The finalists for WashingtonExec’s Pinnacle Awards were announced Oct. 11, and we’ll be highlighting some of them until the event takes place live, in-person Nov. 30.
Next is Marketing Executive of the Year (Private Company) finalist Kelly Harris, who’s vice president of corporate marketing and partner alliances on the executive leadership team for ID Technologies. Here, she talks key achievements, success in her current role, proud career moments and more.
What key achievements did you have in 2021 / 2022?
The past two years have been some of the most challenging, but also rewarding, years of my entire career. COVID brought unique issues that we all faced, but it also shed light on the dire need for a secure remote access solution that we had just brought to market. I had the opportunity to launch the brand for the market’s only comprehensive Commercial Solutions for Classified for enterprise product solution ⏤ Archon.
Through a creative and direct approach to marketing, we’ve been able to educate consumers on CSfC and help solve incredibly complex mission requirements. It has been extremely rewarding to see my team’s marketing efforts have a true measurable impact on our sales, growth in brand recognition and most importantly the growing ability for our customers to access mission-critical classified information anytime, anywhere.
Through this brand launch, we were also acquired by CACI, which has allowed for accelerated growth, providing immediate scale and market reach for Archon and IDT. To keep pace with these growth requirements, my team is providing innovative sales enablement tools, clear go-to-market strategies around our key pillars and ever evolving ways to reach our customers in a remote world. Our focus is simplifying traditionally complex and difficult to scale solutions, to drive broad adoption among federal customers. I am incredibly proud of the team we’ve built in the last two years, and I can’t wait for what the future holds.
What are you most proud of having been a part of in your current organization?
I am so proud to be a part of an organization that values giving back to our community. I have been able to grow our philanthropic arm ⏤ ID Together ⏤ empowering our employees to collaborate more effectively in delivering vital public service. We aim to establish long-term partnerships with the organizations we work with, taking care to learn how we can contribute most effectively to their work around measurable outcomes. We make financial contributions where appropriate, but our preference is to lend expertise, human and technical resources to get things done.
I am extremely proud of the partnership we have developed with Catch-a-Lift Fund. Founded in memory of Army Cpl. Chris Coffland following his death in Afghanistan in 2009, CAL’s mission is to provide combat wounded veterans with personalized fitness, nutrition, and wellness grants, enabling them to heal through physical fitness and mental wellbeing. Along with gym memberships and adaptive home gym equipment, CAL provides personalized workout plans dependent on the veteran’s goals and injuries, peer support networking and Fitness Career Education Courses for veterans who wish to further their fitness commitment and give back to other vets in the program.
To date, veterans in the CAL program have lost weight, dropped medications, increased their overall feelings of wellness, reestablished relationships with family and friends, and re-integrated themselves into their communities through fitness. To be a part of the great work this team is doing is truly humbling and something I’m forever grateful for.
What has made you successful in your current role?
To say no day is ever the same would be an understatement! We have launched a complete product line and been acquired within a year. My role defines our strategy in the market and that has never been more important. Knowing the impact of what I’m doing daily is unbelievably humbling and motivating. I am honored to work with such a driven and innovative group of people that keeps our customer’s mission at heart. I am grateful for the independence my job provides and the ability to truly grow professionally year over year.
I have been fortunate to have great bosses and mentors over the years who have been integral to my success and have empowered my growth in this industry. I aspire to have the same impact on anyone that works for me. I believe in a team culture that values transparency, open communication and ever evolving roles and responsibilities to challenge my team and provide opportunity for growth. My team is what has made me successful in my current role! I am incredibly grateful for their hard work and dedication daily.