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SSA makes rural America accessible to all

If you have traveled out West, you have an idea of the vastness of parts of this country. Two Sammies nominees tell us how they\'ve managed to close the gap -- ...

Federal News Network Staff

June 2, 2010 4:12 pm

< a min read

wfedstaff | June 3, 2015 6:55 am

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If you have traveled out West, you have an idea of the vastness of parts of this country.

That can pose a real challenge for many federal agencies that have to distribute benefits to all citizens.

This was precisely the challenge that officials faced at the Social Security Administration in the Denver region.

A team there was able to bridge the gap by using technology in a creative way, and that work scored them a place as finalists for a Service to America Medal.

Eva Ristow is a Project Manager in Social Security’s Denver region, and Shane Kelley is the director for SSA’s Center for Automation.

We begin our interview by talking with their boss, Nancy Berryhill, Commissioner for the Social Security Administration’s Denver Region. She says that the Sammie nod is well-deserved because 83 percent of their region is considered rural.

Check out all of our coverage of the Sammies nominees.