NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL 

FOR OFFICE PROFESSIONALS 

AND 

ORGANIZATIONAL SECRETARIAL ADVISORY 

COUNCILS 

ANNUAL REPORT – June 1, 2011- May 31, 2012 

Prepared By 

NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR OFFICE 

PROFESSIONALS 

AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
2011-2012 ANNUAL REPORT

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR OFFICE PROFESSIONALS 

 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................3 

2011-2012 NACOP MEMBERS ................................................................................4 

FORMER MEMBERS ...............................................................................................5 

ANNUAL MEETING, ACCOMPLISHMENTS & GOALS .................................7 

OFFICE PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR RECOGNITION PROGRAM ......8 

ORGANIZATIONAL SECRETARIAL ADVISORY COUNCILS 

 BELTSVILLE AREA 

 Members, Accomplishments & Goals ..................................................................9 

 HEADQUARTERS 

 Members, Accomplishments & Goals ................................................................11 

 MID SOUTH AREA 

 Members, Accomplishments & Goals ................................................................16 

 MIDWEST AREA 

 Members, Accomplishments & Goals ................................................................18 

 NORTH ATLANTIC AREA 

 Members, Accomplishments & Goals ................................................................20 

 NORTHERN PLAINS AREA 

 Members, Accomplishments & Goals ................................................................21 

 PACIFIC WEST AREA 

 Members, Accomplishments & Goals ................................................................23 

 SOUTH ATLANTIC AREA 

 Members, Accomplishments & Goals ................................................................25 

 SOUTHERN PLAINS AREA 

 Members, Accomplishments & Goals ................................................................27 

 

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2011-2012 ANNUAL REPORT

Executive Summary 

Overview: 

The National Advisory Council for Office Professionals (NACOP) was hosted by the 

Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) in Beltsville, Maryland, the week of 

June 5-7, 2012. Council members were welcomed by Dr. Joe Spence, Director, Beltsville 

Area, and given a tour of BARC by Dr. Allison Yates, Associate Area Director, and 

Jennifer Woodward-Greene, Public Affairs Specialist (previously Director, ARS National 

Visitor Center). 

NACOP Charter calls for team-building exercises when 3 or more members rotate onto 

the Council. This year we had 5 new members who attended the meeting. Jeffrey 

Schmitt, Cooperative Resolution Program, Office of Outreach, Diversity, and Equal 

Opportunity, facilitated the icebreaker and team-building activities for the Council. The 

team building consisted of four parts: Introduction, Coping with Change, Understanding 

Differences, and an Exercise. 

The Council Charter was reviewed and updated. Goals were established for the coming 

2012-2013 year. 

The Council started brainstorming and planning for the 2013 NACOP Training 

Workshop. 

The Council conducted monthly conference calls to work on goals and priorities. 

Information was shared with local councils and office professionals through NACOP 

Notes, Best Practices, and the Website. Office Professionals across the nation received 

mouse pads in recognition of Administrative Professionals Day, April 25, 2012. The 

mouse pads publicized our website, which provides access to information, and other 

helpful links and resources. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Jackie Kelly, Senior Co-Chair 

Linda Fulton, Junior Co-Chair 

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2011-2012 ANNUAL REPORT

2011-2012 NACOP Members 

Jackie Kelly, HQ, Senior Co-Chair 

Linda Fulton, MSA, Junior Co-Chair 

Sandy Groneberg, MWA, Ex-Officio (Retired Dec 2011) 

Brenda Holmes, NAA, News Notes Editor I/Webmaster 

Sherry Dewald, SPA 

Mary Dailey, BA, News Notes Editor II 

Kathleen Parker, PWA – Historian 

Linda Parnell, NPA - Recorder 

LaTasha Beasley, NAL, Webmaster (Resigned Dec 2011) 

Wanda Rohrer, SAA (Retired Dec 2011) 

Brittany Jones, MWA (Resigned Apr 1012) 

Missy Stiefel, MWA (Replaced Brittany Jones) 

