May 9, 2008 by Lisa Singh
A pioneer in the IT field, Linda Berdine has spent the past three decades connecting the government to innovative information solutions. Her company, G&B Solutions Inc., a leading Virginia-based information technology and management-consulting firm, has consistently ranked as one the fastest growing companies in the Washington, D.C. region. Now, with the recent sale of G&B to VSE, Berdine reflects on what’s on the horizon for the company she started in 2001.
What motivated you to found G&B Solutions in 2001?
The motivation was to establish a quality firm. There’s hundred of companies around the beltway that I really saw as being on a similar level. I wanted to establish a company that peaked its head above this crowd.
And what’s the point of differentiation?
We did not want to do just commodity kinds of work — help desk and typical kinds of support contracts that most small businesses start out performing. What we did right out of the gate was focus on being a high-end management consulting firm. We then married up the management consulting with IT infrastructure services. This combination of expertise — grasping and performing within the context of the big picture of our client environment — has been our distinguishing factor. We talk about the fact that we understand not just the IT pieces, but also the management consulting issues. This gives us a different picture of the federal agencies.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in VSE, Linda Berdine, G&B Solutions | No Comments »
May 8, 2008 by Lisa Singh
Many mid-tier companies face their share of challenges: They’ve graduated from the ranks of small business, but now face the task of competing against much bigger companies. No easy feat. But since 1986, TWD & Associates, a company of 250 employees that develops and maintains voice, video, and data systems, has been gaining ground. Last year alone, TWD did $68 million in revenue. And the future’s only looking brighter. In the following Q&A, TWD’s CEO and president, Larry Besterman talks about where his company’s been, where it’s going, and what trends the TWD team is charting in the ever-changing world of telecommunications.
Tell us briefly about TWD.
Larry Besterman: We are a technology company. We focus on the infrastructure part of the network. We provide voice, video and data capabilities. A lot of companies in our space do the IT component very well but we feel — for a company of our size — we bring a lot of capability in the video conferencing/multimedia area and telecommunications area. Typically we find a lot of the larger companies don’t focus as much on those parts of the business so we find opportunities to form relationships with larger companies doing that kind of work, the telecommunications piece and the video conferencing/multimedia piece.
How large is your company now?
Larry Besterman: We did about 68 million dollars last year, in revenue. We now have about 250 employees.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Larry Besterman, TWD & Associates | No Comments »
May 8, 2008 by Brian Lustig
Successful executives and leaders will often, upon reflection, cite choosing the career path less traveled as a key to their success. In looking back on her accomplished – and admittedly unexpected – 28 years at AMS (now CGI) during remarks at the ExecutiveBiz “Been There Done That” lunch series, Donna Morea took that adage one step further.
Morea, president, U.S. operations and India, CGI, suggested that trailblazers do not necessarily follow a well-marked path at all, and instead forge their own trail that only becomes visible once they turn around to see it where it has led.
In speaking to a packed room of business and government executives at the Tower Club yesterday, Morea offered herself
as the quintessential example of someone who embraced an unpredictable and unmarked path that led a Studio Arts degree graduate (and race horse owner) with aspirations in photography to the executive suite of a multi-billion dollar IT services leader.
Accepting the path not marked was one of several nuggets Morea focused on during her lunch remarks. With a disarming, conversational manner, Morea breezed through heady accomplishments during her AMS/CGI tenure that included helping to lead three merger transactions, while offering attendees key tenets to her success.
One was to “be yourself.” Morea, painting herself as the unconventional executive, had an acquaintance in the audience (a tall, sharply dressed male with a full complement of coiffed white hair) stand up to demonstrate what a CEO from central casting might look like. Her point was that one must strike a balance between meeting expectations and putting on a public face with staying true to one’s self. She followed this up by highlighting that a successful leader can’t do it alone and must compose a team around each person’s strengths. She added that leaders should resist the urge to put their best people on the biggest problems (which can suck precious time and resources) and instead focus their best people on the biggest opportunities.
A fourth point Morea stressed, one based on personal experience, was to cut your losses. Recognize when a weak choice has been made in terms of a personnel hire or leadership assignment and correct it. This is not the easy choice, but can save tremendous pain down the road, she added. Morea saved the most salient point for last: the higher you go, the less you need to say. Less is more, she pointed out, and there is richness in simplicity.
