Getting to Know BCS: Robert Naranjo

Olayinka Kolawole

Oct 12, 2022

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Getting to Know BCS is a quarterly series that highlights members of the BCS team. This quarter

we are shining a spotlight on Robert Naranjo, our Senior Vice President, who is responsible for

managing BCS’ Energy and Environment portfolio. Robert has spent more than 20 years with the
company, and in his current role leads business development, technical analysis, and management,
in support of government clients.

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BCS is well established as a provider of crucial contracted support in the energy sector

with U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) clients.
Can you talk a little bit about that?

BCS has always been an energy-focused firm. We have a 30+ year track record with DOE providing professional support services in the areas of business management, communications, engineering, analysis, and strategic planning. At DOE we provide support for over eight different program offices and several National Laboratories.

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With the many new developments occurring in the energy sector, the future continues to be bright for the company. Our work spans fossil energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy infrastructure, environmental management, and cybersecurity, which gives us a deep understanding of the energy industry as a whole and the energy sector stakeholders. We have leveraged this knowledge to expand the services and contract types we can offer to clients, developing extensive capabilities even in specialized areas such as energy engineering.

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A key to our success has been exceptional staffing. We take great care in hiring the right individuals for the job and creating an environment where they can learn and grow professionally.

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What’s your favorite thing about what you do? What’s something you’re excited about right now?
In addition to leading and supporting business development, I really enjoy interacting with people. So, cultivating an environment that brings out the best in our staff to produce exceptional work is significant to me.

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I am also excited about the future of the company. As a nation we are at a transformational point in the energy sector.
The work we do is valuable and impacts everyone, as we help secure the Nation’s environment, and energy resources.

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From administrative personnel to project managers, our staff, in their various capacities, play critical roles in making both our clients and the company successful. We continue to provide incentives for our employees to stay with the company on a long-term basis - there are many opportunities in this space, and we value their contributions to the company.

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What career advice would you give to your younger self?

Never say you cannot do something. Figure out how you can do it, and if at first you don’t succeed, reflect on why you were not successful and adjust accordingly.

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Where would you say this philosophy comes from?

It is a credit to my family – my parents. My father came from modest means and grew up in Espanola, New Mexico. He was the oldest of nine children and was the first to go to college in his family. He came to Washington, DC after college and worked tirelessly to provide for me and my four siblings to ensure we had every opportunity in life. My mother as well – she never let us quit or make excuses, and that translates into my philosophy of work. With two older brothers, an older sister, and younger sister, my family was my first glimpse at the importance of teamwork. Here at BCS, when we do something, we do it together.

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What’s the best thing you’ve learned on the job?

One of the best things I’ve learned is to set stretch goals and strive for more while also clearly articulating those goals to others to keep myself accountable.

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What causes are you passionate about?

I am passionate about social justice and inclusiveness. When I was a kid my dad, who is Hispanic, came to pick me up at a Bar Mitzvah that I was attending at a ritzy country club. As we were walking towards the door to leave a man handed my dad his parking valet ticket and told my dad that his car was the red Porsche (he assumed my dad was the parking attendant). My dad laughed at the man, handed him back his ticket and said with pride that he was there to pick up his son. The man quickly grabbed his ticket and turned his head; he never apologized. When we got into our car to leave my dad started to laugh and turned to me and simply said, “Son, that is why you never judge a book by its cover.” That experience upset me but also taught me the dangers of stereotypes. It is important to me because of experiences like this that we strive to make BCS an inclusive workplace.

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This interview was conducted by Olayinka Kolawole, an electrical engineer in the Defense and National Security
Division of BCS.

 

 

People-Powered Climate Action at the Department of Energy

James Nadel

Aug 29, 2022

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The U.S. Department of Energy is the nation’s “Solutions Department,” as Secretary Granholm states, and no problem demands solutions quite like the climate emergency.

 

The DOE Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan frames its contribution to federal climate action, but what are the foundations upon which it rests? One can assess the prospects for meaningful DOE climate action by looking at three fundamental pillars: policy, resources, and people.

Policy

A 2021 Executive Order (Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad) established climate stewardship as an essential element of U.S. foreign policy and national security. It directs the federal government to drive climate risk assessment and mitigation nationwide and promotes workforce development in clean energy. In a nutshell, DOE aspires to lead by example. Not only will it utilize the capabilities of its 17 National Laboratories to advance the clean energy solutions necessary to mitigate emissions nationwide, but it will also reduce emissions at its own field sites and throughout its vehicle fleet, while undertaking assessment and resilience measures necessary to adapt these sites to climate-exacerbated natural hazards. 

