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 Bryan Walter, chief growth officer at CASE, and finalist in the Private Company Chief Growth Officer (Annual Revenue Greater than $20M and Less than $100M) category. Here, he shares key achievements, focus areas going forward, career advice and more.
What key achievements did you have in 2023?
I joined CASE in March and I was fortunate to be able to hit the ground running quickly following the merger of Case Consulting and FireTeam Solutions. I worked with Paul Farmer, our CEO, directly and indirectly for nearly two decades, so we were able to quickly align and get to work. That started with rebranding the platform as CASE, refreshing our mission statement and corporate capabilities in the market, and developing our growth strategy.
Subsequently, we grew our new business pipeline to over $300 million, built out our business development processes, and increased our partner engagement. We were able to expand our technology partnerships with several vendors where we can provide unique solutions for our clients’ most important missions and engage with our clients in new ways to solve some of their toughest challenges.
What are your primary focus areas going forward, and why are those so important to the mission?
We continue to focus on our core competencies: digital transformation, software and cloud engineering, and data integration. We will also look to expand our offerings into cyber this year. I think the important thing to know about CASE is that we’re not just trying to fill seats in those areas but we’re pushing the envelope on solution development in those areas. Our clients’ national security missions require outstanding talent and proactive engagement to develop solutions that align with where the missions are headed next, and we are working hard to be at the forefront of that.
What is your best career advice for those who want to follow in your footsteps?
Be flexible and execute. There is no direct path to any title or role and the best way to move ahead is to deliver results for your company and its clients. In national security, the threats are ever-evolving and more sophisticated each day. And in technology, there are always new and better innovations to solve problems. You’ve got to continuously learn about your domain, enhance your skills and understanding of the tools to support it, and keep a strong network of mentors to help you stay on track.
One of my favorite bosses always told me that your peer mentors are just as important as those that rank above you ⏤ they’re the ones who push you the most, both in figuring out how to do things as you’re learning and challenging your ideas on the best way to execute. That’s been true for me as I’ve watched many of my peers move into entrepreneurial roles and we’ve all traded notes along the way about what works and what doesn’t.
Fun Fact: What is something about you that most people do not know about?
Most people close to me probably know I grew up in a really competitive sports area and I’m a pretty big sports fan. As my boys (8 and 2) are getting older, I’m really enjoying getting engaged in coaching ⏤ my oldest plays baseball, basketball and flag football. I’m having a blast helping coach those teams and watching the kids learn and grow their skills. I always joke that I’ll know I’ve been truly successful when my next full-time job is coaching ball for my sons.