By Liz Garcia (NM)

Colette Bruggman, Clerk/Executive Officer of the Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District, Sacramento, California, NCACC President

Question:  Tell us about how you became involved with the NCACC.

Answer:  My first job in an appellate court was with the North Dakota Supreme Court.  At the time, Penny Miller was the Clerk and an active member of NCACC.  Penny encouraged my participation in NCACC. Luella Dunn, Penny’s predecessor, was a founding member of the NCACC, so there was a strong history in North Dakota of supporting the organization.  I joined the organization in 1994 and attended my first conference in San Antonio, Texas in 1995.  Austin 2026 was my 28th conference.  When I left my job in North Dakota to accept a position with the CA Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District, one of my non-negotiables was to be allowed to continue my membership and participation in NCACC.

Question:  Tell us about what the NCACC means to you and the culture of NCACC.

Answer:  I absolutely love being part of the NCACC, but it was not always that way.  In the beginning, it seemed like the NCACC was a very tight-knit group and not necessarily open to newcomers.  This makes it very difficult for someone who is a borderline introvert to break into perceived cliques.  To work through this, I did two things.  

1. I forced myself to sit with a different table of people every day.  What I learned is that everyone was welcoming and interesting but also a bit introverted and doing what made them comfortable.  So, my perception that these were cliques may have been narrow.  Instead, they were members who became friends over time and looked forward to being with each other for the week of the conference.

2. I became a member of the Convention Assistance Committee and worked at registration, where I met all the members and got to have conversations before the start of the conference.  This made things much easier.

My experience was not unique.  The NCACC, through strategic planning, learned that this was a perception and took affirmative steps to rectify this weakness (or in strategic planning language, threat to the organization).  As a result, NCACC now holds new member orientation and assigns mentors to new members. This helps new members connect with the organization through members and gives them someone to bounce questions off.  Personally, I try to greet new members when I can, always keeping in mind my experience as a new member.

Question:  Who is a leader you look up to, and how do they influence your management style?

Answer:  There are two leaders who I look up to:  Chief Justice Gerald W. VandeWalle, North Dakota Supreme Court, and Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye, Supreme Court of California.  All of the attributes of a great leader apply to both of these leaders.  They demonstrate integrity, empathy, accountability, adaptability, and strong communication.  They also listen carefully, make informed decisions, and create opportunities for others to succeed.  They are deliberative and open to feedback.  They are grace under pressure.  But what sticks out to me about both of these leaders is their kindness and civility.  These are the characteristics that I want to emulate in any leadership role I may have.

Question: Describe your personal leadership philosophy in three words. 

Answer: Accountability, integrity, transparency.

Question: What is your final message to everyone?

Answer:  The NCACC is only as strong as its members.  The leadership is all volunteers, and the work of the organization is done through the committee structure, which is the life blood of the NCACC.  Member engagement is how we keep the organization strong and healthy.  We are all the NCACC.