May 15, 2023 • 24 mins
Anil Sharma is a serial entrepreneur, a technocrat-business leader, an angel investor, and a philanthropist with a successful career in building and supporting multiple innovative companies. He is a successful first-generation immigrant with humble beginnings who came to the US in 1997 from India with $100. Anil is currently the Chief Executive Officer of 22nd Century Technologies, a government-focused IT Systems integrator and software solutions company. He has diligently nurtured this $ 2 million IT Consulting business into a $400M +/6000+ employees Public Sector focused IT Systems Integrator, supporting the nation's digital transformation and protecting the critical infrastructure. He is an active angel investor, having invested in and mentored several startups and small businesses. Most recently, he sponsored Accelerate Program and TiE Global, committing $1M in seed money to young entrepreneurs building scalable, technology-driven solutions.
Always keen to share his abilities and resources for the betterment of the communities, Anil has volunteered his time through mentoring, active participation in forums and associations, funding outreach initiatives, academic scholarships, paid internships, and sponsoring charitable events. Anil serves as Chairperson of the Advisory Board at Salvation Army Loudoun County and supports many other non-profits - the Missionaries of Charity, Special Olympics, FACETS, Feed the Hungry of Loudoun, and HOPE. Anil views education and skills development as the key driver to societal upliftment and well-being. He has instituted relationships with several schools to identify talented students and provide them with real-world learning opportunities. He is supporting the STEM program in Loudoun County Public Schools. With his contributions, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his philanthropy, entrepreneurship, and service to the community. He is also the recipient of several other awards, including TiE Gov Con Elite Leader and NVTC Top50. Anil is actively engaged with George Mason University and is a board member of George Mason University Foundation, GMU President’s Innovation Council, GMU School of Business Advisory Board, School of Engineering and Government Contracting Advisory Councils.
Anil Sharma holds a Masters in Computers Applications and lives in Northern Virginia with his wife Anupama and their two children.
Always keen to share his abilities and resources for the betterment of the communities, Anil has volunteered his time through mentoring, active participation in forums and associations, funding outreach initiatives, academic scholarships, paid internships, and sponsoring charitable events. Anil serves as Chairperson of the Advisory Board at Salvation Army Loudoun County and supports many other non-profits - the Missionaries of Charity, Special Olympics, FACETS, Feed the Hungry of Loudoun, and HOPE. Anil views education and skills development as the key driver to societal upliftment and well-being. He has instituted relationships with several schools to identify talented students and provide them with real-world learning opportunities. He is supporting the STEM program in Loudoun County Public Schools. With his contributions, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his philanthropy, entrepreneurship, and service to the community. He is also the recipient of several other awards, including TiE Gov Con Elite Leader and NVTC Top50. Anil is actively engaged with George Mason University and is a board member of George Mason University Foundation, GMU President’s Innovation Council, GMU School of Business Advisory Board, School of Engineering and Government Contracting Advisory Councils.
Anil Sharma holds a Masters in Computers Applications and lives in Northern Virginia with his wife Anupama and their two children.
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Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
M ANDT Bank presents CEOs you shouldknow powered by Iheartadia. Let's meet on
Al Sharma. He is the CEOfor twenty second Century Technology, is a
government focused IT systems integrator and softwaresolutions company. Before we talk more about
on ELL's company, I first askedhim to talk a little bit about himself,
where he's from and his origin storyplus generation immigration. Came from India
(00:26):
in nineteen seven. I went toschool in India. I did IT Masters
and Computer applications in India from topan Institute, one of the institute in
India. Let's do this because itmust have been an amazing journey from India
to America. And I always loveto hear about these great stories of CEOs
(00:48):
and leaders that come from a differentcountry and start an incredible life and do
incredible things. So before we talkabout twenty second century technologies, when you
came over here, I know you'vegot a big IT inineering background. What
was the plan? Sure? So, I was a like a IT software
(01:08):
engineer back in India introducing IT cultureto the government in India. When I
got opportunity to come in US thattime, it said it's a ninety seven
Why two K was in the peak. There was a panic everywhere that year
two thousand and thirty five Sember ninetynine, something is going to happen to
(01:30):
most of the IT system. Soeverybody was worried. There was a lot
of opportunities there, and I alsodecided to pursue that one of those opportunity
to come to US. I tooka flight. I came to US with
one hundred dollars not in my pocket, get into JFK in New York,
(01:53):
and from there took another flight toDetroit. That was my first place I
During that time, there were alot of the consulting companies who were bringing
people to help into the IT andthat's what one company I joined in Michigan,
(02:13):
and they put me on a bankto solve some of those problems.
