Focus Groups

Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Making Government Cool Initiative

The “Making Government Cool Initiative” is being led by Matt Collier, Special Assistant to the Director. An internal OPM Working Group, together with 6 full-time, 90-day detailees from outside agencies, make up the “cool team.” The group is tasked with answering the central question: “How do we convince the best and the brightest to work for the Federal government?” and seeks to create a comprehensive and sustainable strategy for attracting the best candidates to public service and thus, “making government cool again.”

The team is focused on recruiting and hiring at the college level, as well as helping to shape a positive developmental experience for these entry-level new hires. Focused within a “pathways to service” framework, the team is examining 7 areas: recruitment strategy, employment incentives, communication strategy, agency relations, stakeholder outreach, employment experience, and diversity.

Currently, the team is reaching out to agencies, organizations, universities, and other stakeholders to gather information and ideas that will help shape an interim report inclusive of findings and recommendations. As part of that process, Young Government Leaders (YGL) and Emerging Postal Leaders (EPL) members are centered around the two areas in which YGL and EPL members can provide the most beneficial perspective: communication strategy and employment experience.

• Emerging Postal Leaders (EPL):
  Aretha Carter(USPS-HQ)
  Keisha Chambers (USPS-HQ)
  Bruce Marsh (USPS-HQ)
  Brad Parish (USPS-HQ)
  Nora Taylor (USPS-HQ)
  Carrie Witt (USPS-HQ)
• Young Government Leaders (YGL):
  Lora Allen (Department of Education)
  Lisa Phillips (Department of Energy)
  Malena Brookshire (Securities and Exchange Commission)
  Teresa David (Department of Homeland Security)
  Andy Krzmarzick (USDA Graduate School)
  Steve Ressler (GovLoop)
  Atinuke Diver

Partnership for Public Service Explores Federal Government Innovation

With support from the Rockefeller Foundation, the non-profit Partnership for Public Service is exploring how agencies can foster an environment of innovation in the federal government. Over the past few months, the Partnership has spoken with senior-level, mid-level and front-line employees throughout the government to identify the challenges to innovation. Now it is time to move to the solutions!

The Partnership convened the group of 10 rising federal leaders to brainstorm new solutions to fostering innovation in government on Tuesday, April 6, 2010. Top ideas will be included in our final set of recommendations.

• Young Government Leaders (YGL):
  Michael Capobianco
  Virginia Hill
  Gil Castellanos
  David Uejio
  Katina Stapleton
  Terry Hill
  Jon Soderberg
  Mark Horowitz

Brookings Institution: Developing New Leaders

Brookings Executive Education hosted an event titled “Developing New Leaders” and asked 5 – 6 YGL members to participate in the event on April 13, 2010, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.  The setting was informal. 3 - 5 young federal employees who have been identified as promising new leaders to participated in a casual discussion about their experiences with leaders/managers who have made a difference in their work experiences/lives.

• Young Government Leaders (YGL):
  Dave Uejio