Federal Government Consulting Team
Erica Courtney, President Courtney Consulting Solutions
Erica Courtney is a government business development consultant based in Jacksonville, Florida. She has over 11 years experience as a senior staff officer in the U.S. Army in charge of government acquisitions, contracts, budgets and logistics. She is an ‘insider’ who knows how to cut through the red tape and help firms sell successfully to the government. Erica bought from commercial vendors, now she teaches others how to sell to end-users.
Erica has also worked corporate as a Government Contracts Director and owned two for profits and one not-for-profit centered around sustainability, community and economic development, empowerment and climate change mitigation. She is an accomplished entrepreneur and has the government know-how to bridge the two worlds together for clients. As a consultant, she has earned clients millions of dollars in state and federal government contracts and contributed substantially to their growth. Erica has won several national and global business plan awards from highly respected organizations and universities. She now sits as a national judge evaluating and providing feedback for budding social entrepreneurs. Erica was named one of 80 women nationwide with the leadership background and a vision for what to do with it to change the world by Oprah Magazine and The White House Project. She has also been appointed by the Mayor of Jacksonville as a Commissioner for the Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women representing more than 677,000 women. Erica has been featured in several national and local publications. She teaches seminars and often guest speaks educating others on how to do business with the government, business plan writing/strategy, leadership and green initiatives. Erica has an Executive MBA from Florida International University and has a plethora of formal training on government business operations.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Responsible for deploying, sustaining and redeploying over 2,400 personnel, 86 aircraft, 300 ground vehicles and $750M in equipment world wide with 48 hours notice.
- Developed, managed and executed annual budgets in excess of $120M.
- Created a budget tracking system and implemented cost saving measures which streamlined accounting and recouped over $2M annually.
- Proven and tested leader and mentor with a track record of personal and unit accomplishments.
- Instituted supply discipline programs that improved property accountability and reduced loss by 21%.
- Trained and mentored hundreds of people by providing purpose, direction and motivation.
- First woman selected to command and lead a helicopter air cavalry troop at Fort Drum, NY.
- Changed inefficient contracting procedures reducing wait time for goods and services from three months to two weeks.
- Negotiated agreements with international organizations that improved efficiency and mitigated risks.
- Graduated number one cadet and held the highest leadership position in ROTC.
- Increased recruiting numbers by over 50% and initiated a CRM process within five months.
- Obtained General Services Administration (GSA) contract approval for start-ups in an average of six months, versus over a 1.5-year industry average and a 90% rejection rate.
- Won numerous graduate, national and global business plan competitions in the areas of sustainability and technology.
- Currently judge national level business plan competitions.
- Consulted for mid/small businesses in areas of government contract acquisitions and green initiatives resulting in million-dollar government contract awards.
- Developed executive and educational materials used by several reputable institutions.
- Selected as a Jacksonville, Florida 40 under 40 doing good things in business and the community.
EXPERIENCE
- Courtney Consulting Solutions, LLC, Jacksonville, FL, President and Managing Member - Consulting firm specializing in government contracts, green initiatives and business strategy
- Biodiversity and Company, Miami, FL, CEO and Managing Member - Nature based-business to mitigate climate change
- Emerald Forest Foundation, Ecuador, South America - Community non-profit centered around education, health and empowerment
- Magno International, L.P, Miami, FL - Government Contracts Director, Operations Coordinator, Marketing, Sales
- United States Army, Washington, DC - Accomplished career of increasing levels of leadership and responsibility in both peacetime and in war.
