Employee Spotlight: Candyce DeBouse
Hailing from the vibrant city of Philadelphia, Custodial Services Supervisor Candyce DeBouse holds a unique and remarkable story intertwined with the iconic Wells Fargo Center. As a custodian in the very arena, she dedicated herself to meticulously tending to both the event floor and the athletes’ terrain.
Candyce’s precision cleaning skills were honed unexpectedly through basketball players, who held superstitions about item arrangement. She grasped the significance of maintaining precise order after cleaning, crucial to players’ routines and the 76ers’ performance.
Amid the pressure, Candyce embraced the excitement of working near athletes and artists, defying interaction restrictions. She holds cherished memories of meeting 76ers Allen Iverson and hip hop legend Busta Rhymes, carving unique moments within the constraints.
Bringing that attention to detail and her joyful personality to CFCC, Candyce’s team holds immense respect for her thorough approach and eagerness to assist. Anekia Walker-Hardy commends Candyce’s leadership style.
“Candyce leads by example. She will never ask you to do something she won’t do herself,” shares Anekia. “She’s always willing to help when needed. If you have a question or concern she will definitely go above and beyond to get an answer to you.”
Candyce was happy to stop by CFCC’s downtown campus for a visit and generously share her experience with CFCC.
WHAT YEAR DID YOU START WORKING AT CFCC?
I started at CFCC in 2005. I moved to Wilmington to be near my mother. I was looking for a permanent job that I could grow with and teach my two kids about stability.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK?
I love being here. I love the atmosphere, my staff, the faculty, and the students. I enjoy meeting new faces and getting to know people. I always make it my business to meet anyone who sends me an email or a work order. I’m not a phone-call kind of person. I prefer face-to-face interaction.
WHEN YOU’RE NOT WORKING, WHAT DO YOU DO?
I like to sleep. I used to be a partier, but not anymore. I’m a homebody, and I enjoy hanging out with my 12-year-old daughter and 24-year-old son. I do enjoy family gatherings, and I like to read.
WHO HAD THE GREATEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR EDUCATION AND/OR CAREER PATH?
My mother, of course, is my biggest influence and inspiration. Just watching her take care of our children and always push to be better. I looked at her and knew that’s what I need to do and that’s how I want to be.
At Cape Fear, people that I work with like Queen Irvin and my former supervisor, Linda Johnson, have had a lot of influence on me. James “Buster” Parker always encouraged me to take any professional development classes that were offered to us. They all inspire me to push myself and go further.
WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?
Keep your head up. Don’t let your focus get stuck in the obstacle. I can now understand as I grow older what that actually means. When I see people hanging their heads, I tell them this is temporary and to keep their heads up and keep moving forward.
This advice inspired me to take suicide awareness seminars, and I recently completed the Mental Health First Aid training. You never know what people are going through. It doesn’t hurt to have a little bit of training that makes you more aware of warning signs. I’ve gained a better perception from these courses and learned what to pay attention to. I want to be able to help people as best I can.
WHAT IS SOMETHING NOT MANY PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT YOU?
I like to write poetry. My poetry has been published in three books. I shared my poetry with just a few people to get their feedback. After they told me which ones they liked, I submitted a few of my poems to a website that sent me a request for more. Perhaps, I will submit some of my poetry for the next issue of Portals magazine.
Candyce opened her heart by sharing a poignant poem she composed, exploring the intricacies of navigating a friend’s mental illness. The Borderline
