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BCS, Incorporated |
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April 15, 2013 Issue |
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The Most Powerful Name In Corporate News and Information |
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BCS, Incorporated is providing Management Consulting to Federal Government R&D Programs specializing in Energy and Environment, National Security, International Development and Health |
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BCS, Incorporated is a management consulting firm that specializes in: Energy and environment, National security, International development, and Health.
BCS offers its clients a
full range of services, including Technology & Analysis, Communications &
Outreach, Information Technologies & Business Management, and Security &
Integration. BCS is widely recognized for its ability to deliver
personalized service, innovation, immediate attention, and high product
quality. Throughout his early career, Ken Boras always dreamed of starting his own business. Dedicated to clean energy, Ken worked hard to learn the ropes of the consulting business, while honing in on new technologies and advancements in technical and engineering research. In a world before the Internet, Ken developed strong connections with clients through his high standards, hard work, and face-to-face interactions. After establishing himself in the industry, Ken decided that it was time to start looking for the right opportunity to move forward with his dream. After writing an outward-facing business plan, Ken spent his time writing proposals and bidding for contracts on his own. Ken secured his first contract with the California Energy Commission—an agency that was familiar with Ken and his work. In 1989, contract and business plan in hand, Ken took the biggest risk of his life; he took out a loan, pulled together a team of talented consultants, and started BCS, Incorporated.
As the sole owner of a company, Ken has not only kept his business running in a trying economy, he’s grown the business and continues to hire new people. Ken’s high standards and work ethic trickles down to BCS staff, who continue to provide clients with exceptional work and value-added services every day. Ken’s attitude of focusing on solutions and not obstacles keeps BCS clients coming back. Constantly looking for new opportunities, Ken keeps BCS at the forefront of the consulting industry, encouraging his staff to go the extra mile for the company and its clients. |
Technology Consulting
BCS,
Incorporated Laurel, MD 20723 410.997.7778
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Interview conducted by: Lynn Fosse, Senior Editor, CEOCFO Magazine, Published – April 2013
CEOCFO: Mr. Boras, would you tell us the focus for BCS? Mr. Boras: We perform four core service activities: we have an IT & Business Management group, a Communication & Outreach group, a Technology & Analysis group, and a Security & Integration group.
CEOCFO: Would BCS like to see a change in these components? Mr. Boras: We built these four service platforms for our clients, and they are the appropriate ones. In terms of balance between them, we are growing our IT group, and the other three are growing at a good pace.
CEOCFO: Who is using your services? Mr. Boras: Primarily federal government R&D programs are using our services. We provide a variety of technical and analytical support for a number of those activities. A smaller portion of our revenue base comes from the private sector. For the private sector, we provide the same services, primarily in new technology areas as they relate to energy and environment and some in the national security area.
CEOCFO: Would you like to grow the private sector business? Mr. Boras: We are trying to grow our private sector activity because our tools, techniques, and the qualifications of our staff would be able to service them as well. When I founded the company, we started out in the public sector, so most of our work has grown in that area.
CEOCFO: Would you give us examples of some of the typical projects in each area and what does BCS provides that other companies do not? Mr. Boras: For the Secretary of Energy, our Communications & Outreach group produces the Quadrennial Technology Review (QTR). In this group, we provide graphic design, technical writing/editing, and publication development support. The QTR is a document that reviews all of the Department of Energy’s R&D programs. For an R&D program, we perform a variety of tasks: technical analyses that look at new technologies coming into the marketplace, as well as qualifications, benefits, and the types of activities that could be advanced in support of the market and in the investment of R&D dollars. We also support business management functions: we design a corporate planning system that helps implement the Department of Energy’s R&D activities and monitor the benefits that come from some of those activities once the R&D is in process. We also develop a variety of tools and techniques from our IT group that service our other three groups in performing their tasks effectively and efficiently for our clients.
CEOCFO: Would you tell us how the three areas developed? Mr. Boras: It was by design to develop four different platforms for BCS so the company could have separate areas that would complement each other and not overlap. They provide distinct service activities so we can be flexible in servicing our clients.
CEOCFO: How is business for BCS? Mr. Boras: In the last two years, business has been steady and we have been growing marginally. Initially, we were growing faster. In the last three years, our growth has continued but at a lower rate. We are very optimistic about the next couple of years and growing our company because we have laid the groundwork: we took these three years of moderate growth and improved our accounting systems, improved our infrastructure internally, and brought in new talent. We feel that we have positioned ourselves well to take advantage of market opportunities.
