Relationships aid company's growth

Thomas Laskowski left the corporateworld and founded Gantech Inc. in1999 to provide information technologyconsulting and security services.His early work focused on being anindependent consultant doing business asGantech. That led to a network of relationshipsand subcontracting work with a largercompany. Because Laskowski's motherwas born in Mexico, Gantech was qualifiedto register in Maryland as a minorityownedcompany. The state's program issimilar to that of the 8(a) classification forfederal contracts."Maryland hasbeen very good toGantech,"Laskowski said.Gantech's servicesinclude projectand programmanagement, systems integration, andnetwork engineering. The company'sbreakthrough occurred in 2004 when itpartnered with Computer Sciences Corp.on a large contract with Maryland'sDepartment of Transportation. With thecompany's growth accelerating, Laskowskihad to hire his first employees.Since that contract win, the companyhas nearly doubled in size each year. Thereare now more than 50 full-time employeesand an overall staff of more than 80. "Ifthere's a theme to this story of Gantech, it'sbeen that relationships and the opportunitycreated by the Maryland programs havereally fostered its growth," he said.Although its growth has slowed since 2004, the Columbia, Md., company breaksinto the Fast 50 at No. 7 with a five-yearcompound annual growth rate of 158.03percent. In 2007, it recorded $8.3 millionin government revenue, up from $3 millionin 2006.Gantech has expanded its work withMaryland's government to include theDepartment of Labor, Licensing andRegulation; Department of Business andEconomic Development; and Departmentof Human Resources."Now we're taking the qualifications ofour experiences, and we intend to applythem to the federal space without [negatively]impacting our state work,"Laskowski said. "We want to make sureour base is taken care of obviously andgrow into the federal space." The companyrecently applied for 8(a) status with theSmall Business Administration.Eyeing opportunities in the federal sector,he said, the TransportationDepartment would be a natural fit becauseof Gantech's work with Maryland. And thecompany's proximity to Fort Meade andthe National Security Agency could also beadvantageous.As for advice for founders of new companiesseeking government work,Laskowski said, "Don't give up on yourpassion, and maintain your integrity alongthe way. And be committed to those relationshipsthat you've established and nurturethem."