2015 Employee Spotlight

Caribbean Area NRCS Welcomes New Employees

ASTC Fernando Arroyo, State Soil Scientist Carmen Santiago, and Biologist Marisol Morales lead orientation for new Employees on November 24, 2015.

On November 24, 2015, the Members of the Caribbean Area NRCS State Leadership Team welcomed our newest recruits with an orientation workshop on environmental evaluation methods and tools, and in-state travel procedures. Participating recruits included Gabriel Román, Esteban Padilla, Christian Vargas, Josué Román, Juan José Torres and Mabel Vega.

Fernando Arroyo, Assistant State Conservationist for Field Operations, welcomed recruits and gave them a brief overview of the agency’s organization.  State Biologist, Marisol Morales, then led recruits through the process of conducting an Environmental Evaluation (CPA-52 form) for a client.  The Environmental Evaluation is “the part of planning that inventories and estimates the potential effects on the human environment of alternative solutions to resource problems” (7 CFR 650.4 and GM 190 Part 410.4(D)). This form documents the resource inventory and evaluation part of the planning process. It was designed to help conservation planners comply with applicable Federal laws, regulations, Executive Orders and policy, as well as relevant State and municipal requirements.

State Soil Scientist, Carmen L. Santiago, then showed recruits how to use the online Web Soil Survey. This tool provides the official and most up-to-date soils information across the nation. Recruits learned how to select their area of interest (AOI), and how to import or export soils data for future use. Recruits learned how to switch backgrounds between the default aerial photography and topographic maps, and how to prepare a customized soil survey map and classification using the shopping cart tool. She also showed recruits how to access Soils Data and Soil Health Information and Outreach materials available on the NRCS Caribbean Area Soil website.

Ms. Santiago showed recruits how to access the electronic Field Office Technical Guide (eFOTG), describing the information provided in Section II on: Climate, Soils, Cultural Resources, Threatened and Endangered Species, Forage Suitability Groups and Ecological Site Descriptions. She highlighted the information provided in the Soils section, especially the Highly Erodible Land List, Hydric Soils Lists and Prime Farmland Lists.

Finally, Business Services Specialist, Luis Garcia, ended the day by training recruits on vehicle safety, how to fill out an accident report, using the tax exempt form for tolls, and use of the fleet card.

Employees on the Move at Caribbean Area NRCS

NRCS Caribbean Area Director, Edwin Almodóvar, announced a number of promotions and new additions to our Caribbean Area conservation team. These folks have already provided significant contributions in helping people help the land. Please join us in congratulating the following employees on their new responsibilities and welcoming new employees to our conservation family!

New Mayagüez Resource Conservationist, Esperanza "Pency" Avilés.

Promotions / Reassignments

• Josué Román – former Corozal SCT, promoted to Civil Engineering Technician in Juan Díaz Field Office. Josué studies computer information systems and is also is member of the Army Reserve, part of the 448 Engineer Battalion at Ft. Buchanan. Josué lives in Ponce.
• Esperanza “Pency” Avilés – former Mayagüez SC, promoted to Resource Conservationist
• Anibal Velazquez – former Juana Díaz SC, promoted to Resource Conservationist
• Norberto Valentín – former Utuado SC, promoted to District Conservationist
• Luis Garcia – Business Services Specialist
• Orlando Negron – Financial Resources Specialist
• Mario Rodríguez – former Mayagüez Resource Conservationist, promoted to Agronomist
• Yadira Feliciano – Reassigned from Mayagüez to Arecibo

New Business Services Specialist, Luis A. García.

New Hires

• Mabel Vega – Soil Conservation Technician, Juana Díaz Field Office. Mabel has a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture and a Master’s Degree in Horticulture. She lives in Sabana Grande.
• Esteban Padilla – Soil Conservationist, Arecibo Field Office. Esteban has a Bachelor’s Degree in Agronomy and lives in Ponce.
• Christian Vargas – Soil Conservationist, Corozal Field Office. Christian has a Bachelor’s Degree in Agronomy and lives in Camuy.
• Gabriel Roman – Soil Conservation Technician, Mayagüez Field Office. Gabriel has a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering, and is pursuing his Master’s Degree in Water Resources and Environmental Engineering at the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez.  He lives in Cabo Rojo.
• Jennifer Cardona – Pathways Student, Juana Díaz Field Office.

