Battle Creek, Mich. –
Elizabeth Norvey is a current member of Pathways to Career Excellence Program, group 42 beginning in 2021. For her second year in the PaCE Program, she was placed at the DLA Disposition Services site in Columbus, Ohio.
In your own words, how would you describe the PaCE Program, and what can you gain from it?
The PaCE Program is a learning program. Essentially, it is DLA Disposition Services 101 over the course of two years. The first year focuses on DLA Disposition Services’ big picture, and then the second year is more site-specific. This program is meant to mold future leaders for the agency, aand it gives you a jump start for a fantastic career - whether you’re just starting out or many years in.
Why did you first apply to the PaCE Program? Was it your first position with DLA?
This is my first position in the federal government. I applied to the PaCE Program after I graduated college. I’ve only been with DLA for a year now, but it feels like I’ve been here much longer.
What was your position before coming to the PaCE Program?
I was working at Cracker Barrel as a to-go server, sales associate, and a hostess before I applied to the PaCE Program.
What have been your favorite parts of the PaCE Program?
My favorite part of the PaCE Program is getting to learn and experience so many different aspects of DLA Disposition Services. Where else could I have taken two trips just to visit field sites as an entry level employee? Or shadow the Director of DLA Disposition Services? I also was given the opportunity to do little projects for so many different offices within the agency, which was an awesome way to learn, but also a way to feel like I was really contributing to the agency. It’s really a once in a lifetime sort of program.
Do you have a favorite memory from your time in the program?
It would probably be getting to see all the work that’s gone into the DLA Disposition Services strategic initiative A.X.2.* and seeing the work pay off in the pilot course and receiving all the positive comments participants. Getting to contribute to the agency like that was exactly what I wanted to do. I love having the opportunity to make a difference.
I also loved spending time with Group 40, Group 42 (my group), and Group 44 all at once when Group 40 returned for their graduation last October. It was so great to have so many PaCERs in one room together!
If there was one thing that could’ve been different for you in the PaCE program, what would it be?
I would’ve liked to have had more people in my class. I think that my group was more tight-knit because there were so few of us, but we definitely could’ve benefited from having more people with us. It’s often better to have more voices in a conversation, particularly in a learning environment - not to mention it would’ve cut down on the time we each had to spend presenting when giving our quarterly In-Progress Reviews.
What would you say is the most important quality to succeed in the PaCE program?
Drive. Whether that’s a drive to learn, to succeed, to improve things around you, or to reach a certain point in your career. Without a certain amount of drive, you aren’t going to get what you should out of the program. You will be handed opportunities, but you have to have the will to make the most of them.
*The A.X.2 Initiative refers to the current efforts taking place to improve the basic level of training that all employees for DLA Disposition Services receive.
Editorial Note: The Pathways to Career Excellence Program for DLA Disposition Services is a two-year program that takes PaCERs through all of Disposition Services and its processes to learn as much as possible about the directorate. The first year takes place at DLA Disposition Services Headquarters in Battle Creek, Michigan, and the second year either takes place in Battle Creek for Contracting PaCERs or at an assigned field site for Property Disposal PaCERs. PaCERs begin as general schedule 7s, move to GS-9s at the end of their first year, and graduate the program as GS-11s. There are multiple pathways to becoming a PaCER, including being hired internally, as a recent graduate, or from military service.