ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles welcomed 80 new driver license examiners Thursday during a graduation ceremony held at the agency’s headquarters.

The newly trained employees completed a five-week program and will be stationed at driver’s license offices across the state to improve service levels.

DMV Commissioner Paul Tine said enhancing customer service remains a top priority for the agency.

“At DMV, we are a customer-focused organization,” Tine said in a news release. “Our mission is to make every interaction with our customers as smooth, efficient and positive as possible. The driver license examiner’s professionalism, patience and expertise shapes the customer’s experience and their perception of who we are as an agency.”

Tips to improve your DMV experience​

While DMV continues work to address its staffing shortage, the division offers the following tips for improved customer experience:

Renew early – Don’t wait until the last minute to renew your driver’s license or ID card. DMV sends a reminder card to the address on file six months before the expiration date. Customers can renew at any time during this six-month window.
Renew online – In most cases, unless they renewed online last time, customers can renew their credentials online​.
Make an appointment – Customers with appointments are serviced daily from office when the office opens until noon. Appointments can be scheduled up to 90 days in advance at skiptheline.ncdot.gov. Again, don’t wait until the last minute. It is not uncommon for the soonest available appointment to be several weeks out.
Walk-in availability – Each full-time driver’s license office accepts walk-in customers on weekdays from noon-5 p.m. Part-time and express offices service only walk-in customers.
Be prepared – Check the DMV website to make sure you bring the required documentation for your desired service. One frequently forgotten item is a printed document proving liability insurance.
REAL ID – Customers can still obtain a REAL ID to fly commercially or to visit federal, military, and nuclear facilities. Required documents and additional information at ncrealid.gov​.

The new examiners and their duty stations are:

  • Kalen Wilhide, Aberdeen
  • Jane Futrell, Ahoskie
  • Jose Amador, Asheboro
  • Robert Dennis, Ricardo Gutierrez, David Rogers, Asheville
  • Adalena Pamer, Brevard
  • Brenda Thornton, Bryson City
  • Blossom Bridges, Sarita Kohli, Hwa-Lin Cheng, Semeka Hairston, Charlotte East
  • Seth Boateng, Sonya Diggs, Amirah Savage, Charlotte North
  • Marycarmen Aguilar, Janice Gathers, Charlotte South
  • Shontaye Mackey, Tiffanie White, Leretta Parker, Jessica Young, Charlotte West
  • Yasmin Aguilar, Clayton
  • Robert Child, Terry Phillips, Clyde
  • Sandrea Jiggetts, Durham East
  • Clifton Aitkin, Damien Claridy, Durham South
  • Nicole Kimble, Elizabeth City
  • Catherine Pacheco-Lopez, Kristen Brittenham, Erwin
  • Andrew Melvin, Joseph Koproski, Fayetteville South
  • Austin Norris, Fayetteville West
  • Rachelle Barfield, Graham
  • Kayla Duggins, Billie Burns, Greensboro East
  • Yolanda Lertpiriya-Pong, Kiva Dowtin, Brenda Ramaswamy, Greensboro West
  • Kristine Steiskal, Hillsborough
  • Angela Carnevale, Hudson
  • Jennifer McAllister, Nakia Westfield, Huntersville
  • Lanette Badger, Kinston
  • Jonathan Brisson, Lumberton
  • Shawn Vang, Mocksville
  • Lori Edmisten, Rose Jimenez, Monroe
  • Tonya Westbrook, Mooresville
  • Shontiona Newell, Morehead City
  • Jonah Cosby, Kenneth Vaughan, Morganton
  • Teresa Beam, Mount Holly
  • Katerina Owens, Derrick Rouse, New Bern
  • Crystal Dennis, Newton
  • Debra Morgan, Jennifer Jones, Oxford
  • Zachariah Mele, Raeford
  • Tya Barnes, Jene Tillery-Burgin, Raleigh East
  • Marilyn Johns, Junae Saunders, Raleigh North
  • Riccardo Scelsi, Michelle Emery, Kyle Theis, Raleigh West
  • Tiffany Moore, Roanoke Rapids
  • Steven Crutchfield, Sanford
  • Karla Camacho-Martinez, Siler City
  • Cheyenne Foster, Hickory
  • Patricia Pettengill, Statesville CDL
  • Lisa Armstrong, Stedman
  • Gary Shaklin, Sylva
  • Bruce Griffith, Wentworth
  • Jennifer Eller, Wilkesboro
  • Jiani Jones, Christopher Murray, Wilmington North.​
  • Nia Bowen, Wilmington South
  • Ginger Girouard, Angela Paige, Winston-Salem North