Washington, DC - MICHELE Hunt, a corporate Vice President of Herman Miller, Inc., has been named Director of the Federal Quality Institute (FQI) by Office of Personnel Management Director Jim King.

"Michele's solid achievements in corporate America and her commitment to the total quality movement make her an obvious choice to work hand-in-hand with Vice President Gore's National Performance Review as we repledge our efforts towards federal renewal through quality," said OPM Director King. "She has the talent and energy to lead FQI in this revolution."

Ms. Hunt's 13 years with Herman Miller, Inc., a global office furniture company, include her recent position as Vice President for Quality and People Development, Vice President for People, and Director of Corporate, Government and Community Relations. In her current job, Ms. Hunt is responsible for planning and implementing the total quality movement, organizational renewal, participative management initiatives, education and development, and human resource initiatives.

For nine years, Ms. Hunt was associated with the Michigan Department of Corrections, including serving as Director of Programs for Rehabilitation in a Michigan prison, and Manager of Community Relations.

Ms. Hunt was on the Clinton/Gore Transition Team for Personnel. Her professional affiliations include serving on the ServiceMaster Company Board of Directors, the Lakewood Publications Advisory Board, and the Jesse Owens Scholarship Foundation Board.

Ms. Hunt received a B.A. and M.A. in Sociology from Eastern Michigan University and the University of Detroit, respectively. Since 1989 she has participated in the M.I.T. Center for Organizational Learning.

The Federal Quality Institute was established in 1988 to advise agencies on the adoption and application of TQM principles. In both the public and private sectors, TQM is credited with improving productivity and customer service.

Our mission is to ensure the Federal Government has an effective civilian workforce. OPM supports U.S. agencies with personnel services and policy leadership including staffing tools, guidance on labor-management relations and programs to improve work force performance.