So I took your problems for thebank I joined there. I did great.
I was and overall it was doinggreat and six months enrolled. One
day my manager, supervisor called methat Annell, you're doing great, but
(02:36):
they're going to miss you. Hesaid, what happened? And he said
to this Friday is going to beyour last day. He said, what
I did wrong? Something? Hesaid, no, I'm surprised you were
not told by your employer that thiswas a pure six months temporary position for
a person who was out in thematernity leave and she's coming back. So
(03:00):
it was a big show up forme that I'm going I went out and
meet my employer after evening and atalk to him. He said, yeah,
these things happened, but we'll findyou a new assignment. I said,
okay, great. But the nextthing he said it but one bad
(03:23):
thing is that you're not going toget paid in between the assignment. I
said what And to me, Imention earlier. I came with a hundred
dollars in my pocket. There wasa very little saving in those six months
because we and I have a wifeand seven month old daughter at home and
to take care of it. Soit was a panic, and he was
(03:46):
not going to faith. So Istarted looking alternate, and some people gave
alternate to work on a gas stationor others. So it was a kind
of a difficult sitution at that time, that struggle, but I was it
were Fortunately I found a a jobtemporary, not a job assignment, to
(04:06):
teach in a I institute teaching themMoracle and other databases because that my background
is that. So that took careof a day to day living and my
this consulting company teach me how tofind the work because he was telling me
(04:26):
that token. Now you need tofind assignment yourself. And what that help
is that challenge or the stress periodor the struggle period helped me infuse that
entrepreneurship and me that Okay, I'mthe consulting company is putting me in a
place. They're making a lot ofmoney when I'm working, but they're not
(04:48):
paying me when I'm not working.So and that time, I have a
senior New Jersey he was looking tostart. He had his company, but
single person he was looking. Sohe said, why to work and if
you're finding the project, let's doit together. So I decided I find
(05:13):
a project for me that was inSanford, Connecticut. I drove from Michigan
to Connecticut in a car with almostnothing left, but it was left to
give that as a planter for theapartment. And that's how we started at
(05:33):
twenty second century Technologies. That isa journey of how it gets started right.
And you know there's a common threadwhen we talked to all our CEOs
and leaders that there were a tonof peaks and valleys when jobs are going
up and they're going down and youget laid off or let go or maybe
(05:53):
you want to start your own business. And I know two thousand and eight
was a real pivotal year for you, and I'm watching talked a little bit
about that when it comes to twentysecond century technologies and specifically working in the
DMV, about your ideas as ownerof the company CEO, and this idea
that you had starting about what youwere going to do and how you're going
(06:15):
to work with government contracts and whereit's taking you today. We have a
lot to talk about, but talkabout that original idea and the DMV.
Yeah, yeah, sure. Soafter starting the then in Connecticut, then
of course two major maildownt happen.One in nine eleven we all know it
(06:35):
was such a bad, unfortunate time. And then and two seven financial maildown.
So we took the company up,and both the things kind of a
bad overall for the United States,especially kind of illustration, especially in the
IT industry. Market went down,So we went down really bad. And
(06:59):
at that time I decided I didsome thorough analysis that what is going on
I was looking different competition. Ialways try to stay ahead and look for
the competition. What are the othercompanies doing, how they are doing it?
And after that analysis, one commonthing came up that the companies who
are not getting impacted, that onebusiness which didn't go down was a common
(07:24):
business. And that's what I thendid some more research and found out that
Okay, the government has to run, government has to fund and if people
are working there, they have itsystem. They need to be continuously working
and that's why it didn't go down. So I decided at that time to
(07:46):
move to the MB area. Imoved to Northern Virginia to start the government
practice for twenty second century technologies.You know, it seems it seems so
simple of an idea, but stillit's a leap of faith that you have
to take, making another move withyour family and your partners and starting from
scratch in a new region with governmentcontracts. So let's do this. We've
(08:09):
got a lot to talk about abouttwenty second century technologies. I'd love to
hear what the mission statement is first. So mission statement is very simple,
creating innovative solutions to take care ofthe customers problems. I like that.
