GEM-SET

Ding-Lynn Ledgard
Grants Financial Analyst
Bureau of Labor Statistics
U.S. Department of Labor
Washington, DC

Hola. Me llamo Ding-Lynn Ledgard. Who would guess from my name that I am Hispanic? I was born in Perú and moved to Spain when I was 15 years old. At 17, I got the chance to become an exchange student in Iowa for six months. That was my first experience in the United States. Then, at 22, I again got the opportunity to come to the U.S. study at College of San Mateo, California. My major was Mathematics-Matemáticas. It took me ten years to complete my Bachelors of Science degree-please note that I worked full-time and side-tracked into Business Administration in the middle and also had to attend various Universities because my husband moved with his job. I attended College of San Mateo (San Mateo, CA), University of California (Davis, CA), Mercer County Community College (Trenton, NJ), Cleveland State University (Cleveland, OH), and Central Michigan University (Mt. Pleasant, MI). Finally after ten years, I received my B.S. degree in Mathematics in 1988. Perseverance pays and age does not matter. Sí, se puede. Yes, we can.

After obtaining my degree, I worked at the University of Michigan as a Secretary in the Mathematics Department at the University of Michigan, while I worked on my M.B.A. at Eastern Michigan University for two years. But then again, my husband moved and it was time to start my family. OH! ONE OF THE CHALLENGES FOR WOMEN. Choose family or choose career? FAMILIA o CARRERA? Again, perseverance pays. So, although I only completed half of my M.B.A -if my memory serves me well that was in 1990-these studies provided a perfect combination for my present career. Well now to the present. My husband Carl Lundgren and I have three children: Vivian in 8th grade, Grace in 3rd grade, and Kenny in Kindergarten; Vivian and Grace are very good with GEM-SET subjects.

I currently work as a Grants Financial Analyst at the Bureau of Labor Statistics (U.S. Dept. of Labor), in Washington, DC. Not a GEM-SET job, you think? Definitely so. In my job and research I use the analytical skills and computer skills I developed all throughout my education. Most importantly, the Bureau of Labor Statistics employs many Statisticians, Mathematical Statisticians, Computer Scientists, etc.; therefore, I have the opportunity to interact and network with people in the GEM-SET field here at the office, and also at conferences and through interagency efforts. Continuous education has proven invaluable to me, so now I am working to complete the Federal Managers Practicum at Management Concepts, Inc. I am looking forward to advancing to a cross-functional position where I can use my expertise in Business, Public Administration and Mathematics. Currently, I am a member of the Association of Government Accountants (AGA) and the National Association of Hispanic Federal Executives (NAHFE).

On a final note, I am very proud to have just finished my one-year participation as a mentee in the Department of Labor Mentoring Program. This experience has provided me the opportunity to evaluate my present and future educational and career goals and, more importantly, provided additional leadership and interpersonal skills needed for advancement. One of the commitments I made through this program was to become a mentor as the opportunity arises. THE OPPORTUNITY IS HERE NOW. YA VINO MI OPORTUNIDAD.