Managing and Supervising the Government Virtual Workforce Training Workshop V

This event qualifies for .7 CEUs

This event qualifies for 7 CPEs

Congress has mandated that Federal Agencies adopt telework whenever feasible. OPM has developed telework policies for the Federal workforce that mirror industry “best practices” in taking advantage of non-traditional work settings. Additionally, GSA is encouraging Federal Agencies to implement “Hoteling” as a way to reduce overall facility costs.

In spite of this, there is still reluctance from many supervisors to embrace either of these programs fully. Many workers are reluctant to accept what they see as a major career risk.

In addition, recent abuses regarding the use of telework have reached the attention of Congress, the Media and, more importantly, the American public. This could have been avoided with proper controls and oversight.

This workshop will identify the costs, benefits and challenges of the virtual work environment and focus on supervising the remote worker and leading the virtual team. Particular attention will be paid to knowledge workers.

What You Will Learn:

Law and Policy governing Federal Telework
The status of telework implementation across the Federal Government
Telework from the employee’s perspective
Telework from the employer’s perspective
Supervising Knowledge workers in a non-traditional settings
Avoiding hoteling pitfalls
Overcoming supervisor and worker resistance to the virtual work setting
Optimizing performance in the non-traditional work setting
Addressing Morale Issues when transitioning from physical office to hotel space
What Managers need to know to be effective in the Telework/Hoteling environment

Why You Should Attend:

Federal Agencies have been directed to implement telework policies and procedures
Selecting the appropriate non-traditional work environment can improve employee morale, increase organizational performance and provide ancillary benefits to the community at large
In implementing telework there are risks as well as rewards and understanding them can help you minimize the risks and maximize the rewards
Working in non-traditional settings requires new skills from both workers and supervisors
Hoteling can provide significant cost reductions for the Federal Agency, but there are risks as well as rewards in undertaking this approach to office management – but can have morale implications
Sharing the experiences from various Government Agencies can help you implement your own telework and hoteling programs

Who Should Attend:

Federal Managers who are implementing or anticipate implementing telework or hoteling in their own organizations
Supervisors of teleworkers or others in non-traditional work settings
Federal workers who are already teleworking or who anticipate doing so in the future
Human Resource Executives and Managers responsible for developing telework policy and guidance
IGs and Staff who review and report on Telework and Hoteling initiatives
CIOs and Staff who must implement or managing the supporting technology

Speaker and Presenter Information

Keynote Speaker:

Ventris Gibson

ASSOCIATE DEPUTY CHIEF HUMAN CAPITAL OFFICER
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Ventris C. Gibson is the Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for Human Resources for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). At HHS, Ventris is responsible for providing enterprise-wide strategic and corporate leadership in the development and delivery of innovative and transformational human resources programs, policies, and services that impact nearly 92,000 employees worldwide.

Ventris serves as a strategic advisor to other Chief Human Capital Officers under the Partnership for Public Service and is a key facilitator in the Ready to Govern series for new political appointees. She also served as the Director of Administration for the National Labor Relations Board and as an executive consultant with North Highland Company, a global consulting firm. From 2003 to 2011, Ventris was the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Assistant Administrator for Human Resources Management where she was the senior most executive responsible for all aspects of the human resources management program to include the nation’s air traffic controllers, aviation safety inspectors, and engineers.

Ventris, a former US Navy veteran, transferred to FAA from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). At the VA, she served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Human Resources Management, and formerly as the VA Deputy Assistant Secretary for Resolution Management where she directed human resources management and civil rights programs affecting 226,000 employees. She was also the department’s highest-ranking woman veteran.

With a career that spans over 38 years in both human resources executive and professional positions, Ventris is the recipient of numerous awards and commendations to include the Exceptional and Meritorious Service Awards, a Congressional Award for Excellence, and the Northern New Jersey Area's prestigious "Woman of the Year" award.

Ventris is a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute, Leadership VA, and Aspen Institute. She has three children and is a native of Roseland, VA.

Guest Speakers:

Judy Goodman Ikels

Chief, Work Life Division
Office of Employee Relations
U.S. Department of State

Among other duties, as Chief of the Work Life Division, Judy Ikels is the Telework Managing Officer for the Department of State. Her perspective includes policy and practice. She supervises a team of professionals, including three with Alternate Work Schedules, seven Teleworkers and one part-time intern.

With a BA in English and Spanish, she has experience teaching and training adults and children. Her 23 years of service to the Department include two years as Community Liaison Office Coordinator in Rio de Janeiro, four years at the Foreign Service Institute, nine years with the Family Liaison Office, and nine in Employee Relations.

Judy’s portfolio includes: Student Loan Repayment, Benefit Programs, Leave and Travel policy, Transit, Bike, and Child Care Subsidies, liaison for childcare issues, and coordinating Wellness Programs and community activities for the Department. Her experience includes leadership implementing Department wide policy changes.

