The finalists for WashingtonExec’s Chief Officer Awards were announced March 28, and we’ll be highlighting some of them until the event takes place live, in-person May 10.
Next is Mark Drever, CEO and founding partner of Xcelerate Solutions, and finalist in the Private & Public Company Chief Executive Officer (Annual Revenue Greater than $100M and Less than $500M) category. Here, he shares key achievements, focus areas going forward, career advice and more.
What key achievements did you have in 2023?
In 2022, we established a 5-year plan for Xcelerate Solutions to achieve extraordinary growth. The first step toward that goal was completing an investment partnership with McNally Capital on Dec. 23, 2022. Partnering with McNally positioned Xcelerate as a platform company, poised for accelerated growth through merger and acquisition and allowed Xcelerate to capitalize on McNally’s experience and expertise.
In 2023 we worked with McNally to establish and implement a growth and investment strategy for Xcelerate. A major step in realizing our strategy came with the recent acquisition of VMD Corp. Given the size and scale of the acquisition and complementary nature of the companies, with little overlap in client base or infrastructure investment, we are treating it as a merger. VMD shares a similar culture and our commitment to safeguarding America. The combined company offers a myriad of secure solutions — from large-scale enterprise security operations to advanced cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection capabilities.
Through our merger with VMD, we expanded Xcelerate’s market coverage and security offerings, positioning the company for further growth. Xcelerate gained additional contracts, as well as a solid foothold in the Department of State, Department of Homeland Security including the Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Air Force, the National Science Foundation and others.
Xcelerate has also grown organically, winning significant contracts with the SEC, GSA, FBI and the Army in the past 12 months.
What are your primary focus areas going forward, and why are those so important to the mission?
We founded Xcelerate Solutions on Sept. 11, 2009, with the goal of helping to keep America safe. Everything that we do as a company is aligned with that mission. Security is not a “one and done” activity for Xcelerate, it requires constant vigilance across the entire operational continuum as threat vectors are increasing and nefarious actors become more clever and determined. Our security operating model spans all aspects of the enterprise from personnel vetting to cybersecurity and critical infrastructure. This is our focus. This is our mission.
What is your best career advice for those who want to follow in your footsteps?
Success is not based on a single factor; it is a combination of actions and attributes that make an individual a leader. I can summarize my career advice in a few principles. First, you need to show up and be present. Then, be a good listener. Most importantly, honor your commitments, do what you say and always do the right thing. These qualities aren’t all related, but all of them are necessary to build trust and respect in others. At Xcelerate, we ALWAYS do the right thing for the business and for our people. Finally, make a commitment to yourself to get better every day. As a lifelong learner. I constantly look for ways to grow as a person and a leader.
Fun Fact: What is something about you that most people do not know about?
I have completed ten 100-mile century bike rides. I started biking to keep in shape and gradually increased my mileage. I set a goal to ride 100 miles and signed up for my first charity ride for the Wounded Warriors. I made it, and now I am hooked. Riding 100 miles gives you a lot of time to think, I tackle the problems of the world while I am riding.