VPD supports U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Field Operations Facilities Program Management Office (FOF PMO), within the Office of Facilities and Asset Management (OFAM), through strategic communications, policy development, client and stakeholder engagement and management, and strategic initiative management. VPD is a trusted advisor and a vital asset to ensuring CBP leadership is properly informed and PMO operations run smoothly. This includes creating and implementing strategic communications and policy frameworks for all major CBP port of entry programs and initiatives. These overall program and individual project frameworks identify stakeholders and the proper communication vehicles for engagement, outline schedule milestones, and identify risks and mitigation strategies. VPD works hand in hand with the client to develop all materials for these frameworks, including strategic briefs, fact sheets, talking points, issue papers, event notices, press releases, responses to Congressional and local government inquiries, and policy development.
Our team of established communications professionals understands the nuances and intricacies of effective and proper communication through stakeholder engagement and communications strategy development and implementation. Because of this understanding, VPD is entrusted with special initiatives, high-visibility projects, and messaging to CBP senior leadership. VPD’s proficient management experience combined with seasoned communications practices, technical writing competencies, and strategic communications tactics have, and will continue to provide, stand out value to the FOF PMO and CBP writ large. VPD executes a variety of core communications functions in support of the client, to include the following:
Communications Subject Matter Expertise
We offer subject matter expertise through program and project analysis, providing recommendations pertaining to communications and organizational change within the PMO. VPD touches all PMO areas of responsibility through direct and tailored communications and policy/process development, with the goal identifying risks and issues and implementing strategies to improve operations both within the PMO and for the PMO’s customers. VPD’s communications support allows CBP and stakeholder decision-making authorities determine the best paths forward to safeguard our borders through smart port of entry facility enhancements.
Communication Strategies
VPD advises FOF PMO leadership by developing communication strategies, ensuring the appropriate information is provided to the pertinent individuals and entities. High-level deliverables in this area include responses to Congressional, media, and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and CBP leadership inquiries regarding facilities under the purview of the FOF PMO, strategic briefs, talking points, and issue papers for CBP, OFAM, FM&E, and FOF PMO leadership for internal and external meetings and Congressional hearings, and strategic briefs for FOF PMO business partners and project stakeholders. Most recently, VPD's communication strategy and supporting documentation development support assisted in the passing of the nearly $4 billion in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding for the modernization of the 168 land ports of entry on the Nation’s northern and southern borders.
Communications Milestone Support
We understand the necessity of accurately identifying communications to ensure programs and projects run smoothly and all stakeholders remain properly informed. VPD develops and implements communications milestones for all projects within the PMO, but specifically is called to advise on high-profile or problematic projects, providing input and execution strategies to communicate to both internal CBP and external Federal, local, and private industry stakeholders. VPD develops and delivers training to Federal employees with communications-related initiatives, as well as develops and maintains essential PMO organizational documents such as the roles and responsibilities document, the organizational chart, employee directory, continuity of operations list, and other PMO governance documentation.
Policy Support and Development
VPD helps shape PMO policy and processes through continuous program analysis, identification of issues and areas of weakness, and coordination with internal and external CBP stakeholders. This leads to the development of policies, processes, and proposed legislation to improve FOF PMO facility operations and allow PMO employees to work smarter, not harder. VPD has developed dozens of policies and processes related to risk management, budget management, project management, and program governance, among other PMO areas of responsibility. VPD also develops the supporting documentation needed for policies and processes such as program governance structures, process frameworks, overview briefs, memoranda, and SharePoint forms and archives. Major policies, processes, and proposed legislation developed by VPD include the CBP and U.S. General Services Administration Cyclical Maintenance Delegation of Authority, CBP’s Free Space Directive, CBP’s Five Year Plan Approval Process Policy, internal policies such as the Tenant Improvement Policy, Project Travel Policy, and Congressional Notification Policy, and a multitude of PMO processes including job aides, reference guides, and standard operating procedures.
Communications Media Repository
Our team maintains the PMO media repository by collecting and maintaining mission-related news articles through various media outlets throughout the U.S. and world. VPD also ensures leadership is informed when FOF PMO-related projects and facilities garner major media attention and subsequently works with CBP’s Office of Public Affairs to craft media responses.
Meetings Support
VPD coordinates a variety of organizational meetings, creating presentations and other materials, arranging for meeting logistics, utilizing conferencing technology, and recording meeting minutes and action items. VPD’s support of these meetings allows for the applicable stakeholders to remain informed of program and project activities, areas of concern, and risks and issues.
Facility Correspondence
VPD is responsible for drafting responses to information requests from Congress, other Government entities, and DHS and CBP officials. Using the CBP Style Guide, VPD utilizes existing CBP-approved templates and creates new templates, as appropriate, to develop the applicable responses regarding planned and ongoing facility projects.
Newsletters
Our team not only ensures leadership and stakeholders remain informed, but also contributes to information dissemination to PMO employees through the PMO’s bi-monthly newsletter. VPD develops each newsletter by researching areas of interest, including employee wellness, national days and observances, upcoming events, employee life events, administrative matters, and project highlights. VPD then tailors creative templates for each newsletter to ensure maximum employee engagement.
Information Technology Support to the Communications Mailbox
VPD manages and maintains the FOF PMO Communications group mailboxes, analyzing incoming inquiries, informing leadership of any pertinent issues, and composing responses to questions from internal and external Stakeholders regarding planned or ongoing projects, taskings, and initiatives.
