More About 2020 CCE-EFM Award Winner Janet Heg

We wanted to hear more from our 2020 award recipients — what contributed to the actions that led them to receive the award, advice for others, and more. Read more about the 2020 CCE-EFM Award winner Janet Heg below. What inspired you? I used to be an EFM and it was through EFM employment that I learned about the wide range of opportunities available in the Foreign Service.  Until then I hadn’t realized the potential to work in management or one of the specialist fields.  I really enjoyed the feeling of a shared mission with my spouse; it felt fantastic to get in the car with him in the mornings… Read More

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AAFSW Names Judy Ikels as This year’s Champion of Career Enhancement for Eligible Family Members

“EFM employment is more than a ‘benefit’ for family members”: Judy Ikels Named AAFSW’s 2017 Champions of Career Enhancement for Eligible Family Members Award Winner   For her outstanding contributions, service, and dedication to Foreign Service family member employment, AAFSW has chosen Judy Ikels as this year’s Champion of Career Enhancement for Eligible Family Members. Over the course of her 27 years as a Department employee, Judy Ikels’ commitment to support family member employment has significantly impacted the evolution of employment opportunities and career development for Foreign Service family members. She has served as a Community Liaison Office Coordinator, a trainer at the Overseas Briefing Center, the Deputy Director of… Read More

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“Changing the Mindset”: 2016 Champions of Career Enhancement for Eligible Family Members (CCE-EFM) Winner Cindy Jones

Helping Foreign Service family members find work overseas requires “changing the mindset of the Embassy community to think outside of the box and embrace more creative ideas,” according to Community Liaison Office Coordinator (CLO) Cindy Jones, winner of AAFSW’s 2016 Champions of Career Enhancement for Eligible Family Members Award (CCE-EFM). At her post, Budapest, a challenging language barred family members from the local job market, in spite of an existing bilateral agreement. Within the Embassy, there were only 12 available positions for more than 50 family members. “Local employment is the single most important morale issue among American eligible family members (EFMs) at U.S. Embassy Budapest,” asserts Management Counselor Janine… Read More

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Another Successful AAFSW Awards Ceremony

AAFSW annual awards ceremony celebrated SOSA, Tragen, CCE-EFM, and Dorman winners. (Photo courtesy of Mark Stewart, DOS Photographer.) The annual AAFSW volunteer awards program took place Tuesday, November, 10, 2015 in the Benjamin Franklin Room at the State Department. The ceremony was a success highlighting the volunteer work of nine outstanding individuals. It recognized winners of the Secretary of State Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad (SOSA), the Tragen Award, the Champions of Career Enhancement for EFMs (CCE-EFM) Award, and the Lesley Dorman Award. We were privileged to have Deputy Secretary of State Heather Higginbottom speak and present the awards. Even though Secretary Kerry was traveling, he sent recorded remarks where… Read More

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AAFSW Interviews 2015 CCE-EFM Winner Stephanie C. Arnold

Stephanie Arnold: “A Firm Believer in the Value of EFM Employment”   Stephanie Arnold, former Human Resources Officer (HRO) and Financial Management Officer in Dublin, will receive AAFSW’s 2015 Champions of Career Enhancement for EFMs (CCE-EFM) Award on November 10. The award includes a cash stipend of $750. We interviewed Ms. Arnold by e-mail about her challenges and achievements. AAFSW: What were some of the obstacles you faced in your efforts to promote EFM employment in Dublin? Arnold: When I arrived, there were only a handful of EFM positions within the mission and no family members working on the local economy. Hiring managers expressed a preference for local nationals over… Read More

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