Proposal writing decides the fate of many government contractors, and Margarita Howard treats it accordingly. “Being able to write winning proposals is an absolute necessity,” said the sole owner, CEO, and president of HX5.

Her Florida-based company, a service-disabled veteran and women-owned business, supplies STEM-focused support services to NASA and the Department of Defense. Strong proposals are how firms like HX5 win and renew that work. The company operates across 34 states and 90 government locations with more than 1,000 employees.

An Early Start on Artificial Intelligence

Howard moved early on AI. “We try to stay ahead of changing technologies, AI, and cybersecurity. I saw it was important to get started on it early and so we have,” she said.

Proposal development has become one of the most important uses for those tools. Margarita Howard explained what good proposals require: “Developing proposals that accurately show capabilities, solutions, and value propositions requires solid technical expertise combined with effective writing skills.”

Audits, Accuracy, and Young Talent

AI also helps HX5 manage compliance. According to Howard, these systems can track and organize the detailed documentation that government audits demand, which frees employees to focus on more sophisticated tasks.

Margarita Howard sees accuracy as the main payoff. Government audits leave little room for error, and automated tracking helps HX5 keep its records in order while staff concentrate on technical problems that call for human judgment.

The technology serves a recruiting purpose as well. Gen Z workers, born between 1997 and 2012, grew up with digital tools and expect modern systems at work. Margarita Howard has said the generation “thrives in digital-native environments,” and the company has added instant messaging and interactive project management platforms with that in mind.

Competition for STEM talent is intense across the defense sector. National Defense Magazine reported that 82% of defense industrial base companies find it hard to locate qualified STEM workers, so an employer known for current technology has one more reason for candidates to say yes. Refer to this article for more information.

More about Margarita Howard on https://www.margaritahoward.com/