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A Day for Heroes

On April 29th, a group of Primavera gurus gathered at Trump National Golf Club to support two great causes; Cure NF with Jack and Yellow Ribbons United.

Cure NF with Jack is a nonprofit corporation founded by Jake Burke and Beth O’Brien-Burke, whose mission is to find an effective treatment or cure for individuals battling neurofibromatosis (“NF”) through the funding of research. The inspiration and motivation behind CNFWJ is their son Jack Burke, a dynamic, inspiring boy who lives with NF. Neurofibromatosis is a genetic mutation that causes benign tumors to grow on the nervous system. This can occur spontaneously or be passed down from a parent. I got to meet Jack and have a brief conversation with him and his mom, Beth. He was having such a great time and enjoyed the entire day.

Yellow Ribbons United is focused on bridging the gap between military service and civilian life by encouraging Americans to express their appreciation for military families through civic and social action and supports Children of our Veterans.

There was a mix of players and volunteers from IntegrateIT to help with the various events set up throughout the course. One of the favorites was a shot of Jack for Jack and closest putt. Players could also try to get a hole in one for a free 2 year lease on a brand new Lexus and hang out with a Raven’s cheerleader.

There was delicious food and plenty of drinks! Through the silent auction and raffle tickets, the organizations were able to raise over $10,000.00.

Markon Solutions Acquires IntegrateIT!

IntegrateIT has been acquired by Markon Solutions! What does this mean for you? Three words- opportunity, opportunity, opportunity! Markon Solutions is the Federal Division of Anser Advisory, who is quickly becoming a national brand in the consulting industry. Markon Solutions is a nationally recognized professional services firm headquartered in Falls Church, VA. They have an elite team of high-performing leaders and innovators, who serve as trusted advisors managing tasks on behalf of their clients. Markon leads with humility and respect, takes initiative, puts corporate and client integrity before personal gain, and are champions of fostering a divers and inclusive workplace culture where employees and clients benefit from a wide range of collective viewpoints, experiences, and talents.

This partnership provides integrateIT with a more robust platform for integrateIT to keep doing amazing work. Markon Solutions have existing relationships with our Prime contractors and Client Agencies, as well as new customers within the IC. They have positions requiring various levels of clearances affording employees opportunities to work remotely. Joining with Markon Solutions not only better positions us to compete against the most successful firms in federal contracting, but also provides great depth and variety in terms of the opportunities it creates for employees.

Markon Solutions and integrateIT share a common mission to empower our team members to deliver impactful results for our clients. IntegrateIT and Markon Solutions have strong track records demonstrating impact and support. In addition to sharing core values, many of our clients and partners have cited Markon Solutions as a great company. Markon Solutions is consistently recognized on the ENR Top 50 Program Management, Washington Post Top Workplaces, and Virginia Business Best Places to Work list. They are a 2021 Top Workplaces USA winner as well as the first GEN (Gender Equity Now) certified organization on the East coast and in the government contracting industry.

With Markon Solutions’ acquisition of integrateIT, opportunities have been created to bolster our current offerings, expand our capabilities, and continue our outstanding support to clients. This synergistic partnership will strongly benefit both Markon Solutions’ and integrateITs’ employees by providing them with many more opportunities for career advancement and growth.

Explore Those Business Development Opportunities!

Throughout my professional career, I have worked for both large and small companies. They both have their advantages and perks. I want to touch on one of the reasons why I put such a high value on working for a small company.

Having the opportunity to become involved in helping grow a business is very rewarding. At a small company, providing support with activities such as recruiting, proposals, or even mentoring goes a long way as resources tend to be more limited than at larger businesses. Employees learn new skills and employers get some needed support making it a win-win for everyone.

At IntegrateIT, I have been fortunate enough to get involved in opportunities that interest me. I write the occasional blog post as well as provide support with recruiting efforts. There are many opportunities to get involved. If there is an effort that you would like to support, I suggest reaching out to IntegrateIT leadership and see what opportunities are available that may peak your interests.

