Telework Exchange - A Public - Private Partnership Focused On Eliminating Telework Gridlock

Cindy Auten serves as general manager for Telework Exchange, an online community and public-private partnership focused on promoting telework in the government. The organization provides a forum for government employees interested in telework, those who currently telework, assigned coordinators, government managers, information technology professionals, and telework proponents to dialogue on the subject matter.

Since the company’s inception in April 2005, Auten has managed the overall operations of Telework Exchange, including the development of The Teleworker – an online and print newsletter focused on telework. In addition, Auten successfully manages the bi-annual Telework Exchange Town Hall Meetings, various online training Webinars, the annual Tele-Vision Awards programs, as well as serves as the author of numerous telework-related research studies.

As an example of event successes, the bi-annual Town Hall Meetings bring together a diverse set of stakeholders, including legislators, government agency telework proponents and managers, industry supporters, and affiliated organizations – all working to achieve demonstrable progress in this area. As evidence of the growing interest in this topic, more than 500 professionals attended the Fall 2009 Telework Exchange Town Hall Meeting. In addition to in-person events, Auten managed approximately five Webinars in 2009, with an average of 200 participants per session.

Auten is a frequent speaker and subject matter expert on telework. She recently spoke at the Southeastern Association of Tax Administrators Conference, The Association for Federal Information Resources Management (AFFIRM) luncheon, the Department of Homeland Security Telework Forum, and various Telework Exchange events.  Auten is also featured discussing telework in The Washington Post and on Federal News Radio, WTOP, and NBC4 News as well as a number of other broadcast, IT, and government media outlets.  Discussion topics include the status of telework, best practices and lessons learned, telework eligibility, managing a remote workforce, a review of Capitol Hill initiatives, and available telework resources for organizations, interested teleworkers, and current teleworkers.