Resources

The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, frequently referred to as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, allocated $62 billion to DOE. These resources represent a second pillar of climate action. The mission for this money covers four general areas: investing in American industry and workers; providing clean and efficient energy for communities; ensuring that this energy is reliable; and developing, demonstrating, and deploying innovative technologies.

People

The third pillar of DOE’s commitment involves its people. The newly created “Clean Energy Corps,” is charged with investing the $62 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The initiative is recruiting 1,000 new employees using a special hiring authority, to serve in a variety of roles and offices across the agency. This infusion of human capital will comprise people from a broad spectrum of professional backgrounds, from business and finance, to science and engineering, to public policy and project management. What they will all have in common is a drive to focus their expertise on the climate emergency. The Clean Energy Corps has a strong chance to deliver meaningful climate action at DOE by building on new policies and funding, while taking advantage of two indispensable human resources: talent and passion. 

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BCS and the Earth Day Mission to Invest In Our Planet:
BCS Supports Clean Energy Sector Clients While Committing to Sustainable Business Practices  
Apr 22, 2022

 

BCS salutes Earth Day and all of those involved in helping to make our planet a better place to live. Involved in the clean energy sector since the company’s inception, BCS strives to do its part every day in promoting sustainability and efforts to “green” our operations and reduce our carbon emissions. Additionally, in our support to agencies including the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), we focus on topics such as energy diversity and resilience, carbon capture, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, clean energy, and sustainability in federal facilities. 
 

Guiding Responsible Business Practices Through Our Corporate Sustainability Plan  

Through our Corporate Sustainability Plan, BCS commits to investing in socially and environmentally conscious financial services and product acquisitions for our employees. BCS will work to reduce our carbon footprint by sourcing sustainable products, maintaining best practices for electronics stewardship, and incentivizing our employees to make sustainable choices. This commitment includes providing socially responsible 401k portfolio options, and joining the Corporate Capital Bikeshare Membership program.  

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Operationalizing Our Commitment to Sustainability Through Client Support  

Our commitment to sustainability and the Earth Day Mission to “Invest In Our Planet” is operationalized through the clients we support. Our work in the energy and sustainability space includes support to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) branch energy offices. Our four service areas carry out the mission:  

• Systems Engineering & Technical Support 

• Strategic Analysis & Organizational Performance 

• Program Management & Business Support 

• Communications & Stakeholder Engagement 
   

Supporting the Path to Decarbonization at the U.S. Department of Energy 
BCS’s work with several DOE offices supports the Administration’s priority of achieving net-zero emissions economy-wide by no later than 2050. We support the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) with their priorities of furthering carbon capture and storage and methane mitigation, to include the development of their strategic vision. At the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), our work supports its clean energy technology portfolio such as developing a strategic plan with a vision for 2040 for the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) in a multistage, iterative endeavor that incorporated stakeholder input from industry, academia, nongovernmental organizations, and other federal agencies. For the Office of Management Sustainability Performance Division, BCS helped develop and implement the DOE Climate Action plan, assisting all 50 DOE sites create site sustainability plans and collect data and tracking implementation progress. 

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Increasing Energy Security and Resilience within the U.S. Department of Defense  

In support of the Army Office of Energy Initiatives (OEI) and the Air Force Office of Energy Assurance (OEA) BCS is helping to increase energy security and resilience at military installations. For example, BCS provides OEI with subject matter expertise in alternative and renewable energy systems, concept and detailed design analysis, and implementation of energy development strategies. Through clean energy project evaluation, coordination, and management, BCS’s work with OEI has helped bring 325 MW of total new onsite generation capacity online. 

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Join the BCS Team in Our Commitment to Sustainability  

BCS is continuing to focus on clients in the energy field as the nation pursues a complex transition to a lower carbon, yet secure, energy future. The work each of our employees performs, in all realms of our client support, contributes to these important national objectives. 

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We’re hiring! If you’d like to play a role in achieving a low carbon and sustainable future, visit our job openings page. 