Cathy Lonaberger, OA, Technical Advisor 

Pat Berry, HQ, Technical Advisor 

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2011-2012 ANNUAL REPORT

Former Members of NSAC/NACOSP/NACOP 

KATHY ARAGON, NPA 

MARIA ARCHER, NAL 

DIONA AUSTILL, NPA 

BRENDA AYSENNE, MSA 

BARBIE BALLENGEE, PWA 

SANDRA BALL, NAL 

LATASHA BEASLEY, NAL 

PAT BERRY, HQ 

PRUNELLA BRANISH, NAA 

SHERRI BUXTON, MWA 

KAY CARR, SAA 

CARMELA CARRICK, HQ 

CLARICE CARTER, TECHNICAL ADVISOR 

PATTY COYLE, NAA 

JOYCE CRAIG, HQ 

LOUISE DALTON, NPA

PHYLLIS DAVIS, NAA 

DEBRA DUCKWORTH, SAA 

TAMMY DURFEE BLAIR, PWA 

BRENDA ELSTON, HQ 

JANET FERST, HQ 

LIBBY FOUSE, PWA 

DRUSILLA FRATESI, MSA 

RHEA FRYAR-CALVERT, SPA 

SANDY GRONEBERG, MWA 

MADELINE HALL, MSA

NADINE HEIRS, BA 

TERRY HENRICHS, NAL 

BARBARA HODGES, SPA

SUE HURD, NPA 

BONNIE INGRAM, MWA 

MARCIA JENKINS, MWA 

CODY JENSEN, NPA 

DIANE KOCH, NAA 

VERONICA LAIRD, PWA 

OLGA LEE, NPA 

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2011-2012 ANNUAL REPORT

HEATHER LEWANDOWSKI, MWA 

ANGIE MARCHETTI, HQ 

ELAINE, MCGUIRE, BA 

CHRISTA MEIER, PWA 

SHEILA MESSINEO, BA

LINDA NEUENHAHN, HQ 

OLIVIA PEDRAZA, SPA 

ROSETTA PROCTOR, HQ 

WANDA ROHRER, SAA

RHONDA SAMPSON, OCIO, TECHNICAL ADVISOR 

JANNETTE SHUFORD-REEVES, NAL 

BETTY SIGLER, NPA 

MARY SILVA, NAL 

FRANKEE SIMPSON, SAA 

JOYCE SMITH, NAA 

MICHELLE SNOWDEN, HQ 

KRISTEN SOTER, BA 

QUEEN SPRIGGS, HQ 

ANNE STELLE, SPA 

CECELIA STORTZUM, TECHNICAL ADVISOR 

STEPHANIE LIVELY SULLIVAN, NAA 

GENEVIEVE SWARTZBERG, MSA 

KATHY TOWNSON, BA 

SUE THORNBURG, NPA 

RUTH TREAT, SPA 

LORI WILSON-VOSS, MWA 

TONI WALLS, TECHNICAL ADVISOR 

SANDRA WARREN, MSA 

SABRINA WHITLEY-FERRELL, SAA 

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2011-2012 ANNUAL REPORT

National Advisory Council for Office Professionals 

Annual Meeting

Date: June 5-7, 2012

Location: Beltsville, Maryland

Host: Beltsville Area 

FY-2011/2012 Accomplishments

• Increased outreach activity to all office professionals through NACOP Notes, “Best 

Practices,” and the NACOP Website. 

• Links were added to our website for promotion of Blogs and a Book Club. 

• Our Resource Assistance List was updated and is included on our website. 

• Continued to promote awareness by providing NACOP members with support and 

resources to take back to local councils. 

• Established an Outreach Coordinator position and identified duties. 

FY-2012/2013 Goals

• Establish Outreach Committee to explore webinars, blogs, book club, and best practices 

to promote visibility. 

• Explore option of adding a representative for Business Service Centers (BSC) to 

NACOP. 

• Modernize displays and update brochure. 

• Update resource assistance list and historical scrapbook. 

• Promote awareness by providing NACOP members with support and resources to take 

back to local councils. 

• Plan and host a training workshop (target date, August 2013). 

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2011-2012 ANNUAL REPORT

Office Professional of the Year Recognition Program 

2011 ARS Office Professional of the Year

Lynne Pearson, Program Support Assistant 

PWA, Crops Pathology and Genetics Research Unit 

Davis, CA 

Beltsville Area

Nadine Hiers, Secretary 

U.S. National Arboretum 

Washington, DC 

Mid South Area 

Cathy L. Warren, Program Support Assistant 

Southern Insect Management Research Unit 

Stoneville, MS 

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2011-2012 ANNUAL REPORT

Beltsville Area (BA) 

Current Members

Rose McIntosh, ANRI, EMFSL (NACOP Technical Advisor) 

Mary Dailey, PSI, MPPL (NACOP Technical Advisor, 

stepped down in June 2012) 

Amy Hopkins, ANRI, Institute Office 

Carole Miller, BHNRC, NDL 

Catherine Parsons, PSI, FQL (Senior Co-Chair) 

Linda, Reynolds, BHNRC, Institute Office 

Emely Schuck, PSI, Institute Office 

Melissa Seibert, BA Office 

Kimberlee Watson, ANRI, HRSL (Junior Co-Chair) 

Roslyn Williams, USNA, GU 

In process of recruiting two more members. 

2012 Accomplishments 

April 25, 2012, participants enrolled in AgLearn; BAASAC workshop partnered with 

Administrative Financial Management (AFM) which included three trainings: 1) ARS 

Onboarding, presented by Angela Newcomb, Human Resources Specialist, Human 

Resources Division, 2) SharePoint, presented by Raj Pujara, ARS-OCIO-WB, 3) ARS 

Business Service Centers, presented by Lisa Baldus, Associate Director, AFM, 4) Zumba, 

presented by Rose McIntosh, NACOP advisor and assisted by BA students Kimberly 

Mills and Jessica Lahocki. 

