CFO-ADMIN NEWS YOU CAN USE

A Monthly Newsletter from the

Office of the Chief Financial Officer and

 Director of Administration

January 26, 2010

 

In this issue of CFO-Admin News You Can Use, we focus on new beginnings in 2010 and other news. 

As the New Year dawned, David Robinson officially became the new Chief Financial Officer for the

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) a Commerce Department bureau.  NIST was

founded in 1901 and is the nation's first federal physical science research laboratory.  David is located in Gaithersburg, Maryland, but will still be seen frequently in the Herbert C. Hoover Building.  We wish David

 the very best in his new role.

 

Patricia M. Sefcik Appointed Acting ITA Chief Financial Officer and Director of Administration

 

 

Beginning in January 2010 Patricia Sefcik, a longtime ITA executive, has been

appointed Acting ITA Chief Financial Officer and Director of Administration after David Robinson assumed

his new role at the National Institute of Standards and Technology.  Patty, as she is known around the Hoover Building, has held senior executive positions in both the Manufacturing and Services program as well as the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service.  Her programmatic background brings an enlightened appreciation for the work of ITA that is beyond the Beltway.

 

The position of Chief Financial Officer and Director of Administration has been advertised and a selection for a permanent replacement for David Robinson is underway.  In the meantime, Patty is physically located in Room 3827 HCHB.

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ITA Business Cards

 

If you have been approved to order business cards, chances are some of you may not be aware of the  BRAND—that is the ITA Brand for all business cards.  It is ITA’s policy that all business units use the ITA approved brand and template when ordering business cards.  Below is the template that you are to use when ordering business cards.

 

ITA Business Cards Template

 

                                                 

ITA will cover up to $60 (250 Cards) for authorized business cards, but they must conform

to ITA’s business card policy that requires use of the ITA brand and template.  To obtain the correct forms, visit http://trade.gov/brand click on Business Cards. After you obtain internal approval within your business unit, you may submit a completed Standard Form SF-1 and business card form to the Office of Management and Operations, Nina Harris in Room 4001. 

 

Stay tuned on an upcoming email regarding ordering in bulk at no cost to you!

 

If you have questions concerning ITA’s business card policy, you may contact Nina Harris, Office of Management and Operations at (202) 482-3585.

 

 

What is The New Privately-Owned Vehicle (POV) Rate?

 

Effective January 1, 2010, the new privately-owned vehicle rate is $.50, a decrease from $0.55. In addition, the new motorcycle rate is $0.47, a decrease from $0.52.

 

If you have questions, please call your travel contact or Sharon Russell, ITA Travel Manager, at (202) 482-3267.

 

Changes to Premium Class Travel

 

The General Services Administration (GSA) issued a rule amending the Federal Travel Regulations (FTR) to implement recommendations contained in a September 2007 General Accountability Office (GAO) report, “Premium Class Travel: Internal Control Weaknesses Government-wide Led to Improper and Abusive Use of Premium Class Travel”.

 

What Is Changing?

·         The new guidance clarifies the use of the 14-hour rule.  The traveler is now required to report to duty the following day after landing at their destination or sooner §301-10.125(a)(3));        

·         If other than coach-class accommodations is authorized based on the 14-hour rule, the traveler is not eligible for a rest stop en route or a rest period upon arrival at the duty site in accordance with internal agency procedures (§301-10.125(c)); and

·         An annual certification for medical disabilities or other special needs accommodations, or a one-time certification for a life-long condition is required. (§301-10.162 (b)(2)).  The previous rule required a certification once every two years.   

·         ITA will require travelers to submit certification by March 1^st each year.                   

The above changes to the GSA Federal Travel Regulations (FTR) are effective immediately.  If you have questions, please call your Assistant Secretary-level travel contact or Sharon Russell, ITA Travel Manager, at (202) 482-3267 or Sharon.Russell@trade.gov.                                                                                                                                    

Greening the HCHB:  Are we sharing and implementing conserving tips?

 

As we embrace a New Year with enthusiasm and excitement, we can easily form and practice useful green ways to contribute everyday to make a collective and positive impact on the environment. Sustainable green products, green future, sustainable energy technology, energy efficiency and renewable power, these keywords seem to be appearing everywhere, no matter where you are. We are in the era of a green movement due to global warming, climate changes, air pollution, etc.  In the opinion of one 2007 green assessment from greenfacts.com, it was reported that “Most of the warming over the last 50 years is likely to have been due to man-made activities.”  The question is what can we do to lessen the impact of global warming, what can we do to conserve, and how can we effectively take part in these efforts?

