Company: DRC
Company Description: Founded in 1955, DRC® provides innovative management consulting, science, engineering, and information technology solutions to government customers. We support our customers in the primary mission areas of Cyber Security, Information Assurance, Health, Homeland Security, Intelligence, Financial and Regulatory Reform, and Priority Defense Programs. DRC improves the health and welfare of Americans.
Nomination Category: Support Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Support Staffer of the Year

Nomination Title: Maliha Ahmad Excels in Support Roles

Tell the story about what this nominee achieved since January 1 2011 (up to 500 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:

Maliha Ahmad has been with DRC for just over two years, but she already embodies the company’s core values of Great Team and Client Commitment. Named employee of the year in 2011, she excels in supporting her internal and external clients. She supports corporate growth through business development.

She supports our federal government clients in achieving mission success for the benefit of our nation. She mentors co-workers and promotes employee engagement and culture initiatives. Lastly, she continually enhances her skills to better support her varied customers.

Company Support

In 2011, Maliha was asked to assist in one of the company’s largest contract competitions. Maliha demonstrated organization, insight, and dedication well beyond her experience level. She volunteered evenings and weekends to help DRC win a contract for the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (OUSD) valued at $39 million. Under the contract, DRC helps the OUSD closely monitor, assess, and address risks related to the development of Department of Defense systems.

Client Support

Maliha is currently developing and implementing a customer advocacy process that will improve DRC’s client support. Her stellar client interaction has earned her the role of Customer Advocacy Lead for her business unit. For the OUSD contract, she has developed and is working to implement a customer-centric service strategy and tool to ensure all the comments and requests of DRC’s OUSD client are captured and acted upon.

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Maliha and her team were asked to develop a classified automated system to archive the NRC's documents. Prior to the team's work, the NRC relied on a manual paper system. Maliha helped the NRC deliver an IT system on time, within budget, and within scope. She successfully coordinated and conducted hands on system training for 416 new users nationwide, and she assisted with system deployment to 4 NRC Regional Offices and 69 Resident Inspector Sites. Additionally, Maliha’s contract closeout process has become the standard for all NRC IT contracts.

Coworker Support

Maliha applies the same amount of energy to supporting coworkers that she does to client support. In 2011, High Performance Technologies, Inc. merged with DRC. During the integration process, it was crucial to focus on employee morale and retention. Through the employee outreach initiative, the Transformation Team, Maliha helped plan a combined company picnic for all DC-based personnel.

She also had a hand in preparing for an integrated trade show that allowed for every business unit in the newly combined companies to show off their accomplishments. Maliha's coworker support doesn't stop there—she mentors and coaches junior members of the firm, helping them acclimate to the company and improve their client support. Thanks in part to her efforts, Maliha’s business unit enjoyed 100% employee retention during the merger and throughout 2011.

Improved Support (graduate school)

On top of all of this, Maliha is a full-time student at George Mason University, receiving her master's in Applied IT. Deemed a “star player” by her manager, Maliha is loved and respected by her client and coworkers.

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Maliha earned the company’s 2011 Employee of the Year Award and the company’s Hero Award (an employee-to-employee honor). She is expected to complete her M.S. in Applied IT Cyber Security by the end of 2012, and she continues to support initiatives ranging from client satisfaction, to employee communications, to managing company responses to a multi-million dollar Blanket Purchase Agreement.