Running head: THE STORY OF LEADERSHIP
1
THE STORY OF LEADERSHIP
8
The Story of Leadership of Michael K. Jeanes
Margarita Yanes
Arizona State University
Abstract
How does one become a great public sector leader and break the stereo typical mode of the “government employee”? Michael K. Jeanes began his journey in his hometown of Chicago, Illinois. Looking up to his father for inspiration, he began his studies in political science at Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois. He would later move to Arizona to pursue his Master of Public Administration from Arizona State University. An internship from Maricopa County was the starting point that would guide him to become the leader of Maricopa County Clerk of Superior Court. As the Clerk of Superior Court, Michael Jeanes changed the culture of the organization by changing the way records are kept. Electronic records were the way to go in order to keep up with the demands of customers. The challenge was to get the judicial branch and legal community to make a change for the future. Michael K. Jeanes has a vision for the Clerk’s Office that includes technology, team development and mentoring.
The Story of Leadership of Michael K. Jeanes
How does one become a great public sector leader and break the stereo typical mode of the “government employee”? Michael K. Jeanes is the Clerk of the Superior Court of Maricopa County since 1998. He was kind enough to reply to my interview questions. Mr. Jeanes is responsible for leading an organization of more than 650 employees, supporting 157 judges and commissioners, serving a constituency of over 4 million ("Clerk of the Superior Court of Maricopa County," n.d.). Mr. Jeanes strives to change the perception of how a government agency is viewed by the public. He is a strong advocate for quality customer service and believes that everyone should be treated with dignity and respect.
Illinois
The story of leadership for Michael K. Jeanes began in Chicago, Illinois. As a child, Mr. Jeanes wanted to either be a lawyer or a police officer like his father. Mr. Jeanes looked up to his father as a role model and as a mentor. His father taught Michael to do what is right, treat people with respect and to know the importance of family and dedication to public service (M. Jeanes, personal communication, November 8, 2016). “In addition to being a police officer, he always had a second job. Having two jobs enabled him to pay for my college education. For that I am eternally grateful” (M. Jeanes, personal communication, November 8, 2016).
Michael decided to attend Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois to study political science. Unlike many of his friends, he had no desire to attend college out of state. He had a strong family support system at home. He was able to commute to school and live at home. I found out that Michael enjoyed politics and believed having a BA in Political Science from Loyola University would increase his chances of getting into...