Information Technology Support to Internal Website
Recognizing how properly integrated technology can save man-hours and improve reporting accuracy, VPD leads the PMO in SharePoint development by creating, maintaining, and editing sites for the overall PMO, as well as the PMO’s 13 individual sections, located on both the FOF PMO internal and external SharePoint sites. VPD is responsible for updating and standardizing the graphical look and feel of all PMO SharePoint sites, making the site more user friendly and intuitive, while improving usability and functionality through content creation and functionality utilization. Additionally, VPD led the management of the SharePoint Online transition including identifying and archiving all documents, developing a thorough communications plan, coordinating with OFAM and FM&E subject matter experts, developing job aides and training documentation to ensure 100% compliance within the PMO.
Our team of established communications professionals understands the nuances and intricacies of effective and proper communication through stakeholder engagement and communications strategy development and implementation. Because of this understanding, VPD is entrusted with special initiatives, high-visibility projects, and messaging to CBP senior leadership. VPD’s proficient management experience combined with seasoned communications practices, technical writing competencies, and strategic communications tactics have, and will continue to provide, stand out value to the FOF PMO and CBP writ large. VPD executes a variety of core communications functions in support of the client, to include the following:
Communications Subject Matter Expertise
We offer subject matter expertise through program and project analysis, providing recommendations pertaining to communications and organizational change within the PMO. VPD touches all PMO areas of responsibility through direct and tailored communications and policy/process development, with the goal identifying risks and issues and implementing strategies to improve operations both within the PMO and for the PMO’s customers. VPD’s communications support allows CBP and stakeholder decision-making authorities determine the best paths forward to safeguard our borders through smart port of entry facility enhancements.
Communication Strategies
VPD advises FOF PMO leadership by developing communication strategies, ensuring the appropriate information is provided to the pertinent individuals and entities. High-level deliverables in this area include responses to Congressional, media, and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and CBP leadership inquiries regarding facilities under the purview of the FOF PMO, strategic briefs, talking points, and issue papers for CBP, OFAM, FM&E, and FOF PMO leadership for internal and external meetings and Congressional hearings, and strategic briefs for FOF PMO business partners and project stakeholders. Most recently, VPD's communication strategy and supporting documentation development support assisted in the passing of the nearly $4 billion in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding for the modernization of the 168 land ports of entry on the Nation’s northern and southern borders.
Communications Milestone Support
We understand the necessity of accurately identifying communications to ensure programs and projects run smoothly and all stakeholders remain properly informed. VPD develops and implements communications milestones for all projects within the PMO, but specifically is called to advise on high-profile or problematic projects, providing input and execution strategies to communicate to both internal CBP and external Federal, local, and private industry stakeholders. VPD develops and delivers training to Federal employees with communications-related initiatives, as well as develops and maintains essential PMO organizational documents such as the roles and responsibilities document, the organizational chart, employee directory, continuity of operations list, and other PMO governance documentation.
Policy Support and Development
VPD helps shape PMO policy and processes through continuous program analysis, identification of issues and areas of weakness, and coordination with internal and external CBP stakeholders. This leads to the development of policies, processes, and proposed legislation to improve FOF PMO facility operations and allow PMO employees to work smarter, not harder. VPD has developed dozens of policies and processes related to risk management, budget management, project management, and program governance, among other PMO areas of responsibility. VPD also develops the supporting documentation needed for policies and processes such as program governance structures, process frameworks, overview briefs, memoranda, and SharePoint forms and archives. Major policies, processes, and proposed legislation developed by VPD include the CBP and U.S. General Services Administration Cyclical Maintenance Delegation of Authority, CBP’s Free Space Directive, CBP’s Five Year Plan Approval Process Policy, internal policies such as the Tenant Improvement Policy, Project Travel Policy, and Congressional Notification Policy, and a multitude of PMO processes including job aides, reference guides, and standard operating procedures.
Communications Media Repository
Our team maintains the PMO media repository by collecting and maintaining mission-related news articles through various media outlets throughout the U.S. and world. VPD also ensures leadership is informed when FOF PMO-related projects and facilities garner major media attention and subsequently works with CBP’s Office of Public Affairs to craft media responses.
Meetings Support
VPD coordinates a variety of organizational meetings, creating presentations and other materials, arranging for meeting logistics, utilizing conferencing technology, and recording meeting minutes and action items. VPD’s support of these meetings allows for the applicable stakeholders to remain informed of program and project activities, areas of concern, and risks and issues.
Facility Correspondence
VPD is responsible for drafting responses to information requests from Congress, other Government entities, and DHS and CBP officials. Using the CBP Style Guide, VPD utilizes existing CBP-approved templates and creates new templates, as appropriate, to develop the applicable responses regarding planned and ongoing facility projects.
Newsletters
Our team not only ensures leadership and stakeholders remain informed, but also contributes to information dissemination to PMO employees through the PMO’s bi-monthly newsletter. VPD develops each newsletter by researching areas of interest, including employee wellness, national days and observances, upcoming events, employee life events, administrative matters, and project highlights. VPD then tailors creative templates for each newsletter to ensure maximum employee engagement.
Information Technology Support to the Communications Mailbox
VPD manages and maintains the FOF PMO Communications group mailboxes, analyzing incoming inquiries, informing leadership of any pertinent issues, and composing responses to questions from internal and external Stakeholders regarding planned or ongoing projects, taskings, and initiatives.
Information Technology Support to Internal Website
Recognizing how properly integrated technology can save man-hours and improve reporting accuracy, VPD leads the PMO in SharePoint development by creating, maintaining, and editing sites for the overall PMO, as well as the PMO’s 13 individual sections, located on both the FOF PMO internal and external SharePoint sites. VPD is responsible for updating and standardizing the graphical look and feel of all PMO SharePoint sites, making the site more user friendly and intuitive, while improving usability and functionality through content creation and functionality utilization. Additionally, VPD led the management of the SharePoint Online transition including identifying and archiving all documents, developing a thorough communications plan, coordinating with OFAM and FM&E subject matter experts, developing job aides and training documentation to ensure 100% compliance within the PMO.