Change Management: The People Side of Change

A successful change management strategy must be considered when implementing an organizational change. This will help to increase the likelihood of success and ensure a bigger ROI. No matter what the approach in Project Management (Lean, Waterfall, Agile, etc), change management can work hand in hand. According to Prosci, change management is, “the application of a structured process and set of tools for leading the people side of change to achieve a desired outcome.” So to best equip employees of a new technical solution, a solid change management strategy will be needed.

Some of the more common change management strategies include Kotters Model, McKinsey 7-S model, and the ADKAR change management model. Below, I will cover each one in a little more detail.

Kotters Model

This change management model is one of the most widely used. The eight stages of the model focus on an employee’s response to change.

Increasing Urgency – This is done to engage the employees and increase understanding of why change is needed.
Put Together a CM Team – Determine what team will be implementing the change within the business or organization. You will want to look at each person’s skills and knowledge.
Ensure You Have the Right Vision – Make sure you have both the employees’ emotions and the project in mind during the process.
Communication – Be transparent about the changes.
Push Forward – If needed, get support to ensure you are able to remove any obstacles
Set Short Term Goals – Focus not only on the end game but set short term goals to meet along the way.
Implement the Change – Ensure employees are involved, rewarded, and the change is reinforced.
Change Takes Time – Do not quit. Change will take time to be adopted.

McKinsey 7-S Model

McKinsey’s 7-S model or framework consists of 7 categories that companies should be aware of when implanting a change.

Structure – This refers to the way the organization or business is divided
Strategy – This is the CM plan that will be used.
Systems – What systems will be used to implement the strategy?
Shared Values – Ensure that you consider the organization/business’s core values.
Style – How the change is implemented.
Staff – Simply the workforce within the organization.
Skills – This would be the employees’ competencies.

ADKAR CM Model

The ADKAR CM model is unique in that it will help identify any gaps in the change management process so that proper training can be given to employees.

Awareness – This step is to ensure that employees are aware of the need for a particular change.
Desire –In this step, it is important that to know if the employees have a desire for change.
Knowledge – You need to know how you will bring the change. Knowledge of the employees, systems, and organization are all important.
Ability – You must be able to implement the change when needed.
Reinforcement – Not only must you have the ability to implement the change, you must be able to reinforce it as time goes on.

There are many other great change management approaches out there. I wanted to share these common approaches with you should you ever find yourself needing to implement a new process within an organization.

Fred’s first blog

It’s been just over a year since COVID threw a wrench into the world economy. “Wear a mask” and “Use hand sanitizer” are still heard on a daily basis. For many, COVID was a small inconvenience while for others, it was a tragedy. Personally, I have been very fortunate during these difficult times. More importantly, a sense of normalcy seems to be returning to the country. While wearing a mask and using hand sanitizer still remains the norm, many people are returning to work and companies are learning to adapt to this very dynamic situation. That being said, it can definitely be a struggle to adapt to so many changes in such a short period of time. The blue/gold team dynamic has been a struggle felt by everyone throughout the workplace. Fortunately, there are ways to overcome the inconvenience. I suggest writing a hand-off email at the end of the week encompassing what work has been completed and what still must be done. This ensures that nothing important will fall through the cracks. Additionally, the workforce has had to make use of virtual meetings like never before. While meeting in person is always ideal, a virtual meeting can be quicker and can lead to better attendance. Just make sure you are prepared because radio silence can be a bit awkward.

With all of the additional work COVID has caused, I thought I would touch on a few ways to reduce stress and anxiety during this difficult times. Probably my favorite method to reduce stress would be working out. Best of all, you can do this without wearing a mask! My wife and I frequently hit the local trails for a short walk or hike. We have gone everywhere from Shenandoah to Manassas Battlefield. If hiking isn’t your thing, then dust off that old Schwinn and go for a cruise down the W&OD trail. You’ll be sure to work up a sweat and relieve some stress. Lastly, now that the weather is getting nice out, I would say bust out the canoe or kayaks. Maybe even do a little fishing while you are out there. These are just a few of many great ways to have fun and keep in shape.

