CLARKVILLE, IN (October 4, 2022) – Staff members at Clarksville’s Town Hall have had to say many goodbyes in recent years. Some employees have moved on to other pursuits, while others have put in their time and are now enjoying well-deserved retirement. Despite all the practice we’ve had in saying farewell, this next goodbye may be the hardest yet. On Friday, October 7th, Anita Neeld will leave the building for the last time as Clarksville’s Human Resources Director.
Neeld started working for the Town of Clarksville on July 13, 1992 as a Deputy in the Clerk-Treasurer’s office. At the time she was simply looking for a job, not knowing that she would turn that job into a 30+ year career serving the residents of Clarksville.
“I loved the first 21 years working in the Clerk-Treasurer’s office because I liked working with numbers,” said Neeld. “We didn’t have computers to help us with everything back then, so we had to work with numbers manually.”
Neeld says when she first started in the department, they did use computers for some things, but it required staff to know the old ‘DOS’ operating system. It wasn’t until shortly after she started that the Town of Clarksville received it’s first ‘PC’s’.
“I remember the change well, because all of us in the Clerk-Treasurer’s office actually used the game Solitaire to help us learn how to use PC’s.”
Neeld’s time in the department came to an end when another retirement created an opening for a Administrative Assistant/HR Director position with the Town’s Administration. Neeld says she originally hesitated to apply because she was comfortable and happy with what she was doing at the time. However, she decided to take the leap and challenge herself to do more.
“Once I was selected for the position, I had a lot of work to do,” said Neeld. “My background was in accounting, so I had to really work and research the Human Resources side of things in order to do the job well.”
Neeld says she spent the next nine years always learning and working to get better, something she hopes her replacement will do once she is gone. Current Benefits Coordinator, Amy Schoenbachler, has already been selected to replace Neeld when she steps down. Neeld says she has been working to prepare Schoenbachler for the role over the last year.
“The one piece of advice I really hope Amy accepts is that you always need to listen and learn. Listen to Town employees and really try to understand the issues they have,” said Neeld. “Also, you are never too old or experienced to learn something new. Rules within the Department of Labor are always changing.”
Change is something Neeld is all too familiar with, especially having helped lead the Town of Clarksville through the COVID-19 epidemic. Although she considered it one of the greatest challenges of her career, Neeld also considers it one of her greatest accomplishments. She says her other great accomplishment is the many relationships she has developed with Town staff.
“When working with the Clerk-Treasurer’s office, you don’t really get to meet a lot of people within the Town,” said Neeld. “Since being HR Director, I have gotten the chance to really get to know a lot of great people who work in various Town departments.”
Neeld says that is what she will miss the most when she says her final goodbyes. She will miss the interaction with all the great people she has worked with over the years. One thing she says she won’t miss are all the late-night Town Council meetings.
“The night of the next Town Council meeting, I plan to be sitting at home relaxing, sipping a cold beverage, and thinking about all of my fellow department heads sitting through that meeting (laughs).”
Although she won’t miss those meetings, Neeld was all smiles Tuesday night as she was recognized for her 30 years of service by the Town Council. It was her last Town meeting, and one she won’t soon forget.
Editor’s Note from Communications Director Ken Conklin: “I’ve had the honor and privilege to work closely with Anita during my nearly nine years working for the Town of Clarksville. I can say that I speak for the entire Town staff when I say she will be greatly missed. Coming to work in the morning will lose a bit of its luster without Anita in the building. Although she will be missed, we are extremely happy that she will get to enjoy a long and well-deserved retirement. Congratulations Anita!“