Excellence in Government

KEYNOTES

OPENING KEYNOTE

Leading Innovation
Hear an inspirational story of agency innovation in a time of austerity as Beth McGrath talks about not only how the Defense Department is improving and modernizing its business functions to find efficiencies and savings, but has become more innovative and forward-thinking in tight budget times.

Speaker:
Hon. Beth McGrath, Deputy Chief Management Officer, U.S. Department of Defense

Leading at the Crossroads of Change
Organizational change is the test of leadership because failure is so often the outcome. Research show on average 70 percent of organizational change efforts typically fail, leaving no doubt that leading organizational change is difficult, costly, and risky. Dr. Nickerson will discuss a model for leading change that is proving to be groundbreaking: Leading at the Crossroads of Change.

Speaker:
Jackson Nickerson, Ph.D., Executive Director, Brookings Executive Education

Strategies for Navigating Transition: What to Expect After the Election
Setting the stage for a high-energy day of big ideas, leadership workshops and change management best practices, the opening Plenary will showcase a panel of former transition experts who will discuss key strategies for navigating the upcoming leadership turnover – regardless of the outcome in November.

Moderated by:
Pat McGinnis, Former President of the Council of Excellence in Government

Speakers Include:
Hon Clay Johnson III, Former Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget, 2003-2008
RADM John Acton, Executive Director, Leader Development, Department of Homeland Security
Lisa Brown, Acting Chief Performance Officer, Office of Management and Budget

LUNCH KEYNOTE

Will your next leader be insignificant--or indispensable? The importance of leadership and the impact of individual leaders has long been the subject of debate. Are they made by history, or do they make it? Speaking about his new book, Harvard Business School professor Gautam Mukunda will provide a fresh look at how and when individual leaders really can make a difference - shedding new light on how we may be able to identify the best leaders and what lessons we can learn, from both the process and the result. Mukunda will discuss how, when, and where a single individual in the right place at the right time can save or destroy the organization they lead, and even change the course of history.

Speaker:
Gautam Mukunda, Author, Indispensable: When Leaders Really Matter

CLOSING KEYNOTE

Innovating With Less
Speaker:
Steven VanRoekel, US Chief Information Officer, Executive Office of the President

Keynote and 1:1 Interview
At a time when government seems to be defined by gridlock, budget uncertainty, leadership turnover, and low morale, landing on Mars was a feat that many considered unattainable. One federal agency, however, was determined to defy the odds. Hear from Doug McCuistion, Director of the Mars Exploration Program, as he describes how NASA was able to overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges and achieve the ultimate innovation.

Speaker:
Doug McCuistion, Director, Mars Exploration Program, NASA

Moderated by:
Bill Eggers, Author, If We Can Put a Man on the Moon: Getting Big Things Done in Government

INNOVATION TRACK

Everyday Innovation: Creative Approaches to Boost Mission Effectiveness and Operation Efficiency | 9:10-9:40 am
Spotlight Session, Underwritten by Booz Allen Hamilton

At a time of expanding agency missions and tightening budgets, the need for innovation within government has never been greater. Every organization is surrounded by potential “every day innovators”. They may be the people and staff whose job functions require creative thinking and devising new approached for technology, or they may be vocal citizens or customers asking for better service.

This session will reveal how tapping into an organization’s employees and customers, working across traditional organizational boundaries, and leveraging strategic communications and technology generate creative ideas and innovative solutions that boost mission effectiveness and operational efficiency.

Speakers Include:
Jill Herzog, Principal, Booz Allen Hamilton
Dan Bliton, Learning Strategist, Booz Allen Hamilton

Moderated By:
Ashley Skyrme, Vice President, Booz Allen Hamilton

Leadership Development Workshop: Problem Solving for Innovation | 9:50-10:40 am
Interactive leadership development workshop presented by Brookings Executive Education

The framework of Leading at the Crossroads of Change will be used to examine how an agency successfully utilized the four components. In a facilitated peer-to-peer learning forum participants will discuss how to ensure the “right” outcome is achieved; how to keep employees engaged;how to build and maintain trust; and how to insure high quality outcomes.

Extending the Crossroads of Change framework into the domain of critical-thinking, this workshop will present Brookings Executive Education’s award winning content on how to formulate complex,ill-structured problems in order to solve the right problems. In a facilitated peer-to-peer learning forum participants will learn how to recognize, identify, and overcome common pitfalls in implementing problem formulation and problem solving activities.

Moderated by:
Jackson Nickerson, Ph.D., Executive Director, Brookings Executive Education

Innovating Under Pressure | 11:10-12:00 pm
"Innovation" can be more than a buzzword. Whether you're dealing with a troubled program in an entrenched bureaucracy or starting a program from scratch at a new agency, you can leverage technology to break the mold and achieve your objectives - even with a lean workforce and a shrinking budget. Learn how federal leaders achieved management breakthroughs by adopting approaches more typical of silicon valley startup firms than government organizations.

