U.S. General Services Administration
Six words to define a career legacy
Careers are a journey that take you down different paths or can take different turns while climbing that ladder of success.
That is the case for David Brackenrich, Wyoming State Manager for the Region 8 Public Buildings Service, who just celebrated more than four decades of federal service - a feat not easily accomplished.
Brackenrich started his journey in Morgantown, West Virginia as a student trainee for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Soil Conservation Service in 1980. While that time did not count toward his federal service, it did count toward experience. After graduating from West Virginia University in 1982 with a degree in Civil Engineering, he started work back at that same office as an Engineer Technician.
Less than a year later, he was promoted to Construction Engineer and moved to Hurricane, West Virginia where he settled into his work for the next 12 years until getting another opportunity that would dramatically change his trajectory.
Brackenrich attended a training session for the USDA in Billings, Montana in early 1995. He brought his family along and afterwards took the opportunity to tour the sights in Wyoming. Neither he or his wife had ever been out west - the beauty of the area and the open space definitely left an impression on them.
“We came out as a family and after the training session we took a vacation, sightseeing around places like Yellowstone and the surrounding cities. My wife said if you ever get the opportunity, maybe we should move out west to Casper,” said Brackenrich.
Six months later, a position on a USDA regional design team as a Design Engineer opened in Casper, Wyoming and Brackenrich jumped at the chance. With support from his wife, they packed up the family and moved west, leaving his native West Virginia forever.
In late 1999, the USDA disbanded the team and planned to move Brackenrich to Lincoln, Nebraska. Not wanting to relocate, he used his relationship with the then-State Manager to come over to GSA. His first role was as Assistant State Manager but within six months he assumed his current role of State Manager.
For more than 20 years as the State Manager, Brackenrich successfully managed both the Casper and Cheyenne federal buildings and leases. Housed in these federal buildings are 30 different agencies which require a team of more than 20 people in the form of building managers, project managers, contracting officers, mechanics, leasing managers and contract employees to support them. Despite no experience in building management he relied on two skills to be successful - his ability to build relationships and his problem solving skills he developed as an engineer.
Under his leadership and guidance, numerous employees have gone on to other successful roles, including promotion to higher grades in GSA or other federal agencies.
The largest tenant in the state is arguably the U.S District Courts. To his credit, his relationship with the Chief Judge helped to ensure that the courts got what they needed and the leadership in Region 8 never had to worry about Wyoming.
“I don’t think I am an introvert, so I was able to deal very well with tenants in the building,” said Brackenrich when talking about his success in transitioning to GSA. “Just socially, I connected well with the people in the building.”
Brackenrich has called Casper home for close to 30 years. He has been married to his wife for 42 years and has raised his son and daughter there. His son is the State Adjuster for Progressive Insurance and his daughter is a Casper Police Officer.
As he approaches retirement coming in June 2024, he provided helpful advice.
Brackenrich stated. “All along my goal has been to get to 40 years. Two pieces of advice I would give to any employee - one is don’t sit behind your desk, even if technology allows you to perform your job from your computer, get to know the people you work with and your customers on a personal level; secondly is put the maximum in your Thrift Savings Plan and let the government match you.”
The legacy he leaves behind, in his words, is not just one accomplishment or one project that he will be remembered for the most, it is something less tangible but no less powerful.
“I developed some very strong relationships with our agencies and our tenants, and even with my staff so I am going to leave here with hopefully some nice memories and hopefully they will realize that I worked hard for them,” said Brackenrich. “It has been a fun ride.”