City of Olathe

Development Review Engineer Michelle Sherry came to the City 3 years ago, with nearly 30 years of experience under her belt. From a young age, it was clear that Michelle excelled at math. This gift was part of the reason she followed in her father's footsteps, becoming an engineer. But unlike most people of her craft, Michelle is very outgoing and loves being around other people. ? "I was raised in a military family, so we moved all the time. I'm actually an introvert, but I learned early on that if you didn't talk to people, you weren't ever going to have friends," Michelle said. "This carried on as I grew up and is still true in my career. At this point, when I meet someone else who is really introverted, I'll just pester them until they talk to me." ? As part of the Economy focus area, she is responsible for reviewing engineering plans for construction throughout the City. And while she is undeniably good at what she does, her favorite part of her role comes in what happens on the fringes. ? Once again shattering the typical engineering stereotype, Michelle is known as a culture champion amongst her peers. She has been instrumental in helping to build a fun (but still productive!) work environment. Whenever a task needs to get done, no matter how random, Michelle is usually the first to raise her hand. That's how she ended up the admin of the annual and very competitive Fantasy Football League. She also sends out a monthly DISC newsletter to help the team better understand the styles of those around them. An avid blood donator, she encourages her teammates to participate in blood drives and even entices them by making custom crochet "squeezies." ? Michelle has long volunteered with different animal rescue groups, so when she came to the City, spending time at the Animal Shelter was natural. Thus, Fuzzy Fridays was born. Each Friday, she goes to the shelter and chooses a canine or feline friend to highlight on social media. ? "Fuzzy Fridays are lighthearted posts to bring awareness to some of the most overlooked dogs available for adoption," she explained. "You won't see puppies or the fluffiest of the bunch. I like to focus on senior canines who just want to live of their days in a home or pit bulls looking to be given a chance. I just want to shine a spotlight on something that needs a few more eyes." ? While she might be considered the Culture Queen, to Michelle the most important quality that makes for a successful team is the environment that allows each voice to be heard. She is proud to be an important part of such a culture at the City of Olathe. ? #WomensHistoryMonth2025

No challenge is to great for Officer Jamie Schmidt of the Olathe Kansas Police Department. In fact, that's what has pushed her to thrive throughout her 25 year career as a police officer.?Read on to discover what led to her newest challenge: learning a whole new language to protect a community.

Judge Katie McElhinney began as part-time Pro Tem Judge for City of Olathe Municipal Court in 2011, and when the full-time Municipal Judge position became available in 2016, she jumped at the chance to continue growing in an environment that not only supports its staff members but also does everything it can to embrace those who walk into the courtroom. ? "I have the best job in world. I get to interact with people who sometimes are at their lowest points. We do our very best to try and figure out what they need so they can be productive citizens and so we don't see them back in court in the future," Katie said. "So, if it's drug or alcohol treatment or mental health support, we're going to get them connected with the resources they need." ? For Judge McElhinney, finding the balance between having a caring heart and being stern is key. Making tough rulings isn't something she takes lightly. Treating each defendant with dignity and respect, she must determine what is best for their future while keeping the safety of our community in mind. ? "I've had defendants who come back in just to say, 'Judge, I wanted to tell you how good I’m doing and how much of a difference you've made in my life. You sent me to jail and I didn't like it, but it's what I needed at the time, and without you, I don't know where I'd be,'" Judge McElhinney shared. "Those are the stories that make me want to return to the bench every single day so I can continue to make a difference." #WomensHistoryMonth2025

Fire Inspector and Investigator Laura Roberts has continually grown her career within the Olathe Fire Department over the last 7 years. She began in Community Enhancement, as a municipal codes officer. When an inspector position opened up, her ability to connect easily with other people made Laura the perfect candidate. After 2 years of excelling as an inspector, Laura went back to school and gained the certifications to add "Investigator" to her title. Now, she pulls double duty by keeping the community and our firefighters safe through her inspections at Olathe businesses, and by helping to find the cause of fires that begin in homes, cars, and commercial buildings. "A lot of people shy away from talking to other people and being in someone else's environment, especially for an unannounced inspection," Laura said. "But that is a strength of mine. I love going into different businesses and really getting to know the people there. I like to learn how they got started and the history of their business, all before I begin the codes inspection. There is a great responsibility in this role because I'm not only protecting the lives of people in our community, but I'm ensuring the safety of our crews if a fire ever occurred in that building." By day, Laura helps deter fires; at night, she lights the fire under her volleyball team. A former volleyball player at the University of Oklahoma, Laura now coaches competitive girls club volleyball and shares with her players everything she learned. "My experience as a collegiate athlete taught me that if something doesn't go your way, you have to figure out how you're going to be better next time. Like Dory in Finding Nemo, you only have about three seconds and then you have to move on because the game is so fast," Laura said. "It's just like that with life. You can't dwell on those mistakes, you just need to determine how you can fix it. Just keep looking forward." #womenshistorymonth2025

It's always a good day when you're welcoming new people to the team!

On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we stand with unwavering pride supporting these women in our organization who drive innovation in our environmental lab, and water and wastewater plants!

You’re never just a driver. Solid waste truck driver Eric Thomas truly has a passion for his job and the Olathe community. “My mind is constantly looking for opportunities to help somebody or stop and talk to somebody, just to let them know you’re not just somebody that’s making me pick up your trash. You are a person who’s really wonderful.” Read his full story courtesy of Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA): https://lnkd.in/gCeinMZg

One of the largest winter storms Olathe has ever seen gave us a foot of snow covering a sheet of ice. But our #snolathe team handled it like the committed pros they are. Take a look by the numbers: ?Total workers - 128 ???Lane miles plowed - around 1,400 ??Consecutive hours - 81.5 Their many hours of dedication led to 350+ positive comments from residents on social media and other platforms, as many said Olathe does the best job with snow operations. Their efforts are truly appreciated and incredibly important!

Happy to welcome our first class of new teammates in 2025!

A great story by KSHB / KMCI / The EW Scripps Company highlighting the important work of our Olathe Snow Brigade! This group of volunteers serves residents 62 years and older, clearing snow from their driveways and sidewalks. We are always looking for more help! Learn more about the program and apply to volunteer here: https://lnkd.in/ghxyJpfk