The Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce and Professional Services Council have unveiled the finalists for the 14th Annual Greater Washington Government Contractor Awards, the premier awards event for the Washington area government contracting community. The winners will be named at a Nov. 1 gala dinner at the Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner.
WashingtonExec sat down with one of this year’s GovCon Awards Gold Sponsor, Chris Carson, audit partner, assurance services at BDO, to discuss the GovCon marketplace.
WashingtonExec: What motivated you to take part in the GovCon Awards?
Chris Carson: BDO is committed to supporting the entire government contracting ecosystem, and we’ve seen a good number of our clients nominated in the past. Every year—and this year is no different—we’re right there with our clients in their excitement. The exposure they get in the marketplace as a result of their nomination and participating in the awards process is invaluable. It’s also a great way for them to meet their peers and explore potential partnerships for contracting opportunities.
As a firm that strives to provide a high level of service to our clients to facilitate their success, our support for the GovCon Awards has expanded into building awareness and actively encouraging our clients to participate, as well as providing support throughout the awards process itself. We also greatly enjoy participating in the awards because it allows us to give back to the government contracting community and meet other like-minded companies.
WashingtonExec: Where in the GovCon space does your company work, and what are your primary goals?
Chris Carson: We aim to add value to government contractors of all sizes, from emerging contractors to the middle market. Our goals center on helping our clients grow, add shareholder value, improve ROI to shareholders and navigate the complexities of contracting with the federal government.
BDO is the only national firm with a with a dedicated government contracting practice. Our National Center of Excellence in Government Contracting, headquartered in our McLean, Virginia, office, includes more than 100 professionals who provide assurance, tax, government contract advisory, transaction advisory and other services. We function as one integrated team collaborating to support all aspects of the government contracting process for almost 400 contractors, ranging in size from $10 million to almost $1 billion in revenue.
WashingtonExec: As these awards are in large part a recognition of great leaders in the GovCon space, what do you believe are qualities that make a great leader?
Chris Carson: Great leaders have strong communication skills, intellectual curiosity and the ability to engage people. While leaders each have their own unique tactics, it comes down to the ability to inspire people to band together as a team.
In business, this means getting people engaged in the company’s direction. And in government contracting specifically, it’s so important to maintain respect and regard for the common mission of propelling the nation forward via the services and goods the government procures.
Our team strives to hire top-notch people who can work well together in a positive environment. A team headed up by a great leader will have the ability to bring everyone together around a common mission, with an appreciation and understanding of all the nuances of the business while maintaining a focus on the big picture and the company’s goals.
WashingtonExec: What makes your company a great place to work?
Chris Carson: What sets BDO apart is our commitment to exceeding expectations on every engagement, for every client, regardless of their size or where they are in their life cycle. BDO has a great depth of experience and technical knowledge supported by an open, communicative culture of knowledge-sharing.
What strikes me most about BDO is that everyone is focused on learning and teaching. And that goes for our clients as well—the work we do for our clients offers us great exposure to new people and systems, which means we always have opportunities to learn from their successes.
BDO has a firmwide dedication to delivering exceptional service to every single client. That commitment really attracts high-caliber talent who are willing to chase down answers to deliver a value-add experience for our clients. The passion and energy of this group of people is always inspiring.
WashingtonExec: How is your business involved in the community? (corporate citizenship)
Chris Carson: Community involvement is essential to BDO’s culture, and we’re always working to strengthen the bonds we have with the communities where we live and work. BDO Counts, our social impact initiative, gives individuals and offices the chance to give back wherever—and however—they choose.
We’re committed to supporting employees as they give their time and energy to the causes and issues most critical to their communities, so the door is open for flexibility in terms of specific programs and activities.
One of the organizations we consistently support nationally and in our McLean office is the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. A highlight for many of our employees is the Light the Night walk, where they get the chance to personally meet and connect with hundreds of other individuals who are passionate about the cause.
BDO also holds an annual Week of Service, during which all offices and individuals are encouraged to contribute to causes that have a measurable impact and involve direct interaction the community through teamwork and collaboration. Our local offices choose to participate by closing for a day, allowing 250+ employees to lend support to one of a dozen charities in the region.
In the past two years, these organizations have included Women Giving Back, WolfTrap Park, New Endeavors by Women, Martha’s Table, Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League, Our Military Kids, Clean Virginia Waterways, National Alliance on Mental Illness, Weyanoke Elementary School, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, The National Center for Children and Families, Junior Achievement, Black Hill Regional Park, Rock Creek Regional Park, Wendt Center for Loss and Healing, Red Cross, Friends of Homeless Animals and E.W. Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School.
Related: Spotlight with 2016 GovCon Award Gold Sponsor, Paul Graham, SVP of Colliers International
