Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. Office of Personnel Management has convened its final review board to consider nominations for an elite award given to federal employees, the Presidential Meritorious Rank Award. Over the past three months, Presidential Rank Award Meritorious Review Boards met across the country to consider nominees for the award. The final review board met today in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to conclude a nationwide search for the best and the brightest public servants America has to offer.

Following a review of the panel's work, OPM Director Linda M. Springer will make her recommendations to President George W. Bush, who will make the final selections and announce the award recipients later this year.

"Through their service on the Presidential Rank Award Meritorious Review Board, these volunteers from Pennsylvania and the other three cities have worked diligently to enable me to make the most informed recommendations to the President," Springer said. Appointees to the board came from the federal, state, military and corporate communities.

Second only to the Presidential Rank Award of Distinguished Service, the Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Service is a high honor bestowed upon career federal employees. The award recognizes members of the career Senior Executive Service (SES), and the Senior-Level (SL) and Scientific and Professional (ST) communities, the federal government's top cadre of managers and senior professionals, who have a consistent record of integrity, industry and commitment to public service. Members of these communities manage many of the nation's most vital programs in defense, intelligence, the environment, energy, agriculture and others.

The SES, SL and ST are comprised of over 7,000 dedicated employees out of a federal work force of 1.8 million, and members are highly valued for their management, leadership and technical skills. And while they are small in numbers, an even smaller population is recognized each year with a Rank Award.

Members of the Presidential Rank Award Meritorious Review Board reviewed the accomplishments of nominees -- career members of SES, SL and ST communities -- for the 2005 Presidential Meritorious Rank Award with the Bush Administration's goals and criteria for sustained accomplishment in the management of federal programs and services.

The previous Meritorious Presidential Rank Award Boards were held in Memphis, TN, Denver, CO and Minneapolis, MN, and the Distinguished Service Board was held in Washington, D.C. 

Members of the Presidential Rank Award Meritorious Review Board in Philadelphia, PA are:

Pamela Anderson
New Jersey Economic Authority
Finance Officer/Business Development

Joseph "Skip" Brion
Buckley, Brion, McGuyer, Morris & Sommer, LLP
Partner

Kenneth E. Davis
Public Affairs Management LLC
Managing Director

The Honorable Terence Farrell
Chester County Government
Recorder of Deeds

Joan Gangwer
Self-Employed
Nutrition Consultant

Jonathan Goldstein
Blank Rome, LLP
Law Clerk

David Hackett
Saul Ewing, LLP
Associate

Farah Jimenez
Mt. Airy USA
Executive Director

Wesley Plummer
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
Director of Employee Development

Patricia Poprik
First American Municipals, Inc
President

Diane L. Slifer
Blank Rome LLP
Attorney

Ronald C. Stanko
State of Pennsylvania, Office of the Attorney General
Chief Deputy Attorney General