• New Caguas Soil Conservationist, Juan Torres.

  Juan Torres – Soil Conservationist, Caguas Field Office. Juan joined the Agency on October 20, 2014. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Agronomy from the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez, and is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Archeology. Juan previously worked for the University of North Carolina; served as an Ecotourism Guide for Atabey’s Eco-Adventure Co.; and worked on his parent’s farm in Ciales, PR, growing citrus and other specialty crops. In his free time, Juan is an artisan – he prepares indigenous artifacts such as arrows, bows, and flutes – and he is an archery instructor.
• Alexandra Reyes – Soil Conservation Technician, Mayagüez Field Office

Transfers / Departures

• Sonia Burgos – District Conservationist, Perryton, Texas
• Rafael Sierra – District Conservationist, Socorro, New Mexico
• Jorge Ruiz – Soil Conservationist, Labelle, Florida
• Israel Vega – District Conservationist, Sarasota, Florida
• Jay Rodríguez – Army Guard Reserve, U.S. Army Reserve

Retirees

• Carmen Santiago, State Soil Scientist, December 2015
• Raquel Robledo, Resource Conservationist, Mayagüez Field Office, December 2014

NRCS Recruitment Team (L-R): Rolando Collazo, Vivian Vera, Damaris Medina, Michelle Catoni, Luis Garcia, Zahira Vega, Yadira Feliciano.

Recruiting Future NRCS-ers at the UPRM Job Fair

The Caribbean Area NRCS recruitment team met with over 600 students during the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez (UPRM) 27^th Annual Job Fair, held September 30 to October 2, 2015. During the three-day event, NRCS staff participated in two recruitment fairs, visited 20 different classrooms, delivered 4 presentations and contacted 6 different student organizations, reaching over 540 students. Students from the Civil Engineering, Agricultural Sciences, Business Administration and Biology departments received career, employment and internship information from recruiters. Recruiters also conducted hands-on demonstrations to show students how to search and apply for Federal jobs on www.usajobs.gov.

The UPRM Job Fair is a great opportunity for NRCS to promote conservation careers and opportunities through the Pathways Internship, recent graduate and fellowship programs. UPRM is a Land-Grant College that registers Puerto Rico’s best students from both public and private schools. Students enrolled at UPRM are seeking degrees in Agricultural Sciences, Arts & Sciences, Business Administration and Engineering. This NRCS recruitment activity was a collaborative effort between the Civil Rights Advisory Committee and the NRCS Leadership team.

NRCS Caribbean Area Staff Exceed 2015 Feds Feed Families Food Drive Goal!

Caribbean Area Director, Edwin Almodóvar, expresses his admiration for all the hard work that NRCS employees have done in donating and collecting food to feed our hungry neighbors. This year, we collected 1,600 pounds of food, exceeding our goal of 1,500 pounds, in partnership with the PR Department of Natural and Environmental Resources.

Since the campaign began in 2009, Federal workers have donated and collected 39 million pounds of food and other non-perishable items to support families at risk of hunger across America. Last year, more than 14.8 million pounds of food were collected. Thanks again to everyone who voluntarily contributed to feed those in need in the Caribbean Area!

Vivian Vera, Yadira Feliciano & Michelle Catoni at the Race for the Cure (L-R).

Race for the Cure 2015

On Sunday, September 27, 2015, NRCS women participated in the American Cancer Society Puerto Rico Chapter’s Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 2015 at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico Jose Miguel Agrelot in San Juan.

Running under the slogan "A fight is won with a supportive corner," the event hosted a remarkable participation of sports figures, including boxers Kiria Tapia and Felix "Diamond" Verdejo, MLB pitcher Carlos Delgado and hurdler Javier Culson, along with 3,341 members of the public – 1,514 men and 1,827 women. Caribbean Area NRCS was represented by Vivian Vera, Michelle Catoni and Yadira Feliciano and their families.

