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The 2010 Telework Exchange Tele-Vision Award recipients were honored at an awards ceremony on Tuesday, June 8, 2010 at the City Club of Washington at Columbia Square in Washington, D.C. The ceremony featured guest speaker Bill McAlpin, Chief, Manpower and Personnel Systems Support Division at the Defense Information Systems Agency and 2009 recipient of the Federal Telework Driver award.
The 2010 Telework Exchange Tele-Vision Awards recognize excellence in government telework programs and their accomplishments in the following categories:
Below please find the 2010 award recipients:
Excellence in Telework Leadership
Organization: Virginia Department of Taxation
Program: Telework Program
In addition to its mission of collecting and managing revenue for the Commonwealth, the Virginia Department of Taxation is focused on reducing its operating costs and increasing employee productivity by investing in an enterprise-wide telework program. During the past year, the Department has increased its telework participation by more than 300 percent – with more than 60 percent of the nearly 700 teleworking employees currently working from home one day per week and more than half of them now permanently home-based. As a result, the Department expects to save $130,000 annually and initial metrics indicate that productivity for home-based staff has increased significantly.
The agency focused on developing a program that fulfills its strategic organizational goals to enhance services to taxpayers, while creating a more flexible workplace. The telework program has been successful due in large part to the commitment by the agency's leadership who implemented a top-down approach to encourage adoption.
The agency was able to use innovative technology to support the rapid adoption of telework, including implementing Live Chat and an advanced supervisory software. The Department of Taxation increased the number of applicants eligible for customer service positions by creating home-based jobs in geographically-dispersed and economically-depressed regions in the Commonwealth. Access to this expanded talent pool and regional diversity has been a win/win/win for taxpayers, employees, and agency officials. The Virginia Department of Taxation shows how combining situational knowledge, leadership, technology, and workplace flexibility can improve an agency's performance – even under challenging economic conditions
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Innovative Application of Technology to Support Telework
Organization: United States Patent and Trademark Office
Program: Enterprise Remote Access (ERA) Portal
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), long recognized for its leadership in government telework program, entered a new phase in 2009 with the introduction of its Enterprise Remote Access (ERA) Portal. The portal was designed to extend telework as a versatile and economically-viable option by providing access to employee desktops and files through their own user-furnished equipment. Each portal user receives comprehensive pre-telework training and a USPTO-supplied secure ID token for sanctioned network access.
Designed by the USPTO's Office of the Chief Information Officer, the ERA Portal delivers an alternate solution to agency business units seeking to deploy safe, secure, and low to no-cost telework access for their eligible employees. Previously, USPTO telework programs required government-furnished equipment (GFE) at an average cost of $2,800 per user. By contrast, the ERA Portal approach allows USPTO operating units to deploy teleworkers with user-furnished equipment for as little as $105 per user.
The ERA Portal architecture relies on a secure socket layer (SSL) solution with a Virtual Private Network (VPN) via a Web portal. The software establishes a secure virtual environment on the remote client through which the teleworker accesses his/her office workstation through a Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). At the time of initial connection, the remote client is checked for current anti-virus protection, which ensures the safety and security of USPTO infrastructure and the integrity of government data.
Since the ERA Portal launch in early 2009, more than 350 USPTO staff members have been trained and deployed to telework, an option not previously available to these employees. Further, the portal adoption has allowed the agency to avoid an estimated $980,000 that would have been associated with these deployments in the previous GFE-only model. A key component to the program's success to date is the mandatory training for each user that focuses on telework best practices, common questions, and essentials for secure remote operations – all of which combine to prepare employees to work from home within the agency's operating guidelines. The USPTO CIO, John Owens, considers the portal a great new tool for our employees and allows them to use their own equipment to telework without incurring additional expenses by the agency. It has been a successful solution for our teleworkers and another means for the agency to meet its mission and business goals.
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Best New Telework Initiative
Organization: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Program: Telework Improvement Initiative
With more than 10,000 employees nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) recognized a need to create a more telework-friendly operating environment and took steps to support remote workforce options during the past year. With essential senior leadership support, the enterprise-wide telework program has been organized like any other major initiative, with a ranking program manager empowered to develop and implement policies and procedures that encourage telework participation across the organization. The CDC goals for the program parallel the agency mission: focus on delivering timely and accurate critical information to the public, manage and contain costs, and maintain a skilled, satisfied workforce.
