In this issue, you'll read:
Message from the President Spring 2005
Women Change America: EWG’s Summit
New Board Begins Term: Join Them for Lunch June 14
Meet The New Board
May Tea Honors 12 Women
TIAW "25 In 25" Microenterprise Fundraising Campaign to Exceed Expectations
OPM Releases Federal Human Capital Survey Data
Support Our Troops
Members in the News
Welcome New Members

Message from the President Spring 2005

It is thanks to EWG, the outgoing board members Elaine Lyon-Johnson, Sheryl Kunickis, Sylvia Shanks, Sheryl Swed and Marylouise Uhlig, and members, program participants, and friends of EWG, that we were able to achieve another successful year. I would also like to take this opportunity to extend special appreciation to conference chair, Marylouise Uhlig, and conference co-chair, Jeuli Bartenstein, for producing EWG's 2005 Annual Summit during Women's History Month.

It has been my privilege to serve as EWG President this past year. I know you will all join me to support Maria Parisi Vickers and the incoming officers: Katherine Gugulis, Chris Tirpak, Susan Taylor and Margaret Weir to take EWG up another notch. Thanks to longtime EWG members, Sandra Day O'Connor and Naomi Zeavin, we'll make our formal transition at the Supreme Court in June.

In closing, in this post 9-11 environment let’s guard against complacency. Women can change America and lead in a changing world. Let’s take the initiative to address the challenges facing women, advancing women in senior leadership positions in the federal government, actively encouraging interest in participating in public service by other women.

Warm Regards,

Lori Santamorena, EWG President 2004-05

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Women Change America: EWG’s Summit

by Mary Fillmore, Director, Changing Work

Women Change America: Leading in a Changing World, EWG's 2005 Summit and Training Conference, changed the women executives who gathered on March 17 at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Sponsored by Accenture and the Chamber’s Access America Program, the day began by acknowledging the many that created the program: Co-chairs Marylouise Uhlig and Jeuli Bartenstein and their planning committee members: Anna Dixon, Lori Santamorena, Chris Tirpak and Maria Vickers-Parisi.

Dr. Carolyn J. Lukensmeyer of AmericaSpeaks set the tone in Leadership - The Need for and Access to Collective Wisdom by reminding us of the increased need to create democratic spaces where people who don't agree can come together and have civil discourse. She emphasized that people are most able to stand up for something if they have articulated their view to others, and have upheld their position among those with different views. The inimitable Constance Berry Newman, Assistant Secretary for African Affairs in the State Department, exemplifies her advice about four H's: Homework, Hard Work, Honesty, and Hang in There. At 69, she feels ready to take on one more big challenge before devoting most of her time to her other profession, photography.

From L: Marylouise Uhlig, Janet Hale, Nancy Steorts
On a different note, Janet Hale, Under Secretary for Management at the Department of Homeland Security, spoke of the Executive Woman's Challenge in a Post 9/11 environment. She described the challenges of integrating many agencies, most of which had long and proud traditions, and of starting a major department from scratch. Elisabeth S. Schmidt, a Partner in Accenture, the Summit Sponsor, discussed creating vision, value and impact through high performance government primarily by focusing on outcomes and measures rather than means and methods.

Because it was St. Patrick's Day, we were lucky enough to hear from David Stang, the author of Emerald Spirit: A Journey in the Irish Heart and Soul, who took us back to the days of the matriarchal Celts and described St. Patrick's historical role. He brought a friend, Eva Rowe, newly arrived from Ireland, who told us what a source of pride the day has been in recent years - but that previously, it was a dry day when you had to take the train or go to the dog show if you wanted a drink.

Susan Ferris Wyderko and Marylouise Uhlig
Returning to the conference theme, Susan Ferris Wyderko, Director of Investor Education and Assistance at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission addressed Getting Your Financial House in Order. She reminded the group that investing is a long term scenario, and advised that everyone max out on the Thrift Savings Plan as early as possible. Diversity is the key to success here as elsewhere.

From L: Kim Nelson, Marylouise Uhlig, Ana Martinez and Sallyanne Harper
Three distinguished panelists closed the day by commenting on the complexities of managing the on-demand workplace. Ana Martinez, Director, ibm.com Latin America, Kim Nelson, CIO for EPA, and Sallyanne Harper, CFO at GAO stressed the flexibility that technology provides, and gave examples of how it is used in their organizations. At a personal level, Kim Nelson said that she has restricted her hours but gets the job done using both phone and more advanced devices. The panelists all felt that technology, despite the expense, was a useful tool in managing work and being present even when they were absent.

