General sessions.

Wednesday

General Session

Dr. Dov Zakheim

Dr. Zakheim, Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller), was the opening speaker for PDI 2002. He used his time at the podium to encourage the training that the PDJ provides. "The public doesn't question the need for defense spending. It just wants to he sure that the money is spent the way the public is told it will be spent and that the money is managed by people who understand what they're doing. That's what this week's PDI is about. That's what the ASMC certification is about. That's what the legislation that just passed the House that gives us the opportunity to hire more CPAs is about. It's about professionalizing a force that can be nothing but professional and recognizing a force that wants to be professional and many of whom are already professional. But in this case, the best is not the enemy of the good. The best is the best. If we're going to manage 350-plus billion dollars a year, we have to be the best. It's as simple as that."

Thursday

General Session

Mr. Jim Snack

Magician and speaker Jim Snack held audience members on the edge of their seats as he performed magic to demonstrate how changing our attitude can help people cope with major organizational change. He demonstrated the importance of interdependent relationships by having four men from the audience sit in chairs, facing opposite directions. Each man lay back into the lap of the one behind him. One by one, Snack removed the chairs, until the men were supported only by each other. The feat showed how vital interdependent relationships are in surviving organizational change.

Friday

General Session

Mr. Alvin Law

Mr. Law, born in 1960 without arms, assured the audience that "anything is possible with the right attitude." As opposed to being physically challenged, Alvin said he has always felt "societally challenged." He believes that everyone faces similar obstacles in everyday life and prefers to call obstacles tests of character." Strength to survive has to come from within, and the foundation for that power is rooted in our attitude.

Luncheon Speaker

General Barry McCaffrey

As an expert on matters associated with the War on Terrorism, McCaffrey stressed, "We need to reach down and regain a sense of individual courage. Basically, we are a pretty courageous people." He stated that Americans are realizing that "the spiritual and family and honor basis of life is more important than anything else."

Luncheon

Dr. Barry Asmus

In predicting the future of our economy, Dr. Asmus stated that customer solutions and the value adds of relentless attention to derail, prompt and friendly service, and a well-trained staff with the power to go the extra mile will succeed. He further commented, "The factory of the future will have two employees, a man and a dog. Man will be there to feed the dog. The dog will be there to make sure the man doesn't touch the machinery."

Luncheon

Ms. Connie Podesta

Ms. Connie Podesta unveiled, with some roleplaying assistance by National President Lt Gen Robert Magnus, the secret of relationships, staring, "If we understood the opposite sex, there wouldn't be any problems." She had the audience in stitches when she explained the downside to women giving men the silent treatment: The average man will take one hour to realize he is getting the silent treatment.