The objectives of the training: 

1) Participants learned to understand the ARS Onboarding process and new 

requirements for new employees and supervisors. 

2) Participants became skilled and gained knowledge on utilizing SharePoint for their 

working environment. 

3) Participants learned that ARS Business Service Centers (BSC) can benefit the 

employees and who to contact. 

4) Zumba exercise created awareness for the "President's Challenge to make fitness 

fun." 

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2011-2012 ANNUAL REPORT

2012 Goals

• Keep current with BAASAC Website, SharePoint, the charter, and resources list. 

• Meet regularly with BA Management to converse about BAASAC role and how 

to serve in a more advisory capacity on new initiatives which impact employees at 

BARC. 

• Other future training: To be determined. 

2011 Goals

• Created BAASAC SharePoint, uploaded and created files, such as BAASAC / 

NACOP charters, newsletters, trainings, travel information, correspondence, IAS, 

ARIS, AIMS, ARMPS, WebTA, so forth. 

• Office professionals all have permission for the SharePoint site to read files or 

load to their PC. 

2012 Beltsville Area Office Support Professional of the Year 

Nadine Hiers, Secretary 

U.S. National Arboretum 

Washington, D.C. 

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2011-2012 ANNUAL REPORT

Headquarters (HQ) 

Mission and Goal

The mission of the Headquarters Advisory Council for 

Administrative Professionals (HACAP) is to serve the 

Office of the Administrator (OA) and Deputy 

Administrator, Administrative and Financial Management (DAAFM) in an advisory 

capacity on new initiatives that impact Headquarters administrative personnel; to 

act as a liaison to the National Advisory Council for Office Professionals (NACOP) 

on matters that impact administrative personnel Agency-wide; and to enhance the 

office administrative profession through training, mentoring, and recognition. The 

Council’s goal is to ensure that ARS Headquarters has highly skilled office 

administrative professionals working in partnership with management to meet the 

needs of the Agency. 

Objectives

 

The objectives of the Council include: 

• Serve the OA and DAAFM in an advisory capacity on new initiatives that 

impact Headquarters administrative professionals. 

• Encourage ongoing communication among administrative professionals, 

HACAP, and the administration. 

• Act as liaison and support for NACOP. 

• Advise the OA and DAAFM on matters relating to development, advancement, 

and recognition of Headquarters administrative professionals. 

• Encourage networking among administrative personnel for effective 

communications and efficient working relationships. 

• Assist in the development and presentation of required and appropriate training 

and mentoring for administrative professionals. 

Scope

HACAP represents administrative personnel who support the Headquarters staff 

listed below. This includes employees in the Secretarial Series, GS-318; Office 

Automation Series, GS-326; and Miscellaneous Clerk, Assistance or Program 

Support Assistant Series, GS-303. 

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2011-2012 ANNUAL REPORT

Current Members 

HACAP represents over 70 employees in the GS-318, GS-326, and GS-303 series from 

the Office of the Administrator which includes: Office of National Programs 

(ONP); Office of International Research Programs; Office of Technology Transfer 

(OTT); Budget and Program Management Staff; Homeland Security; Civil 

Rights; Information Staff; Office of the Chief Information Officer; Office of Scientific 

Quality Review; Legislative Office; and Administrative and Financial Management 

(AFM). Administrative professionals in these series are invited and encouraged to attend 

all meetings and events sponsored by HACAP. 

The roles and responsibilities of each council member are listed below. 

Kim Melton – Chairperson

Tiffany Jackson – Vice Chairperson 

Kisha Shelton – Recorder & Newsletter Editor 

Diane Grady – Membership Chairperson

Paula McEvoy – Publicity Chairperson 

Glendora Stevens – Web Master 

Jackie Kelly - NACOP - Technical Advisor 

Kim Melton, License Assistant, Office of Technology Transfer, Chairperson 

• Organized meetings and issued agendas. 

• Presided at all meetings and conference calls. 

• Advised and worked with management on implementing policies and programs 

affecting the Headquarters Offices and AFM. 

• Developed correspondence from the Council and obtained appropriate 

approvals prior to dissemination. 

• Informed Council Members of future meeting arrangements. 

• Prepared annual progress report for NACOP, OA, and DAAFM. 

• Perform other duties as customarily pertain to the office of chair including but 

not limited to serving in other vacant positions. 

• Meet quarterly with HACAP Champion to discuss upcoming events. 

Tiffany Jackson, Secretary, Office of National Programs, Vice Chairperson 

• Serve as backup and support to the Chairperson. 

• Preside as Chair in absence of the Chair. 

• Keep Headquarters staff office personnel aware of information and activities of 

the Council and related programs. 

