Last week I moderated a panel discussion featuring a set of accomplished corporate and government marketers. Produced by market research firm Market Connections in partnership with Strategic Communications Group (Strategic), the topic was timely and telling: social media adoption and use cases in the public sector.
My partner Chris Parente published an excellent write-up of the event here, as did Aol Government’s editor Wyatt Kash whose article can be found here.
The feedback I’ve received from attendees – including Strategic clients at Iron Bow Technologies, Blue Coat Systems, Pitney Bowes Government Solutions, Polycom and Intelsat General – has been mostly positive. The exception has been a few shots at a rather rambling, nonsensical question blurted out by someone in the audience.
I’ve gotten a number of “what was up with that person” comments. And deservedly so. The inability to articulate a clear and concise message in an engaging manner is a shortcoming of many an executive.
It was with this experience in mind that I stepped into an event on Friday morning hosted by the Association for Corporate Growth,National Capital Chapter, as well a session today presented by the law firm Morrison Foerster and accountancy Ernst & Young.
Rather than transcribing my notes, I thought I’d share with you a few sound bites from each event that I thought hit the mark in terms of content and delivery.
“We are burdened by a distorted labor market. There are a few number of highly qualified, technical talent who hold security clearances. This creates high demand for those people that the customer ultimately pays for.”
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| Hillen's not stacking midgets. |
“We are not in the ‘stacking midgets’ business when it comes to acquisitions. We are looking for deals that position the company to win big jobs as a prime contractor.”
John Hillen
President and CEO
Sotera Defense Solutions
“If management uses the word ‘strategic’ in the press release announcing the acquisition, then short the stock. It means they overpaid.”
Edward Caso, Jr.
Managing Director and Senior Analyst
Wells Fargo Securities
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| Caso dreads the word "strategic" |
“The threat environment today is much more complex and multi-faceted. The tools to combat these threats are diverse which creates market opportunities for integrators and technology companies.”
Greg Van Beuren
Managing Director & Partner
Bluestone Capital Partners
“We are in the business of prospecting for executives. The best management teams will capitalize on market opportunities.”
Craig Bondy
Principal
GTCR
“The best dollar we spend at SAIC is the dollar we spend internally. It delivers more value to the shareholder.”
Walter Havenstein
CEO
SAIC
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| SAIC's Havenstein |
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