NTP OVERVIEW
REGISTRATION
TRAINING COURSES
EVENTS
LODGING
& TRANSPORTATION
RESOURCES
GET INVOLVED
FEW
|
Federally Employed Women
Federally Employed Women is a membership
organization working for the elimination of sexual discrimination
and the advancement of women in government. This is accomplished
by:
- encouraging diversity and equity in the workplace;
- enhancing career opportunities for women;
- establishing and maintaining working relationships with
organizations to advocate the fair application of EEO and
personnel laws, policies, procedures, and practices;
- improving the quality of life for women by influencing
Congressional and administrative actions;
- committing to achieve and maintain a unified and diverse
membership; and
- providing opportunities for professional growth through
leadership development, education, mentoring, and networking
.
For 41 years Federally Employed Women (FEW) has been working
for the advancement of women in government through its outstanding
training programs at the national, regional, and local chapter
levels.
In July of each year, approximately 2,000 attendees gather
for FEW’s National Training Program (NTP), and they
are able to take the knowledge they have gained from the
leadership-focused training back to their workplace. FEW
has been most successful in helping women bridge the gap
from administrative to management positions and in moving
from a job to a career. Almost all members of Federally Employed
Women have a story to tell and particularly those who have
taken leadership roles within the organization. We want to
share a few of those stories with you because we believe
that in sharing their stories, we really tell FEW’s
story–41 years of women helping women to develop personally
and professionally so that they are ready to move up when
the opportunity presents itself.
Sue Webster, National President
I have grown personally and professionally since
joining FEW. When I joined, I was a GS-7 Public Affairs Specialist.
Today I am an NT-V (GS-13 equivalent) Admin/Tech Specialist
serving on a Continuous Improvement Lean Core Team at NSWC
Crane. Prior to this assignment, I served as the Public Affairs
Officer at Crane for over 10 years, a career which I loved.
I recently took a reassignment from this career because I
wanted the opportunity to serve as the National President
of FEW – another job that I absolutely love! I credit
FEW for my advancement in my career. FEW has helped me to
improve my oral and written communications skills, budgeting
and project planning skills, and teaming skills. I have traveled
throughout the country for FEW and I have met a great many
people and gained a new network of colleagues and friends
through FEW. It has truly been an experience I would not
trade. I have served at all levels of FEW – Chapter,
Region, and National.
Rhonda Trent, 2006-2008 National President
In 1993 at the National Training Program,
I attended a workshop on interviewing techniques
and skills. I was a GS-4 and attended college classes
in the evening. Soon thereafter, I received a call
from the Contracting Directorate requesting an interview
for a GS-5 - target GS-9 position. I made the list
because I had 24 business hours of college credit.
Using my notes from the NTP class, I prepared for
the interview, and I was offered the position immediately.
For this reason, I credit FEW because I now had a
career and not just a job. While at Tinker AFB, in
Oklahoma I completed my Bachelor’s and Master’s
Degrees. A few years later, I was selected for a
Career Broadening Program and moved to San Antonio,
Texas. During the interview for this position the
board commented on the strong skills I’d acquired
in my volunteer leadership positions with FEW. In
2005 I was selected to work on the prestigious Joint
Strike Fighter Program in Crystal City, Virginia,
and just a few months ago, I was promoted to GS-15
at the Department of Homeland Security in Washington
D.C. My mobility, education, and career assignments
helped me. However, FEW gave me the leadership training
and opportunities I would have never been afforded
at work.
Jean Christiansen, Past National President
I started working for the U.S. Immigration & Naturalization Service
as a GS-5 Secretary in Dallas, Texas. I was 34 with four children and
no college degree. I was impressed with FEW’s programs and got
involved at the chapter level and then at the national level. In 1990,
I moved to Washington DC, and was elected National President.
During my second term as National President, I was selected
for an Executive Potential Program. This led to a new assignment
as the Officer in Charge in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and then
in Vienna, Austria. I retired in 2005 as the GS-15 District
Director in Bangkok, Thailand. My career would never have
been possible without the mentors and support of the wonderful
women of FEW!