• Coordinate with the Chairperson on all correspondence and the NACOP annual 

report. 

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2011-2012 ANNUAL REPORT

Kisha Shelton, Executive Assistant, ODEO, Recorder and Newsletter Editor 

• Recorded and distributed highlights and action items of meetings. 

• Maintained current Council records. 

• Disseminated all correspondence after approval was obtained from the 

Chairperson. 

• Gathered information to be published in the HACAP News newsletter. 

• Arranged quarterly newsletters for publication. 

• Distributed copies of newsletter to the membership. 

Glendora Stevens, Secretary, Office of National Programs, Web Master 

• Maintained HACAP SharePoint site updating and functioning. 

• Coordinated with the Membership Chairperson to ensure the e-mail address list 

for administrative professionals (Series 318, 326, and 303) was updated. 

Diane Grady, Secretary, Financial Management, Membership Chairperson 

• Maintained an accurate roster and e-mail list of all administrative professionals. 

• Prepared sign in sheets for all general, board, and special meetings. 

• Followed up with a phone call to any new, eligible administrative professionals 

and notified board members that contact was made. 

• Requested volunteers for new council board members when a HACAP member 

resigned. 

Paula McEvoy, Office Automation Assistant, HRD, Publicity Chairperson 

• Advertised quarterly HACAP general membership meetings. 

• Updated and maintained HACAP brochure. 

• Advertised the annual Administrative Professionals Day event. 

Jackie Kelly, Secretary, OA, Technical Advisor 

• Ensured all Council meetings are conducted in accordance with the established 

charter and that appropriate issues were addressed. 

• Ensured that all recommendations from the Council are consistent with rules 

and regulations. 

• Represented HACAP on the NACOP. 

• Provided information to HACAP members on NACOP relevant issues. 

Accomplishments

On Thursday, April 25, 2012, HACAP observed Administrative Professional Day with a 

training seminar. “A Fresh New Start”, Administrative Professionals Day (APD) was 

held at GWCC in the back of the cafeteria. Refreshments were provided by Staff Officer, 

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2011-2012 ANNUAL REPORT

Sharon Drumm. Two sign language interpreters were provided for our hearing impaired 

employees. The APD had exceptional dynamic speakers such as: 

• Jan Lewis, Cooperative Resolution 

• Nichole Anderson, Human Resources 

The All Hands Meeting received outstanding commentaries regarding the success of the 

Administrative Professional Day. 

 

On Wednesday, May 30, 2012, the HACAP Chairperson awarded the HACAP Council: 

Tiffany Jackson, Kisha Shelton, Glendora Stevens, Diane Grady, and Paula McEvoy, for 

their hard-work commitment and dedication to HACAP’s vision. 

Spring 2012, HACAP presented a quarterly issue of the HACAP Newsletter “HACAP 

News”, Kisha Shelton, Newsletter Editor, covering topics such as New Beginnings: 

Message from the New Chair, Administrative Professionals Day, Comings and Goings, 

Microsoft Outlooks Tips, and What’s to Come. 

June 23, 2011, hosted two AgLearn Training seminars in the GWCC Computer Lab 

Room. The training was presented by Kim McGregor, Employee and Leadership 

Development, Employee Development Specialist. 

In 2011, HACAP initiated the Champion Program. This program requested the 

endorsement and sponsorship of Headquarters senior management staff support in the 

mission and goals of HACAP. Senior Management became advocates for HACAP, 

provided financial support for sponsored events, and spoke at various HACAP events. 

The HACAP Champion serves for a minimum of one year. Sharon Drumm, Staff 

Officer, was HACAP’s first Champion for fiscal year 2011. Mrs. Drumm’s vast support 

and guidance to the HACAP Council contributed to the success of the Administrative 

Professionals Day All Hands Meeting. 

Surveyed administrative professionals to determine how HACAP could help 

Administrative Professionals in reaching their goals one step at a time, i.e., training needs 

and to discover what would excite them to want to participate in additional events. 

Updated active HACAP members listing to include extracting names of retirees, purging 

duplicates, and removing those employees no longer in a represented series. 

Updated HACAP’s SharePoint site to include pictures, current contact information of 

council members, and minutes from council meetings. 

A special mailbox has been established for HACAP’s use. The mailbox is 

HACAP@ars.usda.gov. 

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2011-2012 ANNUAL REPORT

Goals

• To continue to provide training and information to all administrative 

professionals. 

• To update the HACAP Website. 

• To continue to try to get more people involved in HACAP (by updating the 

SharePoint site; welcome letters to new employees and personal visits to new and 

existing employees, and holding more All Hands Meetings). To "brand" our 

name "HACAP" by participating in future agency events like CFC and Feds Feed 

Families. To work toward establishing a mentoring program for all administrative 

professionals. 

• To support NACOP as needed with their tentatively scheduled conference. 