 

DOC has been gradually greening the Herbert C. Hoover Building with energy efficient lights, recycling bins, the building renovation project, and promoting green purchases and the recycling of cell phones, cartridges, and alkaline batteries.  These green initiatives are a direct result of the President’s Executive Order 13584 on Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy and Economic Performance. Its purpose is "to establish an integrated strategy towards sustainability in the Federal government and to make reduction of greenhouse gas emissions a priority for Federal agencies.”  In answering the President’s call, the International Trade Administration has been actively organizing forums on energy efficiency to help manufacturers learn about federal funds available to promote efficiency, participated in exhibits showcasing US renewable and clean energy, highlighted bilateral trade and investment opportunities available to U.S. firms in the smart and clean energy sector, etc.  In light of a greener future, let’s identify some habits to contribute daily in our offices/homes.  A little effort can make  difference in the long term.

 

Here are some tips for conserving energy:

• Remember to turn off your lights, copiers, and monitors when you leave for the day

• Try to bring a thermos for getting coffee (discount) and hot water (no cost) in the cafeteria

• Remember to recycle printer and copier cartridges

• Buy green office products (think long-term/necessity)

• Shut down PCs when you leave for the day (“standby” settings will continue to draw power even when not in use).  Plugging hardware into a power strip with an on/off switch makes it easier.

• Turn off lights in spaces that are unoccupied.

• Keep things digital whenever possible.

• Keep files on computers instead of in file cabinets (easier to make offsite backup copies or take them with you when you move to a new office).

• Print on both sides of the page when appropriate and use misprints as notepaper

• Bring lunch to work in reusable containers. It is the greenest and healthiest way to eat at work.

 

If you are interested in learning about other green activities, you can check at www.sierraclub.org.

 

ITA Student Volunteer Internship Program

 

The month of January not only brings the New Year, but also a new group of interns. This spring, approximately 40 interns will work throughout all of ITA’s business units. These interns will take part in the ITA Intern Network (ITAIN), which incorporates three major functions: 1) working at ITA, 2) career development, and 3) life in Washington, DC. The undergraduate and graduate students are often from out of town, so the program seeks to provide enrichment outside of the office as well. For example, the interns in the fall 2009 had the great opportunity to visit various organizations, federal agencies, and historical sites including the:

• American Enterprise Institute
• Voice of America
• Department of State
• U.S. Capitol
• Senate and House Galleries
• White House

ITA interns are successful—their immense help in lending an extra set of hands and boundless creativity continually add great value to ITA.  If you would like to host an intern for any semester or learn more information about the program, please contact ITA’s internship coordinator, Lesley Nichols at Lesley.Nichols@trade.gov.

 

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"Other News"

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HCHB Renovation Update

 

As everyone has probably heard, the scheduled dates for renovation related moves have been pushed back slightly due to construction delays.  Here is the current schedule:

 

Move Date	Move Cycle	Business Unit	Floor, Suite
Feb. 12, 2010	Move 1	MAS, OCIO (Acquisitions Team)	Floor A, Suite A200
Feb. 19, 2010	Move 2	IA, CFO-Administration (OFM and OMO)	Floor A, Suite A100 and A300
Feb. 26, 2010	Move 3	U.S. & FCS-Customer Relationship Management Unit (CRMU), OCIO Reconstruction and Stabilization (R&S)	Floor C, Suite C200

 

Beginning around February 15, 2010, some of the offices that you may have daily contact with that are currently located in the HCHB will be relocating to new areas – some to swing space and some to other areas of HCHB and to the Ronald Reagan Building.  Click on the following link to review the chart that provides a complete listing of which ITA offices will be moving and their new location ITA Office Relocation Information for February 2010.  Once everyone has moved in and gotten settled, we encourage you to pay a visit to your colleagues in the swing space so that you can become familiar with the layout of the offices and workstations.  Please note that some of these relocations may still be subject to change.  The Office of Management and Operations will work to keep everyone informed if any other changes occur. 

 

The swing space will have several amenities that your current office does not have.  There will be a pantry on each floor, complete with refrigerators, microwaves, vending machines, and cable TV.  The Department is also working with a food vendor to provide a cart with snack items and sandwiches available for swing space occupants to purchase.

 

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the HCHB Renovation Project or ITA’s move to swing space, please feel free to contact Kelli Walters at 202-482-3265 or kelli.walters@trade.gov.

 

OFM Welcomes a New Intern

 

Please help the Office of Financial Management (OFM) in welcoming their new intern, William (Bill) Jun.   Bill started work in OFM on January 6 as part of the ITA Student Volunteer Internship Program.   He applied for this internship to gain experience and knowledge in a finance-related environment.  He will be assigned several special projects, including the ITA Monthly Accounting Report and a Space Allocation Review.   He is anxious to apply his analytical skills to these projects.

 

Bill is currently a junior at the University of Maryland studying Finance and Economics.  His personal interest is tennis where he has been involved in the USTA adult league since 2008, and was a champion for Fall 2009 Anne Arundel County tennis tournament.  We look forward to introducing him to our ITA Colleagues!

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Send your suggestions or comments about this newsletter to Nina.Harris@trade.gov