Month: May 2024

Katmai Professional Services and Highlight Form Alaskan Native 8a Joint Venture

Posted on by Victoria Robinson

Katmai Professional Services (Katmai) and Highlight Technologies (“Highlight”) are proud to announce the creation of Katmai-Highlight Government Services JV (KHGS). This joint venture partnership directly connects to Katmai and Highlight’s SBA-approved Mentor-Protégé relationship. KHGS combines the strengths of both organizations, including subject matter expertise, customer relationships, core capabilities, and various delivery models to provide optimized, end-to-end digital, professional, and public health services. Together, KHGS has supported the federal government for over twenty years across the defense, national security, international development, and health sectors.

Managed under Katmai Government Services, an Alaskan Native Corporation (ANC) holding company, Katmai is a Small Business Administration (SBA)-certified 8(a) Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB). Katmai is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Ouzinki Native Corporation (ONC), an organization that directly giving back to its Alutiiq Native shareholders. Katmai offers a range of professional support services, including public health services, records management, Information Technology (IT) solutions, recruiting and retention, research and development, network administration, and training and simulation lifecycle support.

“We are excited to expand our partnership with Highlight into a formal joint venture, which will ultimately increase the capabilities and support that we can provide to our Government clients and their missions. Together, Katmai and Highlight create a formidable team with the right people, processes, and technologies that will provide high-quality, low-risk solutions to meet the needs of the federal government,” said Jerry Roach, General Manager and Vice President of Katmai Professional Services.  

Highlight is a 100% employee-owned federal contractor that has provided Agile Software Development, Business & Mission Support, and IT Services to over 20 federal government agencies for fifteen years. Highlight brings a mature management structure to support large-scale programs and expand digital services to Katmai’s portfolio of service offerings. 

“Given both companies’ commitment to stakeholder equity and client impact, our strategic partnership with Katmai Professional Services made perfect sense,” said Aarish Gokaldas, CEO of Highlight. “I look forward to bringing our joint capabilities together to serve our current and future government clients.”

Leveraging Katmai-Highlight Government Services will significantly broaden the offerings for both organizations to meet the unique needs of federal government agencies. This partnership enables us to provide tailored solutions and services that drive greater efficiency, effectiveness, and mission impact for agency clients.

About Katmai

Katmai, an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001:2008, AS 9100, and Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) Level 3 certified ANC organization, provides significant breadth and depth in the Federal contracting arena. The Katmai family of small business enterprises has performed over $1B in prime contracts for the Federal Government since 2006, and currently boasts 1,127 mission support employees across 47 locations nationwide.  Katmai is backed by the strength of 11 subsidiaries that are active in the SBA 8(a) program. Katmai profits are distributed back to our shareholder community with emphasis given to educational programs and non-profit organizations that enhance and protect the culture of the Alutiiq people.

About Highlight

Highlight Technologies (“Highlight”) is an award-winning, 100% employee-owned, ISO® 9001, ISO 20000, ISO 27001, ISO 44001 certified, ISO 56000 certified, CMMI-DEV Level 3, and CMMI-SVC Level 3 appraised federal contractor that provides Application Development, Business & Mission Operations, Data and Analytics, Hybrid Cloud and Automation, Cybersecurity, and IT Services to more than 20 U.S. federal government customers. Our customers include National Security (DHS, Army, Air Force, Intel), Health (USAID, NIH, HHS) and Citizen Services (FCC, GSA, SBA). For more information, please visit www.highlighttech.com.

Thriving in the Digital Age: Why the 5Ps Are Essential for Successful Digital Excellence

Posted on by Victoria Robinson

The federal landscape is undergoing a significant shift towards digital excellence. From streamlining citizen services to enhancing agency operations, digital initiatives are a necessity for government organizations to keep pace with the evolving landscape. However, navigating digital excellence, and by association digital transformation, can be complex. While many leaders focus on the technology itself, neglecting the human element and crucial operational changes can lead to project failure. The ripple effect of that failure is felt by internal and external users, stakeholders, the mission suffers, time is lost, let alone taxpayer funding is wasted. A successful digital transformation requires a holistic approach that considers five key pillars: People, Policy, Process, Partners, and Platforms, what I call the 5Ps.

