Cracking the government contracting code - Memphis Business Journal:

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But getting her foot in the door was more difficulf than shethought and, despite an impressiv resume, she was seen as a Navy wife who wouldn’f stick around. “The reality was we wanted to stay here and make a go of she said. So Parkerf set about finding a way that she coulf leverage her experience and skillx and still stay on The answer was stillfederal contracting, but she had to get creativ e to crack into the contractor market at the base. She alreadhy had a strong background in contract and project managemeny when she startedin 1998, after working with defense contractors in D.C., and an aviation services company in Oklahoma City.
She found a way in by taking a full-time job with another small busines that did contract work atthe base, while stillk doing some work for The Parker Group. “It was just a mechanismk to openthe door,” she said. “I have this great businesx — the only way I can continus it is to step backwith it, humblre myself a little.” The job with the othere company gave Parker the opportunitie to work with people on the “where I could demonstrate that I had both the business acumen and the abilityg to give them what they need,” she It turned out to be exactly the righ opportunity.
When the project with the other companyy finished a little more than ayear later, The Parker which at that time was just Parker, got its firstr contract at PMRF. After working several yearsa as asole proprietor, Parked began hiring systems engineers and other professionalzs on Kauai and in three other states on the Today, The Parker Group has 14 employees in four statee who offer project management and systems engineering services to defensd contractors who use the base at Barking Sands in West Kaua i to test and evaluate new technologies, as well as other installations. The company secured almost $1.
1 million in contracts with the Navy in the 2008 fiscaplyear alone, according to the federal government. And this the U.S. Small Business Administration namedParker Kauai’s businessperson of the Parker, 40, works from her home officse in Kekaha, where she can still be close to her two young Grant, 3, and Griffin, 1, who are under the care of a nannt during the day while she manages her growing company. Nine employeex work from office space at the Pacificv Missile Range Facility just a few milews downthe road. The Parker Group also has threed employees in California and one each in Indianapoliand Huntsville, Ala.
Parker’s first contract with the PMRF was to write a study of the range comparingb its capabilities and costs with the Reagan Test Site on Kwajaleih Atoll so that the federal Missile Defense Agency coulx determine which of the two ranges to use as a preferreftest site. “They essentially hired me and my firm to writsetheir proposal,” she said. “In terms of establishing my businessin Hawaii, that was my big Parker worked with the staff at the range to edit and illustrate the The result was that PMRF was chosen over Kwajalein, helpin to secure her reputation for future “Whatever your industry, it’z all about reputation,” she “It’s all about actually providingg the customer with a service that they Parker is an active member of the , and abidez by the organization’s Four Way Test, according to Rotary International, asks: “Is it the truth??
Is it fair to all concerned Will it build goodwill and betteer friendships? Will it be beneficial to all “It’s also about providingy them that service in an ethical and professional she said. “That’s why people keep cominyg backto you, because you providr what they need.”