(08:31):
I like that focus is always thecustomers and the substatement and that he is
always there. So the mission istaking care of the customers, but with
motivated employees. So that's the secondvery major part in our success, that
taking care of We need to motivatedpeople. So I had family were still
(08:56):
after preaching six sousand plus, Istill qual it a family that we have
the employees who are very motivated totake care of dismission of taking care of
customer. But I need to takecare of them. They have to be
motivated and they need to be takencare. So you've heard right, everybody.
(09:16):
Six thousand plus employees and in allfifty states, which is very extraordinary.
And we're going to get into theweeds in just a little bit with
your services, but for an educationfor all of our listeners and myself and
now tell us exactly what you offeryour clients and what you do. Yeah.
So we are a IT services andsolutions with focus on cybersecurity, IT
(09:41):
infrasture, digitel transformation solutions for government. That's all we do. We do
both for federal as well as stateand local. As you mentioned, we
have presence in all fifty states,so we have customers, state and local
customer in every single states. Let'sdo this. So I'm on your website
(10:05):
now and you've got some amazing services. You know, cybersecurity is jumping out
of me, and I know that'sa big one. It infrastructure transformation,
cloud solutions, workforce solutions, productsand solutions, low code platform. When
it comes to your clients, andI know you have many, many clients,
but all over the United States,maybe a couple of those services you
could talk about or what are mostneeded by some of your clients and today
(10:28):
and we don't have to get specificwith any clients, but what are people
looking for mainly from you right now? Yeah, so see things I will
touch So first, especially the postCOVID, COVID had made people the government
customer learned a lot the problem.So how first at the state and local
side stated locally generally a little behindin the con from the federal government as
(10:52):
well as general industry. So weare seeing that there's a lot of issues
there both from cybersecurity and overall thereeven the cloud migration. That's that those
are two big needs right now inthe state and local market which lead to
the digital transformation as a combination sowe are taking off some of the key
(11:20):
mission projects for the government on thedigital transformations, solving their problems, on
providing them the new taking them outof the legacy, moving them out to
the cloud, and solving their cyberproblems. You see, you have probably
hear news every day of hackings andthe hackers as target the US government and
(11:48):
the cities and the counties. Thesmall are easy target for them because they're
not prepared for it. So weare solving those problems providing the cyber solution
to this customers. That's a talk. And then on the federal government digital
transformations combination with futuristic AI NMAL solutionfor some of our customers, we are
(12:11):
providing their solutions to our customers oninvolving the AI and M. Also that
a lot of those problems using AIsolve anything which we can automate improve the
efficiencies of our customers. IT infrastructurehas been my personal background, so we
(12:35):
have that has been managing the largedata centers of some of the key emission
without telling their clients DOOD because diodesour large forty percent of our portfolio is
a Department of Defense solving managing somelarge data center and taking them, migration
them to cloud is other key thingswhich we are doing for those customers.
(13:00):
And now I also to talk toour CEOs and leaders about leadership. And
some of our current CEOs and leadersand also our future budding leaders are listening
to this and saying six thousand employeesand whether they're staff or contractors, that's
a lot of people. So I'mwondering when it comes to all of the
(13:20):
employees that are in the company andstaff and contractors, making sure that they
have your vision. They're doing whatyou want them to do. But they're
also happy employees and they have agood work life balance, especially in today
because we know that people can jumpfrom job to jobs. How do you
manage six six thousand people? It'san extraordinary number. Yeah, So it's
(13:41):
always I mentioned it's not a singleperson saying it's a philosophy. It's that
we try to put it to downto the every single level, chical.
We still try to high personally,try to put that cultural family. Like
we grew I said, we grewvery fast. We keep that culture,
(14:03):
we keep that ethics in our teams, and I'm being fortunate to get a
very good team that follow the sameculture, same philosophy to pass it for
us, this is the extended family. Those people, six thousand people are
part of twenty second century family.We have to take care of them and
(14:24):
that's how we take care of hercustomer and that's how we grew. So
so we say that philosophy goes downto every single level of management. As
you mentioned, there are a lotof people, and the way government contracts
work, a lot of those people'sat the government sides, they are at
the customer sides. It's no matterhow much I want to go meet I
(14:50):
try to go as many customers Ican go on the for the holiday times
and all, but my senior leadershipsure that they goes out to our customer
sites and meet our employees, andwe make every single effort to stay in
touch with them and take care ofthem outstanding. I also like to talk
(15:11):
to our CEOs and leaders about differentiatingyourself from the competition. And I don't
know if there's a company that doesexactly what you do, but I know
there's competition out there, So howdo you differentiate yourself from the competition.
