Top 100 moves from uncertainty to action

In the past two years, the dominant theme has been uncertainty as one administration came to an end and another emerged. Change is the dominate theme now as the Obama administration’s priorities are clearer: increased focus on health care and cybersecurity and a shift away from Iraq and Afghanistan, among others. The economy and the heavy debt burden that the government carries also are critical factors that influence the market. Change dominates the actions of many of the companies ranked on the 2010 Top 100. For some, it is new leadership; for others, it means adjusting strategies to align with the government’s goals. Many companies are restructuring to streamline operations and make it easier to show customers how they can help. The change theme came up so often that it became a challenge writing headlines that didn’t all sound alike, as so many of the top 20 emphasized how they were changing to stay competitive. One thing that was clear from the company officials we spoke to is that no one is afraid of change. Instead, all of them are embracing it. In fact, there is some excitement in the market as executives recognize the challenges their customers face and know this is a time when industry can shine. That doesn’t mean it will be easy. It’s like making hay in July. My grandfather called that a separator because it would separate the men from the boys. In this case, the federal market will be separating the big dogs from the pups.