Margarita Howard has spent more than two decades navigating government contracting as a woman-owned business owner. Her company, HX5, now employs more than 1,000 people and holds contracts with the Department of Defense and NASA across 34 states. From that vantage point, Howard has watched the industry change significantly, though she is careful not to overstate how far it has come.
Progress That Is Real but Incomplete
“It’s rewarding to see that women are making significant strides in the government contracting industry, over the years, breaking barriers and more often assuming leadership roles in this industry and within government agencies that we work with,” Margarita Howard said. At the same time, she acknowledged that “it’s still somewhat challenging for women in this industry, and while progress has been made, some biases unfortunately remain to be overcome.” Those words carry weight coming from someone who has built a Fort Walton Beach firm from a startup into a major federal contractor.
Building the Team HX5 Needed
Rather than simply commenting on gender dynamics from the sidelines, Margarita Howard built an organization that reflects the leadership model she advocates for the industry. Many senior management positions at HX5 are held by women, and a number of those leaders have been with the company for a decade or more. “We were very selective of people that we chose for our management team,” Howard said. “Many of them have been with us for 10 years or so, and we just have a highly dedicated, experienced management team.” The stability of that team has been a core asset as HX5 has grown, competed for larger contracts, and maintained the compliance standards federal work demands. For Howard, retaining talent is not just good business practice; it is a reflection of values. “At the end of the day, it’s our team of great employees and management that makes us successful,” she said. Refer to this article, for related information.
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