Thelma Nicholson's persistence pays career dividends in government service

Thelma Nicholson, Management and Program Analyst, Office of Deputy Asst. Regional Administrator, Federal Acquisition Service, Philadelphia, PA, said, I like my bosses and the associates... They treat me professionally and listen to my opinions.
  • - Editor’s note: The morning of this interview, Thelma Nicholson became a Great Grandmother for the first time. She took time from seeing her first great grand child to do this interview. The baby girl’s name is Za’niyah. She was born at Temple Hospital in Philadelphia on April 11, 2008.

  • - Thelma began to work for GSA in June of 1987. She was 44 years old then. She was unemployed at the time, but a previous supervisor called her to see if she wanted to start a new job. He asked when Thelma could start at the federal government, knowing her strong work ethic. He called Thelma around 3 p.m. that day; Thelma was at the office at 3:30. She has put in more than twenty years at GSA since then. She started out as a summer hire, and progressed well beyond that starting position. She is now a GS-09. She was promoted on April 27, 2008 to a Management and Program Analyst, GS-09.

    Thelma Nicholson
    Thelma Nicholson proudly displays her Gold Medalist
    certificate for Outstanding Public Service from the Federal Executive Board.
  • - Thelma enjoys working at GSA because it is a challenging and exciting place to work. “There is plenty of room to expand your skills, and apply training and new skills to interesting projects. “When I came here, I was typing 11 words a minute. And I asked, how many words should I be typing? I was told 45 words per minute. In three months, I was doing 45 words per minute with no errors. The professional challenges and the training available are great reasons to work for GSA.”

  • - Now, as a Management and Program Analyst in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Regional Administrator, FAS, her job touches everything that comes through that front door, from communications to administration.

  • - Asked what she likes best about working for GSA, Ms. Nicholson replied, “I like my bosses and the associates that I work with. If I have questions or concerns, they are easy to talk to. They don't make me feel like I am beneath them.”

  • - One of Thelma’s major projects was training on and using the new CHRIS personnel system in 2006. She was not a computer expert. By catching on quickly to her training and the new tools, she put in all of the performance information in the new system. Thelma was able to put all necessary information in for the entire office. She worked on this by herself, entering 250 employees in the system in just a couple of months.

  • - In her spare time Ms. Nicholson enjoys going to church. “I also sing in a choir. I am a deaconess, church treasurer and I am on the trustee board. I do many other things at my church too. I plan trips for the kids at the church, such as to amusement parks.”

Last Reviewed 11/3/2008