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In This Issue
Greetings from the President!
An Awesome Conference
Success at the IJ Fair
2013 Awards Winners
WICSEC Schlorship Winners
Awards Banquet
Greetings From The President !
By Charles Smith, WICSEC President
I would like to begin by thanking the Board and each of you for electing me to serve as your
President for 2013-2014. I am honored to lead such a prestigious organization. I will
represent the WICSEC membership with vigor and pride in every venue possible.
As I reflect over 2013, I can't stop thinking about the success of the Kansas City
conference. Not only did it represent a milestone for WICSEC, 30 years, but we had record
attendance and a great host venue. There was an amazing level of partnership,
cooperation and collaboration between our two host states (Kansas and Missouri), Kansas
CSEA, Missouri CSEA, OCSE and the Council. Each of these entities played an integral
part in the success of the conference by providing volunteers, attendees, and securing
special guests. Their spirit of cooperation epitomized the "heart" that beats within the child
support community.
During the conference, I enhanced my knowledge by attending the workshops, made new
friends, rekindled some old acquaintances and became much closer to others that I already
knew. I hope you had the same experience because that is the essence of attending a
WICSEC conference.
With conferences in mind, I want to take this time to invite you to the 31st Annual
Conference that will be held October 26-30, 2014 at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay in San
Diego. We will have a wonderful conference venue, stellar workshops and offer frequent
opportunities to network.
At the Kansas City conference, we elected Valarie Merritt, Andy Johnson and Trisha
Thomas as new board members and re-elected me, Lori Bengston and Gary Dart. I know
that WICSEC will benefit greatly from three years of service from each of these dedicated
and talented individuals. Congratulations to Steven Smith for being designated as an
Honorary Life Member of the Board of Directors for his many years of service as secretary. I
would be remiss in not thanking Laura Rosenak and Rob Lafer for their service on the
WICSEC Board of Directors and as past presidents. Your six years of service benefitted
the Council greatly.
I would also like to say a special "thank you" to immediate Past President, Cathi Valdes. I
have been in awe of your dedication to the Council, acumen for detail, and tireless energy. I
appreciate you for putting your heart and soul into serving WICSEC the last three years. I
wish you much success in your new job.
As 2013 draws to a close, I hope you will join me in looking forward to the continued success
of WICSEC. I believe 2014 will be an awesome year for us. The Council is fiscally sound
and we have a dynamic, energized board and planning committee who will spend the next
ten months working tirelessly to create a wonderful conference experience for you.
On behalf of the WICSEC board, I thank you all for your dedication and service to children
and families and wish you all a happy and safe holiday season.
An Awesome Conference - Thank you WICSEC!
By Cathy Valdes, Immediate Past President
Greetings from my home town in fabulous Santa Fe, New Mexico!
Words cannot express what an honor it has been to serve as your WICSEC President
during 2013. The 30th annual training conference in Kansas City was a huge success, in
part because of the enthusiasm by our two host states, Kansas and Missouri, and the 600
child support professionals in attendance. The conference was filled with high energy
and great networking opportunities beginning with the President's Reception on Sunday
evening.
Monday morning's opening plenary featured the Ruskin High School Marine Corp ROTC
Color Guard and the National Anthem sung by Lara Fors, Director of the Springfield,
Missouri Regional Prosecutor's Office (and the current ERICSA President).
(Ruskin High School Marine Corp ROTC Color Guard)
We heard from two guest speakers, Allyson Campbell, the Kansas IV-D Director and
Daryl Wusk, the Missouri Deputy IV-D Director. And Sister Berta Sailer from Operation
Breakthrough in Kansas City, Missouri and Marta Staker, Executive Director of Project
Eagle at the Children's Campus of the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas
City, Kansas introduced us to this year's children's charities. Monday's plenary ended with
a bang - literally - when the Topeka High School Drumline entertained us with their
rousing percussion arrangements.
(Topeka High School Drumline)
The high caliber of workshops added to the conference experience for everyone.
Presenters from across the country shared their considerable child support enforcement
knowledge. As always, the Inter-Jurisdictional Fair was one of the highlights of the
conference with representatives from the states, tribes and the territory of Guam manning
tables with interstate contact information and fun giveaways.