The race route followed Luis Muñoz Rivera and Ponce de León Avenues from the area known as “La Milla de Oro” to the T-Mobile Building. This family-friendly activity helps to improve employee health while contributing to a great cause, because anyone could be affected by this disease. The money raised will remain in Puerto Rico to continue research and treatments against cancer for the benefit of our patients and community.

Mayagüez Celebrates CoastWeeks 30^th Anniversary

From left to right: Esperanza Avilés, Paola Parrilla (Zulma’s daughter), Gabriel Román, Mariela Parrilla (Zulma’s daughter), Zulma García and Antonio Quiñones (Zulma’s fiancé).

Mayagüez Field Office staff did it again! On Saturday, September 19^th, NRCS employees SCT Gabriel Romٔán, RC Esperanza Avilés, DC Zulma García and their families joined a group of volunteers to clean up the Guanajibo coastline in Mayagüez.

This year marked the 30^th anniversary of the International Coastal Cleanup – CoastWeeks – the worlds’ largest volunteer effort to protect our oceans and waterways. It is a collaboration of hundreds of different organizations in over 75 countries around the world to turn the tide on ocean trash and fight for a healthy ocean.

Over 70 volunteers participated in the Guanajibo coastline cleanup in Mayagüez, including Boy Scouts Troup 55, Vista Verde Lions Club, RUM College students and many others. They found less garbage than last year, which is a very good sign. We invite other field offices to do the same next year!

MLRA Leader, Manuel Matos, receives recognition from Acción y Reforma Agrícola.

NRCS Soil Scientist Recognized by Puerto Rico Planning Office

Manuel Matos, MLRA Soil Survey Leader in Mayagüez, was recognized on June 19^th by the “Acción y Reforma Agrícola (ARA)” organization for his contributions in evaluating the PR Land Use Planning Map, proposed by the Puerto Rico Planning Office. Manuel created farmland interpretation maps for tropical soils for ARA's use in evaluating their plan. He also provided presentations to explain USDA-NRCS Soil Survey’s Important Farmland Interpretations and how ARA, the Puerto Rico Planning Office, and the Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture could use the interpretations to identify suitable land for tropical agriculture. The recognition was presented by Agronomist Pedro J. Vivoni, ARA President, during their Annual Meeting held at the Caguas Botanical Garden.

Celebrating Caribbean Women

For the March 2015 Women's History Month, Caribbean Area NRCS Federal Women's SEPM, Lydia E. Collazo, recognized the efforts and commitment of our Female Soil Conservation Technicians. Help us salute Evelyn, Yadira, Zahira, Vivian and Faye for their dedication that contributes to our success in helping people help the land!

AA/PI SEPM, Vivian Vera (pink top) and Veterans SEPM, Luis García (yellow shirt) provide Farm Bill 2014 information to Veterans at Fort Buchanan, PR.

Reaching Out to Veterans in Puerto Rico

NRCS Caribbean Area Civil Rights Advisory Committee (CRAC) members are actively promoting the new Veterans provisions of the 2014 Farm Bill. In October & November 2014, Veterans Special Emphasis Program Manager (SEPM), Luis García, and Asian American/Pacific Islander (AA/PI) SEPM, Vivian Vera, spoke with over 60 veterans at three separate events about the special preference that veterans receive for NRCS conservation programs offered in the 2014 Farm Bill. Their presentations were part of the Fort Buchanan Soldier for Life Transition Assistance Program.

Caribbean Area NRCS Surpasses 2014 Combined Federal Campaign Goal!

Congratulations to our Caribbean Area NRCS employees! NRCS Caribbean Area Director, Edwin Almodóvar and Combined Federal Campaign Coordinator, Nilda González, are pleased to announce that this year we surpassed our goal of $5,000, raising the amount of $5,615. Thank you all for your generosity and spirit of cooperation to help those who are less fortunate.

The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) is the world’s largest and most successful annual workplace charity campaign, with almost 200 CFC campaigns throughout the country and overseas raising millions of dollars each year. Pledges made by Federal civilian, postal and military employee donors during the campaign season (September 1st to December 15th) support eligible non-profit organizations that provide health and human service benefits throughout the world. The Director of OPM has designated responsibility for day-to-day management of the program and to its CFC office.