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.

Mika J. Cross is a Human Capital Policy Strategist specializing in work/life balance, diversity, inclusion and employee engagement. Her background includes military personnel and Federal civilian human resources management within the Department of Defense and the National Intelligence Community. She joined the United States Department of Agriculture in 2010 as the Work/Life and Wellness Program Manager. Her primary duties include program management, policy guidance and oversight for quality of life programs including Telework, flexible work arrangements, parenting and elder care support, employee assistance, healthy workplace practices and wellness initiatives. Since joining USDA she has been instrumental in shaping workforce communications in support of Secretary Vilsack’s Cultural Transformation initiatives.

Her keen abilities to develop effective and creative communications, marketing and outreach strategy coupled with a unerring talent for strategic vision make her highly sought after to lead cross-Agency knowledge management projects and collaborative working groups. Following the tragedies of 9/11, she was instrumental in developing workplace policy, doctrine and protocol within the United States Intelligence Community, for deploying a primarily civilian workforce into Iraq and Afghanistan in support of the War on Terror and for the reintegration procedures for acclimating them back upon return- including the development of a family support infrastructure. 

Ms. Cross served with the U.S. Army as an enlisted soldier and commissioned officer. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Louisville in Mass Communications and her Masters degree in Public Administration from Georgia Southern University. She is a native of  Maine and currently resides in Southern Maryland with her two children.

Professional Preparation

Georgia Southern University                            Public Administration M.P.A., 2003

University of Louisville                                       Mass Communications  B.A., 2000

Appointments

2010- Work/Life and Wellness Program Manager, Office of Human Resources Management, USDA

2008- Chief, Equal Opportunity and Diversity Strategic Communications and Initiatives Team, Defense Intelligence Agency

2007- Work/Life Program Consultant, Defense Intelligence Agency

2005- Human Capital Strategic Communications Officer, Defense Intelligence Agency

2004- Human Capital Employee Management Relations Consultant, Defense Intelligence Agency

2002- Military Personnel Personnel Policy and Doctrine Analyst, Defense Intelligence Agency

1995-Military Personnel Officer, United States Army

Bob Dix currently serves as the Vice President of Government Affairs & Critical Infrastructure Protection for Juniper Networks.  During his career, he has served in senior leadership roles in industry and government, including serving as Staff Director for the House Government Reform Subcommittee on Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations, and the Census during the 108th Congress.

He represents Juniper on the Industry Executive Point of Contact for the President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC), where he chaired the Cybersecurity Collaboration Task Force in 2009.  He served as Chair of the Information Technology Sector Coordinating Council (IT SCC) from 2008 – 2010 and currently remains a member of the Executive Committee.  Mr. Dix was elected in May, 2011 as Chair of the Partnership for Critical Infrastructure Security (PCIS).  He also serves on the National Security Task Force for the U. S. Chamber of Commerce. 

He is a member of the AFCEA Cyber Security Committee and Chairs the Supply Chain Assurance Subcommittee for TechAmerica.  Additionally, Dix has actively worked to insure and coordinate private sector participation and collaboration with the National Exercise Program, intended to test our nation’s preparedness and resiliency.  He served as Chair of the National Private Sector Working Group for National Level Exercise 2011 and 2010. 

In 2007 and 2009, Dix was honored with a prestigious Federal 100 Award, and was recognized in March, 2010 as the recipient of the annual FCW Industry Eagle Award. 

Dix also served as a local government elected official in Northern Virginia for 12 years and in his spare time coaches AAU/Travel girls basketball.