March is Women’s History Month and in honor of International Women’s Day, March 8th, we’d like to spotlight a few of the extraordinary women across the Day & Zimmermann Enterprise. Read on to learn more about these women, their roles and what International Women’s Day means to them.
Kathleen King
VP, Corporate Development, Day & Zimmermann, Philadelphia, PA
When you think about your new role, what are the key elements of opportunity you see for yourself, your team and the Org?
As I transition into the CFO role I am focused on future growth for the company. The time I have spent in strategic planning over the years orients me to that, and it is a passion. Across our enterprise we have areas that are executing strategic growth, into new markets or customers or industries and I’m excited to help the organization support that. In some areas of the enterprise we have many opportunities, and are making strategic choices on where to invest and grow for the future. As we drive that business growth it in turn creates opportunities for the talent in the organization to grow in our careers as well.
In 50 words or less, how you would describe the D&Z organization?
In past I described whichever business unit it was in at the time. Some lead with culture and values. Personally, when I answer this now, I love using our purpose statement. “We put people to work, we protect our freedoms, and we help our customers power and improve the world”.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
I appreciate the focus of International Women’s Day, highlighting equality and celebrating the many accomplishments of women around the world. I’m pleased to see that focus shared at Day & Zimmermann.
Dominque Gray
CITS/IT Transition Manager, SOC LLC, OCONUS
Tell us about the criticality of your role and how it impacts your team.
I have a critical role in providing communication and information technology (IT) management and support for the Regional Security Office (RSO) mission in a high-threat location, allowing my colleagues to have the technology assets required to protect the US Embassy Baghdad and Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center.
In 50 words or less, how you would describe the D&Z organization?
D&Z is an organization founded upon strong values supporting inclusivity, team and individual growth, as well as providing a safe environment for all. Not only are those values shared with their employees and customers, but they are also shared through our communities.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
International Women’s Day is a day to raise awareness and celebrate women from all over the world for their contributions to society and achievements.
Veronica Vowell
Deputy Operations Manager – Facilities & Support, SOC LLC, OCONUS
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
As Deputy Operations Manager – Facilities & Support, the best part of my role is working with professionals that are always willing to strive towards excellence. Even better, when DoS and other entities recognize the team’s achievements and their capabilities. All of this is possible because of the support the organizations provides, they encourage growth and provide opportunity.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
International Women’s Day is a day for women around the world to connect and support one another. It’s celebrating a woman’s achievements and being recognized as essential role players in all fields. Even after 100 years of the first National Women’s Day, we still have a long way to go to ensure women worldwide are treated fairly.
Angela Heck
Director, Training, Talent & Organizational Development, Day & Zimmermann, Philadelphia, PA
As you build out your new role this year, what will be your key priorities?
As I build out my new role this year, my primary key priority is enabling and empowering my team to lead our processes toward achieving our strategic goals. These include identifying and leveraging synergies across the multiple learning teams of the enterprise to expand our offerings and highlight our capabilities, getting to know our business partners on a deeper level, which will better enable us to formulate and deliver solutions to fit their needs, and collectively casting a vision for the future of learning and development for the organization.
In 50 words or less, how you would describe the D&Z organization?
Steeped in a storied timeline of evolution and success, D&Z is a diverse family with the heart of a start-up and an eye on innovation. While exemplifying the core values, we work to provide betterment to the world one project at a time, collegially.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
To me, International Women’s Day is a formal opportunity to recognize and honor the countless struggles and triumphs of womankind. The paths that were blazed ahead, the glass ceiling shards relentlessly chiseled away, and the ladder sent back down for the rest of us to climb, forging new opportunities for the next generation. It is a day to be reminded that there truly is enough room for all of us at the table of success and happiness, so let us embrace and bolster one another on the journey.
Gemma Godfrey
Program Manager, DZConneX, Berkshire, United Kingdom
In 50 words or less, how you would describe the D&Z organization?
My biggest challenge when transitioning from the Military into the commercial workforce was understanding that you can be challenged on the information you provide. There is a big emphasis on adopting freedom of speech and challenging information should you feel it hasn’t been answered sufficiently, or it doesn’t provide enough clarity. This has enabled me to become a well-rounded, compassionate, and effective manager. Having the ability to think about the greater impact the information has on the wider context of the organization and the workers we support, affords us the opportunity to develop our strategy, align with our client needs, and ensures that we adopt an objective approach to the entire workforce.
D&Z is an organization that supports and welcomes talent from a plethora of backgrounds, and all experience is welcomed to promote innovative ideas and best practice. An organization that thrives on developing existing talent to allow individuals to reach their full potential.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
International Women’s Day for me means the opportunity to acknowledge and re-iterate the strength of women and our achievements.
Rosalba Dumont-Carrion
Director, Facilities - American Ordnance, Milan, TN
How do you manage multiple competing priorities on a daily basis?
I plan the following day at the end of each work day. I develop a priority of work list which I use on a daily basis and I check them off as I go. Suspense’s are placed on my calendar and it is used as a guideline. I don’t like waiting to the last minute, so I normally turn in my tasks prior to the suspense date. This reduces my stress drastically.
In 50 words or less, how you would describe the D&Z organization?
D&Z is an organization that places people first. The leadership truly embraces and believes in diversity and the power of ones voice to enhance the workplace to make it an enjoyable daily experience.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
It’s a day to celebrate and highlight women’s achievement as well as their commitment to gender equality despite their economic, social, spiritual and political background.
Amber ZilembaVP, Marketing and Business Development ,
Mason & Hanger, Chantilly, VA
What has been your biggest accomplishment since joining M&H?
When I joined Mason & Hanger late 2020, I was fortunate enough to serve as a leader to a strong team of talented individual contributors. With the ongoing effects of the pandemic, what felt like never-ending political and social unrest, and the relentless proposal churn that weighed heavily on the team, it was paramount to me that we emphasize whole person wellbeing as we move forward to support M&H’s growth. Through incremental steps, we made great strides to the strengths-based team approach we apply today. We started to go beyond the work-focused conversations and discussed, from our respective street corners, how we felt about recent events. 1:1’s were spent learning more about each team member beyond the work they were producing. The team carved out monthly discussions to explore the principles of Brene Brown’s Dare to Lead book. The group was restructured, promotions were advocated for, and IDPs were developed to lean into individual strengths, passions, and aspirations. I am extremely proud of my team’s collective growth and support of one another during unprecedented times. And I remain humbled by their willingness to continue to evolve as a team. Teamwork truly makes the dream work.
In 50 words or less, how you would describe the D&Z organization?
Day & Zimmermann is one of the few remaining organizations left that is authentically value-based driven. I have found that D&Z genuinely stands by its promise of We Do What We Say® with its clients and, especially, when it comes to its employees. There is a sincere commitment by leadership to consistently foster an inclusive culture where everyone has a voice. There is always more to be done, and I am confident in the direction D&Z is heading to be a best-in-class workplace.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
We all come from different places, different backgrounds, and different experiences. This year’s IWD theme #embraceequity shines a light on the need to take actionable steps to meet people where they are and support their journey towards success by adapting services and policies according to these differences. Through an equity lens, we are able to challenge and change systemic and structural barriers that get in the way of people’s ability to thrive.