A Spotlight on Nashville for Black History Month

To continue our employee spotlight series to celebrate Black History Month, we chatted with four women in our Nashville, Tennessee office who have decades of experience in public service. Adeyinka Adebiyi, Akilah Harrison, Kimberly McGahey and Twylla Peebles shared what makes them proud – and what inspires them – to work for the Wage and Hour Division. 

Q: How long have you worked for the Wage and Hour Division?  

Adeyinka (investigator): 12 years. 

Akilah (technician): I started working for a different agency within the Department of Labor in 2014, then joined the Wage and Hour Division in October 2022. 

Kimberly (outreach specialist): I have 37 years of service with the Wage and Hour Division. I was hired as a mail clerk, and I’ve had several different positions during my career. I’ve been an outreach specialist since 2019. 

Twylla (investigator): I worked for the agency as a technician for over 13 years, then left to work for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as an investigator and took a military tour to Afghanistan. Then, I was rehired by the Wage and Hour Division in July 2020. 

Q: What are you most proud of in your career?  

Adeyinka: I’m proud of being part of the Strategic Employee Engagement Drive Team that was developed by Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su. This eight-month assignment was designed to engage staff nationwide in process improvement projects. We focused our efforts on improving employee morale and reducing burnout. At the end of this project, we presented our recommendations to other Wage and Hour Division staff and Department of Labor leadership. 

Akilah: I’m proud of helping people recover wages they’re owed. 

Kimberly: I’m proud to have served the public in various positions within this agency. It’s been rewarding to help vulnerable workers get all their hard-earned wages. I’ve also enjoyed opportunities to be a mentor to new investigators and to educate stakeholders on compliance. 

Twylla: I’m proud to be a change agent, which gives me the opportunity to affect others’ lives. It’s rewarding to educate and assist employers and employees.  

Q: Who inspires you to do your work?  

Adeyinka: The communities we serve, including workers and employers, are a great inspiration for me to do my work as an investigator. 

Akilah: I’m inspired by the gratification I hear from complainants when they receive the wages they’re owed. I’m also motivated by my children – I push myself to learn something new every day and reach a high level of success so that my kids know what’s attainable if you put your mind to it and work hard. 

Kimberly: I’m inspired by the people I teach about the laws we enforce, including employers who want to do right by their employees and workers who are eager to learn about their rights in the workplace. 

Twylla: I’m inspired by my current and former coworkers, especially former district director Nettie Lewis and outreach specialist Kimberly McGahey. 

Q: What advice would you give to new employees in the Wage and Hour Division?  

Adeyinka: Be ready for daily challenges and don’t take them personally. Also, be thorough and dedicated to your work, and always do your best! 

Akilah: There will be good days and bad days, but never let the bad ones outweigh the good ones. 

Kimberly: Keep focused on the agency’s mission as you do your daily work. There’s always someone you can help! 

Twylla: Stay strong, keep your head up and focus on the mission! 

#BlackHistoryMonth #WhatInspiresMe #PublicService #Diversity