7 young execs you should know

As we looked through the 2010 Rising Stars, the seven industry winners stood out. Here is a group of people early in their contracting careers who are taking on responsibilities typically held by more seasoned vets.

Two things were obvious as we read their profiles. First, they aren’t overwhelmed by jobs such as managing border security projects or improving the management of clinical trials. Instead, they are thriving.

Second, it’s their motivation. This isn’t about big-dollar projects or how many people work for them, though one Rising Star manages 400 people and another has a project valued in the hundreds of millions.

No, these folks describe their jobs in much more personal terms.

Frank LaSota of National Government Services works on a Medicare enrollment project.

“You think it’s this big universe, but actually it comes down to customer service and one individual beneficiary,” he said.

Gena Alexa of Unisys manages that company’s border security business. Individual law enforcement officials use her systems. “When you add automation to their jobs, you can see the benefit of them being able to secure the country,” she said.

It is that ability to see the impact their work has on the government’s mission that helps set these Rising Stars apart.

Their career paths also reveal a philosophy that more should emulate.

“A lot of people starting out get narrowly focused,” said Christopher Barnes of Lockheed Martin. “But if you’re open to challenges and new opportunities, good things will happen.”

If these Rising Stars represent the best of the contracting industry and reflect the passion and dedication of a new generation that is stepping into the market, the future is bright indeed.

The industry winners among the 2010 Rising Stars are:

Gena Alexa
Unisys

Christopher Barnes
Lockheed Martin 

Frank LaSota
National Government Services 

Hoa Pham
CACI International

Nina Preuss
Turner Consulting Group

Donna Sheets
Jacer 

Pablo Vilaboa
Lockheed Martin