Glenn Rogers Sr., Chief Operating Officer of VERSA Integrated Solutions, Inc., recognized the importance of building a strong back-office team in order to successfully transition out of the 8a program and compete in the open market. He also understood the need to establish standard business practices to ensure high-quality services and output. As a result, VERSA made the decision to pursue ISO 9000 and 27001 certifications and CMMI Level 3 for Services and Development. These certifications have been critical to VERSA's success in securing government-wide contracts and operating at a level of maturity beyond its size.
VERSA is a company that enforces standards while remaining flexible to meet customer needs, says Glenn. They recently worked with a federal agency to design and deploy an ERP solution for workforce planning. They were able to create a cloud-based solution by partnering with SAP, which provides better visibility into the agency's workforce. They are now adding new modules and features to enhance the system.
Without realizing it, Glenn's identity developed early in his career. His 1986 undergraduate internship with the US Forest Service at the National Forest in Florida taught him the importance of business and mission goals, as well as how to use his skills to help the organization achieve them. Federal law enforcement agents searching for potential offenders in the field waited 30–40 minutes for system information. Due to the delayed response, the officer felt worried about a potential offender in a secluded forest. To document the process, he personally interviewed many agents and dispatch operators, from initial contact to background checks to formal responses. The data system experienced delays due to its interaction with an external database in a different state. In the 1980s, slow transmission speeds caused data requests to be delayed. With management approval, Glenn constructed a local database that pulled Florida-specific data from the national database. It took him less than 5 minutes to search the national database for a more complete search, down from 30 to 40 minutes. He still applies this attitude when assessing business or mission objectives and using technology to solve problems.
Glenn, with extensive experience in overseeing large projects in both public and private sectors, was recruited by the Food and Drug Administration CIO to lead an IT modernization program at the FDA. The FDA lacked standardized technology systems, which hindered collaboration. Glenn focused on changing the agency's culture and standardizing operations, which required time and leadership. He met with different groups within the agency to understand their needs and promote the benefits of standardization. The FDA successfully modernized its infrastructure within two years after securing funding.
In 2003, the FDA implemented a new network infrastructure that integrated voice, video, and data on a single line at high speed. The network was designed to be self-healing to ensure continuous operation even after future expansions. Over 7 years, the FDA planned, tested, and implemented cutting-edge technologies in their campus to accommodate 10,000 workers and facilitate global video conferencing. Their innovative approach earned them recognition from ComputerWorld Honors in 2007.
In 2018, Glenn joined VERSA Integrated Solutions, Inc. with the goal of helping the company achieve ISO and CMMI certifications and secure government-wide contracts. He implemented higher standards and procedures company-wide to ensure consistency and prepare VERSA for future growth. Glenn emphasized the importance of meeting changing consumer demands and implementing standardized processes to improve communication and engagement among employees.
Glenn places a high value on both his personal and professional lives, which gives his thinking more purpose. He enjoys fishing and coaching kids in his spare time. Fishing entails understanding a fish's behavior, which is influenced by factors such as weather, time of day, season, and water temperature and the perfect bait to use. Patience is key in when coaching youth sports. Glenn knows that young athletes have to not only develop their skills physically but also mentally to be able to compete at a high level. Similarly, leaders must be patient when implementing organizational changes. Glenn had to learn about corporate culture to implement a new business model at VERSA. The company's transformation was successful because Glenn took the time to meet with employees and give them space to adapt to the new way of doing things.
Athletic coaching enables Glenn to not only train athletes, but also instill important values and sportsmanship in them. Elite athletes dedicate countless hours to honing their skills. Glenn finds joy in seeing his athletes compete and succeed. Throughout his career, he has hired college and high school interns to help students gain valuable experience in a professional environment. Unlike many internships that involve mundane tasks, Glenn ensures that his interns receive meaningful work with clear objectives. Despite having worked with over 200 interns in 30 years, he continues to find fulfillment in mentoring and shaping future professionals.
Based on his values, Glenn leads multiple professional staff organizations and emphasizes that he is not their boss but rather a facilitator of communication and support for their work. He ensures that his team understands the company's goals and equips them for their roles. He encourages decentralized decision-making within their authority and fosters communication between departments. He also ensures that back-office personnel understand the work of program staff and holds monthly reviews to discuss successes, issues, and ways to improve customer service.
Glenn, as a chief, works with the executive team to establish annual company goals and ensures their connection to employee performance. He meets with program managers and back-office directors to align corporate goals with individual targets, and then reviews these goals with his senior leadership team. Effective communication is his most important skill, as he must convey the company's strategy and ensure alignment with team members. Success for his small business hinges on transparent communication to keep everyone informed and motivated.
Bishop TD Jakes emphasized the importance of listening as a leader: "If you are a leader who does not listen, you will soon be surrounded by people who have nothing to say to you." This necessitates continuous, honest communication.
After working in information technology for 30 years, Glenn has found that the key strengths of any organization he has managed are the staff's abilities and their ability to promote open communication. Monthly program evaluations at VERSA encourage information sharing among program managers, leading to collaborative discussions and problem-solving. Building trust and ensuring that team members feel heard is essential for effective collaboration, and it is not necessary for Glenn to be the most knowledgeable or righteous person in the room as long as he values his staff's perspectives and can work through challenges together.
As a small company, VERSA needs to keep up with industry trends and understand how technology impacts their ability to compete. They invest in staff training, attend conferences, and work closely with partners to position themselves for new opportunities. They gather feedback from customers to identify areas for improvement and learn from rejected proposals to enhance their strategies. Ongoing training for staff is essential for staying ahead of competitors and generating innovative marketing ideas. Investing in their workforce is critical for effectively serving clients and ensuring long-term sustainability and growth.
Posted in CLF | Top 10 Inspiring COOs of 2024, Glenn Rogers Sr., Chief Operating Officer of VERSA Integrated Solutions, Inc. Profile