EEO Works At the Nuclear Regulatory Commission -
Just Ask Cynthia Dekle
EEO
Works At the Nuclear Regulatory Commission -
Just Ask Cynthia Dekle
When Cindy started as a
typist in the old CRESS centralized typing unit in 1985, business was booming,
with day and night shifts to keep up with the work load. "CRESS was always
the first to get new automated equipment," Cynthia says. She found that
fascinating.
" So, when the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation needed a systems administrator
for its 5520 system, I thought that might be an opportunity for me," she
says. And, as applications advanced, so did Cynthia. She moved from the 5520
into PCs and the LAN. Change created opportunities and Cynthia took advantage
of all of them.
She says, "I moved
right along with the changes in technology. But I didn't really know where I
was going or what the agency offered to help me, until Beth DeWoody became my
mentor."
Beth, a former colleague in CRESS, had already become involved in advanced information
technology applications. Cynthia is lavish in her praise of Beth's help.
"Once I got into the mentoring program, I became focused on how to use this new technology to my benefit," Cynthia says. "I knew I wanted to become involved in the systems area, and then I knew I had to go to school. Hands-on training doesn't take the place of in-depth learning."
Cynthia also learned from Beth that the agency would help; so far, the agency has paid all her tuition and book costs.
The Mentor Gives Her a Challenge
Cynthia had her associate's
degree from Prince George's Community College, and in 1994, with Beth's urging,
she enrolled in the University of Maryland. She earned her bachelor's degree
and, in January 1997, started work toward her master's in computer system management.
She also changed jobs, moving to OCIO and a position in the Information Technology
Infrastructure Division.
That job was strictly customer support. She enjoyed it, but her
master's program was opening her eyes to many other aspects of the computer
world. When the opportunity to move into Applications Development
came up, she was ready and she had the required skills, thanks to following
her mentor's advice. The new position built well on her new strengths and tied
into what she has been studying. PLUS, it was a promotion !
While taking a master's program and holding down a full-time job isn't easy,
Cynthia says the program and her job complement each other very well. What she
does or learns in one is readily transferable to the other.
Cynthia is enthusiastic
about many things, but she is particularly enthusiastic about ADAMS, the agency's
new document management and distribution system. Since December 1999, she has
been a computer systems analyst in the Applications Development Division of
OCIO to assist in the implementation of ADAMS. The ADAMS systems administrators
handle practical and technical configuration issues as well as calls from individual
employees who have a question or need support. Cynthia loces this spect of her
work because it allows her to "give back" by being an informal mentor
to others. Having been the recipient of effective mentoring, Cunthia knows exactly
what to do and how to do it. She has an excellent model in Beth, her own mentor.
The system may sound complicated at first, she says, "It's a very basic
system. All people have to do is just point and click. People don't have
to be programmersany more to use ADAMS. Anyone who is used to games or
surfing the web will have no problem using ADAMS." Cynthia finds her work
with ADAMS particularly exciting.
" This is the first time I've worked on a project from near its beginning
through implementation," she says. "It's opened my eyes as to how
applications are built and put into use."
The Individual Development Plan
Throughout her own professional
development process, Cynthia has found that her mentor's recommendation to develop
an Individual Development Plan was of great value.
An IDP is:
Cynthis found the plan is a road map to success.
The first step Cynthia
would recommend to most people is: "Find a mentor. Then, sit down with
your mentor or your supervisor and map out what you want to do and how you can
get there.
Then, get on your way. The biggest step toward reaching your career goal will
be the one you take when you sign up for your first course."
Going back to school was easier than Cynthia anticipated, but, she concedes,
"The work load is heavy. I seem to spend all my time working or at
school, and I think I spend more time at the Grad School library than I do anywhere
else. I'm tired, but I can't see myself slowing down. So, once I
have my master's, I will probably go for my Ph.D. Eventually, I can see myself
as a CIO, somewhere, maybe even here."
Quite a change from the typing pool!
Acknowledgments and Giving Back
Cynthia is grateful for
the help she received from Beth; from ADD Division Director, Arnold Levin; from
Information Management Team Leader, Dan Graser; and others. To complete the
loop, Cynthia now serves as a mentor to several other of her coworkers who are
now in school.
"When I came here, I really didn't have any direction," Cynthia says.
"Now, I know how valuable a mentor can be."
Cynthia is very happy with all that has come to pass in her career and when
you talk to her, her good feelings are certainly contagious.