Dexter Nolley Balances Work With Volleyball Workouts
Director of Staff and Labor Relations at Duke stays active with weekend volleyball
Name: Dexter NolleyPosition: Director of Staff and Labor RelationsYears at Duke: 11
What I do at Duke is: I support managers and employees to develop, maintain and extend a work culture that allows them to be productive. That involves looking at policies and procedures regarding time off, performance and termination, leading mediation and conflict resolution programs, teaching manager education sessions and working with the unions.
What I love about Duke is: The opportunities to grow and be challenged. There is a lot of freedom to do the work and then expand on it. For example, when I came to Duke, I had the opportunity to participate in mediation. I knew I wanted to continue. I eventually co-led and now lead the mediation program.
If someone wants to start a conversation with me they should ask about: Volleyball. It's my passion. I play outdoor volleyball three to four hours every Sunday except when it is below 30 degrees. It is just a group of six or seven friends, and we play three-on-three or three-on-four.
My dream job is: Doing voice-over work for radio and television.
When I'm not at work, I like to: Hang out with my family: my wife of 13 years and my sons, Braedon, who is 8, and Ryan who is 5. They both play soccer and violin, and they try to play volleyball with me. Braedon is always asking, "When can I come play with you, Dad?"
If I had $5 million, I would: Do whatever it took to allow my mom to retire. She is still working at the Solo Cup Company that makes plastic cups in Covington, Ga., where I grew up.
My first ever job was: As a bag boy at the Kroger store in Covington.
If I could have one superpower, it would be: Teleportation. I'd love to be able to go to Australia on a whim, or to suddenly go sit in on an African safari.
The best advice I ever received was: The phrase, `Let them know you've been there.' It is the idea of making sure your work, your life, your interactions are worthy of being remembered not in a braggadocio way, but more subtly. Making sure that when you leave a situation, you've done more to improve or support that situation than you've done to detract from it.
The music I'm most likely to be caught listening to is: James Morrison's songs. I put them on, and I can sit for an hour wrapped up in hearing his lyrics and how he translates a life message into music.
Something most people don't know about me is: I'm an introvert. I work with people, but I require a lot of solo time to recharge to get ready to go out and engage again. Sometimes I just have to close my office door.
Who would you like to see featured as a Blue Devil of the Week? Nominate a colleague.