On the heels of being announced as an Elev8 GovCon Honoree – again – Tarkik shares insight into how they reach and exceed the bar when it comes to partnering, taking care of employees, and being engaged in their community.
It Takes a Village
In government contracting, we’ve learned it takes a village. We understand that the ultimate goal is supporting the mission, which sometimes means stepping back as a subcontractor or building a team as a Prime—whatever serves the customer and our employees best. We’ve built our partnerships on trust, often beginning work together before any agreements are signed. This foundation allows us to be responsive to data calls, make swift decisions, and create proposals that truly resonate with government needs rather than getting caught up in workshare negotiations upfront.
We actively participate in industry working groups focused on anticipating future government needs. In these collaborations, we bring together distinct perspectives and access to decision-makers, amplifying our collective impact beyond what any individual company could achieve. Because we work closely with fellow small businesses, we can be nimble, make decisions quickly, and find innovative ways to support our mutual goals while delivering exceptional value to our customers.
Professional Development Belongs to the Employee
We’ve made a significant investment in our people through generous annual training budget allocations documented in our Employee Handbook. We actively track usage through software tools to ensure no one is overlooked, and we conduct regular check-ins to encourage employees to pursue certifications, attend industry events, or even meet with mentors over coffee.
What makes this unique is our philosophy; this investment belongs to the employee. We encourage autonomy and ownership over career trajectories because we believe that empowered, continuously learning employees deliver better outcomes for our federal clients.
Our commitment to internal advancement exemplifies this approach. One of our most rewarding success stories is an intern we welcomed five years ago who now serves as a Senior Engineer on a prominent project. This growth was possible because our Project Leads actively mentor junior team members, creating a culture where potential is recognized and nurtured. When we engage employees in upcoming business opportunities—such as roles requiring new certifications—we create mutual benefit for both the individual and the organization.
Quality Objectives
Quality is one of our core values, reflected in our annual quality objectives around our management system certifications: ISO 9001, 20000, and 27001, CMMI-DEV Level 3, and most recently, CMMI-SVC Level 3, which we obtained this year. This latest achievement demonstrates our ongoing commitment to continuous improvement in service delivery and our ability to adapt to the evolving needs of our federal clients.
Beyond certifications, we leverage customized project management tools that serve as the backbone of our operations. These platforms don’t just manage internal work—they coordinate tasks with service providers including legal, accounting, and business development partners, giving us real-time visibility across the company. We utilize advanced automations, alerts, recurring events, and workflow automation to streamline processes across recruitment, upskilling, compliance, legal, and contract management. This technological foundation makes us more productive and responsive.
Supporting a Level Playing Field
We actively support the idea of giving everyone a level playing field, both within our company and in our community. For us, this means providing foundational resources for people to thrive—because kids can’t learn if they’re hungry, and immigrants can’t contribute to society if they’re not housed. We participate in events and donate to organizations like Food for Others, REACT DC, and Children’s Hospital, recognizing that addressing basic needs creates the foundation for success.
Our leadership team participates in industry working groups formed to tackle specific problems and research new technology applications for the Federal Government. By pooling our collective expertise and track records, we generate value that transcends individual contributions and benefits the broader industry.
Doing Right is Good Ethics and Good Business
Being recognized as an Elev8 Honoree multiple years in a row validates what we’ve always believed: that doing right by your people, your partners, and your customers isn’t just good ethics—it’s good business. This recognition tells us we’re on the right path in building a company culture that values quality, integrity, and genuine relationships. It reinforces our commitment to the principles that drive us every day and motivates us to continue raising the bar for ourselves and our industry.
It also says that we’re consistent. Year after year, we show up for our people, our partners, and our customers in ways that matter. We maintain an open-door policy encouraging employees to voice concerns without fear of reprisal. We conduct 30-day check-ins with new employees—specifically with someone other than their manager—to collect candid feedback. We accommodate religious holidays, health needs, and family obligations without question, even adjusting company events with those considerations in mind. At company events, we extend invitations not just to current employees but to past team members, vendors, service providers, and subcontractors who’ve contributed to our success. By embracing the philosophy of “one team,” we celebrate everyone who’s played a role in our journey.
