Reflecting on 25 Years in Business and The Importance of Giving Back

When Global Services first started, we were a small team of proposal professionals with hopes of making an impact in the Federal Contracting industry. And while we had some successes, we hadn’t yet found our niche in the market, one that would separate us from competitors. Once the General Services Administration (GSA) added services to their Schedules Program, we knew it was a gamechanger.

We committed ourselves to understanding the ins and outs of the Program from submission to award and beyond. We had a clear understanding of how we wanted to support clients and how we’d work that into a sustainable business model. However, in 2004, it was clear that my Co-Founder’s interest in the business had dwindled. Not wanting to lose the momentum, a business partner and I purchased the assets of the company together under Fairchild Consultants, LLC. And while things were on the up-and-up, the stress of running a business took a HUGE toll on me.

One day a friend/client recommended that I attend the annual Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) Conference. There, I learned about the crucial work the organization was doing. WIPP advocates for economic positions and federal procurement policies to support accessibility and growth for Women-Owned Businesses. And there was still more work to be done to level the playing field. I knew I wanted to play a part.

In 2013, I joined WIPP’s Leadership Advisory Council (LAC), where I mentored prospective candidates for the WIPP Board of Directors and the WIPP Education Foundation. In 2015, I was nominated as Chair to the LAC and joined the Board of Directors. At WIPP, I not only had the privilege of aiding the growth of the organization, but the privilege to connect with women all over the country at ChallengeHER events.

In 2014, I took a huge risk and bought out my partner. I was then solely responsible for the success of Global Services. As a WOSB in an industry that is historically male dominated, it’s easy to feel underrepresented and undervalued. I needed the support of my WOSB community more than ever. Through WIPP, I found, not just clients, but partners and friends. Their support has been invaluable to me, and I contribute many of my successes to the connections I’ve made.

Now, as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors, I’m constantly thinking of how WIPP can provide the resources necessary to aid WOSBs just starting out in federal contracting. As I celebrate Global Services’ 25-year milestone, I can’t help but reflect on my initial panic when I first bought my business. I planned to make it a success story, but nothing’s guaranteed. However, women who advanced to the next level in their businesses aided me in doing just that. They had, essentially, reached down to pull me up. I now have the unique opportunity to do the same.

Alongside partners at WIPP, I’ve helped establish The Procurement Center of Excellence, an initiative that will provide the resources, training, and capital necessary for WOSBs to get their foot in the door of the Federal Contracting industry. I’ve pledged $25,000, $1,000 for each year I’ve been in business, to bolster the initiative and empower women who are standing where I once was. Because, when women help women, they don’t just break the barriers for themselves, they lay the path for the next generation.

Keep an eye out for updates as WIPP works to expand the reach of this initiative and introduce WOSBs to a community of clients, partners, and lifelong friends.