriff’s Department, but I’ve always loved living here. My mother, Nell Daniels, recently passed away. She’d been employed with the Department administration over 20 years before she retired.”

“The people in the Sheriff’s Department are all like family, and very understanding about personal issues. My supervisors are the best, and if I need time off due to child care problems or illness, they are cooperative,” said Miller.

Eulaylon Hadley says, “Pam goes above and beyond her job duties, always willing to do whatever she can if an officer or investigator is searching for specific information, or someone from the public calling in a complaint.”

Lt. David Sandlin agreed, “She is very efficient handling the investigative case files, able to assist us, and has a wonderful personality.”

Miller said, “I guess if there’s a downside to this job, it’s that the public sometimes doesn’t realize how slow the legal process is, and that investigators and officers have to follow procedure. It’s not like TV shows, quick and easy, and sometimes the public is a bit impatient. I understand, and try to make them aware that our investigators are doing their best, but it does take time.”

Miller says her 8-year-old boy, Benjamin, is the light of her life. She and her husband, Don, stay busy with Benjamin’s activities. “He is involved in so many things, sports mainly. I try to attend his games, and my husband helps with the team.”

“Soon school will start, and then I’ll really have a busy schedule,” Miller adds. “But I love spending time with my family, it’s what I do when I’m not at work.”



Connie Murphy

Office Manager, Morgan-Keegan



A smiling, friendly face always greets customers when they meet Connie Murphy, 58, a sales assistant and office manager at Morgan-Keegan.

“I like to make people feel comfortable when they come into our office,” she said.

In her current position four years now, Murphy said, “I always believe in treating a customer the way I would want to be treated.”

The Morgan-Keegan office is located inside the main Regions Bank on Highway 31 south, and has two financial advisors, Chris Story and Stephen Freeman. “I would have to say basically Connie is my right hand, a great office manager. She keeps everything organized,” Story said. “It would be tough to run this business without her assistance.”

After high school, Murphy said she worked at a company for nine years, then decided to stay home with her two children for the next 11 years. “I didn’t want to miss out on their childhood, and being there for them.”

When she returned to work, it was with a local poultry company in an accounting position. “I stayed there over 16 years, and really, I thought I’d be there until I retired. But the company relocated and closed in February 2003.”

Murphy said she stayed home for a few months, then interviewed for the position with Morgan-Keegan. “I liked the people immediately, and still do now. It’s great to work with people who are like one big family.”

Meeting new people is something Murphy says she enjoys in her job, and listening to their investment goals, especially retirement plans. “These days, retirement is something older people are pro-active in managing. And often our advisors can help them define their goals, give suggestions about 401-K roll-overs.”

Confidentiality and trust, Murphy says, are an integral part of her responsibilities. “We handle sensitive investment matters and maintain high ethical standards.”

The only time Murphy experiences frustration in her job is when she fails to quickly meet a customer’s expectation, she said. “I like to satisfy a customer’s needs, and sometimes the work-day isn’t long enough to get everything accomplished. I try, I really do, but every day is different and sometimes unexpected tasks interfere.”

Murphy met her husband, Ronny, in Morgan County where she was born and raised. Seven years later he was transferred to Cullman and they have called it home ever since. Her husband was branch manager with Cooks Pest Control here in Cullman over 20 years, and is now regional manager. He has been with the company 33 years.

Their son, Brad, is a veterinarian in Vestavia Hills, Birmingham; their daughter, Sonya Daffron, is a pre-school teacher with the Morgan County School System.

Murphy enjoys gardening, especially working in her flowerbeds, and spending time with her family and friends. “My best friend, Joyce Burke, and I often get together and always have special projects we enjoy.”