Speakers Include:
Jonah Czerwinski, Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Jeff Johnson, Chief Technology Officer, FBI
Aliya Sternstein, Senior Correspondent, Nextgov
Jonathan Greenblatt, Director, White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation

Moderated by:
Katherine McIntire Peters, Executive Editor, Nextgov

Innovations in Program Staffing Leveraging Social Technology | 1:45-2:15 pm

The most valuable assets in an organization is its people; however, managers and project leaders often have a hard time finding the right people needed to drive innovation. During this session, Principal Walton Smith will show you how Booz Allen Hamilton uses its internal social collaboration platform "Hello" to identify, organize and empower its over 25,000 employees to drive innovation across the firm.

Speaker:
Walton Smith, Principal, Booz Allen Hamilton

Working the Crowd: Case Studies in Agency Innovation Through Crowdsourcing | 2:25-3:30 pm

Crowdsourcing is a relatively new phenomenon that leverages free - yes, free - labor by appealing to the masses to contribute data via the internet. Hear how federal agencies have recently leveraged common social media tools to employ this strategy to save money and time with great success.

Speakers Include:
Kari Craun, Director, National Geospatial Technical Operations Center, U.S. Geological Survey
Dominic McDevitt-Parks, Resident Wikipedian, National Archives

Moderated by:
Joe Marks, Staff Correspondent, Nextgov

PEOPLE TRACK

"Threading the Needle": Running the Rapids of Retirement | 9:10-9:40 am
Spotlight Session, Underwritten by Long Term Care Partners

Retirement planning today is a little like navigating one's way through whitewater rapids - a hazardous undertaking requiring forethought, adaptability, and skillful decision-making. The federal executive hoping to plan ahead for retirement faces a host of factors that could disrupt even the most careful planning, including economic uncertainty, cuts to entitlements,troubled financial markets, major illness, increased longevity, and the risk of needing long term care services. Learn about strategies for negotiating these hazards and gain insight into what factors can be controlled, or at least mitigated, to help you plan your next steps and increase your chances of achieving a safe passage.

Speaker:
Paul Forte, Chief Executive Officer, Long Term Care Partners, LLC

Collaboration, Innovation and Results: Leveraging the Pathways Programs to Meet Your Mission | 9:50-10:40 am
As our country faces challenges ranging from caring for returning veterans to protecting the environment, ensuring that the government has the talent it needs to address these issues is critical.

The Pathways Programs provide agencies with a unique opportunity to attract students and jobseekers, educate and engage employees, and fill key competency gaps. Along with the government-wide initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion, and bring talented veterans on board, the Pathways Programs will support agencies’ efforts to meet workforce needs, and infuse new enthusiasm, talent and fresh perspectives.

In order to maximize the effectiveness of these initiatives, agencies need leaders, both in and outside of HR, to collaborate across organizations, drive innovation and deliver results. This session will demonstrate how you can contribute to the success of these programs and leverage them to meet your mission objectives.

Speakers Include:
Sydney Heimbrock, Deputy Associate Director for Strategic Workforce Planning & Executive Director, OPM Innovation Lab
Richard Parker, Deputy Associate Attorney General for Diversity Management, Department of Justice
Dave Uejio, Lead for Talent Acquisition, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Moderated by:
Tim McManus, Vice President for Education and Outreach, Partnership for Public Service

Leadership Development Workshop - Delivering Feedback and Coaching for Success | 11:10-12:00 pm
All employees have different strengths and weaknesses. Managers must get the best from each employee regardless of where they start from by providing frequent feedback and coaching employees. This session will introduce participants to a process for setting goals, evaluating employee performance, providing feedback, and coaching employees for the long-run. Along the way we will provide tips and tools that participants can carry back to work and begin applying immediately.

Speaker:
Tom Fox, Vice President for Leadership and Innovation, Partnership for Public Service

Charting a Course for Stormy Seas: The Intersection of Finance and Human Capital Challenges in Federal Agencies | 1:45-2:15 pm
Spotlight Session, Underwritten by Grant Thornton

If you think you have the workforce you need to get the job done, you're not paying attention. Surveys of both Federal Chief Financial Officers and Chief Human Capital Officers tell us that executives will be challenged to meet increasing demands for their services with a shrinking workforce. Former Department of Energy Deputy CFO Owen Barwell will moderate a discussion with Jim Taylor, Chief Financial Officer at the U.S. Department of Labor, and John Palguta, of the Partnership for Public Service. They will offer practical insights into ways federal finance and human capital offices are getting the job done in what is an increasingly challenging environment.

