a note from
8-koi
headquarters
:: winter 2020
|
|
2019 is a memorable year for 8-koi. Making the top highlights: acquiring Cape Design Engineering, expanding 8-koi’s leadership team and my beloved pup Trixie, a Coton de Tulear, winning the Title World Champion at the 2019 World Dog Show competition in Shanghai.
In 2020 we intend to hone our company processes and procedures and continue to work smart and work hard for our customers, community and employees. As a team, we are also working hard for ourselves - read more about how you can win our FitBit prize below.
2019 gave us many reasons to be grateful and at the core of our gratitude is you!
Thank you for being part of our year and our future successes!
Wishing you and yours joy, health and peace in 2020 and always,
|
|
|
|
Inga I. Young
Founder and President
|
|
T
he direction of 8-koi and CDE into the new year and new decade will be led by values similar to the principles I live by, the four Ps: People, Programs, Processes and Pipeline.
•
People
are always first. We believe that if we take care of our people the rest should take care of itself. In turn we want our people to join us in the growth and evolution of 8-koi and CDE and become a part of our ultimate vision.
•
Programs
- we know that understanding contracts is vital. If we do it right the first time then we will have a better capture rate - keeping the customers we already have and potentially growing the business with repeat customers and building on our reputation.
•
Processes
- we must have the right processes in place so that everything is repeatable – just like developing a new habit.
•
Pipeline
- the lifeblood and vitality of any organization and source for growth and opportunities. Expanding our customer base depends on a robust pipeline.
Inga and I are believers in the business book called
Traction
by Gino Wickman and are purchasing copies for employees. My intent is to support employees by identifying solutions in making progress toward their “Big Rock” goals.
In past months we’ve been using the Vision/Traction Organizer to help us develop our 10 year business strategy and succession infrastructure to ensure continuation of smooth operations.
Now and always we are
full spectrum solutions with a human touch
, unified by four core values:
•
Passion
—We are driven by an essential need and desire to satisfy our
customers’ and
colleagues’ needs.
•
Excellence
—Our commitment is to exceed expectations.
•
Dependability
—Through relentless perseverance we will achieve enduring and lasting outcomes.
•
Thoughtfulness
—It is not all about us. Consideration is always there for alternatives with an open-minded willingness to embrace other ideas while having empathy for our clients and each other.
We are a Small Business 8(a) and an Economically Disadvantaged Women Owned Small Business intending to take advantage of small business opportunities and turning it into high octane fuel to power continued growth for 8-koi and CDE’s future.
Together, as a team, I’m excited about what we will do.
Looking to the future,
Dean
|
|
Have you joined the biggest loser contest? No need to take on a weight loss challenge alone, plus the top three losers will win a FitBit. Keep up the good work of feeding your body right and bringing movement into your daily routine - it does the mind and body good.
|
|
|
Happy Birthday
February
5 - Lutfi Mized (CDE)
6 – Chelsey Manners
17 – Cheryl Sills
18 – Herb Wasserman (CDE)
24 – Brian Williams (CDE)
26 – Trevor Baumann
March
2 - Krutika Kanfade (CDE)
8 - Kannan Rengarajan (CDE)
9 – Jessica Manzano
17 - Mark Lueders (CDE)
18 – Debbie Dash
24 – Robert McGowan
24 - Robert McGowan (CDE)
29 - Lance Beck (CDE)
April
11 - Laura Varley (CDE)
29 - Peter Root (CDE)
30 - Jill Bond
|
|
Happy Work Anniversary
February
1 year - Amber Gordon, Walter Reed Admin Support,
2 years -
Krutika Kanfade, Mechanical Engineer
2 years - Chris Manning, Finance & Contract Manager,
3 years -
Matthew Charmbury,
Superintendent
March
5 years - Alan Wright, Government Site Contracts
April
3 years - Amy Sigmon, Senior HR Manager
11 years - Peter Root, Designer
|
|
|
|
|
A New Baby Boy Gives Reason to Celebrate
|
Welcome
Jamari Phillip Taylor born to Sharlene Leftwich-Taylor, ophthalmology
secretary III at Walter Reed. Baby Jamari was born November 23, 2019, weighing a healthy 7.5 lbs and measuring 21 inches.
Welcome to the world, Baby Boy!
|
|
|
|
Welcome to the Team, Jeyssa
|
Starting Feb. 12, 2020, Jeyssa Hook, SHRC, will join the 8-koi team as corporate recruiter and support HR functions for both 8-koi and CDE.
Formerly she’s worked as Comprehensive Health Services’ (CHSi) international recruiter and Caliburn International’s global services lead international recruiter.