• To recruit new members. 

• To continue to serve the Office of the Administrator and Deputy Administrator, 

AFM, in an advisory capacity on new initiatives that impact AFM and 

Headquarters administrative professionals. 

• To encourage ongoing communication among administrative professionals, 

NACOP, and the administration. 

• To advise the Office of the Administrator and Deputy Administrator, AFM, on 

matters relating to development, advancement, and recognition of Headquarters 

office support personnel. 

• To create a mentorship program to build working relationships between 

experienced employees and those employees desiring the benefits of a one on one 

teaching relationship with a mentor. 

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2011-2012 ANNUAL REPORT

Mid South Area (MSA) 

Current Members 

Virginia Harmon, Senior Chair, Stoneville, MS 

Tammy Dorman, Junior Chair, Auburn, AL 

Kelli Adkins, Ex-Officio Member, Lexington, KY 

Brenda Aysenne, Recorder, Houma, LA 

Wendy Smith, Stoneville, MS 

Linda Fulton, Technical Advisor, Mississippi State, MS 

Ann McGee, Western Business Service Center Representative, Stoneville, MS

Drusilla Fratesi, Area Director’s Administrative Assistant, Stoneville, MS 

Archie Tucker, MSACOP Sponsor, Assistant Area Director, Stoneville, MS 

Accomplishments for June 2011 to May 2012

The Mid South Area Council for Office Professionals (MSACOP) held its annual 

meeting at Mississippi State, Mississippi May 23-24, 2012. The Charter was revised and 

approved by all Council members. During the year MSACOP information posters and 

brochures were updated and distributed to each location for display. In addition, News 

Notes were distributed twice during the year. Specific goals and related 

accomplishments for the year included: 

1. Two vacancies were filled for the term beginning June 2012. 

2. The Council identified, coordinated, and scheduled training courses on 

Interpersonal Skills and Communication in coordination with Rita Keeling, 

Human Resources and Outreach Coordinator, MSA. Since June 2011 the 

MSACOP coordinated and hosted two Webinar presentations to meet this goal. 

Presentations included: October 27, 2011, Effective Communication (presented 

by Jill Whittle, Employee Assistance Program) and April 19, 2012, CrossGenerational Communication (presented by Jan Lewis, Office of Outreach, 

Diversity and Equal Opportunity (ODEO), REE Cooperative Resolution Program 

(CRP). 

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2011-2012 ANNUAL REPORT

3. Continued recognition of Office Professionals. Each month a different Office 

Professional was “TAGGED” by the previous month’s Highlighted Office 

Professional and introduced to MSA Office Professionals through an email that 

highlighted information such as training, family, and/or hobbies. This was 

MSACOP’s way of facilitating OP’s in the Mid South Area in getting to know 

and recognizing each other. 

4. Created and distributed an OP Photo Directory. 

5. A Planning Committee and a Logistics Committee were established at the Annual 

Meeting for pre-planning a FY 2013 MSAOP Training Workshop. 

6. The Council has continued to schedule and conduct Webcast training to OPs, 

RLs, SYs, and AOs. In addition to the Interpersonal Skills and Communication 

trainings offered, the following has been held this past year: CATS Refresher 

(presented by Phil Morris, Financial Technician, Location Support, Stoneville, 

MS.). 

Goals set for June 2012 to May 2013

1. FY 2013 Training Workshop 

2. Western Business Service Center (WBSC) list and MSA Reference List 

3. Council presentation for new SY training and/or leadership meeting 

4. Continue to offer training to meet OP needs 

5. Continue recognition of OP’s in the MSA 

2011 MSACOP Office Professional of the Year

Cathy L. Warren, Program Support Assistant 

Southern Insect Management Research Unit 

Stoneville, MS 

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2011-2012 ANNUAL REPORT

Midwest Area (MWA) 

Current Members

 

Kim Meyers, Senior Co-Chair 

Heather Lewandowski, Junior Co-Chair 

Marci Bushman 

Janeen Polen 

Deborah Schaefer 

Melissa Stiefel 

Sherri Buxton, Technical Advisor 

Sandy Groneberg, Ex-Officio Technical Advisor 

Accomplishments 

• The Midwest Area Council for Office Professionals has taken a leadership role in 

creating and maintaining an on-line Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) manual, a 

compendium of approved Agency procedures with examples, to assist the Midwest 

Area secretarial and administrative support staff. The manual is an excellent training 

tool for recently hired and seasoned support staff, as well as an invaluable resource of 

new, revised, and current procedures. Other ARS areas regularly use the MWA SOP 

as a reference tool, and also have used it to assist them in developing their own 

manuals. 

