For 26 years, Connie was the person on the other side of the counter.
As a title searcher in Columbus, Ohio, she spent her career working in the courthouse, relying on recorded documents and courthouse staff to get the information she needed. A document recorded correctly and on time could keep a transaction moving. A mistake or delay could create problems for everyone waiting on the other end.
Today, Connie sees that process from a different perspective.
Working in Recording at the Clerk’s Office, she is now the person helping customers with the same kinds of needs she once had.
“I’m on the other end, and I really love it,” Connie says.
Starting Over After 26 Years
Connie did not expect to start a new career.
She moved to Florida from Columbus in 2022 after working for the same employer for 26 years. Suddenly, Connie found herself looking for a job in a world that had changed considerably since the last time she had applied for one.
Her original plan was practical. If she could get into a courthouse, she thought she might eventually find her way back into the industry she knew.
“That’s honestly why I wanted to get in here at first,” Connie says.
Understanding the Other Side
It did not take long for Connie to realize that her years as a title searcher gave her a valuable perspective in Recording.
She remembered what it was like to wait for a document to be recorded so money could be wired or a transaction could move forward. She knew what it meant to need information quickly, and she understood how much the person behind the counter could affect someone’s day.
“I know how important this work is for the customers because I remember,” Connie says.
That experience also shapes the way she treats the people who come to her for help.
“They’re going through a lot,” Connie says.
Sometimes the work requires slowing down and walking someone through a process step by step. Passport applications are one example. Connie has helped customers go through applications line by line, making sure information is entered correctly.
The details matter. A misspelled name or incorrect piece of information can lead to delays, and the person applying may have an important reason for traveling.
“It has to be perfect,” Connie says.
Language barriers or unfamiliar paperwork can make the process even more challenging. For Connie, that makes patience just as important as accuracy.
More Than a Team
Ask Connie about her coworkers and she quickly corrects the word “team.”
“Our team is amazing,” she says. “But they are more than a team. They’re family.”
That word carries particular meaning for Connie. Her family remains in Ohio, and moving to Florida meant leaving behind the place she had called home for years. Her fellow Clerks helped fill some of that space.
When Connie was out of the Office for an extended time, coworkers sent food to her home and checked on her.
“They are my sisters and brother over there,” Connie says. “They really are.”
She has found the same sense of connection throughout the Office. Connie still remembers walking through the courthouse on her second day and hearing Clerk Patty greet her by name.
“Hi, Connie. How are you today?”
It caught her completely off guard. After spending 26 years working in another courthouse, Connie said two days into her new job, things already felt different.
“It feels like a big family,” Connie says.
Still Learning
Connie came to the Clerk’s Office with decades of experience around courthouse records, but she is quick to point out that there is still plenty for her to learn.
The Recording division has its own processes, systems and responsibilities, and even after settling into the job, Connie says she’s still growing.
“There’s so much to learn,” she says.
Finding Home in Florida
The move from Ohio brought more than a career change.
Connie has embraced life in Northeast Florida and enjoys the friendliness she has found in the area.
“The people,” Connie says when asked what she likes most. “They’re just so nice and Southern.”
Outside of work, Connie enjoys riding her bike and swimming. On weekends, the pool is a family affair for Connie, her husband and their dog. The couple also enjoys trying out new restaurants.
The Other Side of the Counter
Connie knows why a customer may be anxious for a document to be recorded. She knows why getting the details right matters. And she knows how much of a difference it can make when the person helping you is patient enough to listen.
She also found a team that became family and a new place that feels like home. For years, Connie relied on the people behind the counter. Now she gets to be one of them.