Speakers Include:
John Palguta, Vice President at the Partnership for Public Service
James L. Taylor, Chief Financial Officer at the Department of Labor

Moderator:
Owen Barwell, Managing Director, Global Public Sector

Leadership Beyond Limits: Breakthrough Practices for Increasing Employee Motivation | 2:25-3:30 pm
With a focus on the best methods to inspire and encourage agency employees, this interactive discussion will enrich your understanding of the connection between leadership and employee motivation and how you can drive success in your Agency. Hear from innovative leaders sharing proven strategies for increasing engagement, satisfaction and productivity among employees. From day-to-day interactions to informal recognition ideas and formal recognition programs, you'll leave with concrete tools and techniques you can use to bring out the best in all of your employees while improving your agency's Effective Leadership score on the Best Places to Work index.

Speakers Include:
Reginald Wells, Deputy Commissioner, Office of Human Resources, Social Security Administration
Peggy Focarino, Commissioner for Patents, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Dan Tangherlini, Acting Administrator, General Services Administration
David Dye, Director, Deloitte Consulting LLP

Moderated by:
John Palguta, Vice President, Policy, Partnership for Public Service

PERFORMANCE TRACK

Leveraging Private Sector Techniques in Government: The Power of Analytics | 9:10-9:40 am
Spotlight Session, Underwritten by IBM

This session will outline a value-oriented, enterprise operating model within and across departments and agencies in a vision described as "Enterprise USA,” one of the keys ideas from the new book “Governing to Win: Enhancing National Competitiveness Through New Policy and Operating Approaches”. Thought provoking ideas will be shared on how some of the commercial world's operating models could result in an estimated $1 trillion in cost reductions in mission-support functions over the next decade, while also improving the value of essential government missions.

One such operating model is the strategic use of enterprise analytics, and this session will discuss findings from a recent study, “The Power of Analytics,” by the Partnership for Public Service, on federal agencies’ use of analytics and how it helped them achieve better program results. Leading practices that illustrate how data informs decisions and drives meaning and positive program changes will also be shared.

• Learn how the government can adopt private sector best practices in managing operations and reducing costs
• Identify seven areas where government could achieve multi-billion dollar savings while improving the services delivered to businesses and individuals.
• Hear how government departments and agencies are strategically using analytics

Speakers Include:
Chuck Prow, General Manager, IBM Global Business Services
Judy England-Joseph, Strategic Advisor, Partnership for Public Service

Battle of the Budget: Preparing for 3, 5, and 10 | 9:50-10:40 am
As agencies work through FY14 budgeting, the weight of Congress, the impending election, and ambiguous targets are adding new challenges to the process.This session will feature leading budget academics, CBO, and OMB officials discussing their predictions and potential strategies to guide managers through the cuts and preparing for what may lie ahead on Capitol Hill.

Speakers Include:
James Hearn, Director for Federal Programs and Budget Process for US Senate Budget Committee
William Hoagland, Vice President Public Policy, CIGNA

Moderated by:
Stevens Redburn, Scholar and Study Director, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, National Academy of Sciences

Shifting Missions: How Much Government Do People Want? |11:10-12:00 pm
The messages emerging from the campaigns, recent polling and developments at the state and local level all suggest that the public's view of and need for government may be changing. What might this look like post election? Looking beyond the rhetoric, how much government DO people want? Attend this session to hear the latest research and what it means for your agency.

Speakers Include:
Michael Dimock, Associate Director, Research, Pew Research Center for the People & the Press
Norm Ornstein, Resident Scholar, American Enterprise Institute

Moderated by:
Tim Clark, Editor-at-Large, Government Executive Media Group

The Budget: An Expert Answers Your Questions | 1:45-2:15 pm
Stan Collender has extensive experience on Capitol Hill, and is considered to be one of the world's leading experts on the U.S. budget and congressional budget process. He is one of only a handful of people who has worked for the House and Senate Budget Committees, and has worked for three U.S. representatives on the House Budget and Ways and Means Committees. In this interactive session, he will answer your questions about the sequester and other topics of your choice.

Speakers Include:
Stan Collender, National Director of Financial Communications, Qorvis Communications, LLC

Moderated by:
Tim Clark, Editor-at-Large, Government Executive Media Group

Leadership Development Workshop: Outcome-Driven Performance | 2:25-3:30 pm
Interactive leadership development workshop presented by Brookings Executive Education

The framework of Leading at the Crossroads of Change will be used to examine how an agency successfully utilized the four components. In a facilitated peer-to-peer learning forum participants will discuss how to ensure the “right” outcome is achieved; how to keep employees engaged; how to build and maintain trust; and how to insure high quality outcomes.

Speaker:
Joel Turner, Chief Deputy Clerk, Western District of Wisconsin

Moderated by:
Jackson Nickerson, Ph.D., Executive Director, Brookings Executive Education

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