Under the Telework Improvement Initiative, the CDC:
- Increased telework participation from 18 percent of eligible employees to 30 percent during the last 12 months
- Conducted a comprehensive employee eligibility determination for more than 7,000 employees based on job function
- Ensured all teleworkers and their supervisors participated in updated telework training
- Purchased 1,900+ additional laptops to be used solely by teleworkers, and a distribution strategy was implemented to ensure that no one was denied the privilege to telework based solely on lack of funding
- Developed a Telework Management System, which facilitates electronic routing and authorization of telework requests/agreements
- Developed an internal Telework Web portal, which serves as the single repository for all telework related news, policies, and forms
Customer surveys indicate service levels were preserved or improved, regardless of where the CDC staff worked during the evaluation period. By making telework a strategic priority for the CDC, the agency demonstrated its commitment to quality of service, while supporting employee work-life balance. Further, as it is mandatory that the CDC be able to continue to function in a reliable, business-like manner during public health emergencies, the telework expansion program is directly linked to the agency mission accomplishment. Not insignificantly, the agency also has realized tangible cost-savings by maximizing office hoteling, as well as space and equipment sharing models that have combined to reduce overall operating budgets. CDC officials credit their success to the involvement of all stakeholders in the planning and implementation of the telework program, which has made this a collaborative, joint success for employees, supervisors, senior leadership, and organized labor groups.
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Telework Program with Maximum Impact on Government
Organization: ATSPI Technology Office, Air Force Research Laboratory
Program: Lightweight Portable Security (LPS), Software Protection Initiative Program
The Software Protection Initiative from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory offers a free, telework-friendly, portable tool that provides a safer, local environment for connecting to any network or cloud computing application. Lightweight Portable Security (LPS) creates a non-persistent computing environment from a mini-CD. LPS comes in two editions: LPS-Public for general browsing and the more secure LPS-Remote Access customized to access only your organization's network.
LPS is Government Off the Shelf (GOTS) software that is trustworthy, extremely deployable, and easily maintained. Its simplicity lends itself to supporting teleworkers with minimal helpdesk support and its flexibility enables operations of mobile workers in unpredictable environments, including humanitarian and disaster relief missions. This innovative technology turns almost any x86 computer (Mac, Windows, or Linux) into a temporarily trusted system for safe Internet browsing and secure network access. Booting Linux from a LiveCD and installing nothing, LPS runs in RAM and does not mount the hard drive thus bypassing local malware. LPS's various editions will remain free as SPI's budget/resources allow.
Each LPS edition serves a specific use, focusing on the task to be performed and the requisite security. The free LPS-Public edition provides a safe, easy way to browse the Internet, access Department of Defense (DoD) Common Access Card (CAC)-enabled Web sites, and connect to remote networks without leaving a trace. To date, the U.S. Air Force has distributed more than 38,000 copies of LPS-Public. Download the software at http://spi.dod.mil/lipose.htm.
The LPS-Remote Access edition provides very secure remote desktop access from an exceptionally locked-down operating system (OS) that may only connect to pre-specified organization's resources. It's customized to match your existing infrastructure and organizational needs. LPS technology was conceived in 2001 but the 2009 H1N1 pandemic threat drove the creation of LPS-Remote Access and its accreditation as a Continuity of Operations (COOP) solution. The software has been evaluated by the National Security Agency and was approved for DoD-wide emergency telework use by the DoD Chief Information Officer in December 2009. It's the only approved means to allow non-government-furnished (e.g. private or public) computers to connect to the DoD's Unclassified but Sensitive Internet Protocol Router Network (NIPRNet).
LPS-Remote Access was deemed by the DoD as the easiest and least expensive telework solution for its geographically-dispersed workforce. Deployment entailed burning and distributing free CDs and inexpensive smartcard-readers to users, rather than having to issue and update government laptops or requiring users to install specialized software on their personal computing devices. LPS-Remote Access customization and Tier 2 support is available for all Federal agencies and many of their contractors. More than 30 organizations representing some 30,000 government employees have adopted LPS-Remote Access. To learn more and request a build, visit https://spi.dod.mil/COOP/DoD_reg_SSL.htm.
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State and Local Government Telework Program
Organization: Minnesota Department of Transportation
Program: eWorkPlace
In 2009, the Minnesota Department of Transportation sponsored and developed the eWorkPlace initiative to reduce congestion in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. The program, which encourages local employers to offer a telework option, to date has 30 employers enrolled, representing more than 2,400 teleworking participants. The companies involved have reported significant cost-savings, increased recruitment and retention rates, and productivity increases attributed to the eWorkPlace initiative. Simultaneously, their employees benefit from reduced commuting time, aggravation, and cost, and report increased job satisfaction with more improved work-life balance.
To ensure lasting results, eWorkPlace provides employees and employers with access to a free and secure online Commute Tool to evaluate their potential reduction of vehicle miles travelled and emissions, as well as time and money saved by teleworking. It offers options to survey participants, gauges who is using the program, and can provide employers with feedback about how well their employees like teleworking.
After the first year, eWorkPlace participants agree that teleworking employees are more engaged and productive – as evidenced by one CEO's comment, "A major advantage of our telework strategy is the loyalty and commitment of our customer representatives. The convenience and flexibility of their jobs has kept our turnover minimal." In addition, managers and employees from multiple organizations report they are experiencing less stress, better well-being, higher expectations, and improved interpersonal relationships.
