Ann Marie Sushinsky: Staying for the Long Haul
Ann Marie Sushinsky
Branch Chief
Portfolio Management and Customer Engagement
When Ann Marie Sushinsky responded to a job ad in the local newspaper she had no idea what GSA was or that it would become such a big part of her life. She started her tenure supporting GSA as a contract employee. After four months, Sushinsky was hired as a Federal Career Intern where she rotated around the different GSA divisions and learned what each part does and how they are interconnected. "I think that's helped me to better understand how everything fits together and to not just be focused on my job, but to see the larger picture," said Sushinsky.
The biggest surprise for Sushinsky was how accessible people are. Growing up outside of Washington D.C., she expected the government to be hierarchical. "I didn't think that I could approach a director as a new intern, but that just isn't the case. Everyone is accessible from every level of the organization," said Sushinsky. "GSA's open work space helps as well because senior level leaders don't have private offices, instead they sit throughout the building and are accessible to everyone."
She credits a "culture of trust" to helping to create a positive work environment. "We trust that our people are going to do a good job and that everyone brings something to the team. We're family," Sushinsky added.
After 21 years and several job titles later, Sushinsky says impact and the people are what inspire her daily. "Impact is big for me. Seeing a project get funded and seeing it come to fruition is exciting," said Sushinsky. "The people also inspire me. I've worked with a lot of different people and I've learned something from each and every one of them."
During her federal career, Sushinsky has worked as a Property Manager, Asset Manager, and Program Manager (Repairs and Alterations) before stepping into supervisory roles. She's currently a branch chief in the Portfolio Management and Customer Engagement division where she oversees both strategic and operational aspects of the department.
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