On the heels of adding a familiar face as its new Senior Vice President of Strategy and, in collaboration with WWC Global and Nexight Group, being awarded a $37.5M contract with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), we caught up with Partner Forces Founder and CEO Jenny Stone; Vice President Jennifer Chaggaris; Chief Operating Officer Brian Peeler; and yes, new Senior Vice President of Strategy Andy Glaser, to find out more about this growing team’s recipe for success, how their unique culture fosters engagement and positivity, future tactical plans for partners, and why candor takes work.
Culture in a Name
Founded on the belief that we are stronger together, this company’s name reflects a deep commitment to bringing the power of partnership – and what it means to a good partner – to customers, Primes, subcontractors, and each other. From its earliest days, Stone’s leadership style, developed through decades of observing and learning from industry-leading companies, centered around culture and core values. By understanding how incentivized leaders can impact a company’s culture and seeking the best formula for attracting and retaining top talent, Partner Forces began thoughtfully building a pipeline of future leaders who were aligned in their values.
“One of the big things we emphasize is followership, which has been infused into our competency models. When we consider people being promoted across the company, we’re really looking at whether they have a group of people who are cheering them on, or a group of people they acknowledge as having helped them grow, as supporting them in their day to day.”
Instead of focusing on mechanics or process, Partner Forces is focused on values in action and how those show up every day. Recently, the company adopted Bonusly, a platform that engages everyone and encourages them to “celebrate everyday contributions and key milestones, automate time-consuming HR admin processes, incentivize participation in company initiatives, and offer digital rewards.”
“Everyone has points they can give to their peers monthly as a way to share individual successes and accomplishments with the entire company. At the end of the day, you can look at all of these accolades and see interactions across departments, the positivity and encouragement. Best of all, the idea came from someone on the team who just wanted to make Partner Forces better.”
Working under tight timelines, in sometimes stressful situations, the team says the opportunity to end the day grounded in something positive is game-changing.
Solving Government’s Toughest Challenges
At the root of Partner Forces’ capabilities is identifying and understanding risk. Leaning on technology – and leaning into innovation – to support its efforts, the team applies data analytics to drive solutions and program support, ultimately helping its clients “buy down” risk.
Building on experience supporting programs that make “front page news,” Partner Forces is always looking for new ways to make an impact. And that often means relying on that dedication to positive partnership to deliver the optimal combination of capabilities, resources, and tools. “Making a difference also includes offering advice on who else should be brought in. We have a strong history as a subcontractor of building teams behind the scenes and getting them front and center with the customer.”
With a history of trust with clients and partners alike, Partner Forces leverages its impressive depth of experience and expertise to build a strong and growing portfolio of successful work. “A lot of companies bounce around in what they do, but our story is one of strength and of consistently showing up in a certain way. There are some client spaces where you can’t be your best and you have to make hard choices. Those are times when you have to make tough calls, adjust, and be true to the people you brought on to do the work, which might also mean finding them other opportunities.”
Strength in Knowledge
Some might have considered it a significant challenge to stand up the company just after certain key best-in-class vehicles were established. Instead, this team says it made them work harder to solidify their core business expertise and hire great staff that fit the culture and the mission. Then, working primarily as a subcontractor, Partner Forces began building a reputation with clients and partners as a great teammate that over-delivers and solves challenges. Now, those contract holders are hearing from clients that Partner Forces must be part of their bid if they hope to win.
While ‘growing up’ that way was not easy, the fact that this team has not lost a single member to a competitor – ever – says something about the bond, the resilience, the satisfaction driven by a job well done and acknowledged through client demand.
The Power of Partnership
Deciding who to partner with is important – so important that it’s in their name. This company gives a lot to partners and hopes to receive the same in return – in the form of opportunities to interact with clients and opportunities to do meaningful work together. The team leans on those they have successfully worked with before and seeks out other small businesses with whom they can form a team to “go change the world.”
To identify potential partners, the leadership team connects with managers on the ground to understand the day-to-day and to get a pulse on interactions and collaboration. This feedback on how teammates show up informs long-term business decisions.
