INTERVIEWS

Amy J. Markel
Washington, DC
AMMarkel@usaid.gov

 

1 Q: How long have you been with the U.S. Agency for International Development?

 

A: I have been here with the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, for 10 years. So I've been here for quite a while. In my first position, I was an accountant. Then I moved into another division called the Financial Audit Division, under the Office of Audit, which is under the Office of the Inspector General. I have worked in this division for almost 8 years. My official position is that of Auditor, but my current role is being a team leader, or a lead auditor in charge of a team.

 

 

 

2 Q: What responsibilities are associated with your position?

 

A: Okay, I am a member of a team called the Government Management Reform Act Team. That includes 6 auditors, one team leader or auditor in charge, one assistant manager or audit manager, and the director. All of these persons are team members, and not just in Washington, D.C. Regional offices are also included in the Government Management Reform Act Team. Regional members participate in team activity by doing field work and they also have their own regional teams which do planning or the financial statements, and all of that information comes here. This is really the origination point, or central contact point for the team.

 

 

 

3 Q: How did you initially make the decision on your career path?

 

A: I remember working for my sister in the past. She owned a furniture company. She suggested that I begin working as a book keeper. I kept the accounts and used the adding machine, and before long I realized that I had some skills in that area. That awareness gave me the motivation to learn more about this field. Also, while I was a student at Gallaudet, on the Gallaudet campus, I took on a job as a business manager and that helped me to develop my skills in business. For example, I learned to record the entire payroll, total earnings and expenditures, and to prepare reports and statements. That experience proved to me that I had the skills in this area. I also went into accounting classes, and found once again that I was able to continue to learn and build my skills, so I decided on accounting as a major.

 

 

 

4 Q: Who would you identify as your professional role models?

 

A: I think, interestingly, that I look up to my sister, Kathy Ager, as my model. However, there are also some Deaf women Such as Astrid Goodstein, who oversees many staff in a management role. She is now in the enrollment department. Another woman is a millionaire, Martha Stewart. She has an incredible financial intelligence in the business field. I certainly look up to her. It is important to have financial intelligence and also be knowledgeable in other fields. For example, it's also nice to have knowledge in both accounting and auditing fields. Then, there is a man, a professor I had, and I think he is still there, named Professor Edward Wilk. He taught me advanced accounting courses and he had a lot of enthusiasm in those classes. He made me really motivated to learn and made me feel that I could learn. He was a former government employee himself, and I looked up to him, thinking that if he could do it, then so could I, as long as I continued to work and had the motivation.

 

 

 

5 Q: What education and training have you received?

 

A: Okay, I received a Bachelor's of Science degree in the area of accounting from Gallaudet University Right away, I got a job here. This is where I got my start. I was required to take many classes, called continuing professional education. I took those here. My job required 80 CPE credits every two years. I took so many courses. For example, I took Introductory Auditor Training. That was a three week course. I also took the Certification of Public Accounting review course, and that was a lengthy one, lasting perhaps a year. I am still taking these classes, and will continue to do so in the future. Perhaps I will soon take Information Systems Auditing. That has become a crucial area that is needed now. It is an advanced technology course. I have to take these courses to continue my education.

 

 

 

 

6 Q: What was the most challenging obstacle you had to overcome to be successful in your career?

 

A: Alright, I believe that when my team gathers, if there is someone who is aware of my needs, such as communication through an interpreter, a qualified interpreter, then that person can explain to any newcomers what my needs are. We frequently need to secure the services of an interpreter and there are certain rules for working with an interpreter, such as having only one person talk at a time. It's not effective otherwise. So, those things are explained. Sometimes a hearing person will come up and begin to write notes to me, but if it becomes more detailed, I ask that person if we can wait until we can sit down together with an interpreter, and we will make an appointment to do that so we can continue our discussion. Sometimes people communicate with me via email and I respond in kind. That works for most simple communication such as requests for information, but it has its limits. Also, every once in awhile, we use a chat program if necessary. Writing notes works if the conversation is not too long. A short discussion, such as where to get a certain kind of information, to which I can reply with a specific answer, is appropriate for note writing. That helps keep things moving in a busy government office.

 

 

 

7 Q: What communications challenges do you face?

 

A: I used to travel, both in the United States and in other countries, doing audit field work. I recognized that the assignment required an interpreter, so I arranged for interpreting services in that location, and it worked out so that an interpreter could be secured from the local area. I did the same thing when interpreter services were needed in other countries. It was really the same process.

 

 

 

8 Q: Do you socialize with your peers from the office?

 

A: Interestingly, it is a little bit different and unique here. We frequently have luncheons or parties and there are many auditors, from my team as well as from many other teams, who are always moving and rotating from one office or location to another. We have regional and international offices, and every time someone leaves or a new person comes in, we have a farewell party or a congratulatory celebration of some kind. We bid them farewell as they go off to a regional office and have a welcome back party when they return. It is an opportunity to celebrate, because we work so hard, so we take time to celebrate and do that kind of thing.

 

 

 

9 Q: What do you do to remain competitive in your current position?

 

A: Okay, first, I want to keep my competitive edge in this area. Most important of all, I believe, is to continue to develop my skills. It is also important to be knowledgeable of changing technology and to have keen analytical skills. Thirdly, it is important to have adaptable communication skills. It is important to maintain your duties and to meet your goals. If you are not meeting expectations, you end up struggling with yourself, so it is important to meet those goals with determination. That is how you become more successful, and when you are successful, you appear to be more competitive.

 

 

 

10 Q: What is your advice to young Deaf people?

 

A: I believe that children growing up should be raised so that they are motivated to learn rapidly and, in particular, to acquire reading skills quickly. And it is not just reading, but writing, too. I'm sure there are many wonderful and supportive teachers of reading and writing and technical skills out there, so a child should not be left to his own devices. Ask for help in order to foster the child's individual skills.

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