People

PEOPLE

Running for a Cause

Tina Jincha

Cleveland-based Senior Consultant Tina Jicha describes the experience as "walking away with 45 new friends and a broader understanding of Booz Allen Hamilton."

The new friends: fellow members of the Booz Allen "Dream Team," the men and women who comprised this year's track-and-field team, which finished third at the recent United States Corporate Athletics Association (USCAA) National Corporate Cup Relays.

And the broader range of experience she gained: exposure to the diverse opportunities that exist for Booz Allen employees

"This was an excellent opportunity to meet staff from around the world and to see all the things the firm strives to accomplish every day," says Jicha. "The organization and enthusiasm from the team captains made the experience worth every minute."

The 2001 Team:

Jose Abiles (McLean); Ivry Atlee, Jr. (McLean); Errol Baker (McLean); Greg Baxter (London); Don Beckman (McLean); Dave Betzler (Colorado Springs); Neil Brophy (Rome, NY); Ron Burr (Rockville, MD); Lance Byrd (Hanover, MD); Brian Camarote (McLean); Jimmy Cho (New York); Marshall Contino (Washington, D.C.); Carol-Ann Cuce (McLean); Adolph DiSandro (McLean); Scott Edington (McLean); Robert Forsythe (Falls Church, VA); Melissa Garrett (Washington, D.C.); Delbert (Bo) Griffith (San Antonio); Carrie Harshbarger (McLean); Gary Hellenga (Colorado Springs); Patrick Henry (McLean); Bridget Imhoff (Linthicum, MD); Tina Jicha (Cleveland); Timothy Johnson (Atlanta); Susie Kleinschmidt (McLean); Rolando Leyton (Buenos Aires); Mike McKeon (New York); John Meadows (San Diego); Jeff Moore (Lexington Park, MD); Whitney Moore (Lexington Park); Paul Neal (New York); Dave Paden (Concord, CA); Peter Pappaceno (McLean); Dave Phillips (London); Patrick (Rick) Poleshinski (San Diego); Jennifer Powers (Parsippany, NJ); Jennifer Rettman (Huntsville, AL); Gordon Smith (McLean); Katie Sumpton (Sydney); Lakeasha Washington (Linthicum); Kellie White (Huntsville); Brenda Worthen (McLean); and, Pamela Wusthof (McLean).

Fund-raiser

Booz Allen's third-place finish for companies with 10,000 or more staff at the USCAA meet in Renton, Washington, in late July was more than a case of compiling good times. As part of the competition, the 43-member team (see sidebar) raised $4,583 for the American Diabetes Association and its U.K. and Australian counterparts.

Among the challenges, says team co-captain Gordon Smith, was fielding a team that met some of the more unusual qualifications imposed by the USCAA, the non-profit volunteer organization that promotes fitness in the workplace. All of the events are relay or team events, ranging from men's and women's 5K and 10K team road races, scored by age group, to relay and team jumping and throwing events.

"The requirements mean that if you don't think you're fast enough it shouldn't stop you," says Smith, an accomplished marathon runner who recruits and trains the team's athletes mostly online. "Part of our goal is finding fast people, but also filling events, each of which has certain gender, age, and executive requirements. We need people from across the firm and we need variety."

This year, the team included a mix of athletes from the firm's business sectors and geographies — among them Katie Sumpton from Sydney, Greg Baxter and Dave Phillips from London, and Rolando Leyton from Buenos Aires. And it included Smith's co-captains — Carrie Harshbarger and Brian Camarote from McLean — and the team's largest individual fund-raiser, Peter Pappaceno, also from McLean.

A Memorable Weekend

Pappaceno, a discus thrower, raised some $1,200 for charity and was promptly dubbed "the fund-raising champion" and presented with an award for his efforts. For him, it only added to a memorable weekend.

"I had too many good memories to mention just one," says Pappaceno. "Remember the movie, ‘48 Hours?' My trip could be titled, ‘54 Hours in Renton.' It was a great experience, non stop and packed with fun."

Making the weekend especially memorable was the largest Booz Allen team ever to compete at the USCAA meet. For Marshall Contino from Washington, D.C., the team's composition demonstrates how the Booz Allen corporate track-and-field team has evolved since its first USCAA meet back in 1995. Contino and Smith both competed in that meet, which was held in Des Moines.

"This year, we pulled in a lot of new and talented Booz Allen athletes who really enjoyed themselves and competed well," says Contino. "It is always great spending time with colleagues from across the firm and from all levels. I always look forward to this annual USCAA running reunion, and the long consulting days are often eased when I remember the last 100 meters on the track."

Sharing the experience for the first time was Sumpton. "It was a fantastic experience in meeting so many great people and raising money for an important cause," she says. "Just getting out there and mixing with so many other people from around the firm made the effort in getting there well worth it. I'm hooked."

The weekend only serves to motivate Jicha — currently training for a marathon — to keep on running. "I can't say enough positive things about the experience I had and I am so looking forward to meeting up with my new friends next year," she says. "It will keep me motivated throughout the colds days of winter."