The Buzz with ACT-IAC
The Buzz with ACT-IAC
From Engineering to Federal Contracting: A Mid-Career Voyage
In this episode of 'The Buzz from ACT-IAC,' host Yohanna Baez delves into the professional journey of Eric Ritz, a mid-career professional working with Accenture Federal Services for 15 years. Eric shares his experiences before, during, and after participating in the ACT-IAC Professional Development Voyagers Program. The discussion covers the program's impact on his career, including the valuable lessons learned, skills acquired, and the supportive network of mentors and peers he engaged with. Eric emphasizes the significance of understanding perspectives from both industry and government sides and highlights the pivotal experiences that enriched his professional growth. Listeners are encouraged to consider taking part in ACT-IAC's programs to benefit from similar transformative experiences.
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Yohanna: [00:00:00] Hello and welcome back to the Buzz from Act iac. I'm your host, Joanna Bias, and today we are diving into the experiences of mid-career professionals who have taken part in the ACT, iac, professional Development Voyagers program. We will explore their journeys before, during, and after the program, what they learned, how they grew, and where they are headed next.
Yohanna: Okay, let's dive in.
Yohanna: Hello everyone and welcome to this episode of the Buzz. I am joined here with Eric Ritz. Would you please introduce yourself? Let us know a little bit about your background and you know, your career journey.
Eric: , Good morning. Glad to be here. Thanks for the invite. Uh, my name is Eric Rit, you said, I am work at Accenture Federal Services.
Eric: Uh, I've been here working and serving in the federal space for 15 years. So, um, rewinding the clock back a bit, um, I went to school for mechanical engineering [00:01:00] and, uh, upon graduation I interviewed with a bunch of companies, uh, mostly around the defense. Uh, engineering sector and also took a interview with Accenture and was really excited about the opportunity to work in the federal market, um, work with, uh, project-based programs that,
Yohanna: uh,
Eric: delivered, uh, really interesting services for the public and citizens and the defense industry.
Eric: Um, however, it wasn't working on a. An airframe for 20 years. It was something much quicker and faster. And that was, seemed really exciting to me. So that's how, how I ended up going from an engineering background into a,
Yohanna: um,
Eric: a federal con it contracting world. Um, so I started working with civilian agencies, um, building systems that served, um, large, uh, large shipping groups.
Eric: Um, then worked with, um, some more modern, modern technologists and platforms. Ended up that transitioning from that. Into really helping with a small group of us building and growing our [00:02:00] business around low-code platforms as they were becoming, uh, more widely accepted in the federal space.
Yohanna: Um,
Eric: I then transitioned over and worked in our, our business around the Department of Homeland Security for about five years, working on, um, some of our large programs there.
Eric: And ultimately, uh, running our work at a few of those agencies, uh, supporting fema, uh, and US Citizenship and Immigration Services or U-S-C-I-S. Now I actually work in our technology business again, and I am aligning with how we work with, uh, large software vendors and how we, uh, make sure that we have the right staff training, uh, bringing assets there and working with those vendors to deliver large programs across the entire federal space.
Yohanna: Well, that's a fun journey. You went everywhere. Private.
Eric: That's, that's exactly right.
Yohanna: Yeah. That's great. Okay, cool. Um, what was it about the ACT I ACT program that inspired you to apply? What was it about your journey that you said like, this is, this is a perfect time to do [00:03:00] this program?
Eric: Sure. So the, I have been across kinda my career.
Eric: I've been involved with a few different industry groups, uh, been to a couple technology focused events, things like that. Um, uh, one of the groups that I really liked to spend time with was ACT iact. Um, I think there was a really great blend of both industry professionals that are delivering services as well as government, um, professionals on the, on the federal side who are running and owning, um, these programs.
Eric: I think that blend of both sides of the coin, um, was really powerful. It came through in the events we went to. It came through in the discussions we had and, and the folks we met. So I really appreciated those Act to Act events. Um, uh, is through that event I heard about the professional development programs.
Eric: I heard about, um, the associates, the Voyagers and the partners programs. Uh, I met at the time Leslie, who ran those programs. And, um, if anybody that's met her, she's extremely enthusiastic and energetic and it's, it's hard to not want it to be part of that program. Um, I [00:04:00] also then met with a few of my colleagues who are graduates or fellows, um, of these programs and they had nothing but great things to say about it.
Eric: So after, um, it was really that journey as well as, um, what I kind of, I mean, I think this aligns with the Voyagers program being somewhat mid-career. It was a great time to take a pause, um, from, uh, from our day-to-day spend a deep immersive, uh, experience with not just industry and government, but other folks, my colleagues and peers in industry understand their perspectives.
Eric: And get, um, get some more, be able to share with them as well as our, our, our government peers. There's a good time in the, in my career to do that and be part of that wages program. Um, so that's kinda what took me here, um, can talk more about later about like what kinda what we did and how exciting it was and beneficial, but, uh, that's, that's really how it got here.
Yohanna: So talk about our events that we put on. Shout out to the events team. We, we finished ET and I, uh, this past weekend and [00:05:00] Eric, you were there. Can you maybe speak to your experience, was this your first ET and I.
