Leading a Six Sigma effort when you are the pioneer in your company. How can you lead the effort without getting swamped by those who want to follow your lead? Leading the division and staying motivated when the company culture does not necessarily reward being the "first."

Before joining CACI International as a Quality Manager for Military Sealift Command (MSC), Ms. Hollifield became the first full-time Small Business Advocate for SAIC’s Enterprise & Health Solutions Sector (now Martin Business Unit). Representing the Enterprise & Health Solutions Sector (E&HSS) [healthcare IT] to existing teammates, potential Small Business teammates, HHS, VA, NIH, NCI, and DoD/MHS. She was responsible for meeting with new small businesses, pre-screening the technical and functional ability to team with the Sector, and arranged meetings with relevant personnel. She also served as the Small Business Ombudsman for 75 Small Business teammates, most issues resolved within 48 hours, with out-brief to Senior Leadership within 72 hours. She became the focal point for both Small Business teammates and Sector employees to increase compliance with Federal Small Business goals and programs.

Key Accomplishments during her tenure include the following:

• Improvements in Small Business Results for subcontracts to SB in the following categories which represent increases from SAIC E&HSS FY03 to FY04
• Small Business ------ >Increase of 54.1%
• Small Disadvantaged Business ------> Increase of 44.9%
• Women-Owned Business ------> Increase of 61.3%
• Established relationships with local and national SBA offices, Virginia, Maryland, and DC Economic Development offices for those potential Small Business teammates who wished to join SAIC and needed local resources to ensure their competitiveness.

As the Native American Action Officer working as a support contractor for the US Air Force Office of Small Business, she was successful in achieving 90% utilization of USAF contract awards (1999 and 2000) for Federal Government Subcontracting Incentive supporting Native American firms. She provided direct assistance to businesses in developing/reviewing business plans and securing contracts. She and other members of the USAF Small Business Office worked to achieve the placement of contracts with qualified Native American firms increasing from $10 million (1998) to $50 million(1999 & 2000), largely through the initiation of 14 Business Opportunity fairs. She won the Small Business Director’s Award for Service Excellence in performing contract work and achieving significant improvements within the Native American Initiative.

Ms. Hollifield possesses a Masters degree in Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma, and a Bachelors degree in Science, Political Science (with Honors) from Eastern New Mexico University, and an Associate in Applied Science in Production Management from the Community College of the Air Force. She is an American Society for Quality (ASQ) Certified Quality Improvement Associate (CQIA) & Certified Quality Auditor, a USAF Strategic Planning Facilitator and Instructor, and an Able Toastmaster Bronze (Toastmaster’s International). Her awards include the Air Force Commendation Medal (with one oak leaf cluster), the Air Force Achievement Medal, USAF Chief of Staff Team Excellence Award (Quality), the Vice-President’s Hammer Award for Innovations in Government, and the Pacific Air Forces (USAF/PACAF) Outstanding Maintenance Support.

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Reservations:
Register by sending an email to Programs13@asq0511.org by Wednesday, October 12th, indicating dinner and program, or program only. Cost for dinner is $20 per person, payable at the door. Attendance for the program only is free. Once ASQ Section 0511 commits to a specific number of dinner reservations, these meals must be paid for. If your plans change, please contact Programs13@asq0511.org. You can pay at the door by cash, Visa, Mastercard, AMEX or Discover.

Schedule:

5:30pm - 6:30pm Section 0511 Board Meeting - All are welcome.

6:30pm - 7:00pm Registration & Networking

7:00pm - 8:00pm Dinner

8:00pm - 9:00pm Section Business & Program

You may pay at the door by Visa/MC/Discover/Amex, as well as by cash or check.
Meetings are open to all members as well as to the public.

Next Meeting:
Wednesday, November 16, 2005 - Marco Polo, Vienna, VA

4-for-3:
If you attend ASQ Section 0511 monthly dinner meetings and pay for three dinners, then your fourth dinner at one of our meetings is free!!!

Call for Speakers!!!
Would you or someone you know like to speak at a future ASQ meeting? We're always looking for volunteers. Be creative! Exercise your public presentation skills! Earn recertification credits! Get a free dinner! Please contact Programs13@asq0511.org.