As the sole owner and CEO/president of HX5, Margarita Howard has masterfully conquered the intricate world of federal contracting, with employees in 34 states and 90 government locations. “Large businesses and the government have to meet small-business goals,” Howard explains.
“For any company to be successful, they must be able to clearly articulate their unique value proposition and differentiate their services from their competitors.”
The seeds of HX5’s success were planted during Margarita Howard’s college years. While working full-time to support herself through school, Howard joined the Air Force, seeking broader career opportunities. Her military service led to undergraduate and graduate degrees and a key role as part of the contractor team responsible for implementing the Tricare program, the Department of Defense’s comprehensive health care program for military members, retirees, and their families.
The job exposed Howard to the complexities of government contracting, giving her invaluable insights into prime and subcontractor operations. Her hands-on experience with the large-scale military health care initiative later provided the foundation for her comprehensive vision at HX5.
After the Tricare program was up and running, “I started to seriously think about and consider starting my own business,” she shares. Howard’s timing proved significant: She was entering an industry where women entrepreneurs remained notably underrepresented.
Margarita Howard: Breaking Through Barriers
Boston Consulting Group’s past findings suggest that equal entrepreneurial participation between men and women could transform the global economy. Their analysis indicates that closing this gender gap would generate an additional $2.5 trillion to $5 trillion in worldwide GDP, representing a 3% to 6% increase. The federal government’s procurement goal for women-owned businesses is a modest 5%.
Margarita Howard’s vision, however, refused to let these odds define her company’s future. She leveraged her status in the Small Business Administration’s 8(a) program to create unprecedented opportunities. The results spoke volumes: HX5 secured four substantial contracts within a year, establishing a foundation for exponential growth.
Howard systematically positioned HX5 to compete across multiple contract categories, avoiding overreliance on sole-source agreements. This strategic diversification proved crucial. Today, Under Howard’s leadership, HX5 seamlessly transitions between prime contractor and subcontractor roles, earning industry recognition in both capacities.
Howard’s commitment to female leadership manifests in HX5’s management composition, where women hold the majority of top positions. “It’s rewarding to see that women are making significant strides in the government contracting industry, breaking barriers and more often assuming leadership roles,” she says.
However, there are persistent gender-based obstacles in government contracting. “I’ve experienced it firsthand, and it does create an additional challenge to prove yourself as an effective and successful leader,” says Howard. Her response to gender bias has been unwavering professionalism and laser focus on corporate objectives, building her reputation through results rather than rhetoric.
Technical expertise drives contracts, but people drive success. Howard credits her long-serving employees — many with tenure exceeding 10 years — with HX5’s sterling reputation. The company specializes in technical, engineering, and program management support for federal agencies, and its achievements are made possible through careful team-building and retention.
HX5 has pushed beyond conventional service offerings to support cutting-edge research, development, and testing projects. This technical versatility, combined with Howard’s vision, positions HX5 at the forefront of innovation in government contracting.
HX5’s Blueprint for Success
Margarita Howard recognized that HX5’s future success hinged on strong fundamentals. She first focused on establishing a government-approved accounting system while building a talented team. This dual emphasis on human capital and operational infrastructure proved central to her business strategy.
When talking about traits that make small businesses attractive partners for government agencies and large contractors, Howard advises, “You must always leverage your respective past performance examples, client testimonials of outstanding performances, etc., to strengthen your credibility and, accordingly, your competitiveness.”
The company’s success stems from more than just technical competence or strategic positioning. Howard has cultivated an organizational culture that values long-term relationships over short-term gains, expertise over expedience, and quality over quantity.
“We are always looking to build our relationships with the government and other prime contractors within the government contracting community. We attend industry events, networking functions, and government-sponsored outreach programs as they allow us to establish new connections and stay informed about upcoming opportunities within the sectors we operate and support. The information that we learn through these activities often is important to the proposal writing process,” says Howard.
She continues, “Any successful proposal must always address how the company will ensure strict compliance with all applicable regulations, requirements, and standards that go along with performing on a government contract.
“We ensure that all proposals go through a thorough review that includes verification that these items have all been addressed and, at times, when appropriate, include in the proposal risk management processes to identify, assess, and mitigate potential risks that could impact contract performance or compliance.”
HX5 continues to push boundaries in specialized services such as research, development, testing, evaluation, hardware and software engineering, and mission support operations while maintaining the agility and responsiveness of a smaller firm. Under Howard’s leadership, the company demonstrates that with the right combination of experience, strategy, and dedication, small businesses can compete and thrive in federal contracting, regardless of traditional barriers or statistical odds.
The ripple effects of Howard’s leadership extend beyond HX5’s immediate success. Margarita Howard’s achievements showcase how technical excellence and inclusive leadership can transform small businesses into major players in federal contracting, opening doors for future generations of entrepreneurs who might otherwise have seen the industry’s barriers as insurmountable.