Written by Mary Massirer
December 3, 2021
Many people desire to have a career they can look back on with pride and a profound sense of knowing they made an impact on their workplace, fellow co-workers, and in the community. For Ann Purvis, this desire has become a reality that many in State government can attest to.
Ann, who most recently served as the Chief of Staff for the Department of Transformation and Shared Services (TSS), has been an integral part of Arkansas government for 30 years. She has worked for the Attorney General’s Office, the Department of Finance and Administration, the Secretary of State’s Office, and the Department of Health (ADH), holding various positions within each department.
Selling In-Home Services
“She is not afraid to embrace change,” said Stephanie Williams, who worked with Ann at the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH). This way of thinking is what led to the idea of selling the in-home services division of ADH to the private sector.
Dating back to 1981, the in-home health care operations offered hospice, home health care, personal care services to individuals on Medicare and Medicaid. This move allowed significant financial savings for the State and for the private sector to grow and expand this program even further. A top priority during the move from public to private was that no jobs were lost during the transition, and in the end, all employees were able to retain their employment. “Not many people could have taken this on and actually done it,” says Renee Mallory, another teammate of Ann’s from ADH.
Revitalizing the Vital Records
Another revolutionary change (and an incredible time saver for Arkansans) was the restructuring of the vital health records at ADH. Once Ann pinpointed the inefficiencies, she leaped into action, automating, and tracking sequences that significantly cut down on processing time.
Because of Ann’s hard work, individuals in Arkansas can obtain a copy of their birth or death certificate for a family member at any local health unit in the State and are no longer required to drive to Little Rock for these records.
Transforming State Government
In July 2019, Act 910 of 2019 was established and created a new model of government in part by the expertise and visionary spirit of Ann. “She played a key role in helping me transform and streamline State government,” said Governor Asa Hutchinson.
The passage of Act 910 allowed for the creation of TSS with the focus on creating a more efficient government that emphasizes excellent customer service and continuous innovation. 42 Cabinet-level agencies and over 200 Board and Commissions turned into 15 Departments, becoming the first major reconstruction of state government since 1972.
In her role as Chief of Staff of TSS, Ann helped build TSS as a brand-new state department and set the standard of excellence.
The Funny Side of Ann
“Ann has a wicked sense of humor,” says Amy Fecher, Secretary of TSS.
She has a no-nonsense personality which has helped accomplish many goals, but she also makes sure to leave a little room for some fun!
While working at ADH, she could be found talking in Latin during her morning meetings with Dr. Nate Smith, Dr. Joe Bates, and Stephanie Williams, because, well, why not? “I was the only one who didn’t [speak Latin], I did not find this amusing,” Stephanie Williams jokingly said about Ann during their meetings at ADH.
Budget Director Robert Brech, who worked with Ann at the Department of Finance and Administration, says, “every time I messed, up there was always a threat to make me eat dirt,” He explained that she was kicked out of private school as a kid for making another kid eat dirt.
What’s Next
Tenacious, smart, funny, driven, a visionary, unafraid, respected, encourager, and a friend to all are just a few of the words used to describe Ann. She certainly left an impact on state government but also all those she worked around her.
“She has been very impactful and will be remembered for years to come,” says Secretary Amy Fecher.
She will enjoy retirement by traveling around the world and spending more quality time with her two sons, Nathaniel, and Nick and of course her dog, Buster!
With the retirement of Ann Purvis, that leaves one question, who will fill Ann’s position as the next Chief of Staff of TSS? Without further ado (cue the drumroll), we would like to introduce Alex Johnston as the next TSS Chief of Staff. Alex was formerly in the position of Chief Administrative Officer and has been with the Department since its founding. With Alex’s knowledge and nearly ten years of experience in government leadership, we know she will excel in this new role.
