The finalists for WashingtonExec’s 2023 Pinnacle Awards were announced Sept. 25, and we’ll be highlighting some of them until the event takes place live, in-person Nov. 16.
Next is John Roman, vice president of contracts and procurement at ECS, who’s Contracts Executive of the Year, Private & Public Companies finalist. Here, he shares what has made him successful in his current role and career advice.
What has made you successful in your current role?
Mentorship has been a tremendous part of the success of my career. I have been blessed to have several people who took an interest in my development as a person and as a professional. They have remained friends and important voices throughout the years. My first mentor was Cindy Shephard, who was a finalist in the Chief Awards earlier this year. Cindy hired me in 1992 and we remain close friends and confidants. She taught me about how all of the parts of a company need to work together. She has steered me through many difficult decisions throughout my career.
At SAIC, Stu Phillips gave me my first chance to manage a team and provided me with a great role model of how to truly be helpful as a manager. At LMI, Lori Becker, a WashExec 2022 CFO to Watch, became another person who played a critical role in where I am today. She gave me the opportunity to work directly with a Board of Directors.
Without these individuals, as well as others like Doug Wagoner, Ray Lupo and Mike Pasqua, providing me with guidance and opportunity, I would not be in the position I am today.
I have tried throughout my career to take an interest in as many team members as possible. I hope that there are several who would list me as a person of influence for them as they rise through the ranks. That is the power of mentorship.
What’s your best career advice for those who want to follow in your footsteps?
The best career advice I can give to anyone is to be active in the GovCon community. This means doing more than your job at the office. It means meeting with people in person and actively participating in the different forums of the industry like WashingtonExec, Professional Services Council, National Contract Management Association, and others. By actively participating, I mean not just showing up, but being personally involved in the community and working to improve it. The more that you understand the entire process and lifecycle of the GovCon industry, the more you will have to offer back to it.