Professional Me

So I was recently reviewing this contract in preparation for starting in a new contract and saw the silliest things in the (draft) contract. To begin with, one item would require me to admit that I am a "highly paid professional" and that I make at least $27.50 per hour. Really? I mean, really? How many people making $27 an hour consider themselves higly paid, and how many highly paid professionals make that little? Take comfort, the contract was for a lot more than that. (Over $28, even). So enough on money; we all know that's not why we do what we do anyway, right? OK, enough of the cynicism. I truly love what I do. It's exciting, challenging, rewarding (emotionally, mentally, socially, and financially), and I basically get paid to do what I enjoy. Can it get any better?

So what is it, exactly, that I do?

No, I'm not a government spy. A good friend of mine is convinced that I am, but that's just silly. I only have one dark suit and my sunglasses aren't that cool. I do, however, lead a number of projects for the US Government. I define and lead large-scale tecnology-focused projects. By large scale, I mean my typical project ranges from a million dollars to over $100M, and has anywhere from 15 to 150 professionals working on it in some way or another. Some of the less glamorous but exciting projects are just me and one or two others coming in to do what - I will argue - only I and my team can do so effectively. As a project manager, I am also a lead process engineer. This broadens the type of consulting that I do to include business process re-engineering, process and system design, requirements definition, strategic definition and alignment and more.

Of course, I am also an entrepreneur and I stay pretty much swamped in business development and the management of a portfolio of clients. My wife and I together own Kinetic IT Systems and we are part owners in SSG Synergetics. Kinetic IT Systems (KITS) is a consulting services and project management firm with mostly local government and small to medium business clients, though we have also done work with the Federal government and a couple Fortune 500 companies. Synergetics is primarily a defense contracting firm, and is in the process of developing several new intelligence and tactical solutions in the wireless arena. If you'll keep it a secret, I'll tell you that we are also working on some commercial and retail PDA/iPhone solutions. Shh.

What qualfies me to do any of that?

If experience is a primary qualification, then I am covered. But we all know it takes more than just a 'been there, done that' to be an effective leader. I have worked under some of the smartest people in each of my areas of interest, and I have proven myself as an effective engineer and leader on some of the most complicated functional issues. My bachelor's degree in communication sciences and my (in-progress) MBA in technology management are pretty key to a foundation in the academic side of what I do (meaning I can spell very well and add as long as you don't throw in anything really complicated). My selection as the 2006 North Carolina Businessman of the Year by the US Congressional Business Advisory Council, on the other hand, is fairly indicative of the quality of work that I do. And my last seven years as a member of the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) certainly doesn't hurt. My work with Homeland Security, Treasury, Army, NASA, Navy, State Department and other agencies have both tested and proven my ability to navigate complicated environments, and my experience establishing new program and project management offices and governance organizations helps a bit too. Finally, my success starting multiple new businesses gives me the insight I need to keep things in perspective and on track.

Where am I going next?

I have been trying to figure out what I'm going to do when I grow up for a long time now. Fortunately, I am having too much fun to do anything like that. Instead I am planning to continue to take on the impossible. I am working with my business partner, Roger Gilmartin, to forward our new IED Defeat technology (could be really huge). I am also processing about a dozen different unique solutions that - given a little time and effort and luck - will also prove successful. On a different scale, I am seriously considering a political career. But more on that later.