FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 25, 2007
Contact: Sarah Howe
202-775-9111
PARTNERSHIP FOR PUBLIC SERVICE HONORS SENATOR COLLINS (R-ME) AND IBM CHAIRMAN PALMISANO FOR LEADERSHIP
Washington, D.C. – The Partnership for Public Service announced today that Samuel J. Palmisano, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of the IBM Corporation, and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) have been named the 2007 Private Sector Council Leadership Award recipients for their outstanding contributions to improving the federal government through public-private sector partnerships. The awards were presented last night at the Partnership’s annual Leadership Awards Dinner in Washington, D.C.
The Partnership has singled out both Senator Collins and Palmisano among their colleagues for their leadership and commitment to improving government effectiveness in a number of critical areas.
Senator Collins has led efforts to reform the U.S. intelligence community, improve chemical security and modernize the postal service. She also led the bipartisan Senate inquiry into the government’s response to Hurricane Katrina, and recently sponsored FEMA reform legislation.
Sam Palmisano has displayed an extraordinary commitment to improving government effectiveness through IBM’s Center for the Business of Government. IBM made a significant donation of speech translation technology to the U.S. Department of Defense for humanitarian use in Iraq. In addition, IBM has successfully partnered with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to monitor and prevent pandemics and with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to curb carbon dioxide emissions.
At the awards dinner, Dugan Shipway, President, Bath Iron Works, Maine presented Senator Collins with her Leadership Award and Partnership founder Samuel J. Heyman, presented the award to Palmisano.
“Senator Susan Collins has distinguished herself as a dedicated champion for improving government performance. She gets things done, building coalitions so good ideas become good laws,” said Max Stier, Partnership for Public Service president. “We are honored to present the 2007 Public Sector Leadership Award to Senator Collins.”
“Thanks to Sam Palmisano’s leadership, IBM is one of the world’s most admired companies. We commend his focus on improving government effectiveness through the IBM Center for the Business of Government,” said Stier. “I can think of no one more deserving of the 2007Private Sector Leadership Award — Sam Palmisano is truly an outstanding corporate citizen.”
Partnership Board member and Ernst & Young Global Vice Chair Beth Brooke served as master of ceremonies. The Partnership for Public Service works to revitalize federal government by inspiring a new generation to serve and by transforming the way government works. The Partnership’s Private Sector Council connects experts from Fortune 500 corporations with federal leaders to confront government’s key management challenges on an operational level.
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The Partnership for Public Service works to revitalize our federal government by inspiring a new generation to serve and by transforming the way government works.
