As you enter the lobby of Koniag Government Services’ new headquarters in Chantilly, Virginia, your eye is immediately drawn to a vivid blue mural of Alutiiq images and language. For the office of a government contractor, it is as illuminating as it is unexpected.
This mural encapsulates the essence of KGS — an organization that helps support over 3,400 Alutiiq shareholders who have ancestral ties to the Kodiak Archipelago of Alaska through its role as a leader in technical, professional, and operational solutions for Federal Government customers across defense, civilian and healthcare agencies.
Founded 50 years ago as a small business unit of an Alaska Native corporation, KGS has evolved into a thriving organization that supports a myriad of government customers while embracing the values of the community to guide its mission.
A Legacy Rooted in Alaska
KGS’s parent company, Koniag, is one of the 12 regional Alaska Native corporations established by Congress in 1971 under the terms of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. In 1975, Koniag founded The Kazim Company (now KGS) to be the holding company for Koniag’s business operations.
Over the decades, KGS has adapted and grown, undergoing name changes and structural evolutions. In 2019, it embraced its current identity as Koniag Government Services, LLC, focusing on strategic relationships, investments, and partnerships that drive growth and deliver returns for federal government customers.
Guided by Alutiiq Values
Throughout its journey, KGS has remained true to the Koniag family’s core values, adopted from Alutiiq culture:
- Planning for the Long Term
- Honoring our Heritage and Culture
- Embracing Diversity
- Being Open and Honest
- Having Pride in our Work
- Sharing the Catch
These values serve as a North Star, guiding the company’s trajectory and ensuring its continued success.
Milestones, Transformations and a New Era of Growth
KGS’s evolution from The Kazim Company to Koniag Development Corp. in 1999 laid the foundation for it to become a significant player in government contracting.
The company entered the 8(a) program when it acquired Integrated Concepts and Research Corp. and restructured the IT division of ICRC to form Koniag Services, Inc., in 1994. The acquisition of XMCO in 2000 and Digital Schematic Solutions in 2010 expanded the company’s capabilities in integrated logistics support. Linda Czajka held the position of president & CEO of XMCO at the time XMCO was acquired, and she admits that the acquisition process was a little frightening, but exciting.
“I viewed the entire process as an opportunity to grow and to learn how to operate as an 8(a) company, with all the advantages that status brings. Today, I look back at the transition of both XMCO and DSS to 8(a) companies with the support of Koniag/KGS and feel professionally gratified as to how the entire situation evolved,” says Czajka.
By 2011, KDC had more than thirty companies within its portfolio (some nested/owned under other KDC-owned subsidiaries). The company at that time was organized by the various companies/subsidiaries that comprised KDC. These companies included several commercial real estate holdings across multiple states and other investments in various industries. Through key acquisitions and later, the formation of new 8(a) companies, the organization expanded further in the federal government market.
KGS Chief Administrative Officer Denise Bailey reflects on this period: “KGS was so small when I first started. I knew everyone who worked in Shared Services very well and easily recognized the names of everyone in the organization. Today, it is challenging to keep up with all the 3500+ employees, but it’s a much more exciting atmosphere since there is such a great variety of people, faces, and projects that we support.”
In 2018, under the leadership of CEO Kevin Wideman and a newly formed executive leadership team, KGS entered a new phase of exponential growth. The company reorganized into operating groups, leading to an expansion from 350 employees to over 3,500 and from $230 million in revenue to $830 million. Today, KGS comprises 28 wholly owned subsidiaries and conducts business in 36 countries and all 50 states.
The KGS Difference: Culture and Community
While growing rapidly, KGS has maintained its commitment to the Koniag family’s Alutiiq roots. Long-time employees like Czajka emphasize the importance of camaraderie and compassion within the company culture.
KGS continues to focus on supporting the Alutiiq community. Resources the company provides are returned to the region, translating into elder benefits, scholarships, community projects, and other benefits for Koniag shareholders and descendants.
KGS Operating Group President and Koniag Shareholder Gordon Pullar sums up the company’s unique position: “Anniversaries are a great way to reflect on how far we’ve come as a company, and I’m proud to be associated with achieving this milestone. KGS is a for-profit company with a social mission. It’s also like a family business. It’s easy to be loyal to a company that gives back to the community.”
“The names and faces have changed since the early years, but the atmosphere of support and encouragement have remained the same,” says Czajka. “Having been a member of the organization for almost half of its life, it is personally exciting and rewarding to watch KGS grow, flourish and set the standard for the next 50 years.”
Looking to the Future
Following 50 years of successful growth and learning, KGS looks ahead to the future with optimism. The company is positioning itself at the forefront of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, while continuing to prioritize its social mission and community impact. As it sets its sights on future growth and innovation, the company remains committed to its dual mission of providing exceptional government services while honoring and supporting its Alaska Native heritage. Wideman believes that the next 50 years promise to be as transformative and impactful as the first.
“As KGS celebrates its 50th anniversary, we stand on the foundation and values of our Alutiiq shareholders and their commitment to community. For fifty years, KGS has turned challenges into opportunities and ideas into innovations that advance the missions of Government customers. Today, we honor our past, celebrate our present, and look forward to an exciting future.”
This piece was contributed by and published in collaboration with Koniag Government Services.