Wednesday's plenary featured our OCSE Commissioner, Vicki Turetsky, who is always
inspirational. The Roaring Twenties themed awards banquet that night capped off a
perfect day. Congratulations to all the award winners on their accomplishments.
The conference ended with the annual WICSEC business meeting that included the
presentation of the checks to the charities (over $7,000 was raised during the conference)
and the election of officers and new board members. I extend my congratulations to the
new WICSEC President, Charles Smith, and wish him and his officers a successful year.
Last but not least four teams played "Family Feud" testing the contestants' knowledge of
child support and WICSEC.
My sincere thanks to the wonderful WICSEC Board and Planning Committee, as well as
the local Kansas/Missouri planning committee, whose hard work made the conference a
success. And thanks to our excellent conference planner, Melissa Rael who always
makes us look good.
(WICSEC
Board and Planning Committee 2013)
In addition, I would like to recognize our conference sponsors, exhibitors and advertisers
who provide the funding for the conference. We could not put on this conference without
them.
Never forget that during the 2012 federal fiscal year you and your colleagues from
throughout the United States distributed more than $31 billion 600 million dollars to the
families we are privileged to serve. You all perform an important role in the health of your
communities.
Best wishes for the holidays!!
Success at the IJ Fair!
by Dee Price-Sanders, WICSEC Vice President
Kansas City was host to the 30th Annual WICSEC conference and set the bar high for a
successful IJ Fair. No one was disappointed as 600 child support professionals visited the
9th annual IJ fair. Representatives from 15 states, 10 tribes, Canada, several county child
support offices, and OCSE central and regional offices shared everything from limited
services provided to arrears compromise college savings programs.
Ambassadors and attendees alike took the "PLEDGE" and added their contact
information to the list of over 900 fellow child support advocates who have pledged to
assist in eliminating the communication barriers of inter-jurisdictional cases. The list of
those making this commitment will be made available soon.
With so many jurisdictions represented space was limited and lines were long. We
promise to do our best to increase the space for the 10th anniversary IJ Fair in San Diego
next October. Hope to see ya'll there!
Taking the Pledge
IJ Fair Attendees
Congratulations to all of the 2013 Awards Winners!
By Barry Blackburn, WICSEC Director
WICSEC's awards banquet featured great live jazz, many people dressed in their finest
flapper/gangster style, and the presentation of awards to deserving recipients.
Here are the award winners:
The Program Awareness Award recognizes the effectiveness of media presentations
Program Awareness: Iowa Child Support Recovery Unit, Parenting, It's A Life
_________________________________________
The Most Improved Program Award recognizes a state, regional, county or tribal program
that has shown exceptional improvement in key child support enforcement program
performance areas and in services to its constituency during each year of the three
preceding federal fiscal years.
Most Improved Program: Clark County, Nevada
_________________________________________
The Outstanding Individual Achievement Award (Manager/Supervisor) recognizes
experienced individuals who are managers or supervisors in the public and private sector
that regardless of membership in WICSEC, have made significant contributions to the
child support enforcement program.
Outstanding Individual Achievement (Manager/Supervisor): Jay Mullendore,
Wyoming
_________________________________________
The Outstanding Individual Achievement Award (Technical/Line Staff) recognizes
experienced individuals who are in technical or line staff positions in the public and private
sector that regardless of membership in WICSEC, have made significant contributions to
the child support enforcement program.
Outstanding Individual Achievement (Technical/Line Staff): Angela Villasenor, Napa
County, California
_________________________________________
The Outstanding Contribution to Child Support - Host State Award recognizes
experienced individuals who serve or impact the child support profession from the Host
State in the public and private sector who, regardless of membership in WICSEC, have
made significant contributions to the child support enforcement program.
Outstanding Contribution to Child Support Enforcement - Host State (Missouri):
Daryl Wusk
Outstanding Contribution to Child Support Enforcement - Host State (Kansas):
Dennis Hoffman
_________________________________________
The Outstanding Program Award recognizes a state, regional, county, or tribal program
that has consistently and comprehensively exemplified the best in child support
enforcement, through an outstanding record of performance and by providing effective
services to its constituency and its community.
Outstanding Program: Marin County, California -Keith Pepper, Director
_________________________________________
Presenter Hall of Fame award - WICSEC presents this award to an individual who has
distinguished themselves through volunteering to participate as speakers, panel members
and moderators for the various workshops presented at the conference.