Eric: Yes, it was. So I've been to, um, I've been to a lot of the ELC events. I've been to some of the FIE and COE events, but this was definitely my first, first time, uh, with the group at the Cambridge event.
Eric: It was certainly a little, uh, different feel, more intimate. Um, we had, um, a lot deeper discussions, especially now given what's going on in the federal space, um, around our path forward and how we are going to shift and change a little bit to meet the new demands of, uh, of our industry. And so. The conversations were great.
Yohanna: Um,
Eric: the, the programming is always was excellent. Uh, we had, uh, some really great presenters, a lot of SMEs on both the industry and the government side. Um, and of course it was great, um, at, at the event, uh, the Voyagers graduated, so it was great to be with my Voyagers 2025 class. Uh, celebrate our graduation.
Eric: So all in all, a great weekend in, uh, in Cambridge.
Yohanna: Yeah, I, I sneaked into some of the, um, breakout sessions [00:06:00] and it was really enga like, folks were really engaged. People were not trying to get out of the room just talking to each other. Like, Hey guys, we got, we have another, we have another breakout. Like, we need you in the hall.
Yohanna: You know? Um, so that's really good to hear that you, you also felt the intimacy that we were trying to bring, you know? Um, so that's good. So aside from our events. What else was it about, you know, our program? Or I guess what were your initial, like, impressions of the program? Were there any things that kind of like surprised you when you started the, the Voyages program?
Eric: Yeah, I'd say, um, I, I'd say a, a couple things. What I was really excited but surprised about, and I didn't understand this going into it, was how many, how much support we would have, um, not just from act Act, but from fellows or graduates of the program in the past. So, uh, for those maybe not aware, um, there, there are act I act,
Yohanna: um,
Eric: um, staff that are there running the programming, organizing events, and coordinating.
Eric: Um, a lot of the actual [00:07:00] programming and events are actually created, run and driven by graduates of the program. So these are individuals who are, um, really more, I'll call the partner level, have been through these programs in the past. Our leaders in their field. So we're not just kind of learning programming from a, what's called a teacher, but an actual practitioner.
Eric: Um, so, and the ratio of that was really high. So for all, for four of us in the program, there was, we had a, we had a coach as part of our team. Um, and then there were a few that were shared across. So just having that kind of support from energetic folks that not just went through the program but liked it so much that they came back and give up their time to.
Eric: To participate in Coach was really surprising. That was, that was a, a really fun surprise when we did our first offsite. Um, I'd say also, I mentioned a little bit earlier, but I think the, I was really excited about spending this time to spending this time with our [00:08:00] counterparts and government side and really share experience and stories from each side of the table, if you will.
Eric: What I. Additionally really got out of, it was a lot deeper connections with my peers on the industry side and sharing our experiences from our various positions. Some of us have, are new to the federal space. Some of us have been in it for, you know, fif almost 15 years like myself. And some of us have worked at only smaller companies, larger companies, we're product companies and, and having.
Eric: Time to really sit down and really share our experiences, um,
Yohanna: and
Eric: lessons learned and coaching to each other, um, was something I really wasn't expecting coming in. Um, and I've, I really value coming out of it, uh, of what we did in the program and really how we're gonna continue to have that fraternity and share that moving forward.
Yohanna: I really like the word that you said. The, the practitioner. I haven't heard anyone say like, oh, this is, this isn't a teacher, this is a practitioner. This is somebody that's actually out there in the field, boots on the ground, um, experiencing the same kinds of things that I've, I might, you know. Be, you know, I might experience myself in the future.
Yohanna: So that's, [00:09:00] that's, that's a great word. I, I really, I really like that word. Um, what were, what were some, so also it sounds as if the big takeaway for you and the, the most valuable takeaway that, that you received was the collaboration from, from the practitioners, from folks on both sides. So that's really good.
Yohanna: Is there, is there maybe a way that you can describe to us what your relationship is with your coach slash practitioner? Maybe during the program? Were there any lessons or things that came up where you were able to, like, share with them and they gave you really great advice?
Eric: Yeah, of course. So we've had, uh, we had, we had really multiple kinds of coaches in this program, which I, again, another, another great surprise I didn't realize.
Eric: Um, so we have for the, for the four of us that were a little cohort, uh, we call this a flight crew. These are, these are two industry and two, uh, federal employees that were together in this crew. And we had our,
Yohanna: um,
Eric: we had our, our leader and they were really with us throughout every step of the journey, [00:10:00] which was really great.
Eric: We also had an outside mentor that, uh, was a one-on-one relationship with another graduate that is, is in our, either in industry or in the government. And, uh, I have, so I now I have. Both of really what I would consider lifelong mentors coming outta this program. On that, uh, I'd say for, for my, my day-to-day coach, I think what we, he was really great 'cause he has been in both federal positions and industry positions.
Eric: Um, he was also had been through. Really the last time that we've had a really, some really big shakeups in the federal industry. And as we were in the program, there was a lot of changes going on with administration change as well as, um, a lot of, a lot of changes into what's going on in the federal, