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Student Q & A

Background

Leonard F. Johnson, a telecommunications specialist with the GSA's Office of Service Delivery Program Management, is a project management professional with many credentials to his name, including his latest acquisition, an ESI/GW Master's Certificate in Commercial Contract Management.

"Anyone in the field should pursue a master's certificate at ESI," he said. "You learn so much, and when you have that certificate, it gives you a sense of accomplishment. I studied the whole spectrum of contracting, and it was all useful."

Leonard has spent the last 14 years supporting the Federal Technology Services' $25-billion contract for telecommunications services ranging from long-distance telephone services to video and satellite and distance learning options. His daily on-the-job routine includes fielding proposals from vendors for updated technology services and analyzing the user needs and implementation issues.

Leonard's accomplishments also include an ESI/GW Master's Certificate in IT Project Management and an ESI/GW Master's Certificate in Government Contracting. Leonard said his efforts to obtain more experience through his ESI courses have paid off. ESI recently spoke with him about his experiences in the ESI classroom.

1. How has the material covered in the ESI courses helped you on the job?

"My Master's Certificate in Government Contracting really helped me smooth out the process between the program officer and contract office," he said. "Once I learned more about contracts, it was so interesting that I just kept going. I have contract managers now who feel I have more contracting experience than some of their contracting experts. My boss comes to me about FAR requirements now, and we can get things done without bothering the contracting office."

"Being a technical person, I expedite the process in the program office," Leonard said. "I felt I needed to know the requirements of the contracting office where I work so that I could give them the information they needed the first time. If I can anticipate what the contract office needs, it is a much less lengthy process."

2. Would you recommend ESI courses to your peers?

"I think program managers should take some of the contract courses to better understand the constraints contact managers are under. Commercial contracting is very flexible but with government contracting, you must adhere to FAR guidelines that are very specific.

Someone in one of my recent ESI classes told me that project managers with contracting experience and contract officers with project management experience are hard to find. To be able to understand both sides of the process is good business and makes you more marketable."

3. What did you like best about your ESI courses?

"In addition to boosting your professional credentials, ESI courses teach real-world skills. I've taken classes elsewhere, but I have found the quality of instructors at ESI is phenomenal. I've not found an ESI instructor, yet, who wasn't absolutely top of the line. The instructors are so knowledgeable and the classes give you a chance to do hands-on work. You get to use what you learn and make your mistakes in the classroom where the instructor can suggest better approaches. It makes it so much easier for when you get out into the real world."

4. What advice would you give to contract managers out there?

"Continuing education in the contracts field is a must. With new laws changing the way contracts are accomplished and what is contracted, an effective manager will stay current and also make sure his or her employees remain current through continuous training. In particular, contracting professionals should focus on A-76 knowledge and performance-based contracting."

5. What are some of the trends you see in the contract management field?

"Well, the strongest trend is that government contracting is moving toward a more commercial approach to contracting by using performance-based standards for acquisition and administration. That's why it is important for contracting professionals to understand both commercial and government contracting processes."

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