Judy and her husband Larry, retired from the U.S. Information Agency, served overseas including assignments in El Salvador, Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico, Brazil, and Greece. Their son and daughter grew up in the Foreign Service and both now live in the Washington area. Judy and Larry are the proud grandparents of two grandsons who live in Arlington, Virginia.

Alexis Bonnell

Director, Office of Engagement & Communications

U.S. Global Development Lab

USAID

Alexis Bonnell is the director of the Office of Engagement and Communications in the U.S. Global Development Lab. Over her career, Bonnell has developed and delivered over a billion dollars of humanitarian and development programming in over 25 conflict, post-conflict and emergency countries, in almost every sector from education to stabilization, for more than 30 international bilateral donors, 10 U.N. agencies, the military and the private sector.

She has held positions with every side of development including: implementers, donors, policy makers and beneficiaries. With more than 20 years of experience in management and communications, Bonnell has worked with: Wall Street and “dot.coms,” and on projects such as the Middle East Peace Plan, Afghan and Iraqi elections, tsunami response, Pakistan and Haiti earthquakes, over 500 construction projects, and major logistics operations.

After years of working overseas, Bonnell returned to the United States with USAID as the senior adviser on business transformation and knowledge management. She then served as the chief of engagement for the Office of Education, where she helped shape the USAID education strategy.

Prior to her career in development, Bonnell worked as director of marketing for the Internet Trade Association, where she helped Wall Street and the corporate world understand the impact that the Internet, innovation and technology would have on business, customers and society. She is co-author of the book “Get your Dream Job.”

Bonnell received a dual major in advertising and public relations from Pepperdine University, where she later returned as a professor. She also received a global executive Master’s Degree in business administration from Kellogg Northwestern and a Master’s Degree in direct and interactive media from New York University. She maintains a Certified Fundraising Executive credential as well as an Advanced Project Management accreditation from Stanford University, and a certificate in non-profit management from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

William B. “Bart” Bush

Assistant Commissioner

Office of Client Solutions

US General Services Administration

William B. “Bart” Bush was appointed Assistant Commissioner for the Office of Client Solutions, Public Buildings Service (PBS), General Services Administration (GSA) in October 2011. The Office of Client Solutions is responsible for the coordination of PBS's client relationships and the creation and implementation of business processes, tools, training and guidance to support the acquisition and delivery of space assignments and related services to our clients.

Prior to his appointment Bart served as Assistant Commissioner for Real Property Asset Management and as Regional Commissioner for PBS in the National Capital Region (NCR) since joining GSA in 2006.

Prior to his service with the Federal Government, Bart served as Deputy Commissioner for State of New York Office of General Services Real Property Management & Development Group. He also was elected to the Syracuse, NY, Common Council in 1989 and re-elected in 1993. Bart also served as Economic Development Director for the City of Syracuse, and worked in the private sector with Dean Witter Reynolds. A native of Upstate New York, Bart is a graduate of Denison University in Granville, Ohio. He, his wife Cathy, and five sons live in Reston, Virginia.

Marge Higgins

Telework Coordinator

Office of Human Resources Management

GSA

Marge Higgins is GSA’s Telework Coordinator and in that capacity has had the chance to work not only on GSA telework initiatives, but to participate in interagency working groups on a wide variety of issues related to telework and work flexibilities. Marge has been with GSA’s Office of Human Resources since 1987 and has had the opportunity to work in most areas of HR, with a current focus on work life issues including Telework, Child Care Subsidies, Transit Subsidies, and Wellness. Marge’s undergraduate degree is from Syracuse University and she holds a Masters of Public Administration from American University.

Instructors:

Dennis Hall

Dennis Hall is currently a Professor at the iCollege of the National Defense University. He also teaches project management at the University of Maryland University College and provides consulting services for both Government and commercial organizations. He has led workshops in the virtual work environment for both public and private sector organizations.

Before joining the National Defense University, Mr Hall retired from General Dynamics as Program Director for International Systems. During his years with General Dynamics, he managed distributed project teams in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. He also spent over 24 years in the United States Army, retiring as a Colonel.

He is a certified PMP and Senior Member of the IEEE.

Relevant Government Agencies

Air Force, Army, Navy & Marine Corps, Intelligence Agencies, DOD & Military, Office of the President (includes OMB), Dept of Agriculture, Dept of Commerce, Dept of Education, Dept of Energy, Dept of Health & Human Services, Dept of Homeland Security, Dept of Housing & Urban Development, Dept of the Interior, Dept of Justice, Dept of Labor, Dept of State, Dept of Transportation, Dept of Treasury, Dept of Veterans Affairs, EPA, GSA, USPS, SSA, NASA, Other Federal Agencies, Legislative Agencies (GAO, GPO, LOC, etc.), Judicial Branch Agencies, State Government, County Government, City Government, Municipal Government, CIA, FEMA, Office of Personnel Management, Coast Guard, National Institutes of Health, FAA, Census Bureau, USAID, National Guard Association, EEOC