PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Prachee J. Devadas, President/CEO
Being Grateful and Grounded
My father, an Indian fighter pilot who ranked third in the Indian Air Force, used a perfect metaphor to define the value of modesty during periods of steady success. He always explained how he would become one with the clouds and heaven when flying Russian, British, and French jets but how the flight always ended with his feet landing firmly on the ground. Even at the greatest heights of success, one must keep sight of the things and people who contributed to that success and how it can be used for propelling forward to even loftier heights. Receiving the Small Business Administration's DC Area Small Business Person of the Year Award has been the highest honor of my career thus far and I plan to use it to ensure that SEI keeps its fingers on the pulse of our clients, always anticipating client needs, and offering the most innovative and excellent services. I am grateful that my commitment to positively impacting the economy, society at large, my employees, and most importantly, my clients, has been honored by the Small Business Administration. I look forward to keeping my feet on the ground and to making sure SEI—and our clients—reach higher levels of success.

RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS
Devadas Selected as DC Area SBA Person of the Year
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) selected Prachee J. Devadas, president and CEO of SEI, as the 2009 Washington, DC, Metropolitan Area Small Business Person of the Year. Ms. Devadas was nominated in December 2008 by Christopher Jones, a business development specialist of the SBA, for her intellectual curiosity, humanitarian nature, and dedication to client satisfaction. More>>

Nuclear Regulatory Commission Conference Attracts Record Attendance
More than 2,000 nuclear and environmental researchers, scientists, and program officials from 26 countries gathered in Rockville this March to attend the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (USNRC) Annual Regulatory Information Conference. More>>

SEI CARES
Ready. Set. Hope.
Delores Smith-Robinson, SEI's receptionist and administrative assistant, joined more than 3,000 women from May 2–3, 2009 for the 39-mile, seventh annual Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Washington, DC. Along with walking a full marathon (26.2 miles) and camping out overnight with participants from 40 states, Delores raised more than $1,800.00 towards the $7 million raised to support breast cancer research and programs. Six local organizations, including the Capital Breast Care Center and the National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund, received grants from the Avon Foundation for Women at the Closing Ceremony. After losing Jackie Hopkins, one of her best friends, to breast cancer more than 5 years ago, Delores reached out to Jackie's sisters and friends to join her on the walk. She's been walking the marathon ever since. "I couldn't bend my toes and I was soaking wet when it was over," said Delores. "But I felt good that I made it. The experience is like no other because you're walking with survivors, women who are bald with breast cancer and people who have been walking for 10 years on behalf of coworkers who are no longer living or who have survived. "Delores also plans to participate in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® in June. For more information, click here.

Budget/Contract Specialist Mentors Young Latinos
As a Latina American, Jacquelyn Alvarez, a budget/contract specialist at SEI, understands firsthand the challenges many English language learners face. That's why she spends her weekends mentoring Latino high school students through Escuela Bolivia's Emerging Leaders program, where students are paired up with a young professional to develop interviewing, public speaking, and essay writing skills, and to prepare college applications. "I enjoy the program a lot. It even helps parents. I like to give back to my community, especially knowing that not so long ago I was a high school student who didn't know a word of English. It makes me feel great to help," says Alvarez. Escuela Bolivia, an Arlington, Virginia-based nonprofit organization founded by Bolivian parents and educators to address educational needs of the growing Latino population, recently received AmeriCorps funding. For more information, click here.