- Major's Slot/ Senior Logistician/Contracting Officer, Ft. Drum, NY
- Captain/ Senior Logistician/Contracting Officer/Budget Officer, Ft. Bragg, NC
- First Lieutenant/Flight Operations Officer/Platoon Leader, Camp Stanton, South Korea
- Second Lieutenant/ Gold Bar Recruiter, University of Hawaii
- Sergeant/Military Police Patrol Supervisor
EDUCATION/TRAINING
- Executive M.B.A., Summa Cum Laude, Florida International University, Miami, FL
- Bachelor of Arts, Communications, Magna Cum Laude, University of Hawaii, Oahu, HI
- Aviation Officer Flight School/Captain’s Career Course/Combined Services Staff School
- Extensive professional, leadership, sales and technical training programs
- APICS CSCP
- Three month corporate developmental leadership program for future executives
- Internship in India mentored by globally recognized leaders in the fields of technology, engineering and finance
AFFILIATIONS
- National Association of Government Contractors
- The White House Project Leaders Group
- National Association of Professional Women
- First Coast Manufacturers Association
- Cambridge Who’s Who Honored Member
- The William James Foundation
- Euginio Pino and Family Global Entrepreneurship Center, FIU
- Jacksonville and Clay Chamber of Commerce
- SDVOSB Council
- Vistage Trusted Advisor
Leslie Hulser, Director of Operations
Leslie Hulser is a leadership, project management and government business development consultant based in Washington D.C. and part owner of CCS. She is a 10-year industry veteran in the fields of management, marketing, recruiting, administration, grant-writing and contract management. She has earned clients millions of dollars in federal contracting funds that would not have happened without her expertise. Leslie earned her MBA from Florida International University in 2008, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude and served as her class president.
Leslie is well-versed at work within the government structure at the local, state and Federal level. Active in local business to business (B2B) and business to government (B2G) relationships, she held a seat on the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, and is an active member on the Military Affairs Committee. Due in great part to the efforts and initiatives of her committee, the military/business community relationship in South Florida has never been better.
Leslie initiated substantial change while she was employed by Florida International University. She designed, implemented and managed the first-ever dual-degree undergraduate program at Florida International University’s Landon School of Business. She has been lauded at the highest levels for her successful international outreach initiatives which have yielded profitable and enduring relationships with universities outside of the United States.
Well-accomplished in contract negotiation and management, Leslie has managed over $500M in contract funds over the last 10 years with a flawless track record. While working for Stanford University, she was responsible for managing pre-construction contracts for the development projects, and represented Stanford Management Company at local City Council meetings. Leslie has been featured in several state and local publications.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Responsible for creating and sustaining multiple international relationships for Florida Int’l University
- Designed, implemented and managed new dual-degree undergraduate program for Florida Int’l University
- Managed and executed annual budgets in excess of $350M
- Managed Pre-Construction Contracts for $120M
- Elected Class President & Commencement Speaker, MBA Class of 2008, Florida Int’l University
- Leslie A. Hulser Consulting, LLC, Miami, FL, President and Managing Member - Consulting firm specializing in project management, international relationships, marketing and grant writing
- Florida International University, Program Coordinator, International Affairs & Projects
- Stanford Management Company, Projects Coordinator & Contract Management
- Hall Kinion & Associates, Market Analyst &Technical Recruiter
- United States Coast Guard, New London, CT – Two years active-duty military experience.
EDUCATION/TRAINING
- M.B.A., Florida International University, Miami, FL
- Summa Cum Laude
- Beta Gama Sigma Honors Society
- Bachelor of Arts, Marketing, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
- Magna Cum Laude
- United States Coast Guard Academy, Management, New London, CT
- Commandant’s List for Military Excellence
- Professional grant-writing workshop
- Extensive marketing, leadership, sales and professional training programs
- U S Marine Corps Officer Leadership Reaction Course
AFFILIATIONS
- Greater Washington D.C. Chamber of Commerce
- Military Affairs Committee
- HR & Small Business Education Committee
- Beta Gama Sigma Honors Society
- Florida Int’l University International MBA Advisory Board
Steve Frankiewicz, Courtney Consulting Solutions
Steve Frankiewicz joined Courtney Consulting Solutions with 22 years experience in business leadership positions in firms that provide technology-based solutions to their customers. He has extensive experience as an operations and business development manager in small and large firms that support the Federal Government. After retiring from the U.S. Army as an Infantry Colonel and nuclear arms control negotiation specialist, Steve assumed a variety of positions as a program manager, business manager, and corporate vice president in firms in the Washington, D.C. area; New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, and Tennessee. He was a principal in Management Solutions, LLC, a VP at Advanced Sciences, Inc and Science and Engineering Associates, all small businesses. He was VP and General Manager of EG&G Defense Materials, which operated the Tooele Chemical Agent Disposal Facility in Tooele, Utah. With over 25 years experience in operating in the Federal bureaucracy, Steve has a clear understanding of how federal agencies operate internally and within the federal interagency process.