CEOCFO: Your concerns about sequestration? Mr. Boras: We are more concerned about the government passing a budget. Since we work closely with the federal government, it is always important that our clients know what their budgets are so they can be effective in utilizing the dollars they have. We are hoping that because we give added value to all of our clients, that we will be viewed as an appropriate contractor to help service them in beneficial activities to the nation.
CEOCFO: How does your range of locations help you in getting new projects? Mr. Boras: Our locations are near national laboratories for the Department of Energy, primarily because we support the labs’ technical activities.
CEOCFO: Are you servicing the projects you have created and do you work with companies outside of what you have developed? Mr. Boras: We develop tools and techniques. For example, we develop a conference management tool that helps us do registrations and take in funds. If we have to do a technical analysis, we will develop a tool that appropriately models industry, and we can project what the potential market is in a particular industry or activity. We have modeling capabilities in our IT shop, including everything from conference management tools to contact database tools to peer-review tools, which help peer-review activities be more effective and look at new project opportunities.
CEOCFO: Would you tell us about the international side of your business? Mr. Boras: We support the U.S. Trade and Development Agency. In that realm, our contract is to support new business potential in other countries in support of U.S. industry activities. Specifically, we help plan, organize, and execute trade missions in support of U.S. industry in particular countries.
CEOCFO: What have you learned over the years in working with various governmental agencies that has been most helpful? Mr. Boras: We have been fortunate to be in an exciting new technology area, and government R&D activities are essential for the growth of our country and the way we can interact in both domestic and global activities. It will play a large role in helping growth, domestic opportunities, and markets in this country, as well as helping industry to grow and be competitive.
CEOCFO: What do you see happening in the next year or two? Mr. Boras: Good question. I always have the mission of trying to ensure that our company is at the forefront of opportunities—to be a recognized company nationwide. When other people look at BCS, they will see a company that provides them with value and good service going forward. In terms of market opportunities, because of the groundwork that we have laid in the last three years, we are hoping for good growth in the market space that we have been in for the last 20 or so years. We have the expertise, we have the ability, and we have the corporate systems to provide good service to our clients—both those that we currently have and those that we hope to have.
CEOCFO: Why is giving back important to BCS? Mr. Boras: Giving back has always been important to me personally. That is because I have been given the ability and opportunity to be where I am today, not just because of myself, but because of others. If BCS can give back—whether it is to a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) effort or through a local nonprofit, such as the Helping Up Mission in Baltimore, Maryland. It is to make sure that we are giving back to society in a way that has helped allow us to be where we are today.
CEOCFO: What are the intangibles you look for in your people; what do you want over and above technical skills? Mr. Boras: Over and above technical skills is the understanding that you have to work hard to do something that is valuable. You have to think things through. You have to be able to work long hours and do what it takes to meet your clients’ needs and to create new activities, new programs, and new modeling techniques. You have to be creative, and most of all, passionate about what you do. If we find a person who is passionate about what he or she does, then we have found the right individual to come and work at BCS.
CEOCFO: What makes BCS an exceptional company?
Mr. Boras:
Good question. We are exceptional because we have the right staff and the
ability to do something in both the energy space and environmental space
that has proven to support industry growth. We are well positioned to solve
some of the issues and problems that exist in the market spaces in which we
work. We are a solid company. We have been here for 23 years, and many of
the people that work for me in this market space have been here much longer.
We are a dedicated group of people trying to do the right thing at the right
time. |
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“We are exceptional because we have the right staff and the ability to do something in both the energy space and environmental space that has proven to support industry growth. We are well positioned to solve some of the issues and problems that exist in the market spaces in which we work. We are a solid company. We have been here for 23 years, and many of the people that work for me in this market space have been here much longer. We are a dedicated group of people trying to do the right thing at the right time.”- Kenneth W. Boras |
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Management Consulting for Federal Government, BCS, Incorporated, CEO Interviews 2013, Business Services Companies, Technology Consulting for R&D Programs, Energy, Environment, National Security, International Development, Health, Recent CEO Interviews, Business Services Stock, Technology & Analysis, Communications & Outreach, Information Technologies & Business Management, Security & Integration, personalized service, BCS, Incorporated Press Releases, News, Companies looking for venture capital, Angel Investors, private companies looking for investors, business services companies seeking investors, consulting companies needing investment capital |
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