While the path behind her is well marked by now for all to see, it is clear that Morea thrives on maintaining a level of unpredictability in how the next chapter of her life will play out. Right now, she is blazing a 10,000-mile trail to India, where CGI is seeking to aggressively ramp up operations. Communicating with managers and executives several time zones away is a challenge, but Morea’s goal is to grow India operations from 2,000 staffers to 5,000 over the next 24-36 months. As Morea tells it, CGI’s focus on outsourcing is a permanent one, part of its unique client services model that combines a local proximity model (where operations are arranged around the markets where CGI clients reside) and a global delivery model combining onshore, near shore and offshore capabilities. CGI India now has offices in Mumbai and Bangalore, and India revenues have been growing at a 50 percent annual clip, where the work is primarily “…high-end software design and development, application maintenance, business process services and infrastructure management.”
No matter what lies ahead, it is clear that Morea - an ExecutiveBiz Beltway Game Changer her herself - isn’t content to just play the game, but continue to change it.
Brian Lustig is co-founder of Lustig Communications, a Rockville, MD-based communications firm that works with growing technology and government IT firms. Lustig is also a contributor to local business and industry publications.
Posted in CGI-AMS, donna morea, Uncategorized | No Comments »
May 6, 2008 by Lisa Singh
Her plan was to teach just one year. But once Susie Kay walked into H.D. Woodson High School in Ward 7, East of the Anacostia River, something happened: Her students’ perseverance soon inspired her to stay for more than a decade. Along the way, Kay founded the Hoop Dreams Scholarship Fund. Since 1996, HDSF has helped nearly 900 high-achieving students realize their dreams of attending college. In the following Q&A, Kay discusses HDSF, and the upcoming 13th Annual Charity Basketball Tournament & Community Festival, an event free and open to the public, in which more than 2,000 people will come together to celebrate high-achieving students from the District’s public schools.
What is your background?
Susie Kay: I was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and I grew up in Newport, Rhode Island. My father served in the U.S. Navy for 32 years as a captain. I studied political science at American University. After graduation I worked on Capitol Hill. But I quickly decided I wanted to pursue a career that would allow me to focus on racial and economic reconciliation and empowerment for those with limited resources and opportunities.
After working on Capitol Hill I decided to teach 12th grade American Government at H.D. Woodson High School in Ward 7, East of the Anacostia River. At the time H.D. Woodson was sandwiched between several blighted public housing projects. My plan was to teach for one year. But once I began teaching at H.D. Woodson I was quickly drawn to my students and inspired by their perseverance and remained there for more than a decade.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Susie Kay, Hoop Dreams Scholarship Fund, 13th Annual Charity Basketball Tournament & Communi | No Comments »
May 5, 2008 by Lisa Singh
Tiffanny Gates has come a long way since her early days as a signals intelligence officer with the Navy. In 2001, she started her own company, Emerging Technologies Group USA — this at a time when there weren’t many companies with critical skills in computer forensics and technical analysis serving the government or customers in the commercial and legal fields. Today, ETG has over 60 employees, with just over $12 million in revenue last year, and counts the Department of Defense, Department of State, and Department of Justice, as well as the intelligence community, among its clients. In the following Q&A, Gates shares her tips for retaining top talent, and weighs in on hot trends in the field of data security.
What is your background and why did you start the company?
Tiffanny Gates: I’m a 1995 graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy. In the Navy, I was a signals intelligence officer stationed in Florida, Hawaii, and Maryland, responsible for briefing the station commander on daily intelligence. I worked at the National Security Agency, in close contact with other agencies in the intelligence community, and after the Navy as a consultant on a range of information operation issues. We started our company in 2001, pre 9-11, when we realized there were not many companies with the needed critical skills in computer forensics and technical analysis serving the government or, for that matter, customers in the commercial and legal fields. I then ran the operations of ETG when we started; until elected President in 2004. I would have to say that my Navy background has significantly aided me in the corporate world. Hence our small business status today as a WO (SB), SDVO (SB).
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Emerging Technologies USA, Tiffany Gates | 1 Comment »
May 2, 2008 by Lisa Singh
Recently, Aneesh Chopra, Virginia’s Secretary of Technology, was named among the Top 25 Doers, Dreamers, and Drivers by Government Technology Magazine. For the past seven years, the honor has recognized those who “help set the standard for using technology to improve the government.”