Judy Dillander, Southeast Region
FEW really makes a difference! I became a member of FEW in 1986 when I
was in between federal agencies and federal careers. At that time, I had
been a cartographer for the U.S. Defense Mapping Agency in Louisville,
Kentucky for six years. As a result of networking in the Derby City Chapter,
I met a wonderful lady, Sandy Hardee, a longtime member of FEW. She introduced
me to the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Federal Contract Compliance
Programs (OFCCP), where she was a Compliance Officer. I applied and was
hired with the agency in 1987 also as a Compliance Officer. We spent many
wonderful and exciting years together in FEW and OFCCP before she retired.
She has moved on to a consulting business. I am a Senior Compliance Officer
at OFCCP, GS-12, and can retire in 2012. I have served FEW in many offices
to include Southeast Regional Manager, Assistant Southeast Regional Manager,
Regional Representative, Derby City Chapter President, Derby City Chapter
Vice President, Southeast RTP Co-Chair, and 2007 Southeast RTP Co-Chair.
FEW has made a big difference in my life!
Arlena Fitch-Gordon, National VP for Training
I attended my first FEW National Training Program (NTP) in 1991. I was
impressed with the Workshop Presenters/Keynote Speakers. I was inspired,
motivated and empowered to believe that during the 21 st Century, I would
achieve and fulfill my dream of becoming a keynote speaker for training
programs sponsored by the Federally Employed Women. My involvement with
FEW was the roadmap that helped charter my destiny in life. FEW has helped
me realize my own potential and broaden my horizons of becoming a motivational
speaker. I was honored to serve as FEW’s Vice President of Diversity
for four years and I currently serve as FEW’s Vice President for
Training.
Jeanette Miller, Past National President
FEW’s 2010 National Training Program (NTP), “Jazz Up Your
Career,” will provide a great opportunity to individuals who wish
to advance in their careers. Participation in FEW’s NTPs have
certainly paved the way for my career advancement through my federal
employment with the Department of Energy (DOE). I was recruited into
FEW by the President of the newly-formed Oak Ridge Chapter of FEW in
1979. I served at various leadership roles on the FEW National Board
of Directors and ultimately served as FEW’s National President
from 1998 to 2000. I attribute a lot of my career success to my volunteer
work for FEW where I acquired many skills – leadership, tenacity,
diplomacy, and the ability to work with and value people of all different
backgrounds. Through the various leadership roles I have held, and the
experience gained, I was selected for a management intern position with
DOE which required attending college while raising children and working
full time. The sacrifices have paid off two-fold as I am now serving
as a GS-13 Audit Analysis Specialist with DOE. Currently for FEW, I
am the Onsite Logistics Chair for the 2010 NTP. I also serve on the
Council of Advisors for the FEW Foundation for Education & Training,
sister organization to FEW. I encourage all individuals to Jazz up their
careers by attending the NTP in New Orleans, Louisiana, in July 2010.
Patricia Wolfe, Past National President
“Jazz Up Your Career!” FEW
certainly “jazzed” up my career and
changed my thinking from “job to career.” FEW
had a major influence on my being able to move
from the state of Washington to Washington, DC
in 1997 for a procurement intern position with
the Department of Treasury and to move up the
career ladder from a GS-07 at Treasury to a GS-15
with the Department of Homeland Security. Without
FEW friends’ encouragement and support,
this would not have been possible. I joined FEW’s
Rainier Chapter in Tacoma, Washington after attending
a workshop entitled “Take Charge of Your
Career,” and I did! I completed my Bachelor’s
Degree as a working Mom and took advantage of
FEW’s training and leadership opportunities
at the chapter, region, and national levels so
that I was ready when the opportunity came. This
all culminated in my serving as FEW’s National
President from 2002-2006 and in my getting a “dream
job” of managing an acquisition intern
program. My experience with leading a diverse
group of people, developing and implementing
training programs, conducting meetings all led
me to where I am today in my career. I currently
serve as Co-Chair of FEW’s 2010 National
Training Program and on the Council of Advisors
for FEW’s Foundation for Education and
Training.
|
