EPA 2022 & Beyond
Commitment to CHANGE, COLLABORATION, and COMMUNITY
Tuesday, August 16, 2022
8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Huntington Convention Center – Cleveland, Ohio
Grand Ballroom A/B
ABOUT THE FORUM
On Tuesday, August 16, 2022, during the BIG NTI, EPA will host its 2022 EPA Leadership Development Forum. This year’s theme is “EPA 2022 and Beyond: Commitment to Change, Collaboration, and Community”. The forum will include discussions on Environmental Justice, HBCU Initiatives and Partnerships, DEIA, Hiring, and a Speed Mentoring Session from our very own leaders and subject matter experts. Also, for the first time, EPA will have a career booth at the NTI Career Expo and Exhibit Hall. This will be an opportunity for senior leaders, managers, and employees to share information about the various types of opportunities available at EPA. The EPA forum is an ongoing effort to support E.O. 13779 – White House Initiative to Promote Excellence and Innovation at HBCUs, E.O. 13985 – Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, and EO 14035 – Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce.
PRESENTERS
Event Agenda
8:00 - 8:30 am
Registration and Gather
Program Moderator
Vickie H. Tellis (Confirmed)
Mission Support Director
US EPA, Region 4
8:30 - 8:40 am
Our Purpose and Introductions
Nigel Simon
Executive Champion
Director, Office of Program Management
Office of Land and Emergency Management (OLEM)
8:40 - 8:50 AM
Welcome to Region 5
Michael D. Harris
Director, Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division
US EPA, Region 5
8:50 - 9:00 AM
Greetings from the Administrator (Video Message)
Michael S. Regan
Administrator
US EPA
9:00 - 10:00 AM
Numbers Don’t Lie: The State of Black Employees at EPA
JuanCarlos Hunt
Director, Office of Civil Rights
Office of the Administrator
Tania L Allen
Diversity & Outreach Branch Manager Office of Human Resources
Office of Mission Support
10:00 - 10:10 AM
BREAK
10:10 - 11:10 AM
Can you see the Big Picture – What does DEIA mean specifically for African Americans?
Moderator:
Rafael DeLeon
Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator
Office of International and Tribal Affairs
Panelists
Jon I. Monger
Assistant Deputy Administrator
Office of the Administrator
Rosemary Enobakhare
Associate Administrator
Office of Public Engagement
Office of the Administrator
Daniel Blackman
Regional Administrator
US EPA, Region 4
Kimberly Patrick
Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator
Office of Mission Support
11:10 – 12:10 PM
Wade In The Water: Effective Strategies To Successfully Navigate Your Federal Career.
Description: Feeling Stuck? This session will provide best practices on career advancement, and you will learn the tools and tips necessary to identify barriers that may prevent you from moving forward in your career. Hear ways to identify personal career aspirations and goals. During this session, you will get advice and hear tips on how to become an effective leader and continue to climb the ladder to career success
Moderator:
Linda Gray
Workforce Development Executive
Office of Land and Emergency Management (OLEM)
Panelists
Dr. Kandis Boyd
Director, Chesapeake Bay Program Office
US EPA Region 3
Fred Thompson
Acting Deputy Regional Administrator
US EPA, Region 4
Rick Buhl
Mission Support Director
US EPA, Region 8
12:10 - 1:10 PM
LUNCH - On Your Own
1:10 pm -1:40 PM
Emergency Response Support Corps
EPA’s Primary Mission Essential Function is to respond to releases of hazardous substances and oil discharges. The Response Support Corps (RSC) is a group of volunteers who augment EPA’s Emergency Response Program during large incidents. The RSC has been activated for many major EPA response including, including Deepwater Horizon; Hurricanes Katrina, Irma, and Maria; the California Wildfires of 2017 – 2020; and the COVID-19 pandemic. The RSC is always seeking volunteers interested in supporting emergency responses.
Video Message
Greetings from the Acting Assistant Administrator Barry Breen
Brendan Roache
Deputy Director
Office of Emergency Management
Office of Land and Emergency Management (OLEM)
Jaime Brown
Operations Management Branch Manager
Superfund and Emergency Management Division
US EPA, Region
1:40 – 2:40 PM
HBCUs Perspective on Federal Partnerships
Moderator
Fred Thompson
Acting Deputy Regional Administrator
US EPA, Region 4
Rosemary Enobakhare
Associate Administrator
Office of Public Engagement
Office of the Administrator
Dr. Elfred Pinkard
President, Wilberforce University
Dr. Jack Thomas
President, Central State University
2:40 – 2:50 PM
BREAK
2:50 – 3:20 PM
Environmental Justice, Justice 40, and Climate Change – What does this all mean for African American Communities?
Robin Collin
Senior Advisor for Environmental Justice
Office of the Administrator
3:20 – 4:20 pm
Sankofa Session: Reaching Back to Help Others Take Control of Their Career and Full Potential
Moderator
Cecilia Alford
Deputy Director
Mission Support Director
US EPA, Region 5
Panelists
Kimberly Patrick
Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator
Office of Mission Support
Larry E. Douchand, P.E.
Director, Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation (OSRTI)
Office of Land and Emergency Management (OLEM)
Lance McCluney
Director, Office of Administrative and Executive Services
Office of the Administrator
4:20 pm - 5:20 PM
Mbuntu Session: Each One, Reach One
Moderator together with EPA senior leaders and managers. The purpose of speed mentoring/coaching session is to provide a quick hit of information in the form of a career discussion or your mentoring/coaching strengths and professional challenges based on the speed-dating concept. It is also an efficient way to rapidly build your EPA network, and a methodical way to “try-on” a number of mentoring relationships to see which one you might want to pursue later. The format matches mentors with mentees who could benefit from sharing their knowledge, experience or connections. It allows for quick-fire exchange of ideas about professional development or business needs and targeted networking.
Moderator
Nigel Simon
Executive Champion
Director, Office of Program Management
Office of Land and Emergency Management (OLEM)
5:20 – 5:30 PM
Acknowledgements/Closing Remarks
Forum Planning Committee
Community Service Project with the Ohio City Farm
As you know, Blacks In Government (BIG) is holding its National Training Institute in Cleveland, Ohio next week. While we’re all in learn mode, our EPA tradition sets us off on an environmental community project. This year we will collaborate with the Ohio City Farm.
The Ohio City Farm is one of the largest contiguous urban farms in the United States. It provides fresh, local and healthy food to Cleveland’s underserved residents. It also boosts the local food economy and educates the community about the importance of a complete food system. The farm boasts stunning views of the Cleveland skyline and provides a welcome break in the typical urban landscape.
On Wednesday, August 17th, the Ohio City Farm has scheduled food plantings and a cleanup of the farm. On behalf of the EPA Forum Planning Committee, I’d like to invite you to support the planting and clean up.
- When: Wednesday, August 17th @ 9am – 11am
- Who: EPA Employees and Friends
- What: Community Service Project with the Ohio City Farm
- Where: Bridge Ave. and W 24th St., Cleveland, OH 44113
- Why: It’s our tradition, let’s continue to be model citizens
- How: Come dressed for an experience at the farm in the environment (wear: shorts or loose-fitting pants, t-shirt or polo, and gently used shoes)
Our EPA lead for this project is Donnell Carter. Volunteers will meet outside of the Convention Center at 8:30 a.m., and then shortly after proceed to the Ohio City Farm, which is approximately a 15-minute walk, or 5-minute drive to the farm. If you have questions you can text or call Donnell on (202) 306-5673.
We look forward to seeing you there!