From L: Marylouise Uhlig, Barbara McCoy, Constance Berry Newman, and Carolyn Lukensmeyer

Everyone had a wonderful time. We are looking forward to seeing you all again next March!

Note: The board and members wish to acknowledge conference chair, Marylouise Uhlig, for all her work in making the event a great successs.

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New Board Begins Term: Join Them for Lunch June 14

On June 14, Maria Parisi Vickers, Esq. will become the 32^nd president of EWG as the 2005-06 board is sworn in by the Honorable Sandra Day O’Connor. Joining Maria, who is EPA’s Deputy Director for the Office of Solid Waste, are: President-Elect Katherine C. Gugulis, is the Deputy Chief for Strategic Planning and Accountability for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS); Vice-President Chris Tirpak, Program Manager, EPA Office of Prevention, Pesticides & Toxic Substances; Secretary Susan Taylor, Chief of the Purchase Card Division for the Defense Contracting Command-Washington; and Treasurer Margaret Weir, Manager, Internal Control Group (ICG). Outgoing president Lori Santamorena, Executive Director, Government Securities Regulations Staff at the Department of the Treasury, Bureau of the Public Debt, continues on the board as Past President.

The board will be sworn in at a ceremony presided by founding member Hon. Sandra Day O’Connor at the Supreme Court. Space is very limited at the ceremony but we invite all members to join us for lunch afterwards at the America Restaurant in nearby Union Station. You’ll have an opportunity to meet the new board as well as other members. There is no cost to register and lunch will be paid individually. We will meet for lunch at 12:15 PM at the restaurant. Please RSVP on the web at www.execwomeningov.org/events or 301-725-3500.

The board of directors is tasked with seeing that the vision and mission of the organization are fulfilled through programs and services to members and women in the federal government. The board works with several committees that provide the planning and help implement key programs including the monthly events, EWG Advancing, EWG Update, website, networking and maintaining strategic alliances. They work closely with committees covering Annual Conference; By-Laws; Membership; Program; Status of Women and Communications.

All committees welcome new members … volunteering opens the door for a richer membership experience. Gain skills, meet people, build a professional network and receive recognition! To find out more about volunteering or simply to talk to your leaders, visit the website for full contact info.

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Meet The New Board

President: Maria Parisi Vickers, Esq.
Maria Parisi Vickers presently serves as EPA’s Deputy Director for the Office of Solid Waste, with responsibility for the Hazardous and Solid Waste Programs under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Maria came to this position following fourteen years of Regional experience managing the RCRA Programs, Pesticides, Asbestos and Toxics Programs in EPA’s mid-Atlantic Region, where she had previously served as Senior Assistant Regional Counsel for the Superfund and RCRA Programs.

Maria’s work at EPA follows a rewarding 17-year career with Pennsylvania’s Office of Attorney General where she litigated complex constitutional law matters, arguing 45 cases in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and three cases in the United States Supreme Court. Upon her retirement from state service, she held the position of Chief Deputy Attorney General and Director of Pennsylvania’s Eastern Regional Office. Maria has a J.D. from Temple University School of Law where she served on the Law-Review Editorial Board.

President-Elect: Katherine C. Gugulis
Katherine C. Gugulis is the Deputy Chief for Strategic Planning and Accountability for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). She is responsible for performance management in the Department of Agriculture’s second largest agency with nearly 12,000 employees located in 2,500 field offices across the United States. NRCS provides leadership in helping farmers, ranchers, and other landowners conserve, maintain, and improve soil, water and other natural resources through voluntary programs.

Katherine provides leadership in developing the agency’s strategic, performance, and business plans; budget request; performance measurement system; and oversight and evaluation activities. The performance management system she has implemented is recognized as one of the best among all federal natural resource agencies.

Katherine has extensive management and operations experience. From March 1997 to February 1998, Gugulis served as USDA’s Acting Associate Assistant Secretary during which time she oversaw implementation of the 92 recommendations contained in the Secretary’s civil rights action team report. Other leadership positions she has held since coming to NRCS National Headquarters in 1986 include Director of the Operations Management and Oversight Division (1995-96) as well as Director of the Office of Public Affairs (1994-95).

She began her career as public affairs officer at the Maryland State Office of NRCS’s predecessor agency, the Soil Conservation Service, from 1974-1986. A native of Maryland, Katherine earned a bachelors of science degree in journalism from the University of Maryland with minors in economics and English. She has received several national awards for performance management, civil rights leadership, and communications, held various leadership positions in professional associations, and has been recognized by the agency for outstanding and superior service consistently throughout her career. She was accepted into the Senior Executive Service in 1995 and lives in Gaithersburg, Md., with her husband.