• The MWA Mentoring Program: All new MWA secretaries are assigned a mentor for 

a minimum of one year, although the relationships usually continue beyond that time 

creating lasting support networks among MWA secretaries. In previous years, all 

new support staff were brought into Peoria for training. Key Area personnel also meet 

with the group to provide additional specialized training. Due to budget issues and 

reduction of travel costs, nine secretaries/PSAs were trained on ARIS in August by 

webinar. Travel training webinars were also conducted for secretaries/PSAs as travel 

arrangers.

• Temporary Assistance Program: The MWACOP temporary support program has 

continued to provide support to units with secretarial vacancies. This program ensures 

that management unit offices operate smoothly when a permanent support position is 

vacated. The MWACOP recruits volunteers from the secretarial team in the Area to 

serve in administrative assistance roles in the interim. This service has been 

recognized within the Area as essential to maintaining administrative workflow and 

research progress. 

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2011-2012 ANNUAL REPORT

Goals 

• Although new goals will be established by the new council, some previous goals will 

be maintained: 

o Continue to update the MWACOP website, including the creation of new 

logo. 

o Updating the SOP Manual, including moving away from A-Z listing. 

o Provide resources to mentors to better serve mentees. 

o Creation of MWACOP Sharepoint site. 

o Distribute News Notes twice a year. 

 

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2011-2012 ANNUAL REPORT

North Atlantic Area (NAA) 

Current Members

Area Director is seeking recruitment of six new NAA Area Council members for the 

Office Professionals. Due to the establishment of new Business Centers, NAA did not 

meet the anticipated structure of March 2012. We are currently working with the Area 

Director to put this requirement back on track through proposed restructuring of 

membership for North Atlantic Area Council of Office Professionals. 

Accomplishments

New charter, mission statement, and FY 2013 training workshops were prepared, 

reviewed, and approved. 

Contacted each office professional in the NAA; developed dialect with each location 

within the NAA in order to notify office professionals of resources available, encourage 

networking, and extend NACOP’s appreciation for their service. 

Goals

Updated the NAA NACOP with selected members and posted newest resources site. 

Continued to provide training and information to all office professionals in the NAA. 

Secretary of the Year

The North Atlantic Area Office Staff Recognition Program did not recognize a winner for 

2012. This award continues to go overlooked and should be addressed more vigorously 

as it is a key part to recognizing the contributions office professionals make in the 

furtherance of USDA’s mission goals. 

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2011-2012 ANNUAL REPORT

Northern Plains Area (NPA) 

Current Members

Nikki Dahl, Sidney, Montana - Chair 

Carol Durflinger, Fort Collins, Colorado – Ex-Officio 

Member 

Olga Lee, Fort Collins, Colorado - Ex-Officio Member 

Jaime Mitchell, Manhattan, Kansas - Webmaster 

Janel Nierman, Clay Center, Nebraska – Welcome Packet 

Coordinator 

Linda Parnell, Clay Center, Nebraska - Media/PR, Technical Advisor 

Amber Whittaker, Logan, Utah- Recorder 

Accomplishments

• The Resource Assistant List was updated. This listing of secretaries, who voluntarily 

serve as resources to other secretaries in specialized areas, is included in the Welcome 

Packet and is available to everyone on our Website.

• Provided NACOP with information for their quarterly newsletter. 

• The NPACOP revised the informational brochure about the Council. 

• The NPACOP Website was maintained on the ARS website using SitePublisher. 

• The NPACOP Quick Reference Guide was reviewed and updated for NPACOP’s 

Website. 

• As a result of our recommendation, Correspondence training was presented to all 

NPA locations during ARMPS reviews. 

• Continued the Office Professional Mentoring Program. We have eight mentors and 

eight protégés. 

• A poster about NPACOP was updated and mousepads purchased to give out at the 

NPA Leadership Meeting in April 2011. This meeting was cancelled and the 

mousepads were sent to the Locations for Office Professional Day. 

• In April 2012, a New Secretary/AO Orientation was held in conjunction with the New 

Scientist Orientation. 

• The NPACOP met in October 2011. Two council members, Diona Austill and Kim 

Swanson, finished their term on the council and were replaced by Linda Parnell, Clay 

Center, Nebraska, and Amber Whittaker, Logan, Utah. Linda Parnell assumed the 

NACOP Technical Advisor and PR duties, Jaime Mitchell assumed the webmaster 

duties, Janel Nierman assumed the Welcome Packet duties, and Amber Whittaker 

assumed the Recorder duties. 

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2011-2012 ANNUAL REPORT

• Janel Nierman maintains and distributes the Welcome Packet to new NPA secretaries. 

On behalf of the Council, Janel calls new secretaries to welcome them after sending 

the Welcome Packet and Nikki Dahl, Chair, follows up with a welcome call. 

• The NPACOP charter was revised and signed by council members. 

• NPACOP goals and action items were reviewed and revised. 

Goals

• The Resource Assistant List will be maintained. This listing of secretaries, who 

voluntarily serve as resources to other secretaries in specialized areas, is included in 

the Welcome Packet and is available to everyone on our Webpage. 

