File this under Hannibal’s “Aut inveniam viam aut faciam!” Translation “We will either find a way or make one.”
Our News: After 28+ years of continuous operation, PN&A, Inc. is pleased to announce our first award under a multi-year, multi-million dollar Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) with a federal agency. I just keep reading these few paragraphs…
We are pleased to inform you that your firm has been selected as one of four successful offerors for an award resulting from the Department of Energy’s Blanket Purchase Agreement… for the purpose of supporting DOE’s Office of Human Capital.”
Our Process: Successfully navigating the federal contracting process is not for the faint of heart, so I’m definitely celebrating this amazing award shining at the top of our “Win” column. But I’m also celebrating the vision and effort of our two eldest sons, Charles and Damon Nabrit.
When this RFQ (Request for Quote) was issued I wanted to pass. CMadison, my husband and business partner and Charles’ and Damon’s Dad had managed our GSA schedule contract for more than a decade as well as all our other federal and private sector contracting work. In the wake of his death and given the enormity of the RFQ, I felt an attempt to respond was overly ambitious given our existing obligations.
Charles and Damon listened attentively to my lengthy and detailed analysis and then, channeling their Dad’s measured optimism and relentless work ethic, convinced me they could manage the bulk of the response. During my morning coffee over the next few weeks I saw flurries of text messages, emails and draft documents flying between them at 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00 in the morning but truthfully, when I reviewed the finished 200+ page package, I was impressed. That was back in August.
On December 19th, at 4:59 pm we received the initial email notification of the award. I was so stunned I called DOE to verify! The next day, December 20th was CMadison’s 62nd birthday. The success of our bid was a birthday present he would have enjoyed as proof of the tangible imprint of his influence on our sons and the assurance of PN&A, Inc.’s survival and success into the future. Every contract, every award, every “win” in the intensely competitive, information-based markets in which PN&A, Inc. operates is always worth celebrating. I’m celebrating our small management consulting firm’s successful (and peaceful) move into its 2nd generation as a family-owned, operated and viable enterprise.
Our History: I began PN&A, Inc. back in 1986 after a stint as a Securities Consultant with AT&T’s post divestiture, wholly-owned subsidiary, American Transtech. It took me almost four years to convince CMadison that we could work together and stay married! Then in 1991 we took our DIY entrepreneurial drive to another level and began homeschooling our sons. Charles and Damon were 11, Evan was 9 and they, (along with almost everyone we knew) were neither amused, pleased nor encouraging. Yet despite the collective consternation we continued homeschooling until Charles and Damon went off to Princeton and Evan departed for Amherst-but throughout that process CMadison and I never stopped developing PN&A, Inc.
About a decade later first Damon, our tech guru, and then Charles, our researcher extraordinaire, joined PN&A, Inc.. Initially they worked closely with their Dad learning the critical “back office” components of this business and then they helped care for him during his final illness. But they approached both tasks consistently, diligently and interestingly enough, with a great deal of joy. Meanwhile Evan received his MFA in Fine Arts with a Certificate in Time-Based and Interactive Media from the University of Pennsylvania School of Design last Spring on May 19th, the day before the 1st anniversary of his Dad’s death. It’s been a long, hard slough for him too. Evan visited his Dad often, yet never veered from the path his Dad thought was so exciting and now he’s ready and exquisitely well-trained to provide video and graphic design services to PN&A, Inc. as needed. (He also freelances, hint, hint!;)
Our Future: Today PN&A, Inc’s future looks bright indeed. CMadison and I were married 36 years, 8 months and 22 days. We parented together 33+ years, worked together 27 years and spent 9 years homeschooling together. I’m more than a little sad and sorry he isn’t here to raise a glass of Iced Cranberry-Ginger Punch (a drink I concocted just for him) in a victory toast. But I bet he’s celebrating these milestones in heaven in his own quiet, understated way and beaming down with pride on the successes of our sons and our business.