Deirdre Curley, as the new Assistant Director for Management of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA) was faced with disparate systems and mandated requirements and the challenge to bring things together to better support and position this commercially oriented international trade agency. Under her leadership the agency contracted The Resource Network to be a technical resource to optimize and transform internal systems and mechanisms to effectively manage the agency and support U.S. businesses.

We worked with program and financial staff inside the organization, contracted services providers, and regulatory groups to identify and synthesize needs, available resources, and opportunities. We graphically displayed the disparate pieces as "islands" and solicited ideas. We conceptualized an integrated system bringing the pieces together and forged creative solutions. We:

• Mobilized vendors to transform financial, grant, project evaluation, communication, and administrative systems into an integrated system.
• Established initial web presence and assisted in evaluation of service providers to develop TDA web site http://www.tda.gov.
• Consolidated separately maintained project information into a central information resource center including web based resources, and an electronically accessible library.
• Represented the agency in work with the Small Agency Council and the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee.
• Compiled information and prepared annual Federal Managers' Financial Integrity Act (FMFIA) and Inspector General Act Amendment reports for submission to the President and Congress, achieving commendation by OMB.
• Worked with TDA, grant recipients, independent auditors, OMB, and the Single Audit Clearinghouse to streamline requirements and ensure compliance under OMB Circular No. A-133: Audits of States, Local Governments and Non-Profit Organizations.
• Optimized services provided by the U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Department of State, and U.S. Department of the Interior.

We brought islands together. We helped the agency and its people deliver excellence - now and for the longer term.