• Increase awareness of NPACOP activities by making personal contact with all new 

NPA office professionals. 

• Maintain/update office professional resources (i.e., the Quick Reference Guide 

(QRG), Brochure, and Website) provided by the NPACOP and send a Welcome 

Packet to each new NPA office professional. 

• Assume the responsibility to maintain and update the NPA Files Management and 

Retention/Disposition Guide. 

• Address requirements and requests from NACOP. 

• Provide NACOP with information for their semi-annual newsletter. 

• The PR member will periodically submit helpful “Tidbits from your NPACOP” hints 

to all office professionals through e-mail. 

• Promote the use of the ARS Correspondence Manual for proper format both formal 

and informal through training, Leadership Conference, New SY/Office 

Professional/AO Orientation, and “Tidbits from your NPACOP.” 

• Promote NPA Training Scholarship Program for Office Professionals. 

• Assist the area office in developing the guidance for the locations on the maintenance 

and management of the REE directory. 

• Become proficient in Integrated Acquisition System (IAS) to be an additional 

resource to the NPA Office Professionals. 

• Update the Quick Reference Guide in April 2012, one year early due to Agency 

restructuring. 

• Assist the area office in the updating of the organizational code traveler lists in 

GovTrip. 

Secretary of the Year

• This award is presented biannually; therefore, no award was presented in 2011. 

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2011-2012 ANNUAL REPORT

Pacific West Area (PWA) 

Current Members

Christa Meier, Senior Co-Chair 

Beth Blass, Junior Co-Chair 

Brooke Bowers, Recorder 

Marlene Jensen, Information Coordinator 

Kathleen Parker, NACOP Technical Advisor 

Yvonne Pedersen, Web Page Coordinator 

Robert Powell, Reference Guide Coordinator 

Janet Steele, Member-at-Large 

Jean Wise, Member-at-Large 

Accomplishments 

• Updated recruiting materials and conducted successful outreach for new members 

by promoting the OSAC during the monthly Office Support Professionals calls. 

• Recruited 3 new members to the council who were subsequently appointed by the 

Area Director. 

• Reviewed, updated and signed Charter for the year 2011/12. 

• Council members met via telephone conference call on a regular basis. 

• Conducted a productive high impact Annual Meeting where several goals and 

milestones were accomplished. 

• In cooperation with the Office Support Professionals calls we provided OSAC 

information to OSP in the PWA which strengthened and improved the knowledge 

and skills of all PWA office support staff through networking. 

• We established a standard to create our Reference Guide in cooperation with the 

newly formed Western Business Service Center. 

• Completed transformation from the PWANet Intranet website to the new PWA 

Director’s Internet website increasing OSAC’s visibility and allowing easy access 

to information for other Office Support Professionals. 

• Recognized PWA Office Professionals on Administrative Professionals Day 

through the use of marketing material expertly crafted by the council including a 

commemorative 2012/13 calendar. 

• Explored options available for further training for PWA Office Support 

Professionals through AgLearn, SharePoint, and commercial vendors. 

• Populated SharePoint with major tasks and increased accessibility to OSAC 

members for execution. 

• Established a rotation schedule to avoid the majority of the members rotating off 

the same year. 

• Increased awareness of PWA OSAC activities and resources by developing 

marketing materials in the form of a welcome package to new employees 

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2011-2012 ANNUAL REPORT

including OSAC Brochure, Mentor List, Resource Assistant List, and OSAC 

Welcome Letter. This package is sent via email as a follow up to an initial 

Welcome Phone Call each new Office Professional receives from our Senior CoChair. 

Goals

• Actively recruit high impact potential members to ensure a robust and active 

council for the foreseeable future. 

• Explore alternative strategies for recruitment of new members using social media 

such as USDA Connect, etc. 

• Refresh and renew the quarterly newsletter to create future outreach potential and 

function as a medium for distribution of information from OSAC. 

• Establish standards on a task basis for inclusion in the Reference Guide in 

cooperation with the Western Business Service Center. 

• Finalize website design and expand scope of USDA PWAs OSAC site integrating 

information and services to create a unique portal for Office Support 

Professionals in the PWA. 

• Recognize PWA Office Support Professionals on Administrative Professionals 

Day in a creative and inspirational way. 

• Contribute at least twice per year items for the NACOP news and notes. 

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2011-2012 ANNUAL REPORT

South Atlantic Area (SAA) 

The mission of the South Atlantic Area Advisory Council for 

Office Professionals (SAA-ACOP) is to serve as a 

foundation of knowledge to all Office Professionals in an 

advisory capacity with input from Area Office Leadership. 

Our goals are to strengthen the professional bond between 

Office Professionals and management through increasing the 

awareness of career development programs, improve 

communication through the semi-annual newsletter, and enhance training through 

mentoring, webcasts, Aspiring Leadership and New Leadership Programs. 

