News Release

Washington D.C. - U.S. Office of Personnel Management Director, Kay Coles James, addressed attendees at the recent Performance Institute HR Innovations Workshop, discussing the latest progress report on the strategic management of human capital. James also looked to the next steps agencies can take as they seek to achieve greater results, particularly training their employees to meet new challenges and demands.

The "Proud to Be Green" initiative was created to provide federal agencies with measurable milestones that must be reached in order to meet the President Management Agenda (PMA) reform plan. A scorecard tracks individual agency's efforts in implementing the PMA. With a July 2004 deadline looming, James says considerable progress has been made but that continued progress will demand even more effort.

"We have now moved the Human Capital initiative beyond the planning stage, and I am happy to report that agencies are making significant strides on the Human Capital initiative. Nearly every agency received a green progress rating, because they are meeting their commitments," James stated. "More importantly, four more Federal agencies improved to Yellow status in the last quarter. Our efforts will continue because management practices demand excellence and results."

James issued a specific call to action to Federal agencies, saying "Today's Federal agency needs not only recruit and staff their operations, but they must constantly and consistently upgrade their workforce by training them to tackle the demanding tasks that are given to them in our new America."

She added, "in today's post-September 11 environment, every civil servant in America must also be prepared for the possibility, many say reality, of another terrorist attack against our country." James has urged agencies to train personnel in emergency procedures and to designate essential staff teams for different emergency scenarios James concluded her presentation by highlighting significant progress made in the training programs for and delivery of those services to federal employees.

"Our e-Training initiative has made thousands of online courses available to federal employees," James said. "Since our initial launch, the Gov OnLine Learning Center has had more than 95 million hits - and - 100,000 Federal workers around the world have completed over 60,000 courses."

Additionally, James showcased OPM's newest program which fosters employee leadership development, "Our new Senior Executive Service Candidate Development program is designed to train future leaders in the Federal government. We intend to aggressively recruit in traditionally under-represented groups because we need a diverse cadre of leadership for the future of the civil service."

"We want Americans from all walks of life. The President has issued a call to service, and we are looking for those who are willing to serve their country," James said. "We are changing our old hiring practices and looking toward non-traditional, creative ways to market our job opportunities."

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OPM oversees the federal work force and provides the American public with up-to-date employment information. OPM also 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.

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