On March 15th, the Department celebrated National Women's History Month with The Honorable Margaret Spellings, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education as the Keynote Speaker. Secretary Spellings spoke on "Women - the Builders of Communities and Dreams." Secretary Spellings noted that she is the first Education Secretary to be the mother of a school age child. Secretary Spellings inspiring words focused on the strides women have made in their careers in-and-out of the government while juggling families. Secretary Spellings message - "Today's women can go as far in their lives, and careers, as they can dream."

Following Secretary Spelling's address, eleven outstanding HUD women were honored for their commitment and ability to bring communities together and to restore hope in the face of impossible odds. These 2006 women honorees represent a myriad of interests, abilities in the ways they have achieved their accomplishments.

Linda Blaylock, Director of Treasury Division, Office of Finance, Ginnie Mae. Linda came to Ginnie Mae as an accountant in 1990 and is now the Director of the Treasury Division. Her innovative ideas had an immediate impact on the Office that led to developing and implementing an accounting reporting system for Master Servicers of Ginnie Mae's defaulted portfolios to report the accounting line items needed for general ledger and financial statements. In 1992, Linda was one of the lead persons to implement a new general ledger system (Macola) in Ginnie Mae. Linda's dedication and vast accounting knowledge made the project very successful. Linda trains and mentors new accountants at HUD. Linda has a superior knowledge of all U.S. Treasury regulations and OMB guidelines. Linda is honest and fair in her dealings with outside staff and fellow workers, demonstrating her belief in the HUD mission. Linda's high standards of work, attitude and respect of all who come into contact with her has made her one of the most valuable employees in Ginnie Mae.

B.J. Douglass, Senior Project Officer, Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. B.J. is a model of excellence in her job. She leads through example offering suggestions to better serve the faith-based and community organizations across the country. To assist in the hurricane efforts, B.J. produced and published a Hurricane Toolkit providing critical information for faith-based and community organizations to serve their constituents. Over 47,000 copies of the toolkit were distributed electronically and in hard copy format. She has also recommended and led the development of outreach/training modules around the SuperNOFA, grants.gov and loss mitigation that directly respond to the needs of those most devastated by the Gulf Coast Hurricanes. B.J portrays a courageous spirit that has added to the vitality and richness of HUD. She can work with anyone and does so with complete respect and professionalism.

Michelle V. Gaston, Director of Administration's Office of Budget and Administrative Support, has served as a Budget Analyst in PIH and in the CFO's Office. In 2003, she transferred to the Office of Administration, where she served as the Budget Officer until her recent promotion to the position of Director. Michelle believes that as a leader, one's responsibility is to become a mentor. Michelle is a dedicated public servant who is very generous with her time and shares her knowledge and experience with her staff. Michelle Gaston is the leader of Girl Scout Troop 5227 of the Nation's Capital (GSCNC). In 2004, the Washington Post and the Enquirer-Gazette, a local newspaper, recognized the scouts when they escorted Vietnam veteran mothers along the Vietnam Memorial walkway as part of a Mother's Day celebration honoring mothers of Vietnam vets. The troop has earned numerous awards for community service.

Kimberly Harley, Office Administrator, Public and Indian Housing
Kimberly Harley, a PIH Office Administrator assisted Secretary Jackson in his front office staff during its (administrative) staff transition period. She interacts daily with HUD's principal staff as the Staff Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing (PIH). Her customer skills are exemplary. She is noted for taking new Office Assistants under her wing and providing them hands-on assistance and training.

Kimberly is a key PIH front office person, tasked with myriad special assignments. After Hurricane Katrina, Kimberly compiled time-sensitive hurricane reports for the General Deputy Assistant Secretary. Ms. Harley also served as a member of the internal Public and Indian Housing's Task Force on Hurricane Katrina. The project required long work hours, weekends, and holidays to ensure that PIH was in a good position to assist the families affected by the disaster. In addition, Ms. Harley requested and was granted a 45-day detail to the PIH Real Estate Assessment Center in the position as a Financial Management Analyst developing spreadsheets for use in weekly Senior-level meetings pertaining to the Operating Subsidy Program Rule. The documents developed from these meetings were forwarded and used by the Secretary in meetings with members of Congress and their staff; and the decisions made at these meetings resulted in the FY 2005 publication of the Final Rule.