So the key there is, ofcourse, it's a combination of employees and
(15:33):
the customer, but the biggest.So we creating a a culture where we
take care of employees and share thewealth with the employees and taking care encouraging
them, motivating them, mentoring them. And that's one thing that I mentioned
(15:54):
earlier. So I can tell youthat in a world company employees, we
we one of the things we askwhat is their future goals? If they
wanted to grow professionally. Some ofthem even want to grow and take up
to the entrepreneurship, so we gavethem the opportunity to build them as a
(16:18):
future entrepreneur. We mentor them.I'm proud to say that we have three
of our former employees have started verysuccessful companies which we have mentored them under
the as we approved mentor protege agreement. They own now their own successful companies.
One is fifteen million dollars company.One is two of them are fifteen
(16:41):
to twenty million dollars companies. Sothat's kind of a culture we created.
Not that I would say the musiccompetition. That's one thing which which which
we do differently for in our organization, for our family member, for our
empliees, we we take care ofthat. Cool. Well, thank you
(17:04):
for sharing that I know that thefuture is always important and growth is always
important too, and you have todo that exponentially and you be careful about
it. But you work very hardthe last fifteen years and you built quite
a company for yourself. But Iknow there's more growth ahead. What's it
going to be like for the nextfive or ten years when it comes to
twenty second century technologies. What's what'sin store that you can share with us?
(17:26):
Yeah, So, so we havemade a futuristic plan. So we
are now a four hundred million dollarsin revenue and we have set up at
our gate of twenty staven to takethe company to the billion dollars. So
(17:48):
that's even less than five years.So we are we have put a goal
of taking the company to a billiondollars. For that we have come up
aid. They're very solid strategic planwhich expanding ourselves. So we grew so
far. We took a company tofour hundred million totally organic and from here
(18:10):
we are now looking for acquisitions.We are growing. We are going to
acquire some companies to take it twobillion dollars. We are expanding our portfolios.
Today we are one hundred percent servicecompany from service company. We are
expanding ourselves to the products. Weare buying some companies who will have products.
We are looking for some other areasas well as expanding ourselves internationally.
(18:34):
So we have started our operations inCanada and that that's those are some of
the areas which we are trying toexpand. I know that all cereos work
very hard, and I know youalso shared with us in the green room
that family and friends are very importantfor you. So beside that when it
comes to anything philanthropical charity, whenyou do have the time, what do
(18:56):
you like to be a part of. So thanks for touching that, because
that's one of the other key things. When I have time, I do
so I'm very active on that.That's one thing. I am strong believer
of God. The God gave meall what I am today, and I
want to pass. I want togive back and to community. So I
(19:18):
am very active in a lot ofphilanthropic initiatives. I'm a cheer of Salvation
Army Loud and County, part ofwhich we do a lot of things to
give away. Probably Salvation Army hasa lot of good initiatives, including Hope,
(19:40):
and I regularly do participate in foodtouch. I go to the missionary
here in DC where I do Ido a list twice a week morning where
distribute the free food myself. Iget that kind of a feeling of giving
(20:07):
to the homeless people giving the food, so I do it to no matter
how busy, I try to gothere in DC. Two for the food,
free food in the some of theplaces I'm very involved with the fast
sets and some homeless prevention programs andthat those around the giving. And then
(20:27):
the second part is helping on theStam area. I'm very focused to have
on the Stam area. We areinvolved with allowed on schools to mentor young
kids. We do some internship forthem to mentor them. I'm lately I'm
very active with the George Mason,which is the premium school here in northern
(20:52):
Virginia, growing very fast. Theydo a lot of good things for local
here and one of the key stitudeto in Virginia seventy five plus percent of
the students stay in Virginia. Andso that's a George Mason. I'm part
of ongoing helping Mason students, mentoringthem, doing this, helping the start
(21:21):
students to start the startups. SoI'm a part of their Accelerator program.
I am in the advisory council ofthe Jorge Mason Business School helping students from
mentoring as well as give back bothfinancially and scholarship and other things outstanding things.
(21:41):
Thank you for sharing all that,And my takeaway from all of that,
and for all the CEOs and buddingCEOs out there, is that while
you're very busy, all you haveto do is have endless energy like an
eldest and you can make it allhappen with charity up beside your jobs.