Outdoor activities have really grown in popularity since the beginning of COVID. There are a lot of activities and I strongly suggest finding one that makes you happy and is fun for the whole family.

-Fred Paul

COVID-19: Wash your hands

And just like that, our daily life was told to change.

Practice social distancing.

Work from home.

Teach from home.

WASH YOUR HANDS. (We really had to say this?)

It’s been interesting to see how quickly our daily conveniences have been able to shift and redirect their marketing and business strategies. No more happy hours, no more sports, weddings being postponed, and most importantly, no more work. Not all jobs are able to be completed from the comforts of our own home. So what now? Initial panic subsided when I realized that I was still able to get my favorite beer from a local brewery. But all joking aside, how your company is able to handle this pandemic and what they are able to do to help provide continuity to their employee’s life is the red dot moment.

Mark Cuban was recently interviewed by CNBC where he explained that there is no right answer to when life will return to normalcy because we are still dealing with unsure data. And because of that unsure data, you can’t rush and make unsure decisions since it will affect your companies brand for the next decade. It’s a double edged sword. If you return to normal too soon and someone gets sick because of it, you’ll tarnish your reputation. If you wait too long, you could lose valued employees and potential customers.

It’s a fluid time and things are changing by the minutes. Literally. In the time it took me to write this, I can now only leave my house for a run or groceries until 10 June under Virginia’s mandatory stay-at-home order. But, what can we do as employees to help our companies? First, embrace the fluidity. Know that there aren’t answers yet and believe that your leadership is doing everything to make this situation sting less. Second, embrace the time away from the office. Set new goals, brush up on some new features that can be utilized when you return to the office, and soak in this mental refresh. Third, help your company by being a voice to your local, state, and national leadership. Write them to make sure your voice is being heard and our current situation is understood. Finally, read up on the CARES Act that was passed on 27 March, 2020 and how it may affect you.

Oh, and of course, wash your hands and stay home. If we all do our part, the quicker we’ll get back to the office.

Cheers!

Staying productive during the COVID19 Quarantine

Do you feel as if you’re living out a real-life rendition of the movie Groundhog Day? Do you find yourself having a case of the Mondays…. everyday? You’re not alone. What are your plans to stay productive and to keep your mind and body sharp? At integrateIT we have been afforded the benefit of essentially two week’s front pay of our salary without contributing any billable hours. In short that means money out, no money in. How can we, as employees maximize the return on that investment and ensure we come back ready to hit the ground running?

Although this forced time off may leave you feeling aimless or restless, not to mention distracted by kids, spouses, and even pets there are ways to take advantage of it as well. It could present an optimal time to learn a new skill, read up on job relevant white papers and technologies, or perhaps finally getting around to studying for your PMP or any certification for that matter.

Coursera, an online learning platform founded by Stanford Professors offers hundreds of free courses instructed by world-class universities and companies, and best of all, it’s 100% online. More detailed certifications or specializations are also available, at a fee. Currently one of the most popular offerings is the Yale “Happiness” course which is also free. With over 1.3M enrollees it comes at a pivotal time during our current pandemic where good practices and routines prepare our minds to be equally as strong as our bodies as we keep the potential mental crisis surrounding COVID19 at bay.

RMC (Rita Mulcahy’s) Learning Solutions is a fantastic resource for those seeking a PMP. Rita has authored 9 editions of the PMP Exam Prep book and now offers an online based PMP Exam Prep system which includes an Exam simulator with over 1600+ questions. Benefits here are learning at your own pace vice a crash course where a month’s worth of learning material is crammed into your head over 40 hours.

