Schar School of Policy and Government
Virtual Panel: Post Covid-19 Return to Work for the Public Sector
Monday, February 15th, 2021
11:30am - 1:00pm
Schar School of Policy and Government
Join the Schar School Faculty, Alumni, and Schar Alumni Chapter for an engaging virtual panel on what the return to work looks like following the Covid-19 pandemic!
What does the Post Covid-19 Return to Work Look Like?:
Discussing how things have changed from how we conduct our work to what employers need to focus on in the new normal.
The COVID-19 Pandemic has had a tremendous impact on how we work, especially in the public sector. It’s no secret that much of Government work has historically been conducted in a traditional manner, lots of in-person meetings, limited effective use of telework, office designs that assume a more face-to-face interaction, and inefficient utilization of technology to optimize remote work (e.g., video teleconference).
COVID has forced the public sector to rapidly adapt to a largely telework environment. Most Federal workers and contractors have transitioned to working remotely. Join Professor Tojo Thatchenkery and a panel from various fields discuss what 2021 and beyond holds for a return to the workplace.
Panelist:
Beth McGrath
U.S. Managing Director, Deloitte
Beth is the Global Leader for the Government and Public Services Industry and a Managing Director at Deloitte Consulting LLP. In her global role she is committed to strengthening synergies across global Industries and Government and Public Services with a focus on client mission needs and solutions. As a member of the US Federal Strategy & Operations practice, she advises federal government and commercial organizations on strategies that help further innovation and improve business operations.
Prior to joining Deloitte, she served as the Deputy Chief Management Officer for the US Department of Defense (DoD), where she brought a dedicated focus to improving business operations, oversaw a $7 billion information technology portfolio, and authored the DoD's Strategic Management Plan. She has also served as Vice Chair of the US Federal Suitability and Security Clearance Performance Accountability Council; as the Deputy Director for Systems Integration, US Defense Finance and Accounting Service; and has held numerous business/acquisition roles within the US Department of the Navy.
She has also twice received the US DoD Medal for Distinguished Public Service and the Secretary of Defense Exceptional Civilian Service Medal.
Everett Kelley is the National President of the American Federation of Government Employees, which is the largest union representing federal and D.C. government employees. He assumed the presidency in February 2020.
A native of Goodwater, Alabama, Kelley moved his family to Sylacauga, Alabama, where he graduated from Sylacauga High School. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army and served our country for 3 years. After his military career, Kelley focused on education. He completed an AA at Central Alabama Community College, he then matriculated to Selma University and earned a Bachelor of Theology and Master of Theology at Rushing Springs School of Theology.
Terry Clower, PhD
Director, Center for Regional Analysis & Professor of Public Policy,
Schar School of Policy and Government
Terry L. Clower is Northern Virginia Chair and Professor of Public Policy at George Mason University. He is also director of GMU’s Center for Regional Analysis. The Center provides economic and public policy research services to sponsors in the private, non-profit and public sectors. Prior to joining GMU, he was director for the Center for Economic Development and Research at the University of North Texas.
Dr. Clower has authored or co-authored over 200 articles, book chapters, and research reports reflecting experience in economic and community development, labor market analysis, economic and fiscal impact analysis, housing, transportation, land use planning, and economic forecasting. His scholarly articles have appeared in Economic Development Quarterly; Urban Studies; Economic Development Review; Regional Studies, Regional Science; the Australasian Journal of Regional Studies; Regional Studies Regional Science, Sustaining Regions; and Applied Research in Economic Development. His most recent scholarly publication is the textbook Globalization, Planning and Local Economic Development with Prof. Andrew Beer (Taylor-Francis, London, 2020).
Dr. Clower received a B.S. in Marine Transportation from Texas A&M University in 1982, a M.S. in Applied Economics from the University of North Texas in 1992 and a Ph.D. in Information Sciences from the University of North Texas in 1997 specializing in information policy issues and the use of information resources.
Moderator:
Tojo Thatchenkery, PhD
Director, Organization Development and Knowledge Management Program, Professor
Schar School of Policy and Government
Tojo Thatchenkery is Professor and Director of the M.S. in Organization Development & Knowledge Management program at the Schar School of Policy & Government, George Mason University, Arlington, Virginia, U.S.A. He is featured as one of the leading change thinkers in the recently released Palgrave Handbook of Organizational Change Thinkers. Thatchenkery is a member of the NTL Institute of Applied Behavioral Science and the Taos Institute. He founded the Organizational Learning graduate program (OL/ ODKM) at Mason twenty one years ago. The professional degree has produced an impressive cadre of practitioners, consultants, entrepreneurs, and scholars who are leaders in social justice and organizational transformation.
Thatchenkery has extensive consulting experience in change management, leadership development, organization design and strategy, and knowledge management. Past and current clients include Nokian Tyres, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, IBM, Fannie Mae, Booz Allen, PNC Bank, Lucent Technologies, General Mills, 3M, British Petroleum, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, United States Department of Agriculture, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation, U.S. Department of Treasury, USPS OIG, U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, Akbank (Turkey), Magnetrol, and the Tata Consulting Services (India).