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MEETING MINUTES

Meeting Date/Time: June 12, 2019 1:30pm – 3:00pm (EST)

Location: Smithsonian Institution (Ripley Center Building) – 1100 Jefferson Drive SW, Washington, DC

Agenda:

1. COFO Mentoring Committee Update

2. Proactive Outreach for an Organizational Ombuds Program

3. Discussion Topics:

a. Ethics and pitfalls of assisting in the selection of agency employees for other offices (as 

with serving on an interview panel or helping rank potential interviewees)

b. General Questions – Space for newer ombuds and programs (and people looking to set 

up programs) to ask questions and get feedback. No issue is too big or small so ask 

away!

4. Announcements 

Highlights:

1. COFO Mentoring Committee Update

The Mentoring Committee is working diligently to host new mentorship orientations for our 

second round cohort. From the start of our program in 2018 to present, we currently have 24 

mentors and mentees, 12 pairings. We are also in the process of gathering feedback from the 

first cohort. 

a. If you have any questions, please contact COFOMentoring@nih.gov

2. Proactive Outreach for an Organizational Ombuds Program

a. The Executive Committee is working proactively to conduct reach to agencies that may 

need an organizational ombuds program. The Executive Committee has sent letters to 

agencies that received a congressional letter tasked with establishing an organizational

ombuds program. 

b. If you know of an agency or entity that may be in need of an organizational ombuds 

program, please reach out to Paul Sotoudeh: Paul.Sotoudeh@USPTO.GOV

3. Discussion Topics

a. Ethics and pitfalls of assisting in the selection of agency employees for other offices (as 

with serving on an interview panel or helping rank potential interviewees)

i. Members engaged in a robust discussion regarding why an organizational 

ombuds should partake, or should not, partake, in hiring panels. Examples 

include:

1. Organizational ombuds, both internal and external can participate 

based on their position of neutrality and providing appropriate feedback 
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from a neutral stance. Additionally, members discussed that the 

ombuds function would serve as a checks and balance to ensure that 

the interview process would be conducted fairly and ethically. For 

instance, the same questions are asked to all interviewees, references 

are checked according to the process, and the hiring process is followed 

diligently. The role of an ombuds on a hiring panel may be such that 

they are a non-voting member, specifically not serve as a panelist,

rather to provide feedback on policies and procedures. The role of the 

ombuds may be to identify systemic issues should it arise in the formal 

process. 

2. Members further discussed potential areas of concerns with an ombuds 

being a non-voting member in a hiring event: perception of a neutral 

entity such as an ombuds would be distorted when asked to make a 

recommendation by the panel and/or may be a conflict of interest. In 

this case, the ombuds would again not be a participating or voting 

member, but one that would serve to ensure the hiring process is 

followed ethically. Should there be a conflict of interest, the ombuds 

would naturally disclose their stance prior to the interviews. 

3. All participants agreed that an ombuds must follow the principles if and 

when serving on a hiring panel. 

b. General Questions for New Ombuds

i. If ombuds are seeking an external facilitator and/or mediator, Sharing Neutrals 

program provides mediators and facilitators to government entities. This 

program is managed by the Federal Conciliation Mediation Services. If you need 

contact details, please email Paul Sotoudeh (Paul.Sotoudeh@USPTO.GOV) or 

any member of the COFO Executive Committee.

c. Conference Committee: will be meeting in the next couple of weeks. COFO conference 

will take place in October 2019. Details to follow. If you are interested in participating, 

please email Paul Sotoudeh: Paul.Sotoudeh@USPTO.GOV

4. Announcements 

a. Conferences: U.S. Ombuds Association Conference will take place in Honolulu, Hawaii 

from 18-20 September 2019. Registration is now open. 

b. Groups: NY area group: if anyone is in the NY area or interested in participating in the 

NY Ombuds group, please contact Wendy Kamenshine (Wendy.Kamenshine@cfpb.gov). 

The group is composed of practicing ombuds in the NY area, working in private/public 

and academic sectors. 

c. Call for Articles: The ABA Dispute Resolution Section is seeking articles for the 

September 2019 edition of their Just Resolutions newsletter, which will be dedicated to 

articles about ombuds. For questions on submissions, please contact Shannon Lynn 

Burton: sburton@msu.edu

d. Event: Interagency Working Group/Steering Committee will host the ADR Lunchtime 

Series. The presenter will be Dr. John Barkat, Mediator at the International Monetary 

Fund on Tuesday, 25 June from noon to 1:30PM EST. Please contact Cindy Mazur for 

more information: Cindy.mazur@fema.dhs.gov

e. Job Announcements 
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i. CFBP Detailee Position: GS-12/GS-13 Acting Associate Ombudsman detailee 

position at the CFPB Ombudsman’s Office. Resumes are due by 28 June. Please 

email questions/concerns to Wendy Kamenshine: 

Wendy.Kamenshine@cfpb.gov.

ii. Organizational Ombuds Position: GS14/15 at Department of Energy – position 

will be opening soon. 

iii. Program Specialist (ADR) Position: GS-260-13, Location Negotiable (Competitive 

Service) at Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Resolution Management 

(ORM). 
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Attendees

In Person

Last First Agency

Berg Mollie National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

Dyck Juliana Department of Energy

Hill Gary National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

Kinnavy Noreen US Agency for Global Media, VOA, and Office of Cuba 

Broadcasting

Maurer Bill Department of Energy

Palosky Dania Smithsonian

Sotoudeh Paul USPTO

Vermillion Chris Transportation Security Administration

Wolfe Lexi Transportation Security Administration

On Phone

Last First Agency

Asar Sharon CFPB

Bolden Ana

Brown Andrea USPTO

Enriquez Elisa Los Alamos National Laboratory

Epps Ayanna FDIC

Fenneman Rebecca Federal Maritime Commission

Fox Angela USDA Food Nutrition Services

Gnatt Sheldon NSA

Gordon Laurel US Marshals Service

Harris Robert FDIC

Kamenshine Wendy Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Katherine Erica FDA Office of Regulatory Affairs

Klein Stephanie

Lenkel Laurie FDA Office of the Commissioner

McNeil Tracey SEC

Merrix Celeste FLETC

Michael David NIH

Miller Rozmyn Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Mills Laurel US Marshals Service

Patel Bina National Ground Intelligence Center

Rippey Catherine HHS (Medicare Beneficiary Ombudsman)

Rowe Mary MIT

Smith Tyler NIH

Todd Julie EEOC (Senior Administrative Judge)

Valdez Roberta FDIC External

Walker Olivia DOD, Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center
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Walker Don US Army Medical Command

Weber Guy National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

White Karen National Guard Bureau

Whyte Jean Federal Reserve

Yuille Deanna FDA

Zeller Jessica FDA Office of Regulatory Affairs