Authors

Current FedSmith.com authors are listed below. Click on an author’s name to view his/her articles and biographical information. To learn more about how you can submit articles to FedSmith.com, visit our prospective authors page.

• Ian Smith Ian Smith is one of the founders of FedSmith.com. He writes about current topics that impact federal employees.
• Ralph Smith Ralph Smith is one of the founders of FedSmith.com. He writes in a blunt, entertaining style with a viewpoint that reflects an in-depth knowledge of federal HR issues.
• Robbie Hyman Robbie Hyman has been a freelance writer for 15 years. He writes newsletters, press releases, white papers, web copy, presentations, speeches, op-eds, training materials and technical documentation. Robbie is available to write for federal agencies.
• Bob Gilson Bob Gilson is a consultant with a specialty in working with and training Federal agencies to resolve employee problems at all levels. A retired agency labor and employee relations director, Bob has authored or co-authored a number of books dealing with Federal issues and also conducts training seminars.
• John Grobe John Grobe is a retired federal employee with over 25 years of experience in federal human resources and President of Federal Career Experts, a training and consulting firm that specializes in federal employee retirement and career transition issues.
• Susan McGuire Smith Susan McGuire Smith spent most of her federal legal career with NASA, serving as Chief Counsel at Marshall Space Flight Center for 14 years. Her expertise is in government contracts, ethics, and personnel law.
• Robert F. Benson Before his retirement in 2010, Robert Benson served 35 years in various Federal agencies, as both a management analyst and IT specialist. He is a graduate of Northwestern University and developed the software at fedbens.us.
• Meiko S. Patton Meiko S. Patton is a writer/editor for the United States Postal Service. She has a personal blog at CareerSavvyFed.com and is the principal writer at eCareerHelper.com.
• Jason Visner Jason Visner is a federal benefit advisor, and works with federal employees to optimize their federal retirement benefits. He can provide recommendations on FERS or CSRS annuities, survivor benefits, military/LEO service, FEHB, FEGLI, TSP, IRAs, annuities, and social security.
• Jason Kay Jason Kay is a professional resume writer and regular contributor to KSADoctor.com, a professional federal resume service and repository of sample KSA statements.
• Micah Shilanski, CFP Micah Shilanski is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional who specializes in helping federal employees get the most out of their retirement benefits. Micah is an independent fee-based financial planner, and only works with a select group of clients. Micah helps his clients with Federal Retirement planning, tax planning, retirement planning, estate planning and investment advice.
• Steve Oppermann Steve Oppermann is an HR & EEO consultant/trainer with FPMI and with Rushford & Associates. He served as Regional Director of Personnel for GSA and advised and represented management in six agencies during his federal career.
• Robbie Kunreuther Robbie Kunreuther is the Director of Government Personnel Services (GPS). GPS provides 1 to 3-day seminars to Federal agencies in four subject areas: Dealing with performance and conduct issues; Developing sensible performance appraisal criteria; Fostering cooperative labor-management relations; and Applying mediation skills in the workplace. Over the years, Robbie has trained thousands of Federal supervisors, managers, HR specialists, and union officials. For more information about him and GPS, go to www.trainlngfeds.com.
• Ehren Clovis Ehren Clovis retired from federal service after more than 31 years as a Benefits Specialist. She presents retirement and benefits training as a Senior Associate of GRA, Inc., and also provides individual retirement and benefits counseling by phone and email.
• Timothy J. Clark Timothy J. Clark is a federal employee with over 27 years of service in the federal civil service and is a retired officer in the U.S. Army Reserve. He served over four years on active duty since September 11, 2001. His book, Success through Quality, Support Guide for the Journey to Continuous Improvement was published by the America Society for Quality in 1999.
• Carol Schmidlin Carol Schmidlin is the President of Franklin Planning and has been advising clients on how to grow and preserve their wealth for 18 years. In addition to her financial planning practice, she is the founder of FedSavvy® Educational Solutions, which provides Financial and Retirement Literacy Programs for Federal Employees.
• Mathew B. Tully, Esq. Mathew B. Tully is Founding Partner of Tully Rinckey PLLC and a medically retired employee of the U.S. DOJ. He concentrates his legal efforts in federal employment and national security law.
• Allen W. Smith, Ph.D. Dr. Allen W. Smith is Professor of Economics, Emeritus, at Eastern Illinois University. He is the author of seven books, including "The Looting of Social Security," and has been researching and writing about Social Security financing for the past twelve years.
• Ann Vanderslice Ann Vanderslice is a federal retirement planning specialist who has worked with federal employees throughout the Rocky Mountain region since 2002. In addition to her financial services practice, she is a partner in Federal Benefits Training Network, a training and consulting firm that has conducted more than 100 on-site federal benefits seminars nationally.
• Kathryn Troutman Kathryn Troutman is the president of The Resume Place, Inc., an established Federal Career Consulting and Federal Resume Writing firm in Catonsville, MD. The Resume Place is a GSA Contractor and Federal Career Trainer throughout government.
• Marilyn Jones Marilyn Jones has been a journalist for more than 30 years and is currently a freelance feature writer specializing in travel. Her articles have appeared in major newspapers including the Boston Globe, Akron Beacon Journal and Chicago Sun-Times as well as regional travel magazines.