Bruce Canetti
Senior Trial Attorney, Chicago (Regional Office)
I joined SOL in fall 2007 with the Honors Program, and I moved to my present position at the Chicago Regional Office in 2009. Currently, I’m a senior trial attorney who focuses mainly on ERISA and OSHA matters. I graduated with a B.A. from the University of Michigan (Go Blue!) and received my J.D. from the University of Illinois (I – L – I!). Before law school, I served in the Peace Corps in Mali as a Small-Business Development Volunteer. I actually rang in the new millennium in Timbuktu, Mali (a real place)! My wife and I have two kids, a daughter in 6th grade and a son in 3rd grade.
Describe the kind of work you did before you came to the Department of Labor.
Before joining the Department, I worked as a staff attorney with the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, Georgia.
How did you decide you wanted to work for the Department of Labor?
I have been committed to public service for my whole career and strongly identify with the mission of fighting for workers’ rights at the Department.
What’s a typical day in your position like?
As a senior trial attorney, my day is focused on writing briefs, litigation memoranda, motions, discovery; attending hearings and arguing motions; negotiating settlements and other discovery aspects with opposing counsel or the client; and providing pre-litigation advice to the client agencies.
What is your favorite part of your job?
I enjoy that every day is different and fighting to get great outcomes for workers.
Describe an interesting case you worked on recently.
I have been assisting pre-litigation work involving a worker fatality at a plant that processes metal. It has been a rewarding process working with the client and building a strong case to cite the employer for the bad work practice (OSHA violations) that resulted in an employee’s death. Thankfully, the employer has immediately corrected and eliminated the danger to its employees.
What advice do you have for those who may be considering applying for a position like yours in SOL?
If you enjoy litigation and having a diverse workload, then I recommend the trial work in the regions. If you also want a fulfilling job, “fighting the good fight,” then you should apply!
If you could have any other job, what would it be? Why?
I really enjoy camping and spending time in the wilderness. I sometimes fantasize about semi-retiring and becoming a park ranger in one of the national parks.
How do you like to spend your time outside work?
My family spends time traveling, camping, and playing sports. I also volunteer a fair amount, coaching, helping on the PTO, participating on the board for my local park, and serving on the board of my local youth soccer association.
What do you like most about the area where you live?
In Chicago, we have great cultural activities, a beautiful lakefront trail, and amazing restaurants. I also live near the forest preserve in the city and manage to hike and see wildlife regularly in the preserve.
Phoebe Riner
Attorney, Management and Administrative Legal Services Division (National Office)
I am an attorney within SOL’s Division of Management and Administrative Legal Services (MALS), where I specialize in appropriations and intellectual property law. I am also a veterans’ advocate. I have spent my career fighting for servicemembers and their families. As a U.S. Marine Corps Judge Advocate on active duty, I represented servicemembers in court-martial proceedings, presentencing trials, and administrative boards. After active duty, I worked in private practice as a patent attorney, and later as a prosecutor at the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney in Kentucky. In the Reserve component of the Marine Corps, I deployed to Central America in 2017, where I served as Staff Judge Advocate and Command Element Officer in Charge during a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operation following Hurricane Maria. Today, I continue to advocate for servicemembers and their families by serving on several nonprofit boards that support hope and healing for veterans.
How did you decide you wanted to work for the Department of Labor?
I decided to work for the Department because its mission and core values resonated with me; it felt like a natural extension of my time serving in uniform. Like my colleagues, I take pride in working to support the overall advancement of “wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.” There’s also a strong culture of camaraderie and teamwork within MALS that I really appreciate.
Hannah Walton
Management Analyst, New York (Regional Office)
I joined DOL in 2000 as an administrative assistant, and my career in the administrative field has progressed successfully over the years. Currently, I am the management analyst for the New York Regional Solicitor’s Office (NYRSOL). I have a B.A. in business from the University of Phoenix, and I am a true believer that it is never too late to further your education. My additional goal is to complete my master's in management degree by the end of 2023. I am a happy wife with a caring husband, five adult children, and four grandchildren.
Describe the kind of work you did before you came to the Department of Labor. How did you decide you wanted to work for DOL? What path has your career at DOL taken so far?
My career before beginning at DOL consisted of managerial and administrative positions in the private sector. I have worked in several areas, such as mortgage banking, private courier service, and the dental field, to name a few. While working at a dental office as an administrative assistant, a former colleague who worked part-time at the Internal Revenue Service suggested that DOL would be a good fit for me. So, I applied, and here I am, confident and smiling every day. I have held several positions over my 22-year tenure at DOL. For approximately 10 years, I held an administrative assistant position. Subsequently, I became a legal assistant and then a program analyst.
Describe what your current role entails.
As the management analyst for the NYRSOL, I manage the overall budget for the office. I ensure funds are properly obligated among various object class categories. Procurement requires a great deal of interaction with the attorneys and vendors regarding stenography, hearings, depositions, trials, etc. for employment law cases.
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of the job would be my interaction with in-office colleagues, counterparts, and those who I’ve had the privilege of working with throughout my career, including our client agencies; the Financial Management Office within SOL’s Division of Management and Administrative Legal Services; the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management; and the patient folks in our Office of the Chief Information Officer/Enterprise Service Desk team. It is a joy learning new areas of work, meeting new people, and working together towards mutual goals with my colleagues. Many of my counterparts have wholeheartedly become what feels like family. It is the leadership and overall mission which uplifts and supports the purpose of my production.
Describe an interesting project you worked on recently.
The most interesting project I’ve had the privilege of working on would be the hybrid on-site/remote project. Having the opportunity, after the pandemic, to change several areas for the betterment of our office was challenging but indeed fulfilling. It felt strange to be preparing for the return to on-site work in an empty office, while remembering days of coming into the office regularly. The blessing is that many of us survived COVID-19, and hence, safety and privacy became integral to the mission for our staff.
Do you participate in any affinity groups, committees, or other activities at DOL?
I enrolled as both a mentor and a mentee for the first time at the end of 2021. The experience took me back to my earlier years in DOL. This program reassured me that positive encouragement can be relevant inspiration to someone. I encourage others to participate in the program.
Thinking back to what you thought your job would be like when you applied for it, what is the aspect of the job that has surprised you most?
The advancement timeframe during my career was impeccable. Again, as I think back to when I began with DOL, I knew I’d perform my best to accomplish the goal of advancing in the administrative field. Although I am honored, I am surprised to be nominated as a spotlight for the agency, which speaks volumes to the awards I’ve achieved over the years. The recognition adds to my gratitude of being part of an amazing team.
What advice do you have for those who may be considering applying for a position like yours in SOL?
My advice to others who may be considering applying for a management analyst position: Exercise patience in all that you do; keep an open mind; stay encouraged; be an encouragement to others; build a rapport; pat yourself on the back throughout your efforts; and enjoy a work/life balance. And most importantly, wrap your arms around yourself, privately honoring yourself for your accomplishments . . . there is no feeling like a good hug.
How do you like to spend your time outside work?
I travel quite often during my personal time. I attribute the joy of traveling to my mother, who took me, my siblings, and her grandchildren on many trips during our childhood—traveling through the wild blue yonder, here today and there tomorrow. My ultimate and soon to come trips include Africa, Hawaii, and Italy, though not necessarily in that order, since Italy (God’s will) I have planned for July 2023.