The 5Ps: Building a Strong Foundation for Digital Transformation
Each P represents a crucial element that, when integrated effectively, fosters successful digital transformation. Conversely, neglecting any one of these Ps can cause friction and resistance, leading to a project that is incongruous, low-yielding, shortsighted, or even disintegrates altogether.

“When digital transformation is done right, it’s like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly, but when done wrong, all you have is a really fast caterpillar.” – George Westerman | Principal Research Scientist, MIT Sloan Initiative on Digital Economy
Let’s delve deeper into each P to understand their significance and the potential pitfalls of overlooking them:

1. People: The Human Center of Transformation

At the core of any digital transformation initiative are the People. This encompasses leaders, employees, citizens, and other stakeholders. Their buy-in, skills, and capabilities are paramount. Effective communication, training, and change management are crucial to ensure everyone understands the digital project’s goals and how their roles will evolve.

What happens when you neglect People?

 

  • Resistance to change from employees who fear job displacement or whose skills are not aligned with the new technologies.
  • Lack of user adoption for new applications or systems.
  • Talent gaps due to a lack of upskilling or reskilling initiatives.
2. Policy: Setting the Guideposts

Policy provides the guardrails that govern how digital transformation is implemented. This includes directives, guidance, and procedures that address data privacy, security, and IT infrastructure management. Federal agencies must adhere to specific legislative and compliance requirements, and policies must be developed to ensure digital initiatives align with these requirements.

What happens when you neglect Policy?

 

  • Non-compliance with federal regulations leading to project delays or shutdowns.
  • Unclear decision-making processes hinder progress.
  • Security breaches and data leaks due to inadequate protocols.
3. Process: Optimizing Workflows

Process refers to the business workflows that will be transformed through digital initiatives. Federal agencies often have legacy systems and paper-based processes that can be inefficient. In some cases, they digitized a paper process, and now there’s an opportunity to improve the digital process through automation. Digital transformation is an opportunity to streamline these processes and leverage technology to enhance efficiency and accuracy.

What happens when you neglect Process?

 

  • Inefficient workflows that continue to burden employees and hinder productivity.
  • Incompatibility between new technologies and existing processes, creating bottlenecks.
  • Failure to realize the full potential benefits of digital transformation.
4. Partners: Collaboration is Key

Partners play a critical role in digital transformation. This includes internal and external partners, such as academia, industry experts, and technology vendors. Collaboration with these partners can provide access to specialized skills, knowledge, and innovative solutions. This collaboration also ensures their needs or requirements are incorporated into the digital transformation.

Federal CIO Clare Martorana emphasized “The success of digital transformation efforts will depend heavily on how well agencies collaborate across functions and with external partners.”

What happens when you neglect Partners?

 

  • Re-inventing the wheel by attempting to develop solutions in-house that already exist.
  • Lack of access to cutting-edge technologies and expertise.
  • Siloed efforts that hinder information sharing and collaboration.
5. Platforms: The Technological Foundation

Platforms encompass an organization’s existing technologies, software, applications, and infrastructure that will be leveraged or replaced during digital transformation. A thorough assessment of current IT infrastructure is essential to determine compatibility with new technologies and to identify any upgrades needed.

What happens when you neglect Platforms?

 

  • Investing in new technologies that are incompatible with existing infrastructure, leading to integration challenges.
  • Security vulnerabilities due to outdated or unsupported technologies.
  • An inability to scale digital initiatives to meet future demands.

“…we will be able to target the right investments to support digital delivery, consolidate and retire legacy websites and systems, work with our private sector partners to implement leading technology solutions, maximize the impact of taxpayer dollars, and deliver a government that is secure by design and works for everyone.” – Federal Chief Information Officer Clare Martorana

By focusing on the 5Ps—People, Policy, Process, Partners, and Platforms—federal leaders and buyers can establish a strong foundation for successful digital transformation and achieve digital excellence. A well-coordinated approach considering these interconnected elements will help ensure projects are implemented effectively, deliver meaningful benefits, and position agencies to thrive in the digital age.

