Washington, DC - U.S. Office of Personnel Management Director Linda M. Springer convened a 15-member panel from across the State of Maine today to consider nominations for the 2008 Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Executive and Senior Professional. The review panel is composed of distinguished business executives, educators, and community leaders.

"These panelists will help determine those who have excelled in their commitment to public service," said Springer. "Recognizing and rewarding outstanding leaders in the Federal Government is an important task, and helps set a standard of excellence for future leaders and civil servants to live up to."

The Presidential Rank Award is the highest professional honor for career Senior Executive Service (SES) members and senior career employees.  Panelists will review accomplishments of nominees - career SES and senior level employees who have a sustained record of exceptional professional, technical, and/or scientific achievement.

The evaluation criteria includes: the ability to lead change and people, being results driven, having business acumen, the ability to build coalitions/communications, and having stature in a professional field. Awardees receive a cash award of 20 percent of their base salary. Only five percent of the career SES and senior level career community may receive this rank.

This panel is the second of four slated to meet and consider nominees for the 2008 Meritorious Rank Award. At the conclusion of the panels, Director Springer will send her recommendations to President George W. Bush, who will make the final selections and announce the award recipients later this year.

Members of the 2008 Presidential Rank Award Meritorious Review Board for the Portland, ME area are:

The Honorable John Atwood, Retired Justice, Maine Superior Court

Georgia G. Chomas, Broker, Coldwell Banker Millett Realty, President AV Board of Realtors

The Honorable Ronald F. Collins, Former Four-Term Member, Maine House of Representatives

Bob Goodman, The Masiello Group

Amy Mulkerin, Mulkerin Real Estate

Julie Ann O'Brien, Executive Director, Maine Republican Party

Kevin O'Shea, Senior Vice President, Bank of New York Mellon

David J. Petersen, Maine Cottage Furniture

Regina Phillips, Program Coordinator, City of Portland Refugee Service

Crystal A. Rimoczy, Bank of New York Mellon

Ann Robinson, Esq., Preti Flaherty Beliveau & Pachios, LLP

Jane Sheehan, President and CEO, Foundation for Blood Research

Rachel Talbot Ross, Director, Office of Equal Opportunity and Multicultural Affairs, City of Portland

Nancy P. Tarr, RN, MSN, FNP, ANP, CES, Retired Clinical Education Specialist, MGMCThe

Honorable Karl W. Turner, Maine Senate, District 11