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 Daniel Riggs, chief strategy officer at Dine Development Corp., and finalist in the Public & Private Company Chief Growth 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?
2023 marked the achievement of significant milestones for DDC and our family of companies. Firstly, we successfully completed the acquisition of a new company specializing in health IT, a pivotal move that allowed us to penetrate defense health market. This acquisition granted us access to MDACA, a powerful data tool offering robust open-source alternatives to products. Not only did this acquisition bolster our backlog and pipeline by $100 million+ and $200 million+ respectively, but it also enriched our workforce with top-tier talent in software development, data analytics, data science, cloud computing and artificial intelligence.
Secondly, we restructured our organization to align with our core markets: defense, federal civilian, and health IT. This reorganization will enable us to develop and execute strategies to expand our market presence in alignment with growth objectives. Overseeing the markets are newly established roles of Vice Presidents of Growth that will lead the development and implementation of comprehensive account strategies to expand market footprint, build trusted partnerships, and drive revenue growth.
Lastly, we expanded our footprint in Dayton, Ohio, through the acquisition of a 36,000 square foot building in the city’s downtown Tech Town campus. The initiative will bring 100 jobs to the city, highlighting DDC’s unwavering commitment to the local community. Aptly named in honor of the Navajo Code Talkers in the city that is home to the Wright Brothers and other pioneers, the building development ushers in a rich history of ingenuity to the heart of the city. DDC builds on our footprint with key Air Force customers to support the warfighter through the delivery of innovative technology solutions.
What are your primary focus areas going forward, and why are those so important to the mission?
First and foremost, I am committed to advancing DDC’s capabilities. One of the primary objectives within this realm is diversifying our spectrum of solutions, encompassing advanced IT and engineering solutions. Additionally, we plan to expand our environmental services sector, particularly in aiding the ongoing uranium mine cleanup efforts on the Navajo Nation, underscoring our dedication to environmental stewardship and partnership with the Navajo Nation.
Furthermore, we are actively engaged in expanding DDC’s geographic footprint to strategic locations, such as San Antonio, Texas, Huntsville, Alabama, and Colorado Springs, Colorado. By establishing a presence in these areas, DDC will be able to expand partnerships with multiple agencies within these regions, thereby aligning with our overarching expansion goals. These initiatives directly align with DDC’s mission of fostering economic prosperity for the Navajo People, as they facilitate job creation, skill development, and community empowerment in diverse geographical contexts. Through these endeavors, we are spearheading efforts to ensure that DDC remains at the forefront of innovation while upholding our dedication to advancing the Navajo Nation and empowering its People for future generations.
What is your best career advice for those who want to follow in your footsteps?
Don’t be afraid to take risks. When the pandemic struck and numerous companies opted for caution by implementing cost-saving measures, we chose a different path. Instead, we doubled down and allocated significant resources to bolster our innovation business development and leadership Teams. With a concerted effort, we sought top-tier talent to build our foundation for the anticipated growth we have realized in the past few years. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, we remained steadfast in our commitment to investing in the essential infrastructure required for expansion.
By persisting in our strategic investments, we continued to deliver returns to the Navajo Nation. Seizing this opportunity enabled us to elevate our revenue from $65 million annually to achieving our goal of $175 million by 2024. This bold approach not only propelled our business forward, but also demonstrated our unwavering dedication to growth and sustainability.
Fun Fact: What is something about you that most people do not know about?
Most people don’t know that I grew up overseas when I was young. My father, who was retired Army, worked for various government agencies. I spent the first few years of my life living outside of Monrovia, Liberia, in a small village. While I was too young to remember most of my time there, I remember having a unique pet, a monkey that became my best friend. From there, we moved to Tehran, Iran, for a few years. While I have few memories from that time, I remember that it was a time of unrest. Due to the political landscape in 1979, we had to leave in the middle of the night with just a suitcase and were flown out by helicopter to a plane that took us to Turkey, then France and back to Ohio. Following that time period, I grew up in Ohio, where I have lived for the last 40 years.