So that's what you have to have. And I really appreciate you sharing all
that because those are a lot ofgreat charities and education and a lot of
(22:02):
cool things that you're part of.As we wrap up our conversation and people
being introduced to twenty second century technologiesmaybe for the first time in l maybe
just one takeaway you would like togive our listener when it comes to your
company, what would that be?So as a company, we are a
leading IT solutions and service provider forgovernment solving their mission critical problems. But
(22:30):
more importantly, we have a wonderfulteam, very highly motivated who are taking
care of customers' needs day and nights. That's a good one, and I
would say like long enjoying us.Yeah, I like that. Let's let's
talk about the website because I knowthat you're hiring and that's very important.
If you want to be educated onthe services, maybe you like to partner
(22:51):
with twenty second century technologies. Butif you're also interesting career, what's that
website? A website is SCTI dotcom is a twenty sixond century technology is
inc. So the fuss alphabet ofthe full five full lay so www dot
T SCTI upstanding. Well, No, I can't tell you how much I
(23:15):
appreciate your time. You've in thefifteen plus years that you put this company
together, You've done extraordinary things andI just want to wish you continue success
to you, your workers and yourfamily. And thank you so much for
joining us on CEOs. You shouldknow we really appreciate it. Thank you,
Dan, It's a pleasure to haveanciated it. Our community partner,
M ANDT Bank supports CEOs, youshould know, as part of their ongoing
(23:37):
commitment to building strong communities, andthat starts by backing the businesses within them
as a bank for communities. Mand T believes in dedicating time, talent,
and resources to help local businesses thrivebecause when businesses succeed, our communities succeed.
M ANDT Bank presents CEOs you shouldknow powered by Iheartadia. Let's meet on
Al Sharma. He is the CEOfor twenty second Century Technology, is a
government focused IT systems integrator and softwaresolutions company. Before we talk more about
on ELL's company, I first askedhim to talk a little bit about himself,
where he's from and his origin storyplus generation immigration. Came from India
(00:26):
in nineteen seven. I went toschool in India. I did IT Masters
and Computer applications in India from topan Institute, one of the institute in
India. Let's do this because itmust have been an amazing journey from India
to America. And I always loveto hear about these great stories of CEOs
(00:48):
and leaders that come from a differentcountry and start an incredible life and do
incredible things. So before we talkabout twenty second century technologies, when you
came over here, I know you'vegot a big IT inineering background. What
was the plan? Sure? So, I was a like a IT software
(01:08):
engineer back in India introducing IT cultureto the government in India. When I
got opportunity to come in US thattime, it said it's a ninety seven
Why two K was in the peak. There was a panic everywhere that year
two thousand and thirty five Sember ninetynine, something is going to happen to
(01:30):
most of the IT system. Soeverybody was worried. There was a lot
of opportunities there, and I alsodecided to pursue that one of those opportunity
to come to US. I tooka flight. I came to US with
one hundred dollars not in my pocket, get into JFK in New York,
(01:53):
and from there took another flight toDetroit. That was my first place I
During that time, there were alot of the consulting companies who were bringing
people to help into the IT andthat's what one company I joined in Michigan,
(02:13):
and they put me on a bankto solve some of those problems.
So I took your problems for thebank I joined there. I did great.
I was and overall it was doinggreat and six months enrolled. One
day my manager, supervisor called methat Annell, you're doing great, but
(02:36):
they're going to miss you. Hesaid, what happened? And he said
to this Friday is going to beyour last day. He said, what
I did wrong? Something? Hesaid, no, I'm surprised you were
not told by your employer that thiswas a pure six months temporary position for
a person who was out in thematernity leave and she's coming back. So
(03:00):
it was a big show up forme that I'm going I went out and
meet my employer after evening and atalk to him. He said, yeah,
these things happened, but we'll findyou a new assignment. I said,
okay, great. But the nextthing he said it but one bad
(03:23):
thing is that you're not going toget paid in between the assignment. I
said what And to me, Imention earlier. I came with a hundred
dollars in my pocket. There wasa very little saving in those six months
because we and I have a wifeand seven month old daughter at home and
to take care of it. Soit was a panic, and he was
(03:46):
not going to faith. So Istarted looking alternate, and some people gave
alternate to work on a gas stationor others. So it was a kind
of a difficult sitution at that time, that struggle, but I was it
were Fortunately I found a a jobtemporary, not a job assignment, to
(04:06):
teach in a I institute teaching themMoracle and other databases because that my background
is that. So that took careof a day to day living and my
this consulting company teach me how tofind the work because he was telling me
(04:26):
that token. Now you need tofind assignment yourself. And what that help
is that challenge or the stress periodor the struggle period helped me infuse that
entrepreneurship and me that Okay, I'mthe consulting company is putting me in a
place. They're making a lot ofmoney when I'm working, but they're not
(04:48):
paying me when I'm not working.So and that time, I have a
senior New Jersey he was looking tostart. He had his company, but
single person he was looking. Sohe said, why to work and if
you're finding the project, let's doit together. So I decided I find
(05:13):
a project for me that was inSanford, Connecticut. I drove from Michigan
to Connecticut in a car with almostnothing left, but it was left to
give that as a planter for theapartment. And that's how we started at
(05:33):
twenty second century Technologies. That isa journey of how it gets started right.
