August 12, 2008
Carrie Brooks, named Chief of Staff replacing
Tene Dolphin; Tene Dolphin, named director of the Department of
Employment Services replacing Summer Spencer; City Administrator
Dan Tangherlini, August 12, 2008 |
Summer Spencer, ousted director of the
Department of Employment Services, August 12, 2008 |
Fenty Announces Findings of Summer Youth
Employment Investigation
Mayor Adrian M. Fenty today released the findings
of the internal investigation of the Department of Employment Services
Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), which outlined a series of serious
management problems during this year’s program. Fenty also
announced the appointment of his Chief of Staff, Tene Dolphin, as the
interim director of the Department of Employment Services, and Carrie
Brooks as his new chief of staff.
The investigation was conducted by CapStat, the
Mayor’s accountability and efficiency program for the District
Government. Every agency associated with the administration and
development of the SYEP for 2008, the planning process, and the execution
of the program was investigated.
“It was clear before this report that there was
serious mismanagement of this year’s Summer Youth Employment Program,”
said Fenty. “It is important that we understand all of our
mistakes so that we can correct them and restore the faith of our
residents in our programs.”
The investigation looked at the Department of
Employment Services (DOES), the Executive Office of the Mayor (EOM), the
Office of the City Administrator (OCA), the Office of Contracting and
Procurement (OCP) and the Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO).
The CapStat team also conducted interviews with outside host
organizations to gain a full understanding of any issues regarding
placements, trainings and payroll.
Major Findings
- Approximately $17 million of the $37 million
budget for SYEP was used to meet increased demand for the program
- The final budget increase is the result of
severe mismanagement of payroll within the program
- The time entry system is unreliable because of a
lack of complete and accurate records, creating significant numbers of
errors
- Management safeguards at all levels of city
government failed to raise warnings, and information was taken at face
value
- DOES underestimated the depth and complexity of
data management problems even after the payroll crisis became evident
- Most of allegations of fraud and abuse have not
been confirmed as true or pervasive
Summer Spencer stepped down from her post as
director, but has committed to assisting in the agency transition through
Labor Day. “I have thoroughly enjoyed my work at DOES and it has been an
enlightening experience,” said Spencer. “Although everyone knows
that the last few months have been challenging, we have accomplished a lot
of great things – both within the Summer Youth Employment Program and
the agency itself. However, when you have enormous obstacles such as
the ones we have faced most recently, you have to start at the top, and
the buck stops with me.”
In order to fix the current payroll problems for
the remainder of the summer, DOES will identify and remove from the system
people who are currently not part of the program and ensure that payment
reflects the program’s parameters -- including pay rates, age limits and
allowable hours. DOES will also continue to work with every host site to
ensure accurate attendance is reported.
Tene Dolphin
Interim Director, Department of Employment Services
Tene Dolphin will bring more than 10 years of
management experience to her position as interim director of the
Department of Employment Services. Dolphin has served as chief of staff in
the Executive Office of the Mayor since the beginning of the Fenty
Administration and as chief operations manager for Fenty’s mayoral
campaign, where she was responsible for the day-to-day campaign activities
of the office staff and volunteers. Her experience ranges from
project and operations management to professional event coordination and
education.
During her tenure as chief of staff, Dolphin
managed an overall personnel realignment within the Executive Office while
building strong relationships with agencies across DC government.
Before joining the Fenty management team, she
worked in several business management and communications positions,
including director of administration and operations at Westin Rinehart, a
leading strategic communications consulting firm, and business manager for
Washington-based trade association Vinyl Siding Institute.
Her campaign experience was honed during the 2004
presidential campaign cycle, where she served as director of special
projects for the Democratic National Committee. There, she was
responsible for implementing emergency plans, organizing national travel
for luminaries for the Kerry/Edwards presidential campaign, as well as
conducting training on campaign procedures.
Dolphin also served as an educator for several
years in Maryland’s Prince Georges County. Dolphin graduated with honors
from Howard University in Washington, D.C., with a bachelor of science in
psychology.
She has always remained an active humanitarian,
volunteering for several organizations including Habitat for Humanity,
United Negro College Fund, and the National Council of Negro Women to name
a few. Originally from Philadelphia, Dolphin now resides in Arboretum
neighborhood of Washington.
Carrie Brooks
Chief of Staff, Executive Office of the Mayor
Mayor Fenty has named Carrie Brooks as his chief of
staff for the Executive Office of the Mayor. Brooks has served as his
director of communications since the beginning of the Administration,
joining the Mayor’s transition team in November 2007. With 15
years’ experience in the field of public relations and communications in
both the public and private sector, Carrie Brooks came to the Fenty
Administration after 5 years on Capitol Hill.
Brooks worked for Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) as
her communications director, managing overall communications strategy,
constituent outreach and national media efforts, and also as her
Washington director, overseeing everything from day-to-day operations to
legislative initiatives.
Her private sector public relations career has
included working with FORTUNE500 technology companies and various consumer
clients. Brooks’ work focused on strategic communications planning
as well as basic media relations.
She has worked for two California city governments,
Lake Forest, in the city clerk’s office and Anaheim, in the public
information office. Brooks also worked in the public information office of
the U.S. Institute of Peace, a federally funded think tank focused on
international conflict-resolution.
Brooks received her bachelor’s degree in
communications with an emphasis in public relations from California State
University, Fullerton. Growing up in the District, she is also a proud
graduate of the DC Public School System. Brooks resides in the northwest
DC Logan Circle neighborhood. |