‘Miss Mountain Brook’ to retire

After 15 years with the city of Mountain Brook, Doris Kenny will retire at the end of January.

“It’s been great. I love the work, and I love the people,” Kenny said. “This is my element. In fact, it’s hard to be able to now just step away because I feel like this is my thing, but you have to move on.”

Kenny has been City Manager Sam Gaston’s executive assistant for 15 years, but she has also been the one to answer the phone at city hall, connect Mountain Brook residents with the right departments and answer any questions that come her way.

“I feel very close to this job because I do feel like I am Miss Mountain Brook to the city of Mountain Brook,” Kenny said. “This is the go-to place, and most of the time I can forward calls and get them to the right person.”

Before taking the position at Mountain Brook City Hall, Kenny was an executive assistant for 20 years. She said this sort of job is what she has always done, which almost makes leaving harder.

“I love the work and I love the people. This is my element,” Kenny said. “In fact, it’s hard to be able to step away now because I feel like this is my thing.”

When the new city hall was built a few years ago, Gaston said the mayor and city council wanted him and Kenny on the front lines. He said that decision showed the mayor and council’s confidence in how they deal with the public.

“A good executive assistant is so crucial because the manager and the executive assistant are like a team, and Doris and I have certainly worked closely as a team over the last 15 years,” Gaston said.

Kenny’s professionalism and her knowledge of the city are two qualities that make her a great asset, he said.

“She goes the extra mile and certainly takes a lot of responsibilities off my shoulders by the number of calls or requests for services or walk-ins we get here,” Gaston said.

During her time as executive assistant, Kenny remained involved in her secretary organization, the International Association of Administrative Professionals. She was chosen as 2004 Administrative Professional of the Year for the state and 2005 Distinguished Chapter President. She also received her Certified Administrative Professional and Certified Professional Secretary designations.

For a time, Kenny would come home from work and sit down to study until she fell asleep, she said. Even with a full-time position, she received her Administrative Assistant Associate Degree and maintained a 4.0 throughout her online classes.

Taking the time to retire will allow Kenny to focus on the projects she enjoys, including sewing, gardening and a few things around the house. She also said she hopes to travel more and see her children and grandchildren.

“Part of my decision to retire is that I still have my health, and I’m a very active person,” Kenny said. “I dance every week, ballroom dancing. I’m very much into doing yard work and gardening and fixing things around my house. …I need more time, and I can’t be here at the office and get things done at home too.”

Even though she is retiring, Kenny said she plans to remain involved with the city. She will substitute in if the new executive assistant is taking vacation time or calls in sick. She will also be involved with the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce.

“She’s also my seamstress. Every so often if I order some clothes, she’ll alter them for me,” Gaston said. “… I’ve told her that even though she retires, she’ll still have to come back and be my seamstress. She’s very talented in that area.”

Kenny said her advice to the next executive assistant is to be professional and have a positive demeanor.

 “I do try to keep in mind that I am a representative to the city, even when I am in a social setting,” Kenny said.

Kenny’s replacement, Janet Forbes, began working at city hall on Jan. 25.