- Article
- Leave a Comment
Telework: Is the End in Sight?
The author discusses the Telework Enhancement Act and says that he believes it has made significant progress towards enhancing telework in government across three key areas.
Articles by Steve Oppermann | Older Articles »
- Article
- Leave a Comment
Chapter 3: Two Winter Get-Aways and Some Mixed Medical Results
FedSmith.com author Steve Oppermann recently found himself facing a frightening and painful series of life events in a second battle with cancer. In his latest article about the experience, he provides an update on his personal story and prognosis.
- Article
- Leave a Comment
The Empire Strikes Back: Fighting Recurrent Kidney Cancer
FedSmith.com author Steve Oppermann recently found himself facing a frightening and painful series of life events in a second battle with cancer. In his second article about the experience, he shares his personal story in the hope that it will be an inspiration to others who might find themselves in a similar situation.
- Article
- Leave a Comment
Round Two: The Author Laces Up the Gloves When Cancer Demands a Rematch
FedSmith.com author Steve Oppermann recently found himself facing a frightening and painful series of life events in a second battle with cancer. He has chosen to share his personal story in the hope that it will be an inspiration to others who might find themselves in a similar situation.
- Article
- Leave a Comment
YouTube Video Shines Spotlight on Workplace Bullying Issue
The author outlines some examples of workplace bullying and how it affects individuals and organizations.
- Article
- Leave a Comment
MSPB “Firing Squads” versus Traditional Disciplinary Procedures
What is the best way for an agency to take a disciplinary action? An experienced federal human resources expert offers an opinion and explains what factors go into winning an appeal.
- Article
- Leave a Comment
Contemplating Retirement? Learn from the Experiences of a Former Federal Employee
Only you can decide when it is time to retire. Careful planning is essential for anyone. Here are considerations based on the real life experience of one former federal employee.
- Article
- Leave a Comment
Contemplating Retirement: Shared Experiences from a Retired Federal Employee
Are you ready to retire? A former federal employee shares his experience and provides advice to things to consider before you make a final decision.
About Steve Oppermann
Steve Oppermann completed his Federal career on March 31, 1997, after more than 26 years of service, virtually all in human resources management. Steve rose from a basic personnel management trainee at Fort Riley, Kansas, to Regional Director of Personnel for General Services Administration (GSA) in Denver in less than 10 years.
In the latter position, he managed, through four subordinate supervisors, the functions of position classification, position management and pay administration; external recruitment and internal placement, including administration of the agency's Merit Promotion Plan; labor relations, including contract negotiations and day-to-day contract administration with three different labor organizations with exclusive recognition; employee relations, including performance management, conduct and discipline, and benefits administration; employee development and training; affirmative action, including special emphasis programs; and personnel action processing. After moving from GSA to the National Park Service (NPS) in 1985, Steve served as Chief of Personnel Operations for nearly nine years.
In addition to 25 years as a first-, second-, and third-line supervisor and program manager, Steve gained experience in every human resources function, as well as in equal employment opportunity (EEO). He also represented agency management in a wide variety of third-party settings, and worked effectively with top agency management and with supervisors and non-supervisory employees at all levels of the organization.
In 1993, Steve won a Congressional Fellowship sponsored by the American Political Science Association, spending from November of 1993 through October of 1994 working as a Legislative Assistant in the Washington, D.C., office of U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka of Hawaii. He spent the last 2 ½ years of his Federal career serving as a senior consultant to the NPS on the most complex third-party cases in employee relations and EEO. For the last four years, Steve has served as president of the board of Volunteers in Prevention (VIP), a registered Colorado non-profit organization that mentors at-risk youth.