11/18/05 FSA`s new leader

Even though the new Executive Director of U.S.D.A.'s Farm Service Agency has prior experience within the agency, Theresa Lassiter says after being away from F.S.A. for two and a half years, there was no such thing as a gradual transition into the agency in general, and her new position specifically. LASSITER: We have some many different tasks at hand. So I hit the ground running, learning about all the issues that are here today, and things that have changed since I left the agency. One matter that won't be Lassiter's to handle is the now deceased "F.S.A. Tomorrow" plan, which attempted to streamline the agency through both technology upgrades, and the controversial call to consolidate over 700 local offices. Lassiter was hired shortly after U.S.D.A. put the brakes on "F.S.A. Tomorrow". But it will be her responsibility in part to help craft any new modernization plans. Lassiter says what she brings to that dialogue is experience on the federal, state, and local F.S.A. levels which she hopes translates into greater understanding and support for the local offices. LASSITER: That's the most important part for me is that all of our employees appreciate the fact that I care about the service that we provide out there and that we're going to do everything we can to continue the great service that we've provided through the years, and even improve on it. So that's what we're looking to do is improve our service. Certainly, not just about consolidating offices or closing offices but looking at how we can better serve our customers. And Lassiter adds F.S.A. and U.S.D.A. has learned two key lessons from the "F.S.A. Tomorrow" debacle that will guide the crafting of any future modernization plans. LASSITER: We need better communication about our modernization plan and be more open and frank about what we need to do to better serve and also to solicit input from the local and state level. And from our Congressional people, we want them involved. We want everybody on board before we have another plan. But just how soon F.S.A. will roll out another modernization proposal is both Lassiter's and anyone's guess at this point. LASSITER: Certainly in the days to come we will establish a time frame to be talking about how we're going to be carrying the agency forward and quite frankly when this Administration leaves, we hope that we leave it a better agency than we found it, and its always been a great agency.