And you know there's a common threadwhen we talked to all our CEOs
and leaders that there were a tonof peaks and valleys when jobs are going
up and they're going down and youget laid off or let go or maybe
(05:53):
you want to start your own business. And I know two thousand and eight
was a real pivotal year for you, and I'm watching talked a little bit
about that when it comes to twentysecond century technologies and specifically working in the
DMV, about your ideas as ownerof the company CEO, and this idea
that you had starting about what youwere going to do and how you're going
(06:15):
to work with government contracts and whereit's taking you today. We have a
lot to talk about, but talkabout that original idea and the DMV.
Yeah, yeah, sure. Soafter starting the then in Connecticut, then
of course two major maildownt happen.One in nine eleven we all know it
(06:35):
was such a bad, unfortunate time. And then and two seven financial maildown.
So we took the company up,and both the things kind of a
bad overall for the United States,especially kind of illustration, especially in the
IT industry. Market went down,So we went down really bad. And
(06:59):
at that time I decided I didsome thorough analysis that what is going on
I was looking different competition. Ialways try to stay ahead and look for
the competition. What are the othercompanies doing, how they are doing it?
And after that analysis, one commonthing came up that the companies who
are not getting impacted, that onebusiness which didn't go down was a common
(07:24):
business. And that's what I thendid some more research and found out that
Okay, the government has to run, government has to fund and if people
are working there, they have itsystem. They need to be continuously working
and that's why it didn't go down. So I decided at that time to
(07:46):
move to the MB area. Imoved to Northern Virginia to start the government
practice for twenty second century technologies.You know, it seems it seems so
simple of an idea, but stillit's a leap of faith that you have
to take, making another move withyour family and your partners and starting from
scratch in a new region with governmentcontracts. So let's do this. We've
(08:09):
got a lot to talk about abouttwenty second century technologies. I'd love to
hear what the mission statement is first. So mission statement is very simple,
creating innovative solutions to take care ofthe customers problems. I like that.
(08:31):
I like that focus is always thecustomers and the substatement and that he is
always there. So the mission istaking care of the customers, but with
motivated employees. So that's the secondvery major part in our success, that
taking care of We need to motivatedpeople. So I had family were still
(08:56):
after preaching six sousand plus, Istill qual it a family that we have
the employees who are very motivated totake care of dismission of taking care of
customer. But I need to takecare of them. They have to be
motivated and they need to be takencare. So you've heard right, everybody.
(09:16):
Six thousand plus employees and in allfifty states, which is very extraordinary.
And we're going to get into theweeds in just a little bit with
your services, but for an educationfor all of our listeners and myself and
now tell us exactly what you offeryour clients and what you do. Yeah.
