HUMAN RESOURCES AND STAFF DEVELOPMENT

Centers Of Excellence Established

In January 2012, the Clerk’s Office established three Centers of Excellence (CoE) that provide a district-wide forum for staff collaboration on the Court’s multiple projects and initiatives. Volunteer staff serve on the CoEs as advisors in three key areas (Process Improvement, Employee Engagement, and Communication), sharing ideas and implementing initiatives to achieve the Court’s goals.

Court's New Leadership Development Programs Graduate First Participants

In the fourth period of 2012, the Court proudly recognized the first graduates of its two new leadership development programs, Paths to Success and Gateway Leadership. Forty-nine (49) Clerk’s Office managers, supervisors, and team leaders completed the Gateway Leadership program in late October. Over the duration of their nine-month program, participants engaged in interactive discussions, presentations, and small group activities in the areas of change management, conflict resolution, building high performance teams, and effective decision making. The experience allowed current leaders to share their knowledge with peers, while providing them with new management tools and techniques to broaden their leadership skills and improve their practice.

The Paths to Success program graduated 21 participants on November 1. Designed for aspiring leaders, this 18-month program consisted of classroom training, coaching, on-the-job technical training, and a final Capstone project. The Capstone project was a unique opportunity for participants to identify an issue in the workplace and to present their ideas for resolving or improving the issue. Many of the Capstone projects, which were reviewed by senior leadership and the Executive team, are being considered for implementation in the Court.

On November 8, a graduation ceremony was held at the Los Angeles Division recognizing the participants of both leadership development programs. Chief Judge Peter H. Carroll and Executive Officer/Clerk of Court Kathleen J. Campbell commended the graduates and presented each with a certificate. Judges Russell, Zurzolo, and Klein also attended. Participants in both Paths to Success and Gateway Leadership noted the value of the programs and praised the Court’s interest in and commitment to the professional development of its employees.

Raising The Bar On Bankruptcy Concludes

The Raising the Bar on Bankruptcy program concluded on April 13, 2012, with its 12th and final session. The program, which began in 2011, covered all chapters of bankruptcy, as well as the history of bankruptcy and jurisdiction in bankruptcy. Court staff participated from across the district, viewing sessions live in Los Angeles or from a division by videoconference. DVD recordings of the sessions were also available. Participants who attended or viewed all 12 sessions received certificates at ceremonies held throughout the district. The 66 staff members who both viewed every session of Raising the Bar on Bankruptcy and completed the Federal Judicial Center’s Interactive Bankruptcy Online Tutorial, or iBOT, received special recognition at the June 1 Board of Judges meeting, as did the attorney presenters.

Thanks to all of the presenters: Judge Alan M. Ahart; bankruptcy attorneys Dennis McGoldrick, Erik Clark, Howard Camhi, David Lally, Wes Avery, Marisa Hawkins, Karen Rinehart, Richard Esterkin, Peter Lively, Nancy Clark, Ben Gage, Aki Koyama, James King, Keith Higginbotham, Bernard Given, Jason Wallach, Paul Glassman, Michael Slattery, Jerry Namba, Josefina Fernandez McEvoy, and Brian Holman; and paralegal Frankie Gudiel.

Word Training For District Court

As one of the Judiciary’s steps to conserve resources, the Central District Bankruptcy Court and District Court formed a voluntary shared services arrangement under which the Bankruptcy Court’s Staff Development Department offers automation classes to District Court chambers and Clerk’s Office staff in Los Angeles. In November and December, Staff Development offered the first four of the 44 total classes scheduled through September 2013. The classes consist of basic and advanced Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2010. Some of the sessions to be held in the future will take place at the Riverside and Santa Ana District Court locations.

Court Participates In New Supervisors' Development Program

Three supervisors from the Central District applied to and were selected to attend the New Supervisors' Development Program, held August 27 through August 31, 2012, at the Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building in Washington, D.C. The Federal Judicial Center, which provides training for federal judges and court employees, hosted 91 new supervisors from across the country. The educational program focused on skills for effective management, leadership, and communication. Participants completed pre-work assignments before arriving in the capital, where they received training in “Foundations of Management,” “Emotional Intelligence,” “Six Leadership Actions,” and the responsibilities and expectations of being a supervisor. To complete the program, which extended through December, they also completed post-work assignments.

Two members of the Staff Development Department also participated in the program as faculty coaches. Each faculty coach was assigned five or six supervisors to coach during the pre-work, discussion groups and post-work phases of the training.