Esperanza "Espy" Holguin , Program Specialist (Colonias), Departmental Operations and Coordination has worked to introduce and expand housing and basic services to colonias in the State of New Mexico . Espy is assigned to the State of New Mexico but has provided expertise to HUD and other federal agencies in Arizona . In addition to completing her HUD assignments, she created opportunities to improve the lives of the colonias residents. Her work has caused Both governmental and private organizations to generate $20.6 million for the Model Colonia project and Vado/Del Cerro colonia residents. The Model Colonia project galvanized the Doña Ana County Board of Commissioners to prioritize infrastructure needs in the county's other 36 colonias in the area. Moreover, through her partnership efforts, Las Cruces Housing Authority secured financing to begin construction of 21 units of affordable housing that will be built using alternative construction materials. This initiative recently received a $745,000 grant from New Mexico 's Mortgage Finance Authority and 50,000 from tax credits to help with the project. Espy has been responsible for managing and cultivating HUD's partnership with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). After initially working with the IRS representative to introduce the representative to specific needs of the colonias. Espy and the IRS have held numerous informational and outreach training sessions for the colonias residents. In fact, Espy hosted one of the first Spanish language; dual financial literacy training summits that coupled the FDIC's Money Smart curriculum with the IRS Tax Credits and Resource workshop. Her efforts led to the creation of two coalitions - one with the City of Las Cruces, NM and colonias resident groups to organize and staff five (5) Volunteer Income Tax Assistance center sites that will be open from February 1 to April 17, 2006, and; one with Dona Ana County and non-profits to staff (2) two citizen help centers in the colonias. Espy Holguin goes "above and beyond" her day-to-day duties to ensure that the needs of the colonias residents are integrated into HUD's program service and delivery models.

Patricia Hoban-Moore, Deputy Regional Director, Field Policy and Management, Atlanta Regional Office, was appointed Deputy Regional Director, Atlanta Regional Office, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on August 21, 2005. In 2005, Pat served as Acting Deputy Regional Director, Atlanta Regional Office. Pat has a broad background in housing, community development and public housing. In April 2004, Pat completed a two-year assignment as the HUD Director in New Orleans, Louisiana. In that capacity she helped the HUD Recovery Team with an Administrative take-over of the New Orleans Housing Authority, designated as one of the most troubled authorities in the nation. Pat served as Director in Mississippi from 1996-2002.

Pat has received numerous awards from HUD for Special Achievement, Superior Performance and the HUD Secretary's Award. She is a former Federal Manager of the Year and Public Administrator of the Year.

Cheryl Owens, Senior Vice President, for Management Operations, Ginnie Mae Cheryl's exceptional contributions as "a builder of dreams and community" span both the public and private sectors. While serving as Special Assistant to Secretary Patricia Roberts Harris, she was the liaison between the Department and the Conference of Black Mayors, helping them to realize their dreams for improving the lives of their constituents. While serving as the Deputy Manager/Director of the HUD Washington, DC Field Office for 11 years, Cheryl had a direct major impact on the communities within the Washington Metropolitan area, directing the effective management of all HUD programs.

Her unique talent for balancing the needs of the organization and the employees was also evident during her tenure in the Office of Housing where she served in both the Offices of Multifamily Housing as the Associate Deputy Director for Housing Management, and in the Office of Operations as Director of Management, Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for Operations and Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Operations. During her tenure in Housing, Pat was acknowledged by the Union negotiation team members as an "Iron Angel" for her integrity and firm, but fair participation during major negotiations on major reassignments of staff across the country. During this time period, she and her staff received the Secretary's Award for Outstanding Program Office Achievement for invaluable support in the realignment of the Office of Housing, and she received the Distinguished Service Award. Cheryl has a strong desire to help others achieve their professional dreams by serving as a mentor to employees in various organizations and grade levels. She worked closely with several minority female managers in the Office of Housing to establish a formal Mentoring Program, which was adopted by the Office of Personnel for Departmental implementation. She served as an Advisor to the Team Empowerment in the 2005 Emerging Leaders Program; served and is currently serving as a mentor for participants in the SES Candidate Development Program.

In her private life, Cheryl has also been a builder of communities and dreams. She has served on the resident boards and/or homeowners associations wherever she has lived. She is a Girl Scout Leader, and has served as a member and/or leader of various parent/teacher associations.

Christine Talcott-Roberts, Program Specialist (Migrant Farmers), Departmental Operations and Coordination has, over the past four years, worked tirelessly to introduce and expand housing and basic services to farmworker settlements in the State of Florida. Through her extraordinary effort and commitment, she has helped in building coalitions and managing relationships to improve the delivery of HUD programs and services to migrant farmworker communities throughout rural Florida. Eexamples emboding Christine's commitment and hard work in helping migrant farmworkers can be seen in the Employer Assisted Housing (EAH) prototype in Hillsborough County, FL. Rebuilding in the aftermath of the multiple hurricanes hitting Florida the past two years is one of the greatest challenge facing Central and South Florida. There are approximately 250,000 farmworkers and family members who live in the most vulnerable hurricane impacted areas. These annual family incomes generally do not exceed $11,000 per year, making this population most susceptible to the damage the storms caused. Many farmworker individuals and families reside in older mobile homes that were either destroyed entirely or damaged beyond repair. Christine helped initiate the EAH project to address the impact of Hurricane disaster on Florida's rural environment, and in particular farmworker communities. Christine has been intimately involved in working with regional IRS representatives to set up, and staff free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites. The VITA sites serve locations where low-and moderate income individuals and families file their taxes, and receive eligibility information on the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and other federal asset building resources.

