company updates from 8-koi :: spring 2021
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Today, I write to send spring greetings of growth, renewal and fresh starts. We've been hunkered down for over a year enduring collective and individual challenges and I'm sure we could all use a hearty dose of fresh air.
Here at 8-koi, 2021 has started off strong for our Asian-Pacific American Woman-Owned Small Business. We've won new and re-compete contracts, launched a crisp new website and mentored budding entrepreneurs in their new startups. It gives me great joy to share these positive beginnings with you.
We continue to be recognized for our niche of "design, build, staff, and supply" as an attractive 8(a) EDWOSB contractor and teammate because of our consistent past performance, comprehensive capabilities, and strategic business development. Our people can be found on the frontlines supplying PPE for COVID-19 response and direct patient care to Wounded Warriors. We are working behind the scenes to manage electronic medical records and train personnel using advanced medical simulation. We design and build healthcare facilities, hospitals, colleges and academic institutions for the next generation. Our technical services extend to constructing the infrastructure needed to support the operations of NASA Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in the 21st Century.
Whether it be 'business as usual' or crisis response, the work we are doing quite literally allows our great Nation to build and rebuild undeterred in the truest and best sense of the American Spirit so everyone has a fair chance of finding the success they desire.
If you haven't already done so, please make sure you follow 8-koi on LinkedIn to keep up with all the good news we post. I am grateful for this new season of opportunity to learn and grow with you. There is so much more for us to discover together as we emerge healthier, stronger and reinvigorated to take on what's next.
Looking ahead,
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Inga I. Young
Founder and President
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Staying Focused on the Four Ps in Q2:
We are off and running fast in 2021 - it's hard to believe spring is already here. The 8-koi/CDE Leadership Team had their third EOS (Entrepreneurial Operations System) training in March which allows us to continually improve how we run the business. We are seeing positive outcomes for all the effort. Here is a recap of our 4 Ps in the first quarter:
PEOPLE: We are looking to hire over 100 personnel this year. Take a look at our career portal and the exciting job openings we currently have posted. Speaking of the website, check it out. We did a refresh and it looks awesome!
PROGRAMS: We continue to be the preferred medical supplier for multiple large companies. Many thanks to our team members who keep the supplies coming and going for those in need. Kudos to our team members on the NAVWAR PMW 240 program. Due to their excellent performance, this contract has turned into a renewal award now called Management and Acquisition Support (MAST), taking the contract out to 2024! The Construction and Design Engineering (CDE) Divisions are staying very busy supporting current programs and customers.
PROCESSES: Our credentialing process was formalized this quarter. This repeatable process not only benefits our commercial clients, but it will soon be exercised for us as we hire medical professionals. Our HR team has been revamping the HR and Recruiting departments to prepare for and support our pending growth.
PIPELINE: We have nine efforts currently pending award and our pipeline could easily add over 100 employees to the company. We did win the US Marine Corps TRASYS Contracts Support Services (CSS) effort and anticipate three new employees starting April 19. Feel free to reach out to Inga, myself or any of the Divisional VPs if you have any questions about new business for 8-koi and CDE.
8-koi team members and current customers make our success possible. We appreciate each of you and the trust you place in us.
Onward,
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Dean Rosenquist
Chief Operating Officer
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8-koi Donates PPE to Schools, Fire Departments, Nonprofits Serving Indigenous and Veteran Populations
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In recent months, 8-koi has delivered thousands of donated KN-95 masks and Personal Protective Equipment to students, teachers, first responders, and community servants helping the most as-risk.
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MEET THE TEAM :: Sami Mized
Director of IT
Starting at an early age of 14 Sami began working in information technology (IT) for a large Space Coast engineering company. When his father and business partner formed their own company, CDE, Sami took on the broad and varied role of IT guy, furniture assembly guy, marketing and proposals, you name it. Twenty-four years later, he’s CDE’s longest employed and most loyal employee now serving both CDE and 8-koi as the IT director/administrator.
Earning his Bachelor of Science in IT at the University of Central Florida and a Master’s in IT from Virginia Tech, Sami went on to gain field experience in network designs, infrastructure, security, websites, servers and telephony. Sami’s current focus, and essential role at 8-koi, is implementing the new requirements of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). The CMMC is the newest federal government program and requirements for contractors relating to protective cybersecurity practices and hygiene.
Outside of work, Sami has varied interests – some of which have been lifelong. Music has played an important role in his life, starting with learning how to play the violin as a kid and transitioning to the guitar as an adult. He’s a fan of sports and still plays soccer with friends on the weekends and attends college football games (Go Knights! Charge on!). A self-described “motor head,” Sami has worked on restoring his ’92 Honda Civic hatchback from his teenage years. For the past couple years, he’s worked on the restoration and looks forward to showing up in the 8-koi parking lot with his rebuilt blast from his teenage past.
Recently married, Sami and his wife Mascha are sharing the joys of being newlyweds and are Jehovah’s Witnesses devoting their spare time to ministry work. Mascha has introduced Sami to the fulfilling work of restoring furniture and since then Sami has taken an interest and helped her with some of her projects. In his ministry role, Sami serves as an electrician and volunteers to rebuild the places of worship (Kingdom Halls) and works to restore the homes of fellow believers after a disaster. Similar to his broad scope of professional work, Sami has a diverse skill set in his volunteer role that includes drywall, video display systems and sound system integration. Most recently, Sami found inspiration in working alongside fellow volunteers in Grand Bahama/Abaco Islands after Category 5 Hurricane Dorian wreaked mayhem.
“The level of destruction was unsettling, but seeing the number of volunteers that freely gave their time and energy, and to be a part of that while seeing the difference it made for our fellow believers, was beyond rewarding,” he said.
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WE SUPPORT SPACE COAST WOMEN IN DEFENSE
The Women in Defense Space Coast Chapter (SCWID) is one of 8-koi's sponsored community organizations. Our President Inga Young serves as Vice President of the SCWID board and 8-koi was named the 2019 SCWID STEM Business Innovator of the Year. Over the past seven years, SCWID has raised funds to award more than $25,000 in scholarships to local women pursuing education in the STEM subjects. Registration is now open for the 4th Annual Space Coast STEM Sandbagger Invitational Golf Tournament scheduled for May 7th at the Baytree National Golf Links in Melbourne, FL. Join us in supporting SCWID's STEM scholarships by donating or registering your team here. For more information about 8-koi's community involvement, read more about who we are at 8-koi.com.
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8-KOI IS A VIRTUAL EXHIBITOR AT #SWDCS2021 |
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All new LinkedIn Followers between March 30th and
April 16th will be entered in a random drawing for a
$100 cash card.
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PASSION | EXCELLENCE | DEPENDABILITY | THOUGHTFULNESS |
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8-koi is expanding its team! |
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Don't worry if you didn't receive past issues of 8-koi kurrents. You can read them here!
Summer 2020
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HAVE YOU FOUND US ON GOOGLE? |
We'd love to have your stars on our Google profile! |
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Full-spectrum contracting solutions with a human touch |
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8-koi, Inc. has complied with the passage of an interim rule to bridge the gap toward full transition to the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program. The Department of Defense is requiring all contractors with the clause at Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) 252.204-7012 in their contracts to conduct a self-assessment of NIST SP 800-171 standards and enter their results into the Supplier Performance Risk System by November 30, 2020. Contractors who have not entered their results by that deadline will not be eligible for an award on a contract containing DFARS 252.204-7012.
For more information, click here.
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