Region 6 HR onboards 35 ‘GSA agents’ with oath of office

By Gretchen Jabben

New "GSA agents" begin their mission at Take Your Kids to Work Day 2019. Photograph by Gretchen Jabben

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The Heartland Regional Office participated in Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day April 25 by swearing in 35 children as new "GSA agents" for the day. The annual event centered around the GSA agents completing their assigned mission. The mission: to uncover evidence to identify various GSA careers, evaluate their own skills and interests, and to select a GSA career for themselves.

Federal Acquisition Service Regional Commissioner Mary Ruwwe welcomed the participants and asked how many times they had attended the annual event at GSA. "I don't remember all of them, but I have attended this event since I was born, so I am guessing close to 10," said Serena Ryerkerk-Doherty, daughter of Public Buildings Service Architect Denise Ryerkerk. Serena said she does not plan to work for GSA in the future, but she wants to be an FBI agent, so she would still be a part of the federal family.

After collecting evidence from five GSA offices and participating in activities ranging from solving puzzles with an auditor to building "green" Lego buildings with a project manager and visiting an information technology bar demonstrating types of technology. The GSA agents also had the opportunity to explore Department of Homeland Security Federal Protective Service vehicles. FPS shared information about their careers alongside two furry members of the K-9 unit.

Deputy Director Angela Taylor, Office of Human Resources Management used a unique oath of office to swear-in the agents, which included a promise to have fun, be on their best behavior and make memories.

GSA employees give back to their communities and the "GSA agents" had an opportunity to make welcome bags for children arriving at their local domestic violence shelter and to create notes for the food bank to be included in food distributions.

Deputy Director Angela Taylor, Office of Human Resources Management uses a unique oath of office to swear in the new agents. Photograph by Gretchen Jabben

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As a finale to the event, the teams of agents interviewed a panel of GSA staffers to identify which career they represented at GSA. The four teams worked together and correctly identified all five panel members. Each agent was then asked to stand next to the staffer representing the GSA career that they would like the most. The agents chose the customer service technician career over chief of staff by a landslide.

Zoe Bullock, daughter of Richard Bullock on an interagency rotation from FEMA, said she is still planning to become a veterinarian but now wants to add a part-time job as an auditor.

The Regional Office was alive with movement, laughter and youthful energy. It's possible a few of the "GSA agents" will return someday for an official onboarding.