OPM Officials Discuss Their Hispanic Heritage

Washington, D.C. - During a discussion in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Marta Brito Perez and Maria Mercedes Olivieri talked about their Hispanic heritage and the roads they have taken to success.

During her address, Perez told the audience of her family's struggles to leave communist Cuba and the pride she has in having achieved the American dream. Olivieri spoke of the many gifts she has both "received and given" to her adopted homeland.

As OPM's Project Director for Human Capital Performance, Perez is responsible for establishing systems to institutionalize OPM's governmentwide leadership and oversight responsibility for the Human Capital component of the President's Management Agenda. She also oversees the development and implementation of policies and programs that promote the Human Capital initiative.

Perez most recently served as the Director of the Office of Human Resources for the Montgomery County (MD) government, developing and supporting a diversity program on issues relating to the Hispanic community.

Among her major achievements is partnering in the creation of the Hispanic Business Institute (HBI) with Montgomery College, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the county's Office of Economic Development. One of the objectives for the creation of HBI was to develop the occupational skills of Hispanics in the community to create an applicant flow of qualified Spanish-speaking candidates for the county.

Born in Camaguey, Cuba, Perez, along with her parents Ana and Francisco Brito, came to the United States with refugee status in 1968 to exit Fidel Castro's communist dictatorship. The family brought no possessions and spoke no English upon arrival. Within three days they settled in Rockville, Maryland, where they still reside.

Olivieri is OPM's Assistant Director for Diversity and is responsible for monitoring and reporting on the state of diversity in the federal government and helping agencies obtain and maintain a diverse workforce that includes women, minorities, and persons with disabilities. She also spearheads special governmentwide efforts to increase the representation of Hispanics and persons with disabilities in the federal work force.

Olivieri's public service career spans three decades, beginning with the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and later the U.S. government. Her career has included designing and providing training on several subjects, and she also has provided policy advice on human resources management, equal employment opportunity and public relations and communications. Further, she has hands-on experience in human resources management activities such as coordinating campus relations and recruitment, managing a formal developmental program for entry-level professionals, and managing special emphasis programs for Hispanic, black, and American-Indian employment.

As a graduate of the National Hispana Leadership Institute (NHLI), Olivieri has certificates from the leadership development programs at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government and the Center for Creative Leadership. Hispanic Business Magazine selected her as one of "80 Elite Hispanic Women in 2002."

Today's panel discussion was held as a part of OPM's continuing efforts to recognize the importance and necessity of creating a diverse work force.

OPM oversees the federal work force and provides the American public with up-to-date employment information. OPM also 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.