As in previous years, this year’s list cuts across jurisdictions and specialties. It includes technology executives, elected officials, law enforcement officers, emergency managers, and agency directors.
“We look for people who cut through the public sector’s infamous barriers to innovation — tight budgets, organizational inertia, politics as usual, etc. — to implement changes that reshaped government operations for the better,” said Steve Townes, staff writer for Government Technology.
Back in January 2006, Secretary Chopra was appointed as Virginia’s 4th Secretary of Technology by Governor Timothy Kaine. Before then, he served as Managing Director at The Advisory Board Company, a for-profit think tank serving the healthcare industry.
“I am honored to be among such a prestigious group of technology leaders,” said Chopra. “Governor Kaine has assembled an incredibly talented team that embraces technology to transform public services.”
Posted in and Drivers, Dreamers, Top 25 Doers, Government Technology Magazine, Aneesh Chopra | No Comments »
May 2, 2008 by Brian Lustig
This week’s resignation of General Services Administration (GSA) chief Lurita Doan is the latest chapter in what has been a dynamic yet turbulent career spanning high profile work in the private and public sector.
Though the White House ended Doan’s tenure this week, it appears that the saga might continue for at least a few more days. Doan was a guest on Federal News Radio this morning, where she provided some additional detail on how her curtain call went down. Also, according to Federal Computer Week’s Christopher J. Dorobek, there may be some other interesting elements to the story as well.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in NTMI, lurita doan, GSA, Uncategorized | No Comments »
April 30, 2008 by JD Kathuria
April 21-25 the SBA celebrated National Small Business Week with a series of events capped by a trip to the White House. Award winners from each state joined SBA sponsors, staff, and supporters along with the DC Area business community for this spectacular week of events celebrating small business.
Of the many awards presented during the week, Shawn Boyer of Glen Allen, Virginia’s SnagAJob.com walked away with the top award of Small Business Person of the Year. Award winners were treated to the sites of DC including the White House event with President Bush as well as a reception in the Dirksen Senate Office Building where they were joined by a number of Senators who have shown strong support for the small business community.
The week also included forums at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel on the pressing small business topics of healthcare, energy, government procurement, and global business. Current and former government leaders such as Former Speaker Newt Gingrich, Secretary Michael Leavitt, and Ambassador Susan Schwab headlined the event along side Tyson’s very own Shiv Krishnan of Indus and Tien Wong of Opus8. (Pictured Above)
The events moved to New York on Thursday and concluded with the honorary closing bell of the NASDAQ. This event caps the tenure of SBA Administrator Steven Preston as he will soon join the Presidents Cabinet as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
April 29, 2008 by Lisa Singh
Jack Hughes recently retired as CFO of Alion Science. Well, sort of. While Hughes officially stepped down from his position, he’s still supporting the company he has helped build up over the past five years. In the following Q&A, Hughes talks about what’s next on the horizon, and what other executives can learn from his career trajectory. Hint: Networking is key.
Recently we all learned that you retired as CFO of Alion Science. What are you doing now?
Jack Hughes: I didn’t actually retire from Alion; I’m too young to retire. And, I’m still supporting the company in an advisory role to help with the transition to the new acting CFO, and perform other tasks as assigned by the CEO. This interim role will continue until mid-August. I am hopeful that I can continue to contribute to Alion’s success during this transition period.
Alion has grown significantly since its formation in 2002. What do you want your legacy to be at Alion?
Jack Hughes: Yes, we enjoyed significant growth over the past 5 years. I think I’d like the employee-owners to be able to look back on my tenure there and believe that I contributed to the growth of the company, to its outstanding reputation in the Government Technology Solutions business, and to the company’s increased shareholder value.
What does it take to be a successful CFO in the government contracting space?
Jack Hughes: One part industry knowledge, one part leadership, and three parts being just north of crazy.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Alion Science, Jack Hughes, John Hughes, CFO | No Comments »
April 29, 2008 by JD Kathuria
I felt like the paparazzi with my trigger happy digital camera snapping photos of Hollywood as they gracefully posed on the red carpet.
Stars of MTV show, “The Hills,” Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt
The Jonas Brothers Rosario Dawson
Rob Lowe and his wife, Sheryl
Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
Recent Comments