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# Women’s History Month panel addresses advocacy, equity, diversity, inclusion 

By Alison WelskiDLA Troop Support Public Affairs

                PHILADELPHIA  –              
The Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support commemorated Women’s History Month on March 13 with an event that included a diverse panel of nine female employees for a question-and-answer session and award ceremony honoring a few of the organization’s outstanding leaders.

Joanne Anello, Command Support Office division chief, posed questions to panelists that included a range of topics like work-life balance, advice for future generations, and increasing reliance through adversity.

“You’re so much stronger than you think you are, you can do it,” Judith Flores, Procurement Process Support procurement analyst and one of the panelists said. “Journalling can help a lot. You go back and you reflect on your writings, reflect on all that you’ve been through. You then realize how strong you really are.”

Additional panelists included: Nicole Blake, Pathways to Career Excellence contract specialist;  Duwenavue Sante Johnson, Flag Room presidential hand embroidery artist; Michele Haye, Command Support Office management analyst; Maria Aguayo, Clothing and Textiles contracting officer; Dr. Sharon Forde-Atikosse, Construction and Equipment contracting officer; Yvonne Poplawski, Collective Medical Customer Operations Foreign Military Sales/VA division chief; and Yasmin Dossa, Procurement Process Support contract price cost analyst.

In response to what advice panelists would give to their 25-year-old self, Aguayo gave these words.

“First and foremost, do not be afraid,” she said. “Do not be afraid to express your ideas, share your knowledge, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes—it’s through those mistakes that we learn and grow. Don’t be afraid to take calculated risks, since the higher risks yield better results.”

DLA Troop Support Commander Army General Landis Maddox thanked the panel for their participation and awarded coins to each panelist.

“On the behalf of command, I would say thank you...job well done! I appreciate those words of wisdom and inspiration that crossover.”

The culmination of the event was the award ceremony honoring DLA Troop Support employees.

“Today, we’ll honor some of our colleagues for leading the way for others to follow as exemplary models of public service and government leadership,” Maddox said.

The 2024 Women’s History Month awardees were:

**2024 Women’s History Month Award Winners:**

**PACER**

Kelly Fidik, Subsistence

**Non-Supervisory Female Employee Grades 09 and Below**

Army MSG Jacqueline Sanders, Clothing and Textiles

**Supervisory Female Employee Grades 11 and Above**

Mary Anne Danese, Organizational Alignment

**Supervisor/Manager of the Year**

Wanda Kinsey, Subsistence

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