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About the webinar
Efficient, effective government operations depend on more than systems and processes — they depend on people. As agencies confront increasing complexity and resource constraints, a human-centered approach to operational excellence becomes critical. This webinar dives into how culture, leadership behaviors, workplace clarity, and employee experience shape operational outcomes.
Panelists will unpack how aligned processes, empowered teams, and modernized operations directly improve mission execution and public trust.
The session highlights real-world examples of agencies that have modernized workflows, cut costs by redesigning office space and utilization, while strengthening employee engagement and readiness.
Panelists will unpack how aligned processes, empowered teams, and modernized operations directly improve mission execution and public trust.
The session highlights real-world examples of agencies that have modernized workflows, cut costs by redesigning office space and utilization, while strengthening employee engagement and readiness.
During the webinar, you'll learn:
Why employee experience and culture are key drivers of operational effectiveness.
How to identify operational bottlenecks rooted in culture or communication.
Techniques and actionable strategies for improving processes, boosting performance and team clarity using human-centered design.
How to measure the impact of operational improvements on workforce culture.
About the Speakers
Mika Cross
Workplace Transformation Strategist | Federal Workplace Expert CEO/Founder, Strategy@Work, LLC
Mika J. Cross, best known as a Federal Workplace Expert, is a widely acclaimed speaker, strategist, and innovator specializing in interdisciplinary expertise among the areas of global workplace initiatives, culture change, strategic communications, employee engagement, diversity and inclusion, and the future of work.
She has served more than two decades as a career civil servant with assignments throughout the United States Intelligence Community, the Office of Personnel Management, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Agriculture (among others) before working with FlexJobs as Vice President of Employer Engagement. She is also a proud veteran of the United States Army, having served as both an enlisted soldier and commissioned officer, and is the CEO/founder of Strategy@Work, LLC.
Mika was a regular guest on the nationally broadcast TV show, Government Matters, and contributes regularly to a video series with GovLoop entitled "Management Minutes with Mika."
She has led government-wide projects affecting culture and process change, serving on the Telework Advisory Board for OPM and working on special projects with the National Security Council.
Mika is a trusted resource for national policymakers and government leaders, having testified multiple times as an expert witness before Congressional Oversight and Reform Committees on the Future of Federal Work.
She has served more than two decades as a career civil servant with assignments throughout the United States Intelligence Community, the Office of Personnel Management, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Agriculture (among others) before working with FlexJobs as Vice President of Employer Engagement. She is also a proud veteran of the United States Army, having served as both an enlisted soldier and commissioned officer, and is the CEO/founder of Strategy@Work, LLC.
Mika was a regular guest on the nationally broadcast TV show, Government Matters, and contributes regularly to a video series with GovLoop entitled "Management Minutes with Mika."
She has led government-wide projects affecting culture and process change, serving on the Telework Advisory Board for OPM and working on special projects with the National Security Council.
Mika is a trusted resource for national policymakers and government leaders, having testified multiple times as an expert witness before Congressional Oversight and Reform Committees on the Future of Federal Work.
Calvin J. Mitchell Jr.
Senior Director of Strategic Acquisitions & Engagement, General Dynamics Information Technology
Calvin J. Mitchell Jr. is a growth-focused federal acquisition executive with two decades of experience leading enterprise procurement strategy, shaping government buying behavior, and driving multi billion dollar growth across civilian, defense, and intelligence markets. He is recognized for his ability to influence early stage opportunity shaping, engage effectively with C suite and senior government leaders, and architect differentiated capture strategies that integrate cloud, AI, cyber, and digital modernization priorities.
Calvin currently serves as Senior Director of Strategic Acquisitions & Engagement at General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT), where he guides enterprise acquisition strategy and competitive positioning across key federal markets. He leads pre RFP engagement efforts, advises executive leadership on procurement trends, and designs capture strategies for major GWACs, BPAs, and IDIQs.
Prior to joining industry, Calvin served as the U.S. Department of Education’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, where he led department wide procurement modernization, achieving significant cost efficiencies and cycle time reductions. He also oversaw sourcing strategy for the $1.6 trillion Federal Student Aid portfolio, introducing AI enabled tools and increasing data transparency. Earlier roles at the Department included leading the Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization and managing a $700 million acquisition portfolio as Deputy Director of Contracts & Acquisitions Management.
Calvin’s federal career also includes leadership at the General Services Administration, where he directed a 160 person national organization supporting governmentwide procurement strategy, as well as key acquisition roles with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army Geospatial Center, and Army Contracting Command. He has supported national defense programs, global procurement operations across 130 countries, and numerous high sensitivity, high value federal missions. He also served as a Congressional Fellow with the House Committee on Homeland Security, advising lawmakers on acquisition policy and oversight.
Calvin holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Centenary College.
Calvin currently serves as Senior Director of Strategic Acquisitions & Engagement at General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT), where he guides enterprise acquisition strategy and competitive positioning across key federal markets. He leads pre RFP engagement efforts, advises executive leadership on procurement trends, and designs capture strategies for major GWACs, BPAs, and IDIQs.
Prior to joining industry, Calvin served as the U.S. Department of Education’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, where he led department wide procurement modernization, achieving significant cost efficiencies and cycle time reductions. He also oversaw sourcing strategy for the $1.6 trillion Federal Student Aid portfolio, introducing AI enabled tools and increasing data transparency. Earlier roles at the Department included leading the Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization and managing a $700 million acquisition portfolio as Deputy Director of Contracts & Acquisitions Management.