As it looks to shift focus, Partner Forces is putting in the work to lay out how it wants to show up as a Prime. Bringing to the table many lessons learned, they aim to represent the best qualities of the many Primes they have worked with. From having hard conversations to clear escalation processes and always showing up for clients, this team has a plan to add value in their own way.
And where credit is due, it will be given. Having supported key wins over the years with no acknowledgement, Partner Forces intends to be different. “We want to publicly acknowledge, to call out and raise everyone up – to give kudos and appreciation to all teams involved. That is the most tactical and authentic way we will show up as a partner and leader.”
Building on its reputation, on its success in establishing and maintaining high standards, partnering with this team will be different. “We want to build truly unified teams that show up and work together, where our teams are coaching and championing the whole team, not just one part. We’re really looking at how we can be different in the best ways, in ways that will benefit our clients and excite our partners.”
Professional Development
Developing its future strategy and continuing to build depth within its team, Partner Forces launched its own Program Management Office, charged with people performance and client delivery excellence. Under this umbrella is a coaching program to help those working to gear up for a promotion or prepare for a new management role, or to help further develop and refine soft skills. “We also have internal training where people who are really strong in certain areas lead workshops to help others improve their skills.”
Promotions are intended to be self-identifying, with people proactively engaging with performance managers and the leadership team and developing their own business case when they are ready. Managers guide their teams through the promotion process, encouraging them to pursue additional training, coaching, or stretch roles so they are ready when a promotion comes through.
Partner Forces has already made a significant investment in its people, with much more on the horizon.
Talking the Talk – with Candor
Among its core values, candor is one this team works hard at. Whether it’s a conversation with a client to resolve an identified issue or overcoming a particular internal challenge, the team prioritizes bringing positivity to candid discussions, focusing on solutions and ideas, and tackling challenges head-on with confidence and communication.
Embracing its low ego culture, leaders say they had to recognize that Partner Forces was among the nicest companies you could ever meet – but sometimes too nice. “There may be situations where we need to be more comfortable with friction and holding each other accountable, especially as we grow. Passionate discussion and healthy debate are not easy but they can result in really great things.”
Continuing its path of growth and self-reflection, the leadership team of nearly two dozen engages in monthly exercises focused on breaking down barriers that can accompany remote work – barriers that can be built on the notion of being nice. “We’ve had some great sessions focused on really knowing each other, on understanding why people show up at work in certain ways, which may often be the product of their past or their beliefs.”
Diversity Delivered Through Intent
Through tough conversations, elevating diverse voices within the company was identified as a priority. Seeking outside coaching to ensure DE&I initiatives were woven into the fabric of its culture, the leadership team educated themselves on what was needed and firmly committed to forward progress. “We worked hard to show up as listeners and learners, to get better at the language that brings more intent and meaning to what we are doing, and that reflects what we think and feel in the right way. We are focused on understanding all of our people, to understand how to communicate better, to realize that life circumstances shape who we are. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are about more than just numbers on paper – they are about an environment that is safe, that embraces everyone.”
The result has been a more diverse team; a team that is skilled, highly motivated, and that shares the same values, drive, and commitment.
Insights from a New Hire
Leveraging more than 20 years of technology and management consulting experience, and more than a decade advancing the Homeland Security mission through partnering with FEMA, CISA, the Secret Service, CBP, TSA, and USCIS, one of Partner Forces’ major draws for Andy Glaser was its leadership and the focus they bring to the table. “Success means knowing what you are, where you want to go, and having the confidence to say no sometimes so you can say yes more emphatically to the things you want to do.”
Partner Forces wears its culture on its sleeve, through its website, intentionally designed not to be cookie cutter, through its social media, which focuses on people and the softer side of business, and through its interview process, where prospective hires have the chance to engage with the people they could be working with on a daily basis to understand how they work and what the culture looks like in practice.
About Partner Forces
Partner Forces, LLC, is a woman-owned management consulting firm that helps government and commercial clients manage risk, enhance security, and strengthen mission impact. Partner Forces takes deep pride in crafting smart and practical solutions that consider the evolving risk landscape and help solve for the greater good. The team works tirelessly to maximize the power of partnership, protect critical infrastructure, and help national security and industry partners tackle their most pressing challenges.
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