U.S. Office of Personnel Management - Ensuring the Federal Government has an effective civilian workforce

HealthierFeds Initiative

Current Leader Spotlight

David Cadez
Program Management Office
Stryker Brigade Combat Team
Long Term Support Group
Detroit Arsenal

David Cadez is recognized as a HealthierFeds Leader for his hard work and dedication in bringing a weight-control program to his workplace, promoting the program, and ensuring its success.

Dedication

Mr. Cadez has coordinated the Weight Watchers at Work program at the Detroit Arsenal since 1994. Weight Watchers at Work brings a Watcher leader to the workplace once a week to conduct a traditional Weight Watcher meeting. The meetings provide program materials, nutritional guidance, discussions on a weekly nutritional or motivational topic, and a support group to help members meet their weight loss goals. Members can also attend a traditional Weight Watcher session at a Weight Watcher Center at no additional cost.

The Detroit Arsenal program is one of the longest continuing Weight Watchers meetings in the Detroit area.

Determination

The Detroit Arsenal provides significant challenges because it is a secure location and does not normally allow public access. To allow the Weight Watcher instructor access to the installation, Mr. Cadez coordinates with the Corporate Fitness Office to get Command Group authorization for the meetings to take place, and obtains security access for the instructor. Mr. Cadez has also found a meeting space appropriate for holding a group of 25-20 people meeting once a week and frequently has to find alternative space on short notice.

Weight Watchers at Work requires a minimum of 15 people signed up per session. To publicize each session, Mr. Cadez coordinates with the Corporate Fitness Program to post information on the Corporate Fitness Bulletin Board and sends an e-mail to everyone in the command announcing the sessions. He also maintains a mailing list of all current and former members to keep them informed of when the sessions are starting and provides them with materials that they can pass can pass on to perspective members and post in their work areas. As a result, the group has met attendance goals for the past 39 sessions.

Payoff

Mr. Cadez has worked hard to keep Weight Watchers at Work available to the TACOM LCMC workforce, and in doing so has helped provide a valuable program that enhance participants' quality of life.

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