Linny Armstrong was named an outstanding woman for her prominent position in the county public works department.
By: Minx McCloud
Linny Armstrong is a woman who has accomplished a lot during her career. Those accomplishments recently were recognized by the county.
As assistant to the director of public works for Somerset County, she was named an Outstanding Woman in Somerset County by the County Commission on the Status of Women.
"I do a little bit of everything," said Ms. Armstrong, a Manville native. "I administer the budget for Public Works and supervise the administrative function of the department, which is about 21 employees."
She has been assistant to the director since December 1995, but she began on the low rung of the ladder 18 years ago in a part-time job.
Ms. Armstrong became a permanent administrative assistant in the Engineering Division in 1984, moved to office manager in 1990, and then became office manager in the Department of Public Works in 1993.
She attended Raritan Valley Community College for two years, but says she learned most of what she knows on the job in the Somerset County Administration Building in Somerville, her base of operations.
"I have really good people that I work with here," she said. "And I always tell everyone I know that I have the best job in the world. I really do. I love it."
Her prominent position in a traditionally male-dominated field helped her to win the Outstanding Woman award.
Ms. Armstrong also is one of fewer than 20 women in New Jersey to receive a license to be a Certified Public Works Manager and is the first woman in Somerset County to do so.
She obtained her license through the Rutgers Center for Local Government Services, a division of Rutgers University.
The only female in the class at the time, she said she was "very vocal and not afraid to speak my piece. They all knew who I was and whenever I had something to say, they would joke with me or tease me, but all in fun."
The 186-hour program consisted of three components – management, technical and government. During one segment of the course she learned management techniques. Her answers to a series of questions indicated what management style she favors.
"I’m a team leader," she said proudly. "That’s someone who takes the time to get everyone involved, someone who participates with all different people and doesn’t just let things happen."
She learned a lot of technical things in the class – how to fill a pothole, how to plow a snow route, and all about hazardous materials and "confined space entry," confined space being a ditch, foundation or manhole and so on.
These may not be exciting topics to a layman, but Ms. Armstrong thrives on them.
"It’s a fascinating field. I love it," she said. "I also like the people I work with and the diversity of my assignments. I love the fact that my boss has faith in me. He’s a wonderful man to work for."
She enjoys problem-solving and dealing with various dilemmas in different municipalities.
"It’s just so diverse," she said. "No two days are ever alike. Whatever comes up, we handle. For example, today we got a call from a municipality that doesn’t want their mosquitoes sprayed until they can have their health officer read the material safety data sheets."
She works "regular hours," but admits that in emergency situations, "I’ll come in anytime I’m needed. Sometimes in the winter, I’ll come in to help out with the telephones, two-way radios and communications with the police, like in the flood or when Public Works is out there plowing snow."
Born Linda A. Kosensky, she has been a Manville resident all her life. She and her husband, Richard, have two children, Heather, 7, and Troy, 21 months.
Ms. Armstrong was nominated for the county award by her uncle, Dennis Kosensky, bridge superintendent for Somerset County, which fazes her not in the least.
"You can put that in there," she said firmly. "He wouldn’t have nominated me if he didn’t think I deserved it."
What are her future plans?
"This is my niche," she said. "This is where I belong. But if my supervisor moves up, I’d really like to move up with him. I like the level of responsibility I have here."