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OPA News Release: [05/03/2007]
Contact Name: Angie Tang or Matthew Faraci
Phone Number: (202) 693-4676
Release
Number: 07-0621-NAT
U.S. Secretary of Labor hosts federal career summit
for Asian Pacific Americans
Record number of attendees in 2007
WASHINGTON — A record number of attendees participated in the Sixth Annual Asian Pacific American Federal Career Advancement Summit, which is hosted by U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao in Washington, D.C. Planned in cooperation with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, summit partners include the Federal Asian Pacific American Council, the Social Security Administration, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and the U.S. Departments of Justice, Transportation, Treasury, Defense, Energy, Agriculture and Education.
"This summit is a networking and training opportunity for Asian Pacific Americans seeking to advance in the federal sector," said Secretary Chao. "The federal government is the single largest employer in the United States, and new job opportunities open up almost every day. In the next 10 years, 60 percent of the federal work force will be eligible for retirement."
To help Asian Pacific Americans in the federal government build career skills, the 2007 summit offered training workshops, executive coaching by senior managers, a plenary session, an exhibit hall and personal motivational testimonies providing tips on how to progress in the workplace. Ten workshop topics included developing management potential, and attracting and keeping top talent. Individuals newer to the work force took advantage of skills training including resume writing and interviewing.
The Department of Labor held the first of these annual summits in 2002 with one federal partner and 150 attendees. This year, nearly 1,300 people registered for the event, setting a record. Additionally, 31 exhibitors highlighted their workplaces. Asian Pacific Americans currently comprise 4.8 percent of the federal work force and occupy 3.2 percent of management positions. Secretary Chao is the first Asian American woman to serve as a cabinet secretary and employs a record number of Asian Pacific Americans in non-career positions at the Department of Labor.
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