Implementing this new structure will also enable the NBC to more successfully meet the challenges of the President's Management Agenda, including the critical E-Payroll initiative. This past spring, NBC was competitively selected to be one of four governmentwide payroll providers for the entire Federal workforce. This initiative has proven to be a huge undertaking. Our new organizational arrangement will allow us to continue to meet the needs, and rise to the challenge of taking on this enormous workload. The reorganization will also ensure NBC is in full compliance with Secretarial Order No. 3244, which mandates that we achieve a specific Information Technology structure. The IT organization, headed by CIO Bob Scheibel, is structured to make certain IT security is a top priority and our customers financial data, in particular, is safe and secure. Lastly, the NBC is working to achieve greater transparency and improvement in areas of budget and finance integration.

The second significant change involves the consolidation of the Department's real estate appraisal functions. This past summer, the Department's Appraisal Reform Team (ART) prepared suggestions for managing the transition to a new consolidated structure, and has recommended the placement of the new organization in the NBC. In this new role, NBC will provide centralized coordination and consistency in implementing appraisal guidance, continuing education and professional development of appraisers, and greater efficiencies in contract monitoring and management.

The appraiser consolidation will be beneficial in several ways. First, the appraisers will report only to other appraisers, thus providing greater independence. Second, consolidation will allow for greater emphasis and consistency to be placed on meeting or exceeding nationally-recognized appraisal standards. Third, tailored educational standards for initial qualification, appraisal staff, and contractors will be created. Continuing education, emphasizing the unique challenges facing appraisers of Federal lands, will be promoted to attain these standards. Fourth, the consolidation will allow for a more structured career path and enhance developmental opportunities. We are confident this new structure will create a win-win situation for everyone.

We have worked closely with the ART to provide for a smooth transition of this appraisal function. We have evaluated funding, staffing, contracting, information technology and other concerns to meet the needs of the new appraisal organization. A web site has been established to provide information to appraisers and other bureau personnel on the status of the consolidation, and other communication initiatives are being planned, including a broadcast that will occur prior to the transition. Addressing employee concerns has been a high priority throughout this process, and extensive internal outreach was conducted to inform employees about the proposed action, and we will continue to provide information and assistance during and after the transition.

I would like to personally welcome our newest members to the NBC family. You are coming to the NBC at an exciting and challenging time in our organization's history. I firmly believe in our organization's talent and dedication, and know that together, we are ready to take on these challenges and deliver services in a competent, customer-focused, and proficient manner.

Lastly, an important change within the NBC has occurred with the recent addition of the Planning, Performance, and Oversight Office (PPOO), established within the Office of the NBC Director. The PPOO was created to better position the NBC to respond to the President's Management Agenda, OMB budget and performance integration initiatives, the requirements of the Government Performance and Results Act, and the Government Management Reform Act. The PPOO will perform two primary functions: Planning and Performance Management, which establishes policies and procedures for planning, performance, and business process re-engineering, and Management Control and Audit Liaison, which establishes policies and procedures for management control reviews, management control and audit oversight, and the reporting and tracking of audit Notice of Findings and Recommendations (NFR's) and corrective action plans.

I am happy to announce that these new changes were successfully implemented, and in a seamless fashion. I want to assure our valued clients that service delivery will continue, uninterrupted, as we transform and revolutionize our organization. The NBC has experienced exceptional growth since our inception, and continues to make sound, strategic moves, such as those mentioned above, that will enable us to continually meet and exceed our customer's needs as we move further into the 21st century.

December 1-4, 2003, the National Business Center held a leadership conference at the Marriott Hunt Valley Inn in Hunt Valley, Maryland. Key speakers included Secretary Gale Norton, Nina Hatfield, and P. Lynn Scarlett, as well as guest speaker Herbert Tillery, Deputy Mayor of Washington, DC. The conference was the perfect opportunity for NBC managers and staff to exchange ideas, knowledge, best practices, and opinions on how we can best meet the challenges head on that are coming our way. At the same time, it presented an opportunity to get to know each other better and to learn how each employee fits into and contributes towards the mission of the NBC.

I want to take this time to say thank you to the entire NBC staff for their hard work and unwavering dedication to ensuring high quality delivery of our services. And to our valued clients, thank you for providing us the opportunity to serve you. As the holidays quickly approach, let me be the first to wish everyone a happy holiday season, and a joyous and peaceful new year.

Timothy G. Vigotsky

NBC Director

NBC Welcomes New Employees
Nathan D. Houpt Joellen M. Jarret William E. Joe Bernadette E. Joy Jamie Jim Stephanie F. Klingenberg Mary C. Knapp Moira J. Koffinke Dara Lao Marc G. MacKeingan Dionne F. Mahone Frances J. Martinez Anthony Marucci Jennifer L. Meltz Pearlette M. Merriweather Chad W. Mock	Margaret M. Narick-Ebrey Carrie A. Parish Jennifer K. Pfancuff Rodney C. Pporter Pamala R. Quallich Iris F. Redmon-Johnson Ann K. Rives LindaR. Sadaoui Beverly A. Sandoval William F. Speaks Matthew H. Stewart Elaine G. Torrez Hector G. Vega Patricia A. Weller Lauren G. Yates