Spend any time around West Main or Gladden streets, and one might just catch a glimpse of Kristi Roberson, manager of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department.

Roberson has worked there for about 15 years, starting as the assistant to the administrative assistant, and eventually working her way to the top spot.

This familiar face has also earned a lot of respect within her department, leading to her recent nomination for and winning of the Greenville Jaycees’ Boss of the Year award.

“It meant a lot just to be nominated,” Roberson said. “If you’re just doing the best job you can possibly do…that’s, kind of, professionally how I work.”

The Greenville Jaycees is a development organization for young professionals, and has partnered with parks and recreation on projects. Dalace Inman, Washington’s aquatics and fitness supervisor, also serves as president on the Jaycees Board of Directors.

Roberson said there are a variety of categories for nominations, including civic works, safety officers, senior citizens and young professionals. Inman nominated Roberson for Boss of the Year, and the award recipients were recognized at a ceremony in Chapel Hill.

Roberson said it was a needed bit of encouragement for her, especially since her job as head of parks and recreation can be challenging, sometimes placing her in the midst of conflict.

“It was a boost of confidence,” Roberson said. “We do tend to be looked at as the non-essential, but we are certainly an essential.”

“While we are not revenue-generating, we’re more quality of life,” she added.

Having worked her way up, Roberson knows the ins and outs of just about every position in her department — something that she thinks gives her an advantage.

She said she is proud of the work her team does, and most recently, that includes the installation of the handicapped-accessible playground at Havens Gardens and supporting the Aquatic & Fitness Center’s save-the-pool campaign.

“She listens to her employees, engages when it is important, encourages growth and works through difficult situations. Her positive attitude and work ethic are admirable, but it is her grace under pressure, as well as her style, that set her apart,” Inman said in an email.

Serving the people of Washington is what motivates her to come to work every day, and despite challenges that come her way, Roberson said she just tries to roll with the punches.

“It’s about providing a service, and that’s what I, as a recreation professional, want to do,” she said. “When your employees recognize something like that in you and make that effort it makes you realize you’re doing something right.”