WashingtonExec Series: Want To Be GovCon Executive Of The Year?
The finalists for this year’s Greater Washington Government Contractor Awards were announced last month, and as promised, WashingtonExec is bringing you it’s annual series with GovCon Awards all this month before the winners are unveiled November 1.
The winners will be announced at the annual gala at Marriott Wardman Park hotel in Washington, D.C., and the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce, Professional Services Council (PSC) and Washington Technology magazine will present the awards. With over 1,300 business and public sector leaders attending the event, our series will keep you up to date with all the finalists for this year–who they are, what they do, and why they are worthy of winning.
Today’s series presents Triple Canopy for its nomination of “Contractor of the Year” in the greater than $300 million division. Read on below for our interview with Triple Canopy’s CEO, Ignacio Balderas.
WashingtonExec: How do you differentiate your company from its competitors? What is unique about your approach?
Ignacio Balderas: Triple Canopy has earned a solid reputation supporting governments and multinational corporations in challenging places. Customers rely on us to mitigate risk, ensure business continuity and achieve organizational objectives. Our willingness to self-perform projects in challenging locations sets us apart from the competition. Our combined experience in program management, subcontractor oversight and on-the-ground supervision enables us to manage multiple projects across diverse market sectors and geographies.
WashingtonExec:How have you grown the company as the government asks the private sector to “do more with less?”
Ignacio Balderas: In 2013 Triple Canopy will be celebrating its 10th anniversary. The company has grown from a handful of employees to an organization comprised of thousands of personnel located around the world.
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We take pride in our rapid response capability, agility, customer service and contract compliance, enabling us to meet government demands in this austere economic climate.
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WashingtonExec:What is the fastest growing component of your business?
Ignacio Balderas: Triple Canopy was founded as a protective services company providing personnel and fixed site security to U.S. government agencies. This has been the fastest growing segment of our business and the launching pad for our diversification into the mission support and training arenas.
WashingtonExec:Obtaining top talent in government contracting is fierce -how is your company able to not only recruit top talent, but also retain it?
Ignacio Balderas: A veteran-friendly company, Triple Canopy was founded by former U.S. Army Special Forces personnel and today, more than sixty percent of our work force comprises former members of the armed forces.
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The core values, dedication, skills and experience our veterans bring to the company permeate our corporate culture and have made the company what it is today.
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Our company’s reputation as an employer of choice has spread by word of mouth and has enabled us to recruit, train and deploy top talent.
WashingtonExec:What is your corporate culture? How do you maintain satisfied employees?
Ignacio Balderas: Do the right thing. Triple Canopy was founded on a cornerstone of legal, moral and ethical business practices. We have built our reputation on this foundation and it has set us apart from our competitors, aligned us with our customers and helped us succeed as a company. Our employees embody these principles and are committed to the highest standards of quality and accountability. Our corporate culture and reputation has enabled us to recruit and retain the best and the brightest.
WashingtonExec:How has the government contracting industry changed since you entered the sector?
Ignacio Balderas: Government oversight has increased together with the demand to deliver effective contract services at lower rates. Triple Canopy has met these requirements by remaining compliant with customer contracts, international laws, industry protocols and government regulations. We are a founder signatory of the International Code of Conduct and our processes are ISO 9001:2008 certified.
WashingtonExec:How is your company involved in the community?
Ignacio Balderas: Corporate social responsibility is a part of our culture at Triple Canopy. We put community first and always respect the basic principles of human rights. We allocate our charitable contributions on a local, national and international basis, in locations where we have a corporate presence. We make a concerted effort to match our philanthropy contributions with employee volunteerism.
Internationally we have focused on funding and providing manpower for earthquake relief in Pakistan, Peru and Haiti. We have also underwritten Iraqi orphan programs and sponsored clean water projects in both Iraq and Uganda. In the United States, our support has centered on funding and volunteering on projects benefiting our wounded warriors and the survivors of our fallen heroes. At a local level, the company runs can drives for local food banks, funds law enforcement community projects, participates in environmental cleanup efforts, supports hospice care and builds homes for the needy.
