2011 SAVE Award

Our sincere thanks to all those who took the time to submit ideas for the 2011 SAVE Award. It shows that Federal employees are committed to improving the way the government does business, which is even more important during these tough budgetary times. So as we congratulate Matthew and the SAVE Award finalists, we also recommit ourselves to following their example and working to deliver the American people the efficient, effective government they deserve.

2011 Winning Idea

Matthew Ritsko, Maryland
Financial Manager at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

At Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA employees purchase specialized tools and ground support equipment for developing and building flight projects. Many of the tools are not tracked once projects are complete, and as a result funds are wasted on duplicative purchases. In order to cut down on repeat purchases, Matthew suggests creating a centralized tool repository — or "lending library" — where these tools can be stored, catalogued, and checked in and out by NASA employees.

2011 SAVE Award Additional Finalists

Eileen Hearty, Colorado
Project Manager, Denver Multifamily Hub

All across the country, HUD contractors and staff conduct annual Management and Occupancy Reviews of multifamily properties (i.e. apartments) that are privately-owned and subsidized by HUD. Many of these properties receive high marks year after year and consistently provide excellent service. Eileen proposes a reduction in the frequency of reviews for high-performing properties – a change that would reward superior properties for their excellent work and reduce the travel costs, staff time, and fees paid by HUD for these reviews.

Kevin Korzeniewski, Washington D.C.
Attorney at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

When Kevin began working as an attorney in the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, he automatically received a new set of U.S. Code books that get updated and reordered every year. Because the information in these books is now available online through LexisNexis, Westlaw, and free sources – where it is also updated in real time – Kevin suggests that his agency stop automatically ordering these books.

Faith Stanfield, Ohio
General Technical Expert at Social Security Administration

Every quarter, the Social Security Administration (SSA) produces and mails OASIS, a 25-plus-page, glossy magazine to 88,000 SSA employees all across the country and over 1,000 retired SSA employees. The OASIS magazine has been around for decades; however, as more and more SSA communications shift online, Faith suggests that the magazine be released only in an online format to save money on printing and shipping that could be put to better use elsewhere.

All 2011 SAVE Award Ideas

View all of the ideas submitted as part of the 2011 SAVE Award.