So we are a IT services andsolutions with focus on cybersecurity, IT
(09:41):
infrasture, digitel transformation solutions for government. That's all we do. We do
both for federal as well as stateand local. As you mentioned, we
have presence in all fifty states,so we have customers, state and local
customer in every single states. Let'sdo this. So I'm on your website
(10:05):
now and you've got some amazing services. You know, cybersecurity is jumping out
of me, and I know that'sa big one. It infrastructure transformation,
cloud solutions, workforce solutions, productsand solutions, low code platform. When
it comes to your clients, andI know you have many, many clients,
but all over the United States,maybe a couple of those services you
could talk about or what are mostneeded by some of your clients and today
(10:28):
and we don't have to get specificwith any clients, but what are people
looking for mainly from you right now? Yeah, so see things I will
touch So first, especially the postCOVID, COVID had made people the government
customer learned a lot the problem.So how first at the state and local
side stated locally generally a little behindin the con from the federal government as
(10:52):
well as general industry. So weare seeing that there's a lot of issues
there both from cybersecurity and overall thereeven the cloud migration. That's that those
are two big needs right now inthe state and local market which lead to
the digital transformation as a combination sowe are taking off some of the key
(11:20):
mission projects for the government on thedigital transformations, solving their problems, on
providing them the new taking them outof the legacy, moving them out to
the cloud, and solving their cyberproblems. You see, you have probably
hear news every day of hackings andthe hackers as target the US government and
(11:48):
the cities and the counties. Thesmall are easy target for them because they're
not prepared for it. So weare solving those problems providing the cyber solution
to this customers. That's a talk. And then on the federal government digital
transformations combination with futuristic AI NMAL solutionfor some of our customers, we are
(12:11):
providing their solutions to our customers oninvolving the AI and M. Also that
a lot of those problems using AIsolve anything which we can automate improve the
efficiencies of our customers. IT infrastructurehas been my personal background, so we
(12:35):
have that has been managing the largedata centers of some of the key emission
without telling their clients DOOD because diodesour large forty percent of our portfolio is
a Department of Defense solving managing somelarge data center and taking them, migration
them to cloud is other key thingswhich we are doing for those customers.
(13:00):
And now I also to talk toour CEOs and leaders about leadership. And
some of our current CEOs and leadersand also our future budding leaders are listening
to this and saying six thousand employeesand whether they're staff or contractors, that's
a lot of people. So I'mwondering when it comes to all of the
(13:20):
employees that are in the company andstaff and contractors, making sure that they
have your vision. They're doing whatyou want them to do. But they're
also happy employees and they have agood work life balance, especially in today
because we know that people can jumpfrom job to jobs. How do you
manage six six thousand people? It'san extraordinary number. Yeah, So it's
(13:41):
always I mentioned it's not a singleperson saying it's a philosophy. It's that
we try to put it to downto the every single level, chical.
We still try to high personally,try to put that cultural family. Like
we grew I said, we grewvery fast. We keep that culture,
(14:03):
we keep that ethics in our teams, and I'm being fortunate to get a
very good team that follow the sameculture, same philosophy to pass it for
us, this is the extended family. Those people, six thousand people are
part of twenty second century family.We have to take care of them and
(14:24):
that's how we take care of hercustomer and that's how we grew. So
so we say that philosophy goes downto every single level of management. As
you mentioned, there are a lotof people, and the way government contracts
work, a lot of those people'sat the government sides, they are at
the customer sides. It's no matterhow much I want to go meet I
(14:50):
try to go as many customers Ican go on the for the holiday times
and all, but my senior leadershipsure that they goes out to our customer
sites and meet our employees, andwe make every single effort to stay in
touch with them and take care ofthem outstanding. I also like to talk
(15:11):
to our CEOs and leaders about differentiatingyourself from the competition. And I don't
know if there's a company that doesexactly what you do, but I know
there's competition out there, So howdo you differentiate yourself from the competition.
So the key there is, ofcourse, it's a combination of employees and
(15:33):
the customer, but the biggest.So we creating a a culture where we
take care of employees and share thewealth with the employees and taking care encouraging
them, motivating them, mentoring them. And that's one thing that I mentioned
(15:54):
earlier. So I can tell youthat in a world company employees, we
we one of the things we askwhat is their future goals? If they
wanted to grow professionally. Some ofthem even want to grow and take up
to the entrepreneurship, so we gavethem the opportunity to build them as a
(16:18):
future entrepreneur. We mentor them.I'm proud to say that we have three
of our former employees have started verysuccessful companies which we have mentored them under
the as we approved mentor protege agreement. They own now their own successful companies.
One is fifteen million dollars company.One is two of them are fifteen
(16:41):
to twenty million dollars companies. Sothat's kind of a culture we created.
Not that I would say the musiccompetition. That's one thing which which which
we do differently for in our organization, for our family member, for our
empliees, we we take care ofthat. Cool. Well, thank you
(17:04):
for sharing that I know that thefuture is always important and growth is always
important too, and you have todo that exponentially and you be careful about
it. But you work very hardthe last fifteen years and you built quite
a company for yourself. But Iknow there's more growth ahead. What's it
going to be like for the nextfive or ten years when it comes to
twenty second century technologies. What's what'sin store that you can share with us?
