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Thissen, Dowie Elected Leaders of Federal Employee/Retiree Association

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jessica Klement
September 6, 2016 703-838-7760
  jklement@narfe.org

Reno, NV – Richard G. Thissen of Cocoa Beach, FL, was re-elected to a two-year term as the National President of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE). Jon Dowie of St. Augustine, FL, was re-elected to a two-year term as the National Secretary/Treasurer of NARFE. The elections took place at the Association’s 34th Biennial National Convention in Reno, NV, August 28-September 1. Both Thissen and Dowie were first elected to their respective positions in 2014.

Delegates of the 220,000 member-strong organization determined NARFE’s direction for the next two years and set goals for the Association’s legislative program, including preserving the earned benefits of federal employees and retirees.
 
“I am honored to have been elected to serve a second term as NARFE’s National President,” Thissen said. “NARFE has been a strong advocate for federal employees and retirees for 95 years. I am excited to have this opportunity to lead the Association as we continue to fight on behalf of our nation’s active and retired civil servants. I know we will have challenging days ahead. I pledge to do all that I can as NARFE National President to safeguard the compensation and benefits our federal employees and annuitants have earned through their unwavering service to the American people.”

A NARFE member since 1995, Thissen previously served as president of the Association’s Missouri Federation and later as NARFE Region V regional vice president from 2002 until 2011 when he was appointed to fill the post of National Treasurer. He was elected National President in 2014.

Thissen spent 27 years in federal service as a civilian working for the Department of the Army and developed an extensive background in employee and retiree benefits and regulations.

Thissen is a native of Fort Dodge, IA, and attended Grandview College and Drake University.

Dowie, who is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), is the vice president and chief financial officer of Lexes Associates, which provides consulting services on strategic planning management issues. He is a U.S. Navy veteran and retired from Navy Special Operations.

Dowie’s professional background includes positions with Arthur Andersen & Company and as the technical director of the National CPA Group in New York City. In the Washington, DC, area he worked as the chief financial officer at both Federal Information Technologies, Inc., and Eurotech, Ltd.; and as the controller at Automation Research Systems, Ltd., in Alexandria, VA. 

Dowie holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting and a Master of Business Administration from Murray State University in Kentucky and studied information systems, finance and marketing at Mississippi State University. Dowie also has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in accounting and finance at Clemson University and the University of North Florida.

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The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE), one of America’s oldest and largest associations, was founded in 1921 with the mission of protecting the earned rights and benefits of America’s active and retired federal workers. The largest federal employee/retiree organization, NARFE represents the retirement interests of nearly five million current and future federal annuitants, spouses and survivors.