iFive

Martha Dorris, Deputy Associate Administrator for the Office of Citizens Services, GSA, was the featured speaker at iFIVE’s Transformational Woman event April 6th. 

Ms. Dorris, honored by Government Computer News as its Civilian Agency Executive of the Year for her role in using new technology to promote transparency and encourage citizen engagement with the federal government, spoke to a full house of women from across the travel industry. 

Dorris, who leads the award-winning USA.gov, the official website of the federal government, shared the transformation that is underway at GSA, built on strategies of  Customer Intimacy, Innovation, and Operational Excellence.

Other top government leaders on hand were Pam Mitchell, Director, Defense Travel Management Office, Department of Defense;  Becky Rhodes, Deputy Associate Administrator, Office of  Travel, Transportation and Asset Management, GSA; and Susan Gurley, newly named Private Sector Officer, United States Agency for International Development.

Kelly Kuhn, President, Government and Military Markets, CWTSato Travel, which sponsored the industry forum, opened the event with her perspective on leading changes of magnitude.

Women from many segments of the travel industry were present including hotels, airlines, technology companies, travel agencies, automobile rental companies, consulting firms and more. 

The forum included a look into the talent picture of the future and how attendees may want to change in order to sustain their success.  A post-session survey of attendees asked the questions:

What do you believe is the most important skill for success today?  For the future?

Most frequent answers: 

• For Today – building and managing relationships
• For the Future –  staying current with technology and being able to change