An Inspiration to a Cadre of New Professionals at OPA

Senior Analyst Imelda Pinaula Barcinas of the Office of the Public Auditor was recognized as OPA's 2002-2003 "Employee of the Year" in a May ceremony held as part of Public Service Recognition Week activities. Barcinas has been an employee of OPA since December 1997.

Ms. Barcinas was unanimously selected by OPA’s managers for her continuing exemplary service and dedication to OPA’s mission and mandates. Public Auditor Michael S. Sablan noted that the OPA managers were particularly impressed with Barcinas’ commitment to professional development and her "mastery of effective time management and organizational skills." In a brief ceremony attended by OPM Director Juan I. Tenorio, Public Service Recognition Week Committee Chairman Anthony Camacho and Committee members, Sablan commended Barcinas for her consistent attention to details, commitment to deadlines, and willingness and enthusiasm to train new auditors. "She’s very deadline-oriented", noted Sablan, "and, without exception, always delivers high quality professional work products." Barcinas was promoted in April 2003 to Senior Analyst. "Imelda’s a real inspiration to the cadre of new auditors joining our office," added Sablan. "She’s a role model for the many others seeking professional opportunities at OPA."

In addition to supervising a number of performance audits in which she participated in the audit planning, staff supervision, and report drafting, Ms. Barcinas greatly assisted the Public Auditor by performing other essential auxiliary tasks. In recent months, Ms. Barcinas (1) managed the Audit Recommendations Tracking System enabling OPA to monitor the implementation of over 200 audit recommendations, (2) oversaw the maintenance of OPA’s technical reference and resource library, (3) assisted Federal auditors monitor unresolved federal audit recommendations, and (3) has been invaluable to the Public Auditor in his outreach efforts to recruit, train and develop resident audit professionals. Special recognition was given for Ms. Barcinas’ initiative in developing a selection process and related criteria used for selecting candidates, and in developing a performance evaluation system used at OPA to conduct semi-annual evaluations of its staff.

Ms. Barcinas will be heading to Sacramento, California in June 2003 to participate in the first of four auditor training programs at the Department of Interior’s Inspector General Office. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Chaminade University, where she graduated with Cum Laude honors and was also recognized as the University’s Outstanding Economics Graduate.