Vice-President: Chris Tirpak
Chris Tirpak brings to Executive Women in Government two years of service as Program Chair, working with EWG's Board on memorable monthly events, quarterly board meetings, an annual summit during Women's History Month, and teas – both for the winter holidays and to honor Presidential Rank Award winning women in the spring. Teamwork is her forte. Her professional career spans both the private and public sectors: from the United Nations in New York, thru GTE-International in Boston, to the US Government in Washington DC – at both Cabinet Department and Federal Agency levels, in the Executive and Legislative Branches. Career highlights range from staffing Congressional hearings on the Exxon-Valdez Oil Spill in Alaska to co-chairing national conferences for EPA.

Recognition of her accomplishments ranges from routine performance awards, thru US Vice Presidential Hammers and the Ford Foundation/Harvard's Innovations in Government (finalist) to McGraw-Hill's Environmental Champions. She is currently working at the US Environmental Protection Agency on a wide range of projects. Chris holds three degrees from Kent State, Southern Illinois and the Pennsylvania State Universities, supplemented by courses at the Wharton School in Philadelphia, University of Basel in Switzerland and University of Caen in France. Chris is a resident of Reston, Virginia.

Secretary: Susan Taylor
For the past 2 ½ years, Susan Taylor has been serving as Chief of the Purchase Card Division for the Defense Contracting Command-Washington, located at the Pentagon. She is responsible for directing the purchase card operations for approximately 2,000 cardholders and 500 billing officials throughout the Department of Defense, including Army, Air Force, DoD and Navy accounts. Her staff oversees approximately 98,000 purchase card transactions annually totaling 84-100 million dollars.

Prior to this position, Susan spent 8 years as the Director of Contracts for Ginnie Mae, a $9 billion agency within HUD. She was responsible for directing the policy, planning and execution of all pre-award and post-award actions in support of significant program acquisitions. Susan developed and implemented contracting policies that resulted in Ginnie Mae’s contract administration being removed from HUD’s List of 10 Major Internal Control Weaknesses.

Susan also served as the Deputy Director of Contracting for the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, ASCS, where she was responsible for contracting oversight for headquarters and 3000 state and county offices. She holds a B.A. Degree from St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana, and an MBA
Degree in Management from the New York Institute of Technology. She lives in Crofton, MD, and has 3 married children and 4 grandchildren.

Treasurer: Margaret (Peg) Weir
Margaret A. Weir was named Manager, Internal Control Group (ICG) in December 2003 reporting to the Chief Financial Officer. She provides leadership and vision for enterprise risk management to over 500 headquarters and field managers and analysts who work as internal consultants to postal management in support of a performance-based culture following an established framework and standard discipline. Weir also serves as the Program Manager for the Postal Service's voluntary compliance with segments of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

In her previous position as the Manager, Capital and Program Evaluation, Peg was responsible for the planning, development, and management of the Postal Service's Five-Year Capital Investment Plan. She served as the secretary to the Board of Governors' Capital Projects Committee and Management's Headquarters Capital Investment Committee.
Peg has been recognized for her outstanding contributions to the Postal Service including receiving in 2003 a "Best of the Best" Commitment to Excellence award for service achievements as the Spokane District Manager and a Vice President's award for her Finance leadership on the original FedEx transportation and retail agreements.

Peg is a doctoral candidate in Applied Management and Decision Sciences at Walden University. She holds an MBA in Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She is an adjunct professor with Syracuse University (DC) teaching Capital Planning at the School of Information Studies in the Information Management graduate program. Additionally, she is an active member of the Institute of Internal Auditors; the Project Management Institute; and Women In Technology, serving as the Chair on the Women in Government committee and a mentor in the mentor-protégé program. Peg resides in Alexandria, Virginia, and spends time in upstate New York on the family farm.

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May Tea Honors 12 Women

EWG was pleased to honor 12 women awarded the 2004 Presidential Distinguished
Rank Award for exceptional long-term accomplishments at our annual May Tea on the 11^th at the Arts Club in Washington, D.C. These women were among a select group of federal employees chosen for this prestigious award because they are strong leaders, professionals and scientists who achieve results and consistently demonstrate strength, integrity, industry, and a relentless commitment to excellence in public service.

Each year EWG sets aside its May event to both recognize achievements by women and provide a social networking event to kick-off the summer season. On the lighter side, we give awards for the best hats, a fashion mainstay of the traditional tea from yesterday.

2004 Presidential Distinguished Rank Award Winners Honored