Buchanan & Edwards is teaming with Innovatrix, a small business that specializes in agile solutions, under the Homeland Security Department’s mentor-protege program, the companies announced.
The program is designed to encourage large prime contractors to provide development assistance to small businesses through contracting partnerships.
Innovatrix, which worked extensively with DHS in the past, is led by CEO Reita Sikka, formerly the director of program management and development at Valiant Solutions.
“We are honored to be part of one of the early additions to the DHS Mentor-Protege program and excited to be partnering with Innovatrix,” said Dennis Kelly, president and CEO of Buchanan & Edwards. “Through Ms. Sikka’s extensive past work supporting the CIO office and systems architecture projects at DHS, she has deep knowledge and a tremendous understanding of the department’s IT system challenges and processes. We have great appreciation for small businesses and believe this kind of collaboration is extremely valuable in advancing the best solutions possible for our customers by providing technologies that create greater efficiencies and best support our government’s mission.”
Tony Vanchieri at Buchanan & Edwards will oversee the company’s implementation of the mentor-protege program. Vanchieri also has a long history with DHS. He was one of the first 87 employees at the Transportation Security Administration when formed in 2001, according to Buchanan & Edwards.
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