Hearts for Service: Kathryn Jessee

When you meet Kathryn Jessee, her devotion to service shines through. As the Community Development Management Analyst for Chesapeake's Planning Department, she oversees Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grants and meticulously guiding the funds that support an array of local nonprofits.

Her work in planning and grant management is just one more chapter in a career built on citizen-centered service. Since joining the City of Chesapeake in 2007, Kathryn has worn many hats with roles in Human Resources, Parks and Recreation, Human Services, and now Planning. Each experience has added a layer to her understanding of how the City functions and actively cares for its citizens.

"The more I learned about the City's departments, the more I saw their vital role in serving citizens," Kathryn reflects. "It's the collective effort of the employees in every department that makes Chesapeake strong."

For Kathryn, public service runs in the family. Growing up in Frederick, Maryland, she watched her father build a career in Facilities Management for local government while her mother served as Director of Economic Development for Frederick County and as Regional Director of Economic Development for the State of Maryland.

Community-mindedness was modeled daily, planting a seed that would grow into a career. While attending the University of Delaware, she took an opportunity to study abroad, sparking a desire to travel and see more of her own country. After graduation, her adventurous spirit led her to Colorado, California, and Washington, D.C., before Virginia finally became home.

"I was all about change and experience in my younger years," she says with a smile. "But wherever I went, one thing stayed consistent, I always volunteered. I built roots in each community by giving back. That made landing in city government just a natural next step."

It was her decade in Chesapeake's Human Services Department that really revealed her calling. Working as a Senior Community Program Specialist, Kathryn supported families navigating court systems, helped connect them with resources, and found creative ways to access funding that lifted children and adults in the community, alike. Those years inspired her to earn a master's in public administration from Old Dominion University, sharpening the skills she now uses to advocate for affordable housing and transparent, accessible grant processes.

"I wanted to expand my understanding and abilities," she explains. "Furthering my education gave me the tools to better serve citizens. Right now, my focus is on streamlining complicated processes for grant seekers and reinforcing accountability in our efforts to increase affordable housing. It's hard work, but it's valuable."

To Kathryn, Chesapeake feels like "the biggest small town," where neighbors, volunteers, and nonprofits come together when it matters most. It's also where she's raised her children, expressing gratitude for a career that allowed her to serve the community and still be present for family life.

Kathryn's advice for anyone contemplating a career in city government is simple: Start with service.

"Not everyone is meant to work in city government," Kathryn admits, "but volunteering gives you a front-row seat to how it all works and why it matters. For many of us, it's a calling. Every role, big or small, helps build the greater good."

Kathryn Jessee's story is proof that service, when it begins as a seed planted in childhood and nurtured with curiosity, adventure, and education, can grow into a life's calling that strengthens not only a career, but an entire community.