Steve Lenkart
CEO
With decades of formulating and implementing government operations and workforce policies, few people know more about the challenges and pitfalls of public service. As a career member of the Senior Executive Service with a penchant for building start-ups and revitalizing legacy programs, he served as chief operating officer at several federal agencies, successfully invigorating internal operations and external relationships. Cited by the Washington Post as a "fierce protector of public servants" through his advocacy efforts on federal workforce and labor policies, he was appointed Executive Director of the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board, an independent agency charged with protecting merit systems laws and best practices that govern the Executive Branch management of two million employees. Steve served as counselor-in-chief and columnist for the Senior Executives Association, advising executives and other professionals on issues facing the top leaders in government. He maintains a bipartisan relationship with the Congress and presidential administrations, and he continues to provide technical assistance to the Executive and Legislative Branches. In private practice, he guides appointees and career professionals through the trials and tribulations of life in government.