Buddy Caplinger, Westerville Public Service Superintendent
Buddy Caplinger was just 16 years old when he first started working for a city; a summer job that would eventually become a career. Last March, Buddy was hired in Westerville as maintenance superintendent for the Public Service Department. In this role, he oversees street and fleet operations, including the significant tasks of the leaf and snow removal programs. Buddy’s expertise in fleet, street, utility, signal and street lighting maintenance, as well as service maintenance and events, has been an asset to the Public Service crews that serve Westerville residents day in and out.
Where are you from?
I was born right here in Columbus, Ohio and grew up in Hilliard. That’s where we live today.
You’re a graduate of Ohio University. Tell us about what you studied and how it led to your pursuit of a career in the public service industry.
I graduated with a bachelor of fine arts in education. I had been working for the city of Dublin my entire high school and college years and beyond. So it was a total of 19 years in Dublin and then five years as a public service manager with the city of Upper Arlington. Basically, I take a lot of pride in working with communities and residents. The biggest aspect for me is being a public servant, so that’s what led to me choosing this as a career. With my years of experience, it made sense for me to continue. The chance to come to Westerville happened around the time I wanted to find an opportunity to stretch my wings professionally and reach new goals. Central Ohio communities work very closely together, so when this position became available, I viewed it as that opportunity to take on new challenges.
Having worked in both Upper Arlington and Dublin, what have you noticed about Westerville that makes this community different?
Westerville residents and staff take great pride in making you feel at home. I have seen Westerville balance growth, industry, technology and, most important of all, the sense of togetherness in community outreach. The charm of Uptown also makes Westerville unique. I have really enjoyed beginning a new chapter in my life here and I’m very humbled to be a part of such a great community.
What has been the highlight of your work?
So far, it has been that I get to go to a place of work each and every day that is committed to excellence and sets the bar for living a higher standard and quality of life.
What is something most residents don’t know about the Public Service Department?
I believe residents would be surprised to know that we are one of the leading departments in central Ohio for leaf collection and snow removal programs. Based on a combination of facts, such as how we’re rated in the community surveys and our statistics, Westerville has a great reputation. We’re proud of our curb-to-curb service with snow removal. Once the storm starts, we set out to finish in 24 hours, depending on the amount of snow we get.
What are your goals for the department as you move forward?
My goals are to streamline our processes and cross train and develop staff. This will enable us to be safer and healthier, and prioritize our long-term processes. I also want our staff to be able have a sense of pride and ownership in what we do and how we do our jobs for the residents of Westerville.
Tell us about your family.
I married my high school sweetheart, and we have been married for 19 years. I have a 10-year-old son and a 13 year-old daughter. My wife is a physical therapist for Mount Carmel Health System, and we are pretty much like every family out there with children in this age bracket. We are constantly on the go with sporting events, singing, piano and everyday activities.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
As a family, we enjoy going on family vacations and weekend getaways with hiking, fishing and boating as our main fun and excitement.
