Lunch With Leaders
Lunch with Leaders is a learning opportunity for new professionals with five or less years of acquisition experience to meet with leaders in a small conversational setting. We select a different leader each lunch to provide their perspectives on what it means to be successful, and different approaches on how to become successful. Hear personal stories on how the leader succeeded and challenges they faced and career advice they want to share.
The best part: it’s FREE! But act fast–space is limited! Click the “SIGN UP” button above to email VP of Operations Karen Williams.
Date and Time: Thursday, February 27, 2020, 11:30AM – 1:00PM. Lunch provided starting at 11:30AM.
Location: 2001 Edmund Halley Drive, Suite 500, Reston, VA 20191
Featured Leader: Randy C. Harris, Vice President, Federal Program Management, Capture and Services, CDW-G
Randy Harris is vice president, Federal program management, capture and services for CDW Government (CDW-G), a wholly owned subsidiary of CDW and a leading provider of technology solutions to government, education and healthcare. In this role, Harris leads the CDW-G Federal program management, capture and services organization, focusing on serving the unique needs of the Federal government.
Harris is an experienced IT leader with Federal market expertise in business development and capture, program management and services delivery. In his last role at Merlin International, he was vice president, operations and program management. Prior to Merlin, Harris spent 24 years in various executive roles for government system integrators that included SAIC, Pearson Government Solutions, Vangent, Vangent UK Limited and General Dynamics. Harris has been instrumental in winning and delivering large-scale public sector IT/service contract awards ranging from $1 million to $4 billion. After successfully negotiating a 10-year, $350 million contract to provide support services to one of London’s inner-city boroughs, Harris lived in London for five years to serve as Vangent UK’s chief operating officer.
Harris earned a bachelor’s degree in business economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Harris actively supports the Philip Hayden Foundation, which provides care and opportunities for Chinese orphans with disabilities. Harris also supports the Slavic American Sokol organization, which promotes Czech culture and language for local youth.
Date and Time: Thursday, December 5, 2019, 11:30AM – 1:00PM. Lunch provided starting at 11:30AM.
Location: 4000 Legato Road, Suite 1100, Fairfax, VA 22033
Featured Leader: Karen A. Wheeler, Chief Human Resources Officer, SAIC
Karen A. Wheeler is executive vice president and chief human resources officer of SAIC. As CHRO, Wheeler is responsible for leading the development and implementation of key employee-related initiatives, including organizational development, talent management, recruiting, retention, and employee engagement.
Prior to assuming this role in 2017, she served as SAIC’s chief procurement officer since 2013, where she was responsible for the acquisition of more than $1.5 billion in services and materials for the company and its customers. She also led a team of more than 185 procurement professionals.
Wheeler joined SAIC in 1996 as a contract representative. During her tenure with SAIC, Wheeler has served in many key contracts and procurement director positions supporting numerous business areas.
Wheeler began her career working for CEXEC Inc., based in Reston, Virginia, as a contract support staff member in the Management Consulting Division. After, she worked for American Management Systems Inc. based in Fairfax, Virginia, as a contract administrator.
Wheeler is a member of the National Contract Management Association (NCMA) and the Institute of Supply Management (ISM).
Wheeler earned her Juris Doctor from the Catholic University of America and her bachelor’s degree in political science from Radford University. She was admitted to the Maryland Bar in 2001, and she also has a Corporate Counsel Designation from the Virginia Bar.
Location: General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT), 3150 Fairview Park Drive, Falls Church, VA 22042
Featured Leader: Heather G. Dallara, Vice President Contracts, Defense Division, GDIT
Heather G. Dallara, CFCM, Fellow currently serves as the Vice President of Contracts, Defense Division of General Dynamics Information Technology. In this role, Ms. Dallara leads the contracts portfolio of $3.5B overseeing the delivery of mission critical services and solutions to the U.S. Department of Defense and government customers.
Prior to joining General Dynamics in 2010, Ms. Dallara began her career at L-3 Technologies, Inc., and Harris Technical Services Corporation (now Peraton) supporting the Department of Defense, intelligence community and other civilian agencies.
Ms. Dallara is a current member of the National Contract Management Association (NCMA) Board of Directors. Ms. Dallara has been recognized as one of NCMA’s Advancing Professionals (2014) and is a graduate (2010) of the NCMA Contract Management Leadership Development Program (CMLDP). Ms. Dallara earned the NCMA Fellow distinction in 2015.
Ms. Dallara received a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from Virginia Tech in 2002 and Masters of Science in management and leadership from Marymount University in 2015. Ms. Dallara earned a graduate certificate from the University of Virginia in procurement and contracts management in 2010. Ms. Dallara is a Certified Federal Contracts Manager.
Date and Time: Wednesday, May 15, 2019, 11:30AM – 1:00PM. Lunch provided starting at 11:30AM.
Location: Accelera Solutions, 12150 Monument Drive, Suite 800, Fairfax, VA 22033
Parking garage is behind the building.
Featured Leader: Steve Weiss, President/Chief Operating Officer, Accelera Solutions
Steve Weiss brings more than 35 years of experience supporting Intelligence, Technology and Systems Integration programs across the public, international and private sectors. Steve places great value in developing & empowering his team as well as leading Accelera’s ethics-based culture.
As President and COO, Steve is accountable for the management and growth of all facets of Accelera’ s business operations. With his proven expertise in facilitating business growth, Steve is transforming Accelera into an enterprise-driven company focusing on IT transformation, cyber security, data analytics and cloud engineering.