With all that brain, make sure you balance things out with some brawn. Remember, while we are out of the office we have a chance to combat the “Sitting Disease”. Studies have shown that a sedentary lifestyle (i.e. – sitting for longer than 8 hours a day) is a leading risk factor for high mortality. The good news is lifestyle changes where we stand up more, sit less, and move more can make a big difference in improving our health. A healthier lifestyle means fewer sick days and subsequently less time out of the office. With many gyms and studios closed these days, virtual classes have become the norm. Find something that suits your lifestyle whatever it might be but give your body what it deserves!

Stay healthy and see you all soon.

-Allen Chang

Batting for a Winning Team

“Is a shirt and tie too much for tonight?”. I ask Dave in the afternoon before the event.

“Don’t wear jeans”. He replies (big help, thanks Dave).

I honestly felt over dressed for this thing. I didn’t know exactly what I was getting into on the evening of November 8th. All I knew was that I was attending a small business awards ceremony of sorts in Loudoun County. As usual, I chose my shmedium blue button down (so I could show off my widely average biceps), slacks, and went with a tie. As I said, it felt like a bit much…

I met the CEO (Dave), his Mother, and others that would attend the event with us for pleasantries prior. After, we all hopped in an Uber and headed to Leesburg. As we pulled up to the venue I quickly realized I may not be dressed as formal as I originally thought…We step out of the van and onto a red carpet (seriously). All of a sudden I’m expecting to see the likes of Emma Stone or Emily Blunt as if I rolling into the Academy Awards. And honestly, it didn’t feel far from that.

I peered through the window and see some several hundred people dressed up to the nines as if they’re about to attend Senior Prom. Hats off to the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce for putting on the event that was more lush and elegant than I could have ever imagined.

More than anything that evening, I enjoyed getting to know my colleagues. In my space as a recruiter I spend the majority of my conversations with the people at integrateIT over the phone or email. It was so great to put faces to names, and to hear the stories of the people that built this company. I was in awe. I felt as though I was a rookie making his big league debut. Everyone was so nice, helpful, and intelligent.

We were nominated for the “Best Virtual Business” award that night. I was enamored to listen to our President, Geoff Keller, talk about the company. More so, I was honored to be a part of the team that walked up and took the stage. I enjoy success, awards, and being part of a winning culture.

Turns out at integrateIT that’s exactly what you get to be a part of.

My First Day at integrateIT

The company CEO and VP are in the front of the Yukon and we’re talking about god and greater realms of the universe…Exactly where I thought things would begin on my first day in the intelligence industry!

We’re rolling down US-15 and we get into the greater details of the company. PMPs, clearances, portals, LinkedIn, prospecting, so many topics of discussion. I was amazed at the attentiveness of the two in front of me. Clearly they’re brilliant. And yet, no question was dumb. They educated me on all aspects of my role and the history of the company. This may very well have been one of the most informative afternoons of my life.

Pretty solid start to a new career. Where else and what other company can you kick your first day off with the CEO and the VP, to learn the ropes? integrateIT.

A couple hours and several discussions later we roll into Charlottesville on the campus of the University of Virginia. We’re here to present on the clearance process to an audience of students looking to move into the intelligence community.

The presentation was smooth and formal. I really enjoyed getting to interact with the candidates and teaching them about what an incredible opportunity is front of them.

Off to dinner with Dave (CEO) and Doug (VP) where I’m sure we’ll get to dive further into all realms of life.

What a first day at integrateIT.

Summer 2019

It’s the official end of Summer and as many look forward to the change of season and hoodie weather, it’s also a great time to look back at the fun we had this Summer. IntegrateIT hosted two great events to get the team together, enjoy the weather, and have a few adult beverages.

First, what started as some friendly office banter, turned into a Crossfit challenge and happy hour. A few team members brought their A-game back in June for a friendly competition and some just came to spectate. Everyone gathered at our favorite wine and whiskey bar after for a few drinks and apps.

Our second group outing was the Florida Georgia Line concert in August. We piled into the party bus and headed to Farm Brew Live for drinks and dinner before making it to the concert. It was a great night to listen to some country music and to get to know our team members and their significant others.