This is a program that can work for most communities and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. A Carver County, MN Commissioner noted, "Less commuting for our residents means more people running errands, eating lunch and shopping right here in our community rather than at businesses near their far-away workplaces. We see it as a potential boost to our County's economic health, which might be coming at a perfect time for many of our small businesses."
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Federal Telework Driver Award
Honoree: Danette Campbell, Senior Telework Advisor
Organization: United States Patent and Trademark Office
Ms. Danette Campbell is the Senior Telework Advisor for the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), part of the Department of Commerce (DOC). She represents the USPTO on telework-related matters and oversees the agency's enterprise-wide telework program. Since Ms. Campbell joined the USPTO in 2006, the number of employees teleworking on a regular basis has nearly doubled to more than 5,500 participants in 2010. She helped establish a successful office hoteling program, which has allowed the USPTO to avoid expenditure of an estimated $11 million in additional real estate expense. Equally important, and in direct support of the agency mission – the expanded telework initiatives have allowed the USPTO to continue hiring patent examiners, without incurring additional office space.
In addition to educating managers on telework strategies and providing telework training, Ms. Campbell helps the USPTO business units design, develop, and refine their individual telework initiatives. She works closely with the Chief Information Officer, the Chief Administrative Officer, and other stakeholders to report telework program progress and to ensure teleworking technology requirements are met. Ms. Campbell is focused on internal and external communications by maintaining an internal telework resource Web site and by frequently meeting with other agencies and organizations to promote telework and share best practices.
Ms. Campbell is a recognized voice and leader in the Federal telework community. She is known for her tenacity, attention to detail, and commitment to expanding telework for the Federal workforce. Her many achievements and proven success within the USPTO demonstrates her remarkable abilities to lead strategic programs, champion executive support, and collaborate with stakeholders inside and outside of the organization to continue momentum for government-wide telework initiatives.
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State Telework Driver Award
Honoree: Janie E. Bowen, Virginia Tax Commissioner
Organization: Virginia Department of Taxation
As the Virginia Tax Commissioner, Ms. Janie Bowen is directly responsible for the operation and management of the Virginia Department of Taxation. She is focused on the agency's mission to collect and deposit taxes, administer the tax laws for individuals and corporations doing business in Virginia, and she advises the Governor and General Assembly on tax policy and operations.
Ms. Bowen also has been a leading proponent for building a robust, innovative, and pragmatic telework program at the Department of Taxation. She initiated a top-down approach with buy-in from agency executives and managers before she engaged the broader staff in this transformational process. She founded the telework program with an emphasis on improving the agency's performance, named a telework program manager, and encouraged a phased and staged implementation strategy with feedback and improvement opportunities throughout the agency-wide roll-out. The success of the Tax Department's telework program has attracted the interest of other Virginia state agencies, and Ms. Bowen continues to be an experienced advocate for expanded telework across government.
To date, more than 60 percent of the Department of Taxation's nearly 700 teleworking employees work from home one day a week, and 382 are permanently home-based. As one of the leading telework programs among public and private employers in the Commonwealth, the Virginia Department of Taxation is a model for other organizations. The program's success and sustainability continues to be driven by Ms. Bowen's vision, persuasion, persistence, and most of all, leadership.
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Thank you to the 2010 Telework Exchange Tele-Vision Awards Sponsor
For Award Inquiries
Nancy Whitman
(703) 859-1898
nwhitman@teleworkexchange.com
2009 Federal Driver Award winner, Bill McAlpin, Chief, Manpower and Personnel Systems Support Division at the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) discusses the progression of DISA's telework program, beginning more than 10 years ago.
Virginia Department of Taxation won the Tele-Vision Award for Excellence in Telework Leadership for their Telework Program.
United States Patent and Trademark Office won the Tele-Vision Award for Innovative Application of Technology to Support Telework for their Enterprise Remote Access (ERA) Portal.
 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention won the Tele-Vision Award for Best New Telework Initiatives for their Telework Improvement Initiative.
The ATSPI Technology Office at the Air Force Research Laboratory won the Tele-Vision Award for the Telework Program with Maximum Impact on Government for their Lightweight Portable Security (LPS), Software Protection Initiative Program.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation won the Tele-Vision Award for State and Local Government Telework Program for their eWorkPlace.
Juliann Krogh accepts an award on behalf of Janie E. Bowen, Virginia Tax Commissioner at the Virginia Department of Taxation who won the 2010 State Telework Driver Award.
Danette Campbell, Senior Telework Advisor at the United States Patent and Trademark Office won the 2010 Federal Telework Driver Award.
For information on the 2009 Tele-Vision Awards, please click here.
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