Continuing our exploration of Zolon Tech’s dynamic growth in IT and managed services, and its expansion into Federal Health following a significant $36M HHS ACF contract, we engaged with John O’Grady, Senior Director of Digital Transformation at Zolon. With over a decade of Federal experience, including a key role as the Chief of Mission Support Systems at HHS Office of Inspector General, and a tenure as Chief Digital Strategist at Unqork, O’Grady reveals how aligning with business goals and focusing on value-driven solutions formulates a successful strategy, emphasizing the qualities Zolon looks for in prospective partnerships.
Prioritizing Efficient, Meaningful Outcomes
Zolon’s strategy diverges from the typical fascination with “the next big thing” in emerging technology. Emphasizing practicality, Zolon leverages low-code and no-code solutions to help government agencies rapidly address their most pressing challenges.
O’Grady reflects on his government tenure, “In 2020, HHS OIG launched 13 applications using ServiceNow. However, success led to soaring licensing costs, undermining the reduced service costs we were promised.” Zolon’s alternative? A flexible, agnostic platform approach that fosters integrated data management and modern delivery methods.
Aligning Solutions with Government Objectives
“Our method of composability aligns with the desired government business capabilities, covering their current and future needs like data visualization, analytics, workflow management, automation, and AI. It’s crucial that any IT solutions enable and align to their overarching strategic goals,” explains O’Grady. He stresses the importance of understanding agency goals through direct communication, rather than seeking information in formal meetings. Insight, he suggests, comes from engaging with ground-level employees and networking events.
Advocating for Best-Value Solutions
The essence of industry’s role, as O’Grady sees it, is to identify and develop technologically efficient solutions that directly address the core needs of government agencies. “It’s about presenting options that achieve impactful business outcomes. Options that not only meet their requirements but also demonstrate value over superficial appeal.”
Zolon also aims to help the government circumvent vendor lock-in by providing flexible application and data frameworks. These frameworks enable seamless integration across different technologies using common APIs, enhancing communication between various systems and platforms.
Remote Work: A Permanent Fixture?
O’Grady speculates that remote work may continue to be a mainstay in government sectors, possibly more so than in the private sector. He emphasizes the importance of adapting to this trend through enhanced collaboration and communication tools.
“Conferences are key to forming initial connections, but virtual meetings offer numerous advantages, including time efficiency and the ability to record and revisit discussions,” he notes.
Cultivating Partnerships and Talent
As Zolon expands, it seeks partners who deeply understand client needs and are skilled in low-code and no-code technologies. Talent development is a cornerstone at Zolon. “Through our Zolon University curriculum, our team members continually enhance their skills, preparing them for varied roles and new challenges ahead.”
Zolon values mentorship and cultural fit, ensuring employees have pathways for growth and development. “In this competitive market, we focus on investing in our people, ensuring they grow with us. Our culture of hard work balanced with hard play is what unites us,” concludes O’Grady.
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