Editor’s Note: This volunteer spotlight was contributed by St. Johns County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller Public Affairs Officer Josh Miller.
At the St. Johns County Courthouse, a group of dedicated volunteers is transforming the way visitors experience the judicial system.
With its labyrinthine corridors and daunting legal terminology, the St. Augustine building can feel coldly institutional. Yet before encountering judges or attorneys, county residents are welcomed by clerk ambassadors with a warm smile and patient guidance.
Whether celebrating with couples during courthouse weddings or guiding someone to a difficult hearing, these volunteers adapt to each situation with versatility.
Launched by Circuit Court Clerk and County Comptroller Brandon J. Patty, program volunteers assist with directions, answer questions, and provide hospitality during jury selection and special events.
Patty says the volunteers help humanize what can feel like a cold, procedural system, reflecting the Clerk’s commitment to not just service, but connection.
Ambassadors receive comprehensive training before taking their posts. They walk the courthouse with staff, learn emergency procedures, study court dockets, and practice communication skills to serve a wide variety of visitors—from nervous first-timers to those facing difficult legal proceedings.
The volunteer team represents a mosaic of experiences and expertise, each member bringing a unique perspective to their role.
Lisa DuBois, who practiced law for more than three decades before retiring in 2016, now channels her legal knowledge toward helping others navigate the judicial complex.
Pat Hartnett built her professional life around precision as an accountant, analyst and auditor across both private and public sectors. Her volunteer work proves that those with analytical minds often possess exceptional empathy.
The international perspective comes from Assumpta O’Brien, who emigrated from Ireland in 1983 and has embraced St. Johns County as her home since 2017 after a career with Ring Power Corporation.
Rosa Clark represents healthcare expertise among the volunteers. This recently retired nurse, whose career culminated at the prestigious National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, applies her professional calm and attentiveness to make visitors feel at ease.
For Sharon Gesek, volunteering her time represents a natural evolution of her two-decade commitment to social services and senior programs, including significant contributions to the St. Johns County Council on Aging.
Robert Shannon, a retiree from Verizon Communications, now devotes his time to supporting others through volunteer work. He has contributed at the Veterans Hospital in Albany, N.Y., and at Rainbow Equine Therapy, where he assists individuals of all ages in regaining and maintaining physical mobility.
“Helping someone have a better day has helped me become a better member of the community,” he said.
Janice Smith brings financial acumen from her distinguished accounting career, including her role as CFO of the Ohio School Boards Association. Since relocating to St. Augustine in 2022, she has discovered in this volunteer program what she calls “a warm and caring place” that complements her remote client work and longstanding involvement with equine therapy.
For many volunteers, the program offers more than an opportunity to serve—it’s a way to stay socially connected and engaged in retirement. The reciprocity is evident: as they support others, the ambassadors themselves benefit from continued purpose and community involvement.
“It’s a way to stay connected to people, to use lifelong skills in new contexts,” one volunteer shared.
As public institutions across the country seek to become more approachable, the Clerk Ambassador Program serves as a model for civic engagement rooted in empathy and connection.
In an era where efficiency often overshadows humanity, these volunteers remind us that small gestures—like a smile or a kind word—can make a meaningful difference.