Steve’s military career included progressive Infantry command and staff assignments leading to Command of the 3d Battalion, 187 Airborne Infantry, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), tours as an intelligence office and nuclear weapons policy and arms control specialist. He holds masters degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Physics and Nuclear Engineering, was awarded the Army Fellowship in Arms Control (Army War College equivalent) and was a fellow of the MIT Seminar XXI, Foreign Policy, International Relations and the National Interest.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- As Vice President and General Manager of EG&G Defense Materials, operated the Tooele Chemical Agent Disposal Facility, a $120 million/year complex with 750 EG&G and subcontractor employees in a 24/7/365 operation. In an extremely rigorous security, safety, and production environment, he was particularly successful in implementing workforce management and safety improvements. Steve was responsible for the safe restart of the facility and the subsequent completion of the nerve agent Vx disposal campaign.
- Completed successful tours as an Air Assault Battalion Commander in the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), and selected for Brigade Command before entering the private sector.
- Gained in-depth experience working in or for several Federal Agencies, including the Departments of Defense, Energy, Homeland Security, and State.
- Worked at several DOE facilities including Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, the Y-12 National Security Facility, the Yucca Mountain Project, the Waste isolation Pilot Plant, and the Brookhaven National Laboratory.
- Spearheaded efforts at the Y-12 National Security Complex to apply Plant capabilities to the enhancement of port security requirements, focusing on ports in the Lower Mississippi River region.
- Raised the capabilities of high level Federal, state and local officials, including Department Secretaries, Under Secretaries and Assistant Secretaries to perform their duties during disastrous events by developing, supporting and/or leading a ten catastrophic event response exercises for the Department of Homeland Security. Led the design and conduct of Homeland Security tabletop exercise for State of Connecticut.
- Managed technology-oriented projects for Federal Departments as a contractor since 1989. Significantly improved performance of a $20 million/year Technical Assistance Contract at the DOE Carlsbad Area Office at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. Managed a $1.0 million/year Waste Minimization Contract with Los Alamos National Laboratory. Managed the validation of experimental geologic data related to performance assessments of the Yucca Mountain Project.
EXPERIENCE
- Twenty-two years in the U.S. Army as an Infantryman and nuclear weapons policy and arms control specialist. Tours in Vietnam, Korea, Germany and throughout the USA.
- Twenty-two years as a business developer, small business principal/owner, and operational manager in the private sector
- Program Manager with Kaman Sciences Corporation (now ITT Defense and Information Solutions) in the National Capital Region and with Advanced Sciences, Inc. at the Waste isolation Pilot Plant in Carlsbad, NM
- Vice President with Advanced Sciences, Inc, and Science and Engineering Associates in Albuquerque, NM
- Vice President and General Manager of EG&G Defense Materials in Tooele, Utah
EDUCATION/TRAINING
- Master of Science, Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Master of Science, Nuclear Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Bachelor of Science, Engineering, United States Military Academy.
- U.S. Army Command and General Staff College
- Fellow, Arms Control, U. S. Army War College Equivalent
- Fellow, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Seminar XXI, Foreign Policy, International Relations and the National Interest
- Shipley Training Courses on Business Development and Proposal Preparation
AFFILIATIONS
- World Affairs Council of Jacksonville (Patron)
- West Point Society of North Florida
- Sawgrass Country Club, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Lena Shore, Graphic Designer
Lena (LenaShore.com) is a freelance graphic designer that has been working with CCS on both print graphics and web design and development. CCS provides clients with the marketing text and when approved, Lena designs various marketing materials until the client is 100% satisfied. Clients choosing to use this service have applauded her creative approach and finished products.
Lena's formal education includes a Bachelor's Degree in Advertising Design/Fine Art in Commercial Art / Graphic Design/Illustration from Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas. Post graduate work includes extended education and skills in web design/development, illustration, and search engine optimization. Project range spans large corporate structure to small businesses.
SKILL SETS
- Web Design and Hosting — Web design and development, hosting, and server managment, PHP, CSS, HTML, Javascript.
- Print Design — Extensive working experience, strong graphic design, and layout skills.
- Illustration — Illustration skills in a variety of styles: pen and ink, digital illustration, acrylic, and mixed media.
- Printing — First-hand knowledge of printing industry and prepress including traditional photographic components, producing and stripping negatives, color separations, halftones
- Fine Art — Fine art skills include traditional media in painting, sculpture, pottery, and photography as well as digital arenas and photo retouching.