ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Illinois -- An Army Contracting Command-Rock Island procuring contracting officer was recently selected as the 2015 Army Materiel Command Contracting Officer Small Business Recognition Award recipient for her outstanding contributions and accomplishments in support of the Department of the Army Small Business Program.
Kathleen Olson, PCO for ACC-RI's Installations Garrison Public Works Branch, was nominated by Army Sustainment Command's Small Business Office and selected by Gen. Dennis L.Via, AMC commanding general.
Olson said this award reinforces the fact that every contracting action her team does contributes to the Army's bigger picture while helping the surrounding community.
"I feel honored to be recognized by the U.S. Army Sustainment Command for my contributions to the Small Business Program," said Olson. "My team supports a customer that has multiple opportunities for small business involvement, especially local small businesses to perform work on Rock Island Arsenal. I have the unique opportunity to see firsthand the processes of our contracts and how it affects RIA and the community."
In nominating Olson for the award, the ASC Small Business Office noted that Olson's consistent efforts to use small businesses has helped ASC's small business achievements steadily increase between FY13 and FY15, and helped ASC meet its goals. Additionally, her achievements rolled up to AMC, helping meet its goals and outperform other Army major commands.
Olson credits the Small Business Program's employees -- present and past -- with helping her and her team become so familiar and supportive of small business in contracting.
"If there are ever questions or concerns they are quick to respond or assist in finding the answer," said Olson. "Together we actively discuss our requirements with each other to develop a better final project."
She also said she is fortunate to have had the same team for more than three years, because together they have developed a mindset that prioritizes making projects small business friendly, while handling a workload that keeps Rock Island Arsenal functioning.
"This place is many years old, and it takes a whole team and the local surrounding community to keep it alive and thriving," said Olson. "I feel like my team's efforts help stimulate the surrounding communities by searching for local small business contractors who are capable of providing products and services that all of us working on RIA use every day."
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