WashingtonExec, in partnership with the Fairfax Chambers of Commerce, kicked off a new series profiling government contractors nominated for the 9th Annual Greater Washington Government Contracting Awards. Interviewed nominees include small, mid-size and large “Executive of the Year” as well as “Contractor of the Year” finalists. The winners will be announced on November 1st at the Ritz Carlton in Tysons Corner.
This quick bi-weekly series asks nominees direct questions as to how they achieved success and notoriety in the GovCon community.
Today’s nominee is Katherine Sleep, founder and CEO of LIST Innovative Solutions, a women-owned IT solutions company headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. Sleep is nominated as “Executive of the Year” in the less than $75 million division.
WashingtonExec: How has the tightening of the lending market impacted you?
Katherine Sleep: List Innovative Solutions, Inc. (LIST) is entering our seventeenth year in business this January and has successfully managed the business during difficult economic times in the past. Fortunately for LIST, we have not been negatively affected by the lending market due to the fantastic relationship with our bank, Access National Bank, who has been with the company since our inception in good times and bad.
WashingtonExec: Obtaining top talent in the private sector is fierce. How does your company not only draw top talent, but maintain it?
Katherine Sleep: LIST strives to keep employee retention high by creating an environment where employees can pursue their life’s ambitions inside and outside the workplace. Some of the initiatives LIST has implemented are flexible scheduling, career advancements through furthered education, and LIST for Life, a program implemented to promote balance in life. Some workplace flexibility initiatives List offers its employees are routine ball fights that serve to de-stress employees and maintain a fun work atmosphere. There is also company “swag”, various social events and celebrations which help boost company morale and are opportunities to meet new faces of the company. The benefits LIST offers as a small company is another initiative put in place, and is on par with, and in many cases, exceeds Fortune 500 companies today. LIST’s work ethic elicits lower stress levels and reduces overworked employees so that they achieve balance in their work and personal life.
The results are clear. LIST currently boasts a 95% retention rate and has been presented with a variety of industry awards that recognize our ability to attract and retain top talent, such asthe 2010 Washington Business Journal Best Places to Work and the 2008 Alfred P. Sloan Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility. LIST also employs a full time recruiting staff is constantly sourcing and recruiting new talent.
WashingtonExec: In your opinion, how does a company stay nimble when it is in a period of large growth and expansion?
Katherine Sleep: As Benjamin Franklin said, “By failing to plan, you are planning to fail.”
In today’s economic climate, it is imperative that a plan is developed to anticipate, respond to, and sustain growth. LIST’s strategic planning process strives to incorporate input from all elements of the business so every voice is heard. Off sites are periodically conducted to ensure that the goals established during the planning process are being achieved and modified as necessary to deal with market conditions. For LIST, the process is relatively simple and results in a handful of goals that are clearly stated, abled to be measured, and are embraced by the company since they had a voice in creating them. The process occurs frequently throughout the year to deal with growth and expansion.
WashingtonExec: People always talk about corporate culture, but what is something that your company purposely focuses on to create the emulate the ideal company culture?
Katherine Sleep: Build a foundation that you can stand on. How you take care of the people is how strong your foundation will be built. LIST has always been focused on its employees because they are the reason we are able to meet the needs of our customers and without them we wouldn’t have a company.
An example of an area of focus for the company is LIST’s support of community support and charitable organizations, such as the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Serving the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and their Team In Training Program is something Katie Sleep, President and CEO of List Innovative Solutions takes very seriously; she decided to focus her efforts into one organization so LIST could really make a difference. As a coach, mentor, athlete, financial contributor, and board member Katie has created a model of how companies could utilize their vast resources to support an organization or cause no matter their size.
Since 2000 LIST and their employees have raised and donated over $350,000 in support of this cause. Through the support of this great cause we are able to continue funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services to all those who have been affected. The second need is for LIST employees to have a platform to be active members in their community while also promoting healthy living. LIST has always strived for a strong work/life balance and this partnership provides an opportunity to make that vision a reality.
WashingtonExec: As a nominated CEO “executive of the year”, how are you building a strong, stabile and innovative company?
Katherine Sleep: -Identifying, hiring, and retaining the very best talent at all levels of the business to continuously improve upon what is already a very good product.
-Focus on the areas of opportunity that will improve the business. You have to invest in understanding your target markets and corporate capabilities and identify and invest in areas of opportunity that innovates the company without negatively impacting current business operations.
-Stay true to the corporate values and cultures that I established when I founded LIST. They do not change over time and provide the guideposts for a stable and innovative company.