The Chinese New Year is upon us and it’s the Year of the Tiger symbolizing strength, power and prosperity in the Chinese zodiac. We set our intentions to continue to deliver on our mission to offer beginning to end services, in all four of our divisions, and uphold our commitment to offer the personal connection that keeps our clients satisfied, keeps us recommended and keeps clients coming back for more.

Prosperity is a way of living and thinking, and not just money or things. Poverty is a way of living and thinking, and not just a lack of money or things. - Eric Butterworth, served as a minister, author and radio personality.

People: We continue to expand our team and have hired Cyber Security Engineers, Gerald Rainer and Suann Wlilloughby as well as Systems Engineer, Thorin Compy, as well as Electrical Engineering Graduate, Jorge Rivera, CAD Designer Jared Jacobs, Construction Site Manager, Gabriel Herrera, and FBI Telephone Operator, Kiana Kirk. The newest team members are already making a positive impact to both 8-koi and CDE. Welcome aboard!

Programs:

Cape Design Engineering successfully captured contracts supporting multiple federal, state and county agencies. Some projects include:

Pipeline: We continue to leverage an extra year of 8(a) eligibility – valid until April 2023.

Process: We gained further traction by focusing on continuous improvement - our “Big Rocks.” Thanks to Matt Rebholz, 8-koi developed and implemented a Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) marking program to include training, marking, coversheets, emails, etc. Sami Mized developed and operationalized the new Suntree building IT Plan. HR (Amy Sigmon and May Rilo) ensured annual performance reviews were completed and enhanced our benefits for 2022. The HR team is hard at work trying to enhance our new employee onboarding experience.

Thank you for your votes! 8-koi is ranked #79 on the SB100 List for 2021 Best of Small Business Awards. Way to go, Team! The Small Business of the Year Award recognizes the many achievements of a small business that demonstrate exceptional growth in the marketplace, diversity, A+ Customer Service, leadership, a positive workplace environment and a profitable business model. Congratulations to all the honorees!

Read more at 8-koi.com. 

A 2022 goal for me is to become a better listener. I wanted to share a few thoughts on Active Listening. There are five key active listening techniques you can use to help become a more effective listener:

2.     Show That You're Listening - Use your own body language and

     •  Nod occasionally.

     •  Smile and use other facial expressions.

     • Make sure your posture is open and interested.

     •  Encourage the speaker to continue with small verbal comments like ____"yes," and "uh huh."

3.     Provide Feedback - Our personal filters, assumptions, judgments and beliefs can distort what we hear. As a listener, your role is to understand what is being said. This may require you to reflect on what is being said and to ask questions.

     • Reflect on what has been said by paraphrasing. "What I'm hearing _____is... ____," and "Sounds like you are saying... ," are great ways to _____reflect back.

     • Ask questions to clarify certain points. "What do you mean when you _____say... ." "Is this what you mean?"

     • Summarize the speaker's comments periodically.

4.     Defer Judgment - Interrupting is a waste of time. It frustrates the speaker and limits full understanding of the message.

     • _Allow the speaker to finish each point before asking questions.

     • _Don't interrupt with counter arguments.

5.     Respond Appropriately - Active listening is designed to encourage respect and understanding. You are gaining information and perspective.

__ • Be candid, open and honest in your response.

__ • Assert your opinions respectfully.

__ • Treat the other person in a way that you think they would want to _____be treated.

Our very own Debbie Dash, PMW 240 Administrative and Acquisition Executive Assistant, was spotlighted in the Sea Warrior MyNavy HR IT Solutions Spark in October for her quick wit...

Jared Jacobs, CAD designer level III, supporting CDE

Jorge Rivera, new graduate electrical engineer, supporting CDE

Kiana Kirk, telephone operator, supporting the FBI HQ program in Washington DC

Gabriel Herrera, construction site manager, Jacksonville, Fla.

Josh Nelson, construction estimator, 8-koi

Yurie Miki, financial administrative assistant, supporting 8-koi HQ

Grace Manning, intern, 8-koi

Stephan Nichols, construction site manager, 8-koi

8-koi was among 849 businesses and Hire Vets Medallion Award winners across the US recognized for their commitment to recruit, hire, retain and promote veterans at the virtual ceremony on November 10th, 2021. 8-koi is proud to stand among the other 848 Hire Vets Medallion Award winners recognized by The US Department of Labor OSHA. Read more here.

DYK? According to the Insider Risk December newsletter, 84% of security professionals and 80% of other workers are feeling burned out, which has led to serious backsliding around security protocols. Burned out employees are a third less likely to follow their company’s security guidelines (59% for burned out vs. 80% for not burned out). Read more.

Q: When did Cape Design Engineering Co. become a wholly-owned subsidiary of 8-koi?

A: March 2019. Read more.

Q: Who is the VP of Design Engineering?

A: Rich Kube. Read more.

Q: True or False - CDE designed and built the Space Shuttle Processing Facility Science Annex at NASA's Kennedy Space Center?

A: True. Read more.

In November, our 'Big Fish' Les Daniels was back at I/ITSEC in Orlando connecting with others at the world's largest modeling, simulation & training event to ask how 8-koi can help meet their military, healthcare, training and IT government contracting goals.

Recruiting for 8-koi, Carlos Badillo, Amy Sigmon and May Rilo attended the Brevard Career Source Paychecks for Patriots Job Fair. The Nov.18, 2021 event supports veteran and military spouse job seekers. You can see all of our open career opportunities at 8-koi.com.

Seen here transporting all the donated toys for the good girls and boys, 8-koi's Carlos Badillo played Santa along with helpers May Rilo and Sheena Heitzman and Cocoa Police Department officers. 8-koi joined forces with Women in Defense Space Coast and Brevard County Sheriff's Office charity for the Great Brevard Toy Drop 2021. See more photos at 8-koi.com.

8-koi is a proud supporter of Women in Defense, an affiliate of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA). This year, our very own Inga Young is President of the Space Coast Chapter and is working with an all-volunteer board to bring high-quality networking and professional development opportunities to women and men working in support of our national defense.

Since 2013, Women in Defense Space Coast (WIDSC) has awarded over $60,000 in STEM Scholarships to students pursuing studies in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.

For more information about WID membership and scholarships, visit SCWID.org.

Check out 8-koi team members, customers and locations across the country here.

View all our open career opportunities at 8-koi.com.

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8-koi, Inc. has complied with the passage of an interim rule to bridge the gap toward full transition to the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program. The Department of Defense is requiring all contractors with the clause at Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) 252.204-7012 in their contracts to conduct a self-assessment of NIST SP 800-171 standards and enter their results into the Supplier Performance Risk System by November 30, 2020. Contractors who have not entered their results by that deadline will not be eligible for an award on a contract containing DFARS 252.204-7012.

Click here for more information.