Calibre success tied back to employee ownership

With an annualized growth rate of 17.9 percent over the last 23 years, it’s no surprise to see Calibre Systems on the list of winners of the 2012 Greater Washington Government Contractor Awards.

Calibre won in $75 million to $300 million category for contractors of the year.

The management and technology services company, which specializes in management analysis, technology solutions and program support, makes over 99 percent of its revenue from government customers.

What has led to Calibre’s success are planning, business development, agility and the value of the services it provides, company officials said.

Maybe more so than these traits, though, the company owes its success to the extra devotion of its employees, especially considering that each is also an owner, said Joseph A. Martore, Calibre president and CEO.

Calibre has over 650 employee-owners, and each is responsible for making up the company’s unique culture, which sets Calibre apart from other companies, he said.

Another distinguishing element of Calibre Systems is that it works with soldiers in warzones overseas.

Here at home, its employees are active in their local communities, too, with support ranging from corporate and individual philanthropy, as well as volunteer opportunities and corporate donations. Community involvement is one of the evaluation criteria for the annual GovCon awards, which are given by the Fairfax County, Va., Chamber of Commerce, the Professional Services Council, and Washington Technology.

On a larger scale, though, the company owes its success to the success of its customers. As its tagline states, “Our success follows yours.” And according to Martore, Calibre’s customers are very satisfied, indeed.

An independent survey meant to determine customer satisfaction revealed a 100 percent satisfaction rating among the company’s customers.

And the future looks bright for Calibre, Martore said. The company is looking to diversify into new markets beyond the Defense Department.

The Army is one of its biggest customers and the company provides services under contracts such as the Army Training Support System as well as working with the Army National Guard Logistics Division. Calibre also supports the Veterans Affairs Department.

In its fiscal 2012, the company had $166.5 million in revenue, 5.4 percent more than the previous year’s $157.8 million. More significantly for the company’s employee-owners: the value of the employee stock owners plan went up 16 percent.