WebMethods builds fed unit

WebMethods Inc., Fairfax, Va., continues to bolster its new government unit with the hiring of former Virginia Secretary of Technology Don Upson. Upson will be senior vice president of business operations and rejoins his former boss Len Pomata, who is president of the WebMethods government unit.Pomata and Upson worked together when Pomata was president and chief executive officer of Litton PRC Inc. Upson was PRC's vice president of marketing.In his new position, Upson will be responsible for developing business with the public sector, building alliances with federal partners and systems integrators and undertaking policy, professional and political activities.WebMethods plans on hiring a third individual as vice president of sales to complete the federal sector management team, Upson said.The company's goal is to boost government sales from under 10 percent of revenue to 25 percent in three years, said Mark Bisnow, senior vice president. In fiscal 2002, which ended March 31, WebMethods had revenue of $196 million.WebMethods also formed an advisory group that includes Alan Balutis, the executive director and chief operating officer of the Federation of Government Information Processing Councils and the Industry Advisory Council; Tom Hewitt, founder of government research company Federal Sources Inc., McLean, Va.; and Dan Young, who was head of Federal Data Corp., which was acquired by Northrop Grumman Corp., Los Angeles.