The new year is a turning of the page. A fresh start. A new day. It is also a time of reflection and gratitude for the path that brought us here. 2023 was a year of enormous change for Bodwé. In most ways, it was change we brought upon ourselves, and it was uncomfortable at times. We knew to scale, we had to realign our structure and add staff. We were aggressive with the pursuit of projects and leveraged our set-asides. And in the end, our efforts paid off.
Here are some of our headlines from the year: WBK Engineering earned their DBE status and Blue Star Integrative Studio earned their HUBZone certification we added two new businesses to our family of companies - Bodwé Federal Services and Bodwé Technology Solutions; we realigned our structure into Branches to better organize team members as we serve our clients; we added 66 (!) new employees to our team (40% of the overall census was hired in 2023). Bodwé strategically pursued several multiple-award contracts in 2023 and we were selected to hold contracts for each of these opportunities, and we learned that the BIA’s top spending in the architecture and engineering by Products and Services (PSC) and North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) for the last five years was with Bodwé.
2024 and Beyond
To say I am proud is an understatement. In my wildest dreams, I could not have imagined this type of success, and I don’t see us slowing down. 2024 is already shaping up to be another stellar year. While the year has already been non-stop, we are anticipating major contract awards in Q1 of 2024, so our strategy is working.
The Launch of One Bodwé
Last year, we reorganized into Branches - Building Services, Infrastructure Services, Federal Support Services, and Support Staff - to align with client delivery and services which positioned us to grow, to scale, and to support our clients, the Pokagon Band, and our employees. Reorganization allowed us to illustrate the broad multi-disciplined expertise we needed to compete as a prime contractor for the follow-on contracts with critical clients such as the BIA and IHS. It was uncomfortable at times but it was the right thing to do to position us for growth. Now we have repeated that process multiple times and we are getting into a routine.
WBK Celebrates 25 Years and DBE Status
We also experienced some impressive achievements within our Brands. WBK Engineering celebrated two significant milestones in 2023: 25 years of professional services and they earning certification as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE). Founded in 1998, WBK has grown to become a trusted civil engineering partner in providing innovative, sustainable solutions to clients in the public and private sectors. What I am most excited about is expanding WBK’s and the Infrastructure Branch’s geographical footprint over the next 25 years, from being the trusted partner in the Fox River Valley to serving clients across this great Nation.
Link to WBK 25 Year Anniversary Press Release and DBE Status Announcement.
Many Farms 100% Design Completion
Team members across all Bodwé entities worked together for two years on an expedited schedule to complete the design of the nearly 130,000-square-foot Many Farms High School campus to serve students and community members of the Navajo Nation. This project represents the largest multi-Brand, cross-collaboration effort to date and will transform the educational experience for generations of Indigenous students to come.
As a tribally owned company, the Many Farms High School redesign and expansion is in direct alignment with the goal of Bodwé Group to enhance the quality of life and cultural sustainability of Indigenous communities. We are honored to have had the ability to affect positive change for those who will utilize this facility in the heart of the Navajo Nation in the Southwest.
Read more about the Many Farms journey.
7GAE Graduates
On Valentine’s Day, Seven Generation A+E (7GAE) will graduate from their 8(a) status. The Small Business Administration’s (SBA) 8(a) Business Development (BD) Program is a nine-year program created to help socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs gain access to— and succeed in— the federal marketplace. 7GAE was the first Tribal 8(a) in Michigan and therefore will be the first Tribal 8(a) to retire in February. What an honor it has been to hold this title for the last nine years.
Now it is time for our next generation of 8(a) companies to take their turns in this program. Steelhead, Bodwé Technology Solutions, and Bodwé Federal Services have applied and are waiting for official acknowledgment of their status. Part of the One Bodwé strategic plan was to prepare the next generation of Bodwé companies for 8(a) status. As we sunset one, we anticipate the next.