Court Staff Attend 2012 National Conference Of Bankruptcy Clerks

The National Conference of Bankruptcy Clerks (NCBC) held its 32nd annual training conference in San Francisco from August 7-10, 2012. Many members of the Clerk’s Office staff attended. Breakout sessions covered topics such as audit best practices, teamwork, serving in tough economic times, and leadership. Two staff members attended the Michigan State University program, which included sessions on strategic planning and information technology. Operations Support Clerk Jan Zari graduated from the program, receiving a certificate in Judicial Administration.

African-American Heritage Celebration

The United States Bankruptcy Court, in cooperation with the United States District Court, sponsored an African-American Heritage Celebration on February 14, 2012, at the Roybal Federal Building and Courthouse. The event, which focused on Lincoln’s presidency and the Civil War, was broadcast live to the other Bankruptcy Court divisions in the Central District. After Chief District Judge Audrey B. Collins welcomed attendees from both courts, speaker Nick Smith from the Pasadena Library talked about Civil War history in the Los Angeles area. Olga Tsapina, Norris Foundation Curator of American Historical Manuscripts at the Huntington Library, followed with a discussion of the politics of race during Lincoln’s presidency. Mr. Smith returned to tell the story of the 55th Massachusetts, an African-American regiment in the Civil War that fought the Battle of Honey Hill. District Judge Otis D. Wright II then delivered a passionate speech about his own journey to becoming a federal judge. Nick Smith concluded the program with the story of a Civil War veterans’ post in Pasadena whose last member died in 1946.

Women's Heritage Celebration

The Court sponsored a Women’s Heritage Celebration on March 29, 2012, at the Roybal Federal Building and Courthouse in Los Angeles. The event, broadcast live to the other Bankruptcy Court divisions in the Central District, began with greetings from Executive Officer/Clerk of Court Kathleen J. Campbell and Chief Judge Peter H. Carroll. Then, one representative staff member from each division delivered a speech attributed to a woman from American history. Selections included speeches by Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony, Amelia Earhart, Sandra Day O’Connor, First Lady Michelle Obama, and a poem by Maya Angelou.

Hispanic/Latino Heritage Celebration

On October 4, 2012, the Bankruptcy and District Courts co-sponsored a Hispanic/Latino Heritage Celebration at the Roybal Federal Building and Courthouse. Approximately 100 participants from various federal agencies attended. After Chief District Judge Audrey B. Collins welcomed the attendees, representatives of the Boyle Heights Historical Society spoke about the history of the Boyle Heights neighborhood, where Congressman Edward R. Roybal grew up. Representatives of Roosevelt High School paid tribute to Circuit Judge Harry Pregerson, a Roosevelt alumnus, and a speaker from Las Angelitas del Pueblo talked about the history of Olvera Street. The event concluded with Chief Bankruptcy Judge Peter H. Carroll thanking the participants for attending.

Annual Awards Ceremonies Honor Clerk's Office Employees

The 2012 Annual Awards Ceremonies, held at all five divisions in September, honored the outstanding service to the public and dedication of Clerk’s Office employees throughout the district.

Chief Judge Peter H. Carroll and Clerk of Court Kathleen J. Campbell both spoke passionately about what the Court stands for and how every employee’s hard work counts. Both speakers reviewed the district’s impressive achievements during a challenging year.

Special Service Awards were given to employees for significant contributions to the Court in 2012, and Length of Service Awards recognized employees who have continued to dedicate their exceptional skills to the Court for the past five to 40 years.

Members of the executive staff presented each award recipient with a certificate signed by Chief Judge Carroll and Clerk of Court Kathleen J. Campbell. Several judges throughout the district also participated in their divisions’ ceremonies, praising the hard work of the Clerk’s Office staff.

Winter Education Seminar

The 2012 Winter Education Seminar, “Preparing for the Future,” took place on Friday, December 7 at the Ronald F. Deaton Civic Auditorium in Los Angeles. Chief Judge Peter H. Carroll and Executive Officer/Clerk of Court Kathleen J. Campbell opened the seminar by video with a discussion of the Court’s Strategic Plan.

The seminar’s program included a presentation by a representative of the Los Angeles Fire Department about disaster preparedness, a preview of some of the new software Court staff will use in 2013, and breakout sessions on the new Local Bankruptcy Rules and how to use Microsoft Word 2010. Elective sessions offered in the afternoon covered pro se debtors, floor warden training, customer service tips, and communicating effectively.