Marlene M. Coley Download 300-dpi image in .zip format.

ARS Honors Top Office Professional for 2005

By Jim Core
February 7, 2006

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7—Agricultural Research Service (ARS) program support assistant Marlene M. Coley has been named the 2005 "ARS Office Professional of the Year." ARS is the chief scientific research agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Based at the ARS Jamie Whitten Delta States Research Center in Stoneville, Miss., Coley is being recognized for providing dedicated and exceptional administrative support to the research unit and ARS' Mid South Area. She received a plaque and cash award during an agency award ceremony today at USDA headquarters.

In addition to her regular duties, Coley implemented a much-needed system to track scientists' manuscript publications. She also reorganized the publication filing system by developing an Access software database to catalog manuscripts and generate reports for the unit's publications. She initiated a library system to easily locate and make manuscripts available for publication requests. She also developed a number of computer programs for tracking and archiving unit reports, research projects and budget information.

"Her professional attitude, her enthusiasm for her work, and her initiative to learn new computer software and apply it to her work has been of great benefit to the agency," said ARS Administrator Edward B. Knipling. "She takes pride in her work and continually looks for new ways to improve daily functions. She is truly deserving of this award."

Coley is deeply involved with the Mid South Area Council for Office Professionals. She volunteered to become her research unit's information security specialist. ARS' Mid South Area comprises Mississippi, Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisiana and Alabama.

Coley lives in Leland, Miss., with her husband Rocky and their son Shane.