Presenter Hall of Fame: Kelly Peiper
_________________________________________
Lifetime membership awards are presented to persons who have made significant
contributions to WICSEC over many years.
Honorary Lifetime Member: Steven Smith
Congratulations to all of the well deserved WICSEC 2013 award winners!
WICSEC 2013 Scholarship Winners
Stacey Torres, WICSEC Scholarship Winner - ORS Provo, UT
What a wonderful birthday surprise to receive a call from WICSEC President Cathi Valdes letting
me know that I had been chosen as a scholarship winner. I had thought about applying for the
scholarship many times in the past few years but never did, probably for fear of rejection. So you
can only imagine the excitement I had to receive the call!! WICSEC handled all of my travel
arrangements, which sure made things easy for me.
I have attended many conferences in my lifetime for various jobs but never for child support. I can
honestly say that this was the best conference I have attended hands down! From the 1st timer's
orientation, the Presidents welcome and the wonderful workshops I got to attend. Everything was
handled perfectly. I believe the only thing I had trouble with was selecting what workshop I
wanted to attend. I learned a lot of great things in the workshops and brought back some idea's to
share with my co-workers. I really enjoyed meeting people that share the joy I do in my job and
also made some very good friends!!
Thanks WICSEC for choosing me as a 2013 scholarship winner, it is a memory I will forever
cherish!!
________________________________________________________________
Gina Manley, WICSEC Scholarship Winner - Sedgwick CO Ofc of the Court Trustee - Witchita, KS
I am very grateful for the opportunity to attend the 30th annual WICSEC conference in Kansas
City, Missouri this year. The accommodations at the Westin Crown Center were phenomenal. The
atmosphere was electric and each class was jammed pack with an abundance of information
delivered by a diversity of child support professionals.
I enjoyed the opportunity to put faces to the names of the child support professionals that I
communicate with by email and telephone, sometimes on a daily basis. I must thank the team of
professionals in Topeka, Kansas who taught the Kansas Track classes. They were awesome and
packed with a ton useful information pertinent to the State of Kansas.
I would recommend that everyone in the child support profession take the opportunity to attend
WICSEC annually to take advantage of the multitude of information being taught at these
conferences. This was my first WICSEC experience and I look forward to attending again next
year. Thank you again for the scholarship award and the opportunity to attend the 30th annual
WICSEC conference.
WICSEC Awards Banquet - Roaring Twenties
WICSEC Board and Conference Planning Committee Members
WICSEC Officers 2013-2014
President, Charles Smith (TX)
Vice President, Dee Price-Sanders (CO)
Second Vice President, Jennifer Coultas (CA)
Treasurer, Gene Gustin (OR)
Secretary, Maureen Leif (CO)
Immediate Past President, Cathi Valdes (NM)
WICSEC Board of Directors
Lori Bengston (NE)
Barry Blackburn (NV)
Gary Dart (OK)
Darryll Grubbs (TX)
Mike Henry (VA)
Andy Johnson (GA)
Brenda Lyttle (WY)
Valarie Merritt (TX)
Melissa Mizelle (CO)
Christine Sorenson (CO)
Trisha Thomas (KS)
Board Advisors
Margot Bean (NY)
Robert Gutendorf (OH)
Laura Rosenak (CA)
Board Affiliates
Steven Golightly, NCSEA
Jerry Sweet, NTCSA
Laura Fors, ERICSA
Honorary Lifetime Board Members
Sue Bailey (WA)
Bruce Kaspari (CA)
Dave Hogan (WA)
Shannon Barnes (ID)
Kathy Sokolik (CA)
Paula Brown (CO)
Michael Williams (WY)
Natalie Dillon (CA)
Debra Phillips (MO)
Mary Ann Wellbank (MT)
Elizabeth Morgan (WA)
David Stillman (WA)
Steven Smith (AZ)
Conference Planner
Melissa G. Rael & Associates
Planning Committee
Cindy Dean
Steven Eldred
Alicia Key
Rob Lafer
Kelly Peiper
Elaine Poole
Rebecca Profest
Ellen Rutledge
Lisa Schwartz
Sue Smith
Tamara Thomas
Suzi Truby