Current Members

Misty Stephens – Chair 

Jacqueline McDonald – Co-Chair 

Rhonda Gantt –Webmaster 

Joyce Paist – Recorder 

Deborah Osborne – Newsletter Editor/Historian 

Wanda Rohrer – NACOP Technical Advisor 

Member – Vacant 

With the departure of the SAA Deputy Area Director, and a Temporary DAD appointed, 

the Council was virtually left without a Sponsor for most of 2011 and when required, 

relied upon advice and guidance from the SAA Area Director, Dr. Deborah Brennan. 

Accomplishments 

• Held Election of Officers via annual meeting conference call 

• Updated, reviewed, and signed 2011 Charter 

• Created, distributed, and posted to website a new Task Calendar 

• Revised website to include uploading various useful information 

• Held monthly conference calls to continue council business throughout the 

year 

• Provided Welcome Packages to new hires 

• Created and distributed semi-annual Newsletter 

• Published and posted to website monthly conference call minutes 

• Revised Resource Assistant List 

• Featured 2011 Office Professional of the Year, Connie Bryant, in Fall 

Newsletter 

• Conducted spot mentoring/coaching to employees during the year 

• Revised Brochure to include new member positions 

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2011-2012 ANNUAL REPORT

Goals

• Revise & distribute Welcome Packages to new hires 

• Revise and distribute Resource Assistant List 

• Create a Sharepoint Site for SAA Office Professionals 

• Fill current and upcoming vacancies to Council 

• Participate in planning any Leadership Conference (Display Board) 

• Plan new training offerings 

• Participate in Quarterly PSA Conference Calls, take minutes, and 

distribute/post on Sharepoint 

• Designate new Sponsor/Executive Advisor 

• Revise Charter 

• Revise and Distribute Partnership in Excellence Guide 

• Conduct Monthly Conference Calls 

• Hold Annual Meeting 

• Prepare and distribute Semi-Annual Newsletter 

• Create, distribute, and post new Task Calendar for upcoming year 

• Create, distribute, and post GovTrip Screen Shots Guide 

• Increase visibility of Council 

• Create and distribute Area Contact List with designated area of expertise 

• Work on emphasizing Mentor program to SAA Office Professionals 

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2011-2012 ANNUAL REPORT

Southern Plains Area (SPA) 

Current Members

Trudy Pinkerton Chair 

Rayma Cox Co-chair 

Sherri Brown Recorder 

Sharon Sheffield Training Coordinator 

Olivia Pedraza Information Coordinator 

Jaycee McKinzie Permanent Member 

Ruth Treat Permanent Member 

Sherry Dewald NACOP Representative 

Michael Davis Ex-Officio 

Accomplishments

• Continued the monthly office professional teleconferences to improve our 

communication with office professionals which has resulted in higher visibility and 

an increase in participation. 

• Minutes of the teleconferences were e-mailed to all SPA office professionals and 

uploaded to the SPA ACOP SharePoint site. 

• Continued to have guest speakers from the Area Office to deliver timely 

information during monthly office professional teleconferences as needed. 

• Implemented the SPA ACOP Helpdesk; email address office professionals can send 

comments and questions to and it be distributed to all SPA ACOP members. 

• Started the Grammar Tip during the monthly office professional teleconferences. 

• Developed a Spotlight section during each monthly office professional 

teleconference to highlight an employee or location in SPA. 

• SPA ACOP New Employee Packet sent to new office professional at location. 

• SPA ACOP continued the quarterly teleconferences. 

• Maintained the SPA ACOP Charter and obtained signatures. 

• Revised the Plan of Action. 

• Updating SPA Office Professionals handbook. 

• Updated SPA ACOP SharePoint site. 

• SPA office professionals were recognized on Administrative Professional’s Day. 

• The SPA ACOP Brochure was added to the SPA ACOP SharePoint site. 

Goals

1) Continue to improve our communication with the office professionals and 

supervisors as well as our visibility via the monthly teleconferences, group e-mails, 

and new employee packets. 

2) Develop a break-out session for the next SPA Leadership Conference. 

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2011-2012 ANNUAL REPORT

28

3) Continue writing and distributing the ACOP “Chirp”. 

4) Continue to improve awareness of and encourage participation in future National 

ACOP Conferences. 

5) Continue to display the NACOP and SPA ACOP boards at meetings, conferences, 

trainings held at Area Office or locations. 

6) Continue to recognize office professionals on Administrative Professional’s Day. 

7) Provide advice and recommendations on Agency and SPA policies and program 

related to the employment, development, and advancement of office professionals. 

8) Improve the recognition of the office profession and promote professionalism 

within the occupation. 

9) Develop and present required and appropriate training for office professionals. 

10) Maintain a network available to SPA office professionals. 

11) Serve as Advisory Committee to the Area Director. 

12) Develop relationships and interact with the other Area Councils.