State Executive Director Brought Unique Perspective to Interim Role at Headquarters

Some might liken the experience of transitioning from the role of a state executive director – a hands-on position involving a great deal of direct authority – to a headquarters position such as the acting Deputy Administrator for Management (DAM), with its nonstop schedule of meetings and endless set of new acronyms, to that of a foreigner arriving to unknown lands. It is fortunate that with Dave Lavway, such a comparison could not be further from the truth.

Lavway, the State Executive Director in Maine, served as acting DAM while the agency conducted a recruiting search to permanently fill the position. Lavway served in this role from Sept. 22, 2008, through Dec. 15, 2008. Phillip Short was later selected to fill the position.

Lavway has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to FSA’s vision of achieving an economically and environmentally sound future for American agriculture; his experience includes seven years running a state office and service on multiple FSA advisory boards.

Having now experienced FSA from both the field and at HQ, Lavway offers advice to those working in each realm. For the agency’s HQ employees, he suggested, “Turn over every stone before you say no.” Since some HQ staff may not have front-line exposure, employees may not necessarily be as sensitive to the needs and challenges faced by producers and county offices. Lavway believes field employees should seek opportunities to work with and get to know their colleagues at HQ. He stated, “Develop relationships. Government runs on relationships.”

After college where Lavway completed a degree in agricultural business economics, he obtained a job with the Soil Conservation Service and later with the National Potato Council. He has also worked in education – at private elementary and secondary schools – as an educator, administrator and coach.

Upon becoming state executive director in 2001, Lavway prepared for his responsibility by taking both the Consolidated Financial and Analysis training course, and the Farm Business Plan training course. He explained, “As a leader I wanted to show my folks I cared enough to get an understanding of what they do.”

This ability to view the organization through a double-sided lens was no doubt a significant factor in Lavway’s success in the role of the acting DAM. “I’ve been very pleased with how much we were able to accomplish in such a short time,” said Lavway. “The bottom line is no matter how small the accomplishment may seem, it is almost always major in the eyes of the one served.”