References

1 https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/digital-transformation-from-caterpillar-butterfly-deepak-mehta
2 https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/briefing-room/2023/09/22/why-the-american-people-deserve-a-digital-government/

Highlight Earns 2024 Great Place To Work Certification™

Posted on by Victoria Robinson

Fairfax, VA – Highlight is proud to be Certified™ by Great Place To Work® for the 3rd year in a row. The prestigious award is based entirely on what current employees say about their experience working at Highlight. This year, 96% of employees said it’s a great place To Work – 39 points higher than the average U.S. company.

Great Place To Work® is the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience, and leadership behaviors proven to deliver market-leading revenue, employee retention, and increased innovation.

“Great Place To Work Certification is a highly coveted achievement that requires consistent and intentional dedication to the overall employee experience,” says Sarah Lewis-Kulin, the Vice President of Global Recognition at Great Place To Work. She emphasizes that Certification is the sole official recognition earned by the real-time feedback of employees regarding their company culture. “By successfully earning this recognition, it is evident that Highlight stands out as one of the top companies to work for, providing a great workplace environment for its employees.”

“It is an honor to qualify as a Great Place to Work for a third consecutive year, but I’m prouder of the fact that employee satisfaction is at its highest point to date,” said Highlight CEO Aarish Gokaldas. “As Highlight continues to succeed, we commit to ensuring that all employees benefit from that success via our employee ownership model, strong compensation and benefits packages, and a culture built on camaraderie and meritocracy.”

According to Great Place To Work research, job seekers are 4.5 times more likely to find a great boss at a Certified great workplace. Additionally, employees at Certified workplaces are 93% more likely to look forward to coming to work, and are twice as likely to be paid fairly, earn a fair share of the company’s profits and have a fair chance at promotion.

Highlight’s Great Place to Work Achievements

In 2023, Highlight was recognized as

#35 on 2023 PEOPLE®’s Companies that Care List

#28 on 2023 Best Medium Workplaces List

#15 on Best Workplaces for Technology

#25 in Best Workplaces for Millennials™ 2023 (Small And Medium)

In 2022, Highlight was recognized as

#2 in Fortune Best Workplaces for Women™ 2022 (Small And Medium)

#10 in Fortune Best Workplaces in Technology™ 2022 (Small And Medium)

#16 in Fortune Best Medium Workplaces™ 2022

#33 in Best Workplaces for Millennials™ 2022 (Small And Medium)

WE’RE HIRING!
Looking to grow your career at a company that puts its people first? Visit our careers page at: https://careers.highlighttech.com/

About Highlight
Highlight Technologies (“Highlight”) is an award-winning, 100% employee-owned Application Development, Business & Mission Operations, Data and Analytics, Hybrid Cloud and Automation, Cybersecurity, and IT Services to over 20 U.S. federal government customers. Our customers include National Security (DHS, Army, Air Force), Health (NIH, HHS), and Citizen Services (SBA, USAID, www.highlighttech.com.

About Great Place to Work Certification™
Great Place To Work® Certification™ is the most definitive “employer-of-choice” recognition that companies aspire to achieve. It is the only recognition based entirely on what employees report about their workplace experience – specifically, how consistently they experience a high-trust workplace. Great Place to Work Certification is recognized worldwide by employees and employers alike and is the global benchmark for identifying and recognizing outstanding employee experience. Every year, more than 10,000 companies across 60 countries apply to get Great Place To Work-Certified.

About Great Place To Work®
As the global authority on workplace culture, Great Place To Work® brings 30 years of groundbreaking research and data to help every place become a great place to work for all. Their proprietary platform and For All™ Model helps companies evaluate the experience of every employee, with exemplary workplaces becoming Great Place To Work Certified™ or receiving recognition on a coveted Best Workplaces™ List.
Learn more at greatplacetowork.com and follow Great Place To Work on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.