Calvin’s federal career also includes leadership at the General Services Administration, where he directed a 160 person national organization supporting governmentwide procurement strategy, as well as key acquisition roles with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army Geospatial Center, and Army Contracting Command. He has supported national defense programs, global procurement operations across 130 countries, and numerous high sensitivity, high value federal missions. He also served as a Congressional Fellow with the House Committee on Homeland Security, advising lawmakers on acquisition policy and oversight.
Calvin holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Centenary College.
Michelle Clark
Executive Director of Federal Alliances and Strategic Growth
Michelle Clark serves as the Executive Director of Federal Alliances and Strategic Growth at Cornerstone OnDemand, leveraging nearly three decades of leadership across corporate, non-profit, and government sectors. Recognized for her innovative approach, people-first leadership style, and measurable impact, Michelle has earned a reputation as a transformative leader.
She previously served as Health Programs Business Development Executive at SAIC—a leading U.S. government technology provider—and as Founder and CEO of M3J Management, LLC, a brand management and marketing consulting firm. Michelle also honed her expertise as Director of Marketing and Strategic Partnerships at Management Concepts, a premier provider of professional development and human capital solutions for the public sector.
Notably, she was Executive Director of the African American Federal Executive Association, advocating for African Americans to ascend into senior government ranks. Her ability to inspire teams is captured in a colleague’s words: “Michelle may be the most personally influential manager I’ve worked for, always pushing her team to achieve more than they believed they could.”
In 2025 she received the 2024 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest level of the President’s Volunteer Service Award and recognized as GOVTECH CONNECTS IGNITE 2025, Powerful Leaders Igniting Digital Transformation Honoree.
A distinguished alumna of The Wardlaw-Hartridge School (2024 honoree), Michelle also holds a BA and an MS from American University. She contributed to Leading Through the Pandemic: Unconventional Wisdom from Heartfelt Leaders, offering insights on balancing a thriving career with family responsibilities.
Donald Bauer
Senior Advisor, Human Resources Solutions
Donald Bauer is a senior federal executive and technologist whose career sits squarely at the intersection of human resources, information technology, and large-scale government transformation. With more than 25 years of experience modernizing mission-critical systems, Don has dedicated his career to designing and deploying HR technology that works for the federal workforce—at scale, securely, and with the end user in mind
Don currently serves as Senior Advisor for Human Resources Solutions (HRS) at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), where he advises HRS leadership on technical, operational, and strategic priorities across the organization. In this role, he provides enterprise-level guidance on HR service delivery, modernization, workforce analytics, and the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to improve efficiency, customer experience, and mission outcomes. He also supports major HRS initiatives, including AI enablement across products and services, modernization of the USA Talent Suite, and core HCM data migration and integration strategy. His work is focused on advancing innovation, strengthening operational performance, and helping position HRS to meet the evolving needs of the federal HR community.
Previously, Don served as Chief Technology Officer for Global Talent Management at the U.S. Department of State, where he spent nine years modernizing HR systems that support a globally distributed workforce of more than 78,000 employees. As CTO, he managed a $60M IT portfolio, led a team of 330 professionals, and oversaw two ERP platforms and more than 70 integrated applications. Under his leadership, the organization made significant gains in system usability, cloud adoption, and cybersecurity posture.
Don’s career blends deep technical expertise with operational leadership. A Computer Scientist by training and a former Navy Chief and Surface Warfare Officer, he has designed and delivered mission-critical software systems for agencies across the federal government, including NASA, where his work supported satellite automation and an emergency space shuttle de-orbit program. In 1999, he co-founded QuickHire, the first commercial Federal Staffing system for the federal government, later acquired by Monster.com.
His federal service includes senior technology and oversight roles at U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security, where he led enterprise technical operations, information assurance, accessibility compliance, and IT acquisition reviews. At CBP, his work directly supported the hiring of more than 5,000 Border Patrol agents in a single year—an achievement that remains unmatched.
In 2024, Don received the Meritorious Presidential Rank Award in recognition of his leadership in a multi-year HR modernization effort that significantly improved system performance, user experience, and cyber hygiene. Across every role, Don remains focused on one core mission: delivering practical, user-centered HR technology that enables the federal workforce to do its best work.
Outside of work, Don lives in Manassas, Virginia, where he enjoys cooking, camping, wine tasting, 3D printing, and spending time with his grandson.
Steve Dobberowsky
VP of Public Sector-Federal team at Cornerstone
Steve Dobberowsky is the VP of Public Sector-Federal team at Cornerstone. Steve’s 15 years of Federal Services have involved Civilian and Intelligence agencies as well as leading Talent Management initiatives for the Treasury Shared Services Center. Steve has led numerous organizations through successful implementations of unified talent management suites. Steve leverages his expertise to assist organizations in all industries in all things talent management. Through his career experiences he’s become a proven business-savvy leader with a track record of providing high-quality, innovative services and solutions in support of the Federal government. Steve’s knowledge and insight have made him a trusted partner, and one of Cornerstone’s strongest minds in the areas of learning, employee development, content, and skills. Steve is a regular speaker at SHRM, ATD and Partnership for Public Service events and served on the Executive Board of the Training Officers Consortium in Washington, DC.