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BCS achieves CMMI Maturity Level 3 for both Development and Service Domains
Mar 23, 2022

 

BCS, LLC is proud to announce that it has a achieved a rating of CMMI Maturity Level 3 for both the Development and Service domains. CMMI is a process improvement approach that institutes repeatable practices in order to improve organizational performance.  BCS takes a pro-active approach in managing projects and processes.  BCS’s history of instituting success-focused practices in areas such as contract and project management, quality control, and continuous improvement went a long way in helping us to achieve these ratings.  Our practices in these areas were independently evaluated and validated by Software Engineering Services in January 2022.  Our investment in applying CMMI practices further demonstrates our commitment to continuous improvement both internally and in the services we perform in our clients.

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GSA Price List and Advantage

May 17, 2021

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BCS, LLC—a professional support services firm specializing in business management, communications, systems engineering, analysis, and organization performance—is pleased to announce additional Special Item Numbers (SINs) to their General Services Administration Multi-Award Schedule (GSA MAS). The SINs numbers are 541820 (Public Relations Services), 541430 (Graphic Design Services), and 541219 (Budget and Financial Management Services).

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"BCS has already been assisting and supporting its federal clients in their communications and financial needs. For decades, our communications and financial management teams have been supporting clients in these areas from developing strategic communications plans to creating engaging graphics to providing business management services over many years,” said Ken Green, Chief Operating Officer of BCS. “With the addition of these new SINs on our GSA, our clients will now have easier access to our team of experienced professionals.”

 

Government clients can access BCS through its GSA Multi Award Schedule. A copy of the BCS GSA MAS is on GSA Advantage at: https://www.gsaadvantage.gov/ref_text/GS00F269CA/0W2U7C.3RT763_GS-00F-269CA_GS00F269CA.PDF

 

BCS is a minority-owned small business with a 30-year history of helping government, research, and private sector clients implement their programs and missions and achieve success. We pride ourselves on being a company that builds strong, long-lasting, and trusted relationships with our clients based on our ability to understand and anticipate their needs; develop tailored, effective solutions to meet those needs; and leverage resources and expertise from across our organization to see them through.

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Current Employee Spotlight: Ken Green
Mar 31, 2021

 

The year is 1990 and George H. W. Bush is President of the United States. The Hubble Space
Telescope has just been launched, a computer scientist from CERN submits a proposal to build a
“Hypertext project” called “WorldWideWeb”, the official demolition of the Berlin Wall begins, and

the most popular show on television was Cheers. Although the United States is just entering a
recession that will affect its economy for years to come, BCS made its first hire, Ken Green.

 

30 years ago, Ken Green started his employment with BCS, and has been central employee at the

company ever since. When Ken started at BCS, he wasn’t sure how long his position would last.

His first project with Salt River Project covered him for about three months. As more work came in

from the California Energy Commission and the US. Department of Energy (our first DOE task was $5k!)

he was able to stick around for a while longer. Thirty years later Ken is still at BCS! Throughout his time with BCS, Ken has been an integral part of the company’s growth, seeing the company employ as many as 100 full-time staff. He led the company’s first prime contract, which was to provide technical and analytical support to the Office of Industrial Technologies (now known as the Advanced Manufacturing Office) Metal Casting Industry of the Future. He also established our support at OE, CESER, OP, and BETO. He opened new office locations in West Virginia and Pittsburgh supporting NETL and has gone from a new hire analyst in 1990, to the companies first-ever Chief Operating Officer.

 

Ken’s dedication to his work has always been evident to his co-workers. Said one BCS employee, “Prior to the track changes function in Word, Ken would spend his weekends with his red pen editing hard copies of our work products. It required us to become experts in reading Ken’s cursive writing. He would circle paragraphs and give them labels like A, B, C etc. and then would in corresponding text write “Insert A” which was the old school way of cutting and pasting entire paragraphs.”

 

As many of us have experienced firsthand, one of Ken’s most appreciated qualities is how he treats everyone at BCS. The term “open door policy” may not be strong enough to describe Ken’s approach. Whether it is calls after work hours to answer questions, reviewing proposals or write-ups from staff on weekends, or instituting new policies at BCS based on the needs of workforce, Ken has always put employees first.

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Quarterly Progress Update on our Sustainability Initiatives

March 16, 2021

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BCS is proud to announce we are making significant progress on our sustainability plan initiatives. Two actions we have taken this quarter include:

• Added three socially responsible funds to the BCS Principal 401k investments portfolio: Vanguard FTSE Social Index, TIAA-CREF Social Choice International Equity, and the TIAA-CREF Core Impact Bond.