June M. Stewart, Staff Assistant, Office of Administration
June, a Staff Assistant in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Human Resource Management in Headquarters, began her career at HUD in 1984. Over the last 12 years has served tirelessly and efficiently in the human resource management arena. June's service in her community and her work with veteran's organizations is extensive. From May 2003 to July 2005 she served as President, Unit 131 of the American Legion Auxiliary in Colmar Manor, Maryland, and served as the Juniors District Representative for the Southern Maryland District American Legion Auxiliary where she mentored over 100 junior members. She organized special activities for veteran's organizations such as annual fish fries for a veteran's home in Maryland housing over 300 veterans; spoke to over 140 servicemen and women who had recently returned from Iraq, presenting their Battalion with a Corporate Blue Star Flag on behalf of Prince George's County American Legion Council; organized several special fundraisers for Prince George's County Special Olympics; and organized an afghan drive for returning servicemen and women who were recuperating at Walter Reed Army Hospital. During her three-year tenure as President, her Unit won 12 awards at the Department of Maryland level, for a number of categories related to the Auxiliary programs. She donates time every month by visiting and talking with veterans at the Washington, DC /VA Medical Center; and has donated countless hours to the American Legion by planning and working functions at Post Home for Veterans and family members. After September 11, June became the Chairperson for organizing the annual September 11 th Remembrance for the Town of Bladensburg . During one of these ceremonies, June gave out awards, on behalf of the American Legion, to firefighters who went to Ground Zero to assist in recovery efforts. June spent three years volunteering for a number of activities and functions at her daughter's high school, ROTC Program, including their annual inspection conducted by the United States Navy, at which their High School won a Distinguished Unit Award at the County Level.

Pamela Doong Walsh, Director of Program Standards & Compliance Division,
Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity is the Director of FHEO's Program Standards and Compliance Division. In this position, Pam is responsible for providing guidance on civil rights related program requirements to all HUD program offices. She joined FHEO in 1994 as the Program Manager of the Section 8 Mobility Counseling Program where she administered and managed approximately $35 million awarded to public housing agencies and non-profit organizations to assist Housing Choice Voucher families to move from high-poverty concentrated neighborhoods to low-poverty neighborhoods. Before joining HUD, she was the Financial Director for the Education and Cultural Exchanges Program under the former United States Information Agency (now the Bureau of Cultural Diplomacy, Department of State). In this capacity, she awarded, administered, and managed $350 million to institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, and individuals under the Fulbright Scholars and International Visitors Programs. In 1992, she was participating in forming the Fulbright Bilateral Commission in Budapest, Hungary, the first Fulbright Commission in Eastern Europe.

Pam was born in Hong Kong, but was raised in the metropolitan Washington , DC area. She has a BA in Public Policy and an MA in International Studies. With her family, she has lived and traveled all over Western Europe . Pam exhibits professionalism, patience and resilience in her extraordinary contributions to the Office of Fair Housing as well as HUD. Her passion for civil rights is demonstrated throughout all of her work in FHEO. She goes beyond the scope of her duties to educate all HUD program offices on civil rights related program requirements. She has taken special interest in assuring protection of the rights of individuals with limited English proficiency by assuring that civil rights and other HUD publications are printed in various languages so that they are accessible to a wide range of the public.

Dr. Jackie L. Williams, Director of CPD's Office of Rural Housing and Economic Development (RHED) , assists communities and individuals in building communities and achieving dreams through commitment, integrity and determination. As the Director of RHED, Jackie manages the Church Arson Loan Guarantee Program; the Rural Gateway; and the Rural Housing and Economic Development Program. She also managed the Youthbuild program as a special assignment for three years. She is highly respected throughout CPD for her commitment, knowledge, and expertise in the area of community and economic development. Throughout her distinguished career, she has served at all levels of local, state, and federal government as well as in the academic arena.

Jackie consistently demonstrates the vital role HUD employees should play in fulfilling the mission of HUD. She strives to provide professional and effective service to all constituents. After the Gulf Coast was devastated by Rita and Katrina, she volunteered to provide assistance to those who were in need. On behalf of HUD, she spent four months in the Gulf Coast working with FEMA, utilizing her skills, experience, and expertise in the areas of economic and community development, to provide assistance, support and encouragement to the victims.

Dr. Williams is a strong proponent and advocate of education. She has served as a mentor to HUD's summer interns and family members. She also serves as a mentor for undergraduate and graduate students at a local university as well as HUD employees who are engaged in professional development programs. She has earned several degrees, which include B.S. Degree in Computer Science; Master's Degree in Educational Administration and Supervision; Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration, well as various certifications in the areas of community and economic development.