The Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce and Professional Services Council have unveiled the finalists for the 14th Annual Greater Washington Government Contractor Awards, the premier awards event for the Washington area government contracting community. The winners will be named at a Nov. 1 gala dinner at the Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner.
WashingtonExec sat down with one of this year’s GovCon Awards Gold Sponsors, Morgan Higgins, vice president of middle marketing and specialized industries at JPMorgan Chase, to discuss the GovCon marketplace.
WashingtonExec: What motivated your company to take part in the GovCon Awards?
Morgan Higgins: JPMorgan Chase has a long commitment to the government contracting community and we have been helping companies and individuals in the government contracting industry for many years. The Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce Government Contractor awards is a premier event that highlights and recognizes leaders within the space. The GovCon Awards gives us the ability to be aligned and celebrate with the company’s who are nominated for these awards.
WashingtonExec: Where in the GovCon space does your company work?
Morgan Higgins: JPMorgan Chase supports the GovCon space very broadly, including the companies that serve our nation’s government as well as the business leaders that lead these great organizations. Here, locally in greater Washington, we support government contractors of all sizes, including emerging and growth companies in the middle market space as well as the larger entities and integrators.
We are able to help this broad array of contractors with their traditional banking needs as well as strategic advice, investment banking needs, and international needs. In addition, our private bank has a practice that supports business owners in the GovCon industry to help them strategically throughout the life cycle of their business.
WashingtonExec: As these awards are in large part a recognition of great leaders in the GovCon space, what do you believe are qualities that make a great leader?
Morgan Higgins: It is humbling to see all of the leaders that lead these organizations and do such great work for our country. By working with company’s and business owners, we get the opportunity first hand to see a variety of personalities and leadership styles every day.
I think the most important quality of a great leader is to lead by example. Throughout my career, I’ve seen many leaders that aren’t afraid to roll up their sleeves and help with whatever task will ultimately make the team succeed and generally those leaders have a better connection to the individuals that make up the broader team. That quality is very evident both within JPMorgan Chase as well as many of the leaders that we honor with the GovCon awards.
WashingtonExec: What makes your company a great place to work?
Morgan Higgins: JPMorgan Chase has a great culture that stresses team work and collaboration.We strive to provide our clients with first class business strategies and solutions in a first-class way. Our approach to banking allows us to be viewed as a strategic adviser to our clients and prospects and ultimately working with the best people on our team allows us to work with great businesses and leaders in the community.
WashingtonExec: How is your business involved in the community? (corporate citizenship)
Morgan Higgins: We strive to put community at the center of culture and this is a real differentiator for JPMorgan Chase. We were a founding member of the 100,000 jobs mission and have a strong commitment to hiring veterans here locally and nationally. In addition, the firm donates more than $200 million annually to nonprofit organizations around the world.
Related: Spotlight with 2016 GovCon Award Gold Sponsor, Paul Graham, SVP of Colliers International
