Meet Mariam Thorne, Property Maintenance Supervisor at Bay View Houses

Eighteen years ago, when Mariam Thorne landed a job as a Seasonal Aide at Hammel Houses in Queens, she saw it as an opportunity to launch a career at NYCHA.  

She did not have to wait long for her career at the Authority to blossom. At the end of her seasonal term, she got hired as a Caretaker J at Redfern Houses. With the new position came an appetite to rise through the ranks.  

“I really wanted to become a superintendent once I got into the Caretaker position,” Ms. Thorne said. Her dreams were based on her belief that at NYCHA there was “great growth opportunity, so I knew I would get the chance to better my skills and become a more productive employee.”  

Over the past decade, she has picked up more skills and worked in various departments. After working as a Caretaker for five years, she became a Heating Plant Technician in Queens. She then became a Maintenance Worker in the heating field and later an Assistant Superintendent. For the past four years, Ms. Thorne has been serving as a Property Maintenance Supervisor, first at Glenwood Houses and now at Bay View Houses in Brooklyn.  

She said working in various departments at NYCHA over the years “has shaped me and prepared me for the position I now occupy. I have learned a lot about heating and other things that I can do, so I believe I can probably go even higher in my career.”  

She still has ambitions of advancing in rank, becoming an administrator so she can use her skills to help other management and maintenance staff.  

In her current role as Property Maintenance Supervisor, each day Ms. Thorne makes sure the maintenance team takes care of all issues. She also ensures “the staff has all the proper equipment they need to execute their jobs.” 

“When I came [to Bay View Houses], there were outstanding mold/mildew inspection work orders,” said Ms. Thorne. “Bay View participated in a mold and mildew pilot program through which my team and I were successful in reducing the number of outstanding mold/mildew inspection work orders at the development. There were also leaks in the basement due to aging pipes. I worked with my team to reduce the number of leaks therefore providing a safe working space for my caretaker staff.” 

“Ms. Thorne has been an invaluable asset to Bay View Houses,” said Jacqueline Hipps, Neighborhood Administrator. “Despite staffing challenges, she has been able to push forward, making significant strides in providing great service to the residents at Bay View.”  

Ms. Thorne derives satisfaction from the service she provides to Bay View residents. “When I walk around and remember what [the development] looked like when I came here and what I see now, it gives me a sense of pride to see how well the development looks since I came in and put my best foot forward.” 

Ms. Thorne said her last day at Glenwood was one of her proudest moments on the job so far.  

“The staff [at Glenwood] gave me a really nice plaque of appreciation they made for me,” she said. “It was a morale booster. It made me feel good about my performance there, and that they appreciated me. That was a proud moment for me that they felt I was deserving of that [plaque] for being their supervisor.” 

The staff at Glenwood is not alone in appreciating Ms. Thorne’s work ethic.  

“Ms. Thorne has a great rapport with her staff and motivates them to achieve the set goals,” said Ms. Hipps. “She strives for excellence in her role as Property Maintenance Supervisor. Her work ethic is very much appreciated. 

Ms. Thorne said the key to her accomplishments is recognizing that hard work and patience really pay off and “never being afraid to ask questions because you’re not going to learn if you don’t ask questions.” She also said building rapport with one’s staff is an effective way to collaborate on better serving the NYCHA community.