Prior to joining Accelera Solutions, Mr. Weiss served as the Executive Vice President for Government Business Operations at CACI International, helping drive growth from $1.6B to more than $4.4B during his 10 years. At CACI Steve was an active member of the M&A Team and served as CACI’s Corporate Ombudsman. In that role, Steve was a champion of ethical business practices serving as a neutral third-party and available to all employees for problem resolution.
Prior to joining CACI, Mr. Weiss spent 18 years at Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), as a Senior VP for Administration. His primary focus was on contract management and execution, helping drive growth from $800M to more than $8B.
Mr. Weiss began his career as an Air Force Contracting Officer and spent a combined 22 years on active duty and in the Air Force Reserves. He holds a BS Degree in Business Management from the University of Florida and an MS Degree in Public Administration from Troy University. He serves on the Board of Directors of AFSEA, the University of Florida Foundation and Linden Resources, a non-profit corporation providing meaningful employment for people with varying abilities and Veterans.
Date and Time: Tuesday, March 12, 2019, 11:30AM – 1:00PM. Lunch provided starting at 11:30AM.
Location: CACI, 14370 Newbrook Drive, Chantilly, VA 20151
Bring a government issued photo ID, i.e. driver’s license or passport
Featured Leader: Amanda H. Christian, Senior Vice President, Subcontracts and Procurement, CACI
Amanda Christian is the Senior Vice President of Subcontracts and Procurement at CACI International Inc., a professional services and IT solutions company with $4.5B in revenue. In this role, Ms. Christian leads an organization that purchases goods and services with an approximate spend of $1.8B per year. Ms. Christian is responsible for setting direction, policy and procedures based upon corporate level strategy, and ensure the procurement and subcontracts personnel provide value and contribute to the overall success of the company. As a key position on the Executive Leadership Team, Ms. Christian delivers on strategic initiatives, implements industry best practices, while maintaining a DCMA Approved Purchasing System.
Ms. Christian has over 20 years in Procurement experience. Prior to joining CACI in2008, she was with Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). Ms. Christian holds an MBA from Marymount University and a BSBA specializing in Supply Chain Management from Bowling Green State University (BGSU). In addition to serving on the Ivalua Executive Advisory Council, the BGSU Department of Management Advisory Council and the BGSU Alumni Board, Ms. Christian is longtime member of the National Contracts Management Association where she serves on the Board of Directors.
Location:Engility, 4803 Stonecroft Boulevard, Chantilly, VA 20151
Featured Leader: Debra Scheider, Senior Vice President of Contracts and Supplier Management, Engility
Debra Scheider serves as the senior vice president of Contracts and Management for Engility, a leading provider of highly-technical, integrated solutions and services to the U.S. government, with customers spanning the defense, intelligence, space and federal civilian communities. With revenues of approximately $2 billion and more than 8,000 employees serving customers around the world, Engility is headquartered in Chantilly, Va. Scheider oversees contracts, subcontracts, security and supplier management.
Scheider has over 35 years of experience in federal contracting. Previously, she founded and led Guidestar Acquisition to provide consulting services to companies and government officials related to all aspects of acquisition with a focus on the intelligence community and Department of Defense contracting. Scheider retired from the Central Intelligence Agency in 2015 with 33 years of experience in all facets of acquisition, including cutting-edge, highly classified programs. Scheider also served as director of contracts, senior procurement executive, and deputy portfolio manager for services at the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) for over 10 years, where she was responsible for cradle-to-grave implementation and execution of all NRO programs.
Scheider is on the board of directors for the National Contract Management Association (NCMA), which is recognized as the premier organization for connecting, educating and certifying 18,000+ contract management professionals. In 2015, she was appointed a director for the Procurement Roundtable (PRT), whose mission is to advise and assist the government in making improvements in federal acquisition.
Scheider served as an executive mentor for The Brookings Institute, and the NRO Federal Women’s Program. In 2015, she was awarded the CIA Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal and the NRO Gold Medal of Distinguished Performance.
Scheider has a bachelor’s degree from American University, a master’s degree in business administration from Virginia Tech and a master’s degree in public sector finance and acquisition from the University of Maryland. She is a Certified Professional Contract Manager (CPCM), and holds Level III Contract Officer, Program Manager and Contracting Officer Representative certifications.
Location: AECOM, 4800 Westfields Boulevard, Chantilly, VA 20151
Featured Leader: Terry Raley, Senior Vice President of Contracts and Procurement, AECOM Federal Business
Terry is the Senior Vice President of Contracts & Procurement for AECOM’s $4.2B Federal Business. In this role, Terry leads the Contracts and Procurement Departments and is responsible for resource determination & allocation, policy development/implementation, and all other responsibilities required for the general management and performance of these organizations. Prior to this position, Terry led the Contracts and Procurement Departments for AECOM Management Services Group. Terry joined AECOM in September 2011.
Prior to AECOM, Terry has held numerous leadership positions responsible for Contracts, Procurement, Pricing and Operations for various Government Contractors spanning the past 32 years.His prior positions include being the Vice President of Contracts at DynCorp Systems & Solutions, a $1B IT company, Vice President of Contracts at CSC Federal Sector, a $6B IT company, and Director of Operations for numerous IT, State & Local Business and Healthcare Divisions within CSC.
In addition to his general business experience, Terry has extensive experience in Organizational Development, Business Process Development, Acquisition Due-Diligence, and Business Systems Compliance.
Terry earned a Master of Business Administration degree from George Mason University and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Management from James Madison University.
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