(17:26):
Yeah, So, so we havemade a futuristic plan. So we
are now a four hundred million dollarsin revenue and we have set up at
our gate of twenty staven to takethe company to the billion dollars. So
(17:48):
that's even less than five years.So we are we have put a goal
of taking the company to a billiondollars. For that we have come up
aid. They're very solid strategic planwhich expanding ourselves. So we grew so
far. We took a company tofour hundred million totally organic and from here
(18:10):
we are now looking for acquisitions.We are growing. We are going to
acquire some companies to take it twobillion dollars. We are expanding our portfolios.
Today we are one hundred percent servicecompany from service company. We are
expanding ourselves to the products. Weare buying some companies who will have products.
We are looking for some other areasas well as expanding ourselves internationally.
(18:34):
So we have started our operations inCanada and that that's those are some of
the areas which we are trying toexpand. I know that all cereos work
very hard, and I know youalso shared with us in the green room
that family and friends are very importantfor you. So beside that when it
comes to anything philanthropical charity, whenyou do have the time, what do
(18:56):
you like to be a part of. So thanks for touching that, because
that's one of the other key things. When I have time, I do
so I'm very active on that.That's one thing. I am strong believer
of God. The God gave meall what I am today, and I
want to pass. I want togive back and to community. So I
(19:18):
am very active in a lot ofphilanthropic initiatives. I'm a cheer of Salvation
Army Loud and County, part ofwhich we do a lot of things to
give away. Probably Salvation Army hasa lot of good initiatives, including Hope,
(19:40):
and I regularly do participate in foodtouch. I go to the missionary
here in DC where I do Ido a list twice a week morning where
distribute the free food myself. Iget that kind of a feeling of giving
(20:07):
to the homeless people giving the food, so I do it to no matter
how busy, I try to gothere in DC. Two for the food,
free food in the some of theplaces I'm very involved with the fast
sets and some homeless prevention programs andthat those around the giving. And then
(20:27):
the second part is helping on theStam area. I'm very focused to have
on the Stam area. We areinvolved with allowed on schools to mentor young
kids. We do some internship forthem to mentor them. I'm lately I'm
very active with the George Mason,which is the premium school here in northern
(20:52):
Virginia, growing very fast. Theydo a lot of good things for local
here and one of the key stitudeto in Virginia seventy five plus percent of
the students stay in Virginia. Andso that's a George Mason. I'm part
of ongoing helping Mason students, mentoringthem, doing this, helping the start
(21:21):
students to start the startups. SoI'm a part of their Accelerator program.
I am in the advisory council ofthe Jorge Mason Business School helping students from
mentoring as well as give back bothfinancially and scholarship and other things outstanding things.
(21:41):
Thank you for sharing all that,And my takeaway from all of that,
and for all the CEOs and buddingCEOs out there, is that while
you're very busy, all you haveto do is have endless energy like an
eldest and you can make it allhappen with charity up beside your jobs.
So that's what you have to have. And I really appreciate you sharing all
that because those are a lot ofgreat charities and education and a lot of
(22:02):
cool things that you're part of.As we wrap up our conversation and people
being introduced to twenty second century technologiesmaybe for the first time in l maybe
just one takeaway you would like togive our listener when it comes to your
company, what would that be?So as a company, we are a
leading IT solutions and service provider forgovernment solving their mission critical problems. But
(22:30):
more importantly, we have a wonderfulteam, very highly motivated who are taking
care of customers' needs day and nights. That's a good one, and I
would say like long enjoying us.Yeah, I like that. Let's let's
talk about the website because I knowthat you're hiring and that's very important.
If you want to be educated onthe services, maybe you like to partner
(22:51):
with twenty second century technologies. Butif you're also interesting career, what's that
website? A website is SCTI dotcom is a twenty sixond century technology is
inc. So the fuss alphabet ofthe full five full lay so www dot
T SCTI upstanding. Well, No, I can't tell you how much I
(23:15):
appreciate your time. You've in thefifteen plus years that you put this company
together, You've done extraordinary things andI just want to wish you continue success
to you, your workers and yourfamily. And thank you so much for
joining us on CEOs. You shouldknow we really appreciate it. Thank you,
Dan, It's a pleasure to haveanciated it. Our community partner,
M ANDT Bank supports CEOs, youshould know, as part of their ongoing
(23:37):
commitment to building strong communities, andthat starts by backing the businesses within them
as a bank for communities. Mand T believes in dedicating time, talent,
and resources to help local businesses thrivebecause when businesses succeed, our communities succeed.
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