GSA Regional Office to Get Tech Overhaul

By Jennifer Freer, Staff Writer


MAY 4 ? The General Services Administration's Region 10, based in Auburn, Wash., is testing the waters in being a technology-focused office with an assortment of telecommunications technologies supplied by US West Inc., Denver.


US West-provided services will enable GSA employees to quickly retrieve and send messages, as well as improve productivity, through Nortel CallPilot, a multimedia messaging system that delivers voice, fax and e-mail messages to the desktop. US West also is installing the Meridian 3900 telephone set, which will give GSA employees access to caller ID.


GSA officials did not provide a cost for upgrading the Region 10 office.


The office will feature an open-office concept that GSA said would feature movable walls for different workspace configurations. The concept is designed for knowledge sharing and advanced voice services.


It will offer the most modern, leading-edge technology for GSA's federal clients, according to the agency. GSA employees, many of whom travel frequently, can communicate easier with customers and fellow employees, work more efficiently and showcase cutting-edge technology to their customers, the GSA added.


The GSA will work with US West and other industry partners to add other new technology to the office and eventually extend the concept to other offices. Thirty division managers will move into the new Auburn office this month.


Meanwhile, the Office of Governmentwide Policy at GSA announced John Sindelar will become its new deputy associate administrator, effective May 7. Sindelar has been chief of staff for the office since December 1995. He has been with GSA since 1980. The office is an advocate for electronic commerce, real estate, personal property, government travel and transportation and federal advisory committees.