Jeyssa started her college education at UCF and graduated from University InterAmericana in Puerto Rico, earning a bachlor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in human resources. Jeyssa is bilingual, speaking English and Spanish.
|
|
|
Congratulations, Team!
Space Coast Women In Defense (SCWID) recognized 8-koi as the
STEM Business Innovator of the Year
for the construction of the 2020 Robotic Mining Competition (RMC) Indoor Arena at KSC. The SCWID 7
th
Anniversary Celebration and STEM Award Ceremonies were held on January 25, in Cocoa Beach.
The newly constructed arena will host the international competition on May 18-22, 2020, at the Astronauts Memorial Foundation in the Center for Space Education at KSC.
The competition is designed to promote and engage students in the science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, disciplines critical to NASA’s missions.
Read more about the competition at
NASA.gov
.
Photography courtesy of Matt Charmbury, Project Superintendent
|
|
|
|
Have you seen the good news? 8-koi has caught the eye and ear of our local business newspaper, Brevard Business News, and landed on the front page. Access the full story
here
.
|
|
|
|
MEET THE TEAM ::
Alexis Mota
Facility Security Officer
Alexis Mota joined the 8-koi team in July as the facility security officer (FSO). She’s a political science graduate from the University of Central Florida with a focus in terrorism studies and military politics. Strengthening her skills as 8-koi’s FSO she continues her UCF studies and is working to complete her leadership classes as part of UCF’s extended education.
As FSO her daily responsibilities include managing personnel security clearances and 8-koi’s facility clearance. She ensures government paperwork is up-to-date, properly completed and guides employees through the clearance process - briefing them on what to expect during the investigation process. Alexis also supports Inga Young, CEO of 8-koi and CDE, with daily tasks, upkeep of calendars, reviewing and coordinating proposals and helping with 8-koi events like job fairs.
Before joining 8-koi Alexis was a contracted background investigator for the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. She conducted all the fieldwork required to determine eligibility for a government security clearance. During that time she mostly worked in Melbourne, Florida, at Patrick AFB, Kennedy Space Center and Northrop Grumman. She also spent a month working in Puerto Rico, a month in San Francisco and two weeks in Colorado.
“The whole month I was in Puerto Rico was interesting. I drove all over the island most days and almost all the routes I had to take took me on terrifyingly narrow mountain roads. I was there not too long after hurricane Maria and one day I was driving along the mountain pass and the road just ended because it got washed out in the storm. It wasn’t the easiest experience to be there for a month. I had to push myself outside of my comfort zone to get work done.”
During her career and travels as an investigator Alexis collected memorable stories and experiences.
“One time when I was in Puerto Rico, I was looking for someone but didn’t have an exact address like we do here in the continental U.S., so I knocked on some doors in the general area trying to find the person I was looking for. Well, one man got spooked when I pulled out my badge and he took off running! I was so stunned I had no idea what to do so I just closed the door to his house, got back in my car and let him keep running.”
Alexis is grateful for her coworkers and the companionship of Inga’s pups at the Melbourne office, unlike her former solitary work in the field. At home Alexis has a family of her own including her husband Daniel and their two dogs Shortstop the hound and Lindy the Pitbull mix. The couple got married last year at the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland followed by a honeymoon in Greece and are looking forward to travel plans in Japan in 2020.
|
If you would like to be featured in
WAVES
, use the button to submit your profile today!
|
|
|
8-koi is Across the US
Check out 8-koi team members, customers and locations across the country
here
and in the 8-koi Employee Portal.
|
|
PASSION | EXCELLENCE | DEPENDABILITY | THOUGHTFULNESS
|
|
|
|
8-koi is expanding its team!
|
|
#DYK
On the average, there are 2,000 to 5,000 new government contracting opportunities available each day in all industry categories.
- The Government Contractors Association
|
|
Are you all caught up with
8-koi
kurrents
?
|
|
|
|
Where in the World is the 8-koi office trailer?!
8-koi is on the job!
8-koi is supporting
construction projects
like this one at the Naval Hospital at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville. The 8-koi trailer is expected to to remain there until the technology infrastructure and renovations projects are completed. Give us a HONK if you see us on the move!
|
|
|
|
Read past issues of
WAVES
|
|
|
Redlines Company Newsletter Check it Out
|
C
DE's Winter Redlines features a profile story on CEO Inga Young, Vice President of Engineering Victor Diaz, project updates and much more. Read all about it right
here
.
|
|
|
Do you have any interesting articles to share? How are you involved in the community? We'd love to hear from you and the current events that are keeping your attention. Let us know your suggestions and send your articles, stories, photos, links, and resources and we'll help to spread the word through our networks.
|
|
Look out for more WAVES...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
