As a mother of four, Kimbree Wallace has learned that patience and adaptability are essential to keeping a busy household running. She brings this same approach to her role as a customer service specialist for UGA Transportation and Parking Services.
The University of Georgia is a family affair for Wallace. Her mother attended and currently works at UGA. Wallace grew up in the Athens area and has always felt connected with the university. When a job opportunity became available, she was eager to take on a campus role.
In her current customer service position, Wallace is known for balancing firmness with friendliness. She consistently upholds policies and procedures while treating everyone with respect and fairness. Even when faced with difficult decisions, she communicates calmly and professionally, fostering accountability, encouraging compliance and building trust with customers and colleagues alike.
“Sometimes customers will call or email different people to see if they’ll receive a different answer,” Wallace said. “But ultimately, it’s important that we’re all on the same page.”
For Wallace, presenting a united front with her team is key to ensuring that students, faculty, staff and visitors get the support they need. She’s found that misinformation about parking policies is easily spread, so it’s important to be clear and consistent when providing information.
Wallace thrives on making connections with people. She especially enjoys getting to know the many tailgating groups that come for football season.
“Georgia fans bring an unwavering energy to campus,” Wallace said.
Working at the tailgating lots allows her to build relationships with each group, turning routine interactions into something she looks forward to.
She also enjoys connecting with the students who work alongside her.
“They help me understand how to better communicate with all the students we serve on campus,” Wallace said.
She also enjoys teaching the young employees about the particulars of their positions while learning from them.
In many ways, Wallace has come to think of the students she works with like her own children, and she cherishes the connections she’s developed with them over her time at UGA.