Washington, D.C. - U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Kay Coles James today spoke to participants of the National Association of Hispanic Federal Executives (NAHFE) Twelfth Annual Executive Leadership Development and Diversity Training and Recruitment conference through her Special Advisor for Diversity, Jacob Lozada. This year's conference theme, Opening the Doors for Hispanic Leadership in the Federal Government, focused on executive leadership development and diversity training for Hispanic leaders in the federal government. The three-day conference was held in Orlando, Florida.

"In keeping with President Bush's determination to expand opportunities available in the federal government to a wider audience of Americans willing to serve their country, Hispanic representation in the federal work force increased over fifty-eight percent in FY 2002," James remarked through Lozada. "I am not only charged with promoting career opportunities to everyone, but with providing the necessary training to see that all federal employees succeed in their civil service careers, and today's conference is one way to do that. Our partnership with NAHFE, particularly under the leadership of Manuel Oliverez, is open, candid, and results-oriented and I appreciate their efforts to encourage public service."

"It's very reassuring to know that Director James is carrying out the objectives of President Bush to ensure we all have representation in the federal government," stated Manuel Oliverez, president of NAHFE. "Increasing Hispanic participation in all levels of the federal work force is NAHFE's ultimate goal."

OPM partnered with NAHFE and supported its career development goals by hosting career enhancing workshops conducted by senior OPM executives in topics related to ethics, leadership, strategies for success, and preparing for advancement into the Senior Executive Service, the federal government's cadre of executive leaders. This year's conference provided an excellent opportunity for attendees to hone their leadership and managerial skills by participating in meaningful workshops, discussions, and networking activities.

Many of NAHFE's objectives support important components of the federal government's Strategic Management of Human Capital Initiative, including promoting the federal government as a model employer; providing state of the art career development training to federal employees; and to be a resource to federal agencies in meeting their outreach and recruitment goals.

The NAHFE agenda included extensive presentations on the Executive Core Qualifications which provide a clear blueprint for career preparation and strategies for the advancement of all federal employees.

Our mission is to Recruit, Retain and Honor a World-Class Workforce to Serve the American People. OPM supports U.S. agencies with personnel services and policy leadership including staffing tools, guidance on labor-management relations and programs to improve work force performance.