  • These funds largely invest in firms that are strong environmental stewards; devoted to human rights; committed to high labor standards; producers of high-quality and safe products; and managed in an ethical manner.

• Diverted our excess IT equipment, furnishings, and office supplies from the landfill through charitable donations and responsible electronics recycling.

 

Moving on to Q2! On April 24, we will once again join the Anacostia Watershed Society’s Earth Day Clean-up Event. COVID-19 precautions are in place to ensure a safe work environment for all including pre-event health screening surveys, face masks, gloves, and physical distancing.

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BCS Sponsors Regional Science Bowls

Feb 3, 2021
 

BCS is proud to be a Silver Sponsor of the 2021 Western Pennsylvania Regional Science Bowl and a Gold Sponsor for the 
West Virginia Regional Science Bowl, both hosted by the National Energy Technology Laboratory. BCS has sponsored the Western PA Regional Science Bowl for the past ten years. These events engage middle and high school students in a fast-paced question-and-answer format, being tested on a range of science disciplines including biology, chemistry, Earth science, physics, energy, and math. Regional winners move on to compete in the National Science Bowl sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy.  The West Virginia Science Bowl will be held Feb. 5 – 6  and the Western PA Science Bowl will be held February 27 and March 6.  BCS is proud to support these incredibly bright students!

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BCS Achieves ISO 9001 Certification

Jan 28, 2021
 

BCS, LLC—a professional support services firm specializing in business management,
communications, systems engineering, analysis, and organization performance—is pleased to
announce today that we have earned ISO 9001 certification. The comprehensive system audits
covered all major aspects of our operations.

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"Going through the ISO 9001 certification is demanding, but it keeps you honest" said Ken Green, Chief Operating Officer, BCS.
"At BCS, we are dedicated to providing our clients with high-quality products and services that meet and exceed expectations. Applying ISO standards has allowed us to both formalize and enhance processes we’ve had in place for years. Ultimately, the job is to make sure our customers continue to receive great support."

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ISO 9001 is a quality management system standard that was developed by the International Organization for Standardization, which is an association of governmental and nongovernmental organizations from many countries. The ISO 9001 standard is utilized to certify quality management systems that focus on continuous improvement, customer satisfaction and the active involvement of both management and employees in a process-based approach. 

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“I am proud of the work we do at BCS and the exceptional staff that help us work toward our mission. Fulfilling the ISO 9001 standard requirements further demonstrates our commitment to quality and customer satisfaction,” CEO Alain Williams said.

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BCS is a minority-owned small business with a 30-year history of helping government, research, and private sector clients implement their programs and missions and achieve success. We pride ourselves on being a company that builds strong, long-lasting, and trusted relationships with our clients based on our ability to understand and anticipate their needs; develop tailored, effective solutions to meet those needs; and leverage resources and expertise from across our organization to see them through.

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BCS Team Successfully Leads Virtual Facilitation Groups for Two Clients

Sep 28, 2020
 

Facilitated workshops are a proven tool used by federal programs to obtain insights and expertise from diverse stakeholders to inform program planning, analysis, and review activities. BCS has successfully facilitated hundreds of such workshops for

federal...

 

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BCS Wins DOE Sustainability Performance Division Recompete

Aug 31, 2020
 

This summer, BCS won a prime contract bid to support the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Sustainability Performance Division (SPD). Federal regulations require agencies set sustainability goals and work toward meeting targets for saving energy and water and reducing waste.

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BCS provides technical, analytical, and communications support to SPD, as they oversee sustainability reporting efforts of DOE facilities across the nation. As the incumbent team, BCS’ strong historical performance, knowledgeable staff, and a well-executed proposal submission ensured a win for the company.

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BCS Support for DOE Offices Extended

Aug 27, 2020
 

This July, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) exercised the first option year on both the Office of Electricity (OE) and Office of Cybersecurity, Energy, Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) contracts. BCS won the recompetes for both prime contracts in July 2019, and they are both 5-year contracts.

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For OE, BCS provides technical, analytical, management, and communication support. Through this contract, we will continue providing budget support and business management support to the Office of Corporate Business Operations, and program management support to the Advanced Grid R&D team. For CESER, BCS is focused on program management support to the Infrastructure Security and Energy Restoration Division, as well as business management support to the whole office.

