5/22/11: During NTEU's steward training conference last week, several Chapter 293 leaders were recognized for their important work on national programs this past year. Among the recipients of Leadership Awards were Olga Cruz-Ortiz, Cate Whiting and Ken Wijesinghe from the Division of Enforcement. These three individuals have made myriad contributions as Union representatives at the SEC during the past year.

Cate Whiting serves as one of five Union members on the SEC Labor Management Forum, which was formed as a result of President Obama's Executive Order last year on labor-management partnership. As a Forum member, Cate meets regularly with senior management in Washington to raise and address national labor-management issues at the SEC. In addition, Cate also serves as a co-chair of Chapter 293's Legislative Committee. In that capacity, she helped the Union to coordinate and deliver a strong message during NTEU's Legislative Conference this year in DC in support of the SEC's critical mission as well as implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act. As you know, despite the tough climate in which many agencies' budgets were reduced, the SEC received an increase of $74 million over FY 2010's budget. 

Olga Cruz-Ortiz and Ken Wijesinghe are computer forensics IT Specialists in the Division of Enforcement. Both of them serve as Chapter 293 stewards, and they were recognized for their work on a team of representatives addressing computer forensics issues in disciplinary cases at the SEC. As a direct result of their important work, the Union has been able to identify critical errors that have been made in some cases, ensuring fundamental fairness in the process.

Cate, Ken and Olga have been involved with a number of extremely important national projects this year that will continue to have a substantial impact upon SEC employees across the country. "Enforcement employees should be very proud to have among them such a talented group of individuals who are volunteering their time and energy to make a positive contribution to improving the agency," Chapter 293 President Greg Gilman recently said. "I know that I am very proud of my association and work with all of them."