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Robert Naranjo Promoted to Senior Vice President

Nov 28, 2018
 

In November 2018, BCS Chief Executive Officer Alan Montero Williams promoted Robert (Rob) Naranjo to the role of Senior Vice President. Rob has been with BCS for 17 years and brings vast experience providing technical analysis and management support to federal, state, and private sector clients. This includes overseeing research, industry, and market analyses; developing strategic plans; and organizing and facilitating project and portfolio reviews. In his new role, Rob will provide oversight and guidance across all of BCS’ energy and environment work. Rob earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Colorado Boulder’s Leeds School of Business and a Bachelor of Science degree in International Business from Georgetown University. He is a certified Project Management Professional® by the Project Management Institute®.

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Four BCS Team Members Receive U.S. Department of Energy’s 2017 Secretary’s
Honor Award

Oct 15, 2018
 

In August 2018, four BCS team members received the 2017 Secretary’s Honor Award from U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Rick Perry. These individuals—Campbell Delahoyde, Jeff Hood, Ryan Knapp, and Jackson Stubbs—were selected for the award because of their dedication and hard work in supporting DOE during the 2017 hurricane season, the worst to hit the United States in more than 10 years. In recognition of their efforts, DOE singled out the team for supporting the Department’s preparation and response to the season’s 17 named storms and 6 major hurricanes (of Category 3 or higher). We couldn’t be prouder of Campbell, Jeff, Ryan, and Jackson for this honor!

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BCS to Develop Communication Strategy for IEA Bioenergy

Aug 16, 2018
 

In August 2018, BCS was selected by IEA Bioenergy—an international organization established by the International Energy Agency that is looking to expand the role bioenergy plays in the global energy marketplace—to develop a communication strategy that drives greater education and awareness of bioenergy; promotes the broad adoption of bioenergy technologies; enhances the organization’s brand and brand awareness; and improves and expands the organization’s communication with key stakeholders. BCS was chosen for the project due to its subject matter expertise and past performance, both of which we will leverage to help IEA Bioenergy achieve its important mission.

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BCS Facilitates Midwest Energy Assurance Workshop

Aug 1, 2018
 

In July 2018, BCS facilitated the Midwest Energy Assurance Workshop organized by the National Association of State Energy Officials and the U.S. Department of Energy. The objective of the workshop was to use a series of energy emergency scenarios and facilitated discussion to help state energy and emergency management agencies in the region assess plans, policies, and procedures related to fuel emergencies, cybersecurity, and regional coordination. BCS assisted in planning and led the facilitation of the one-and-a-half-day workshop. Dubbed “Viking Shadow,” the workshop attracted more than 70 attendees from state and federal governments, as well as from the electricity, petroleum, propane, and natural gas industries.

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BCS-Developed Tool Supports Multiple U.S. Department of Energy Peer Reviews

Jun 15, 2018
 

BCS was contracted in summer 2018 to support the peer review process for three U.S. Department of Energy programs, including the Grid Modernization Initiative, Advanced Manufacturing Office, and Wind Energy Technologies Office. In support of these reviews, BCS is leveraging its in-house peer review tool—a web-based, interactive system designed to capture and aggregate reviewer comments and scoring of the projects being evaluated. Utilizing this tool helps accelerate the process of consolidating review comments, facilitating principal investigator responses, and generating the final report the program requires.

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Ken Green Named First BCS Chief Operating Officer

May 28, 2018

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In May 2018, BCS Chief Executive Officer Alan Williams named Ken Green the company’s first-ever Chief Operating Officer. Ken, who has a long tenure with the company, has more than 30 years of experience in the energy field, including extensive experience supporting federal and state government programs in the areas of energy security, energy policy, and advanced energy technologies. He oversees day-to-day operations of BCS’ technical support to its federal and state clients, which involves contract management, organizational planning, and engagement with prospective clients and partners. Mr. Green holds a Master of Business Administration degree in International Business from Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland. He is a certified Project Management Professional® by the Project Management Institute®.

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BCS Employees Donate Supplies to Help Children in Baltimore

Dec 15, 2017

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According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, more than one-third of children in Baltimore—near the BCS headquarters office in Laurel, Maryland—live in poverty. More than 25,000 of these children lack the diapers they need. In November 2017, BCS partnered with ShareBaby, a local nonprofit whose aim is to gather supplies from donors and volunteers and distribute them to charitable organizations who can put them to use. Together, employees organized and participated in an internal baby supply drive heading into the Thanksgiving and holiday season. In just two weeks’ time, BCS staff donated more than 2,200 diapers; more than 700 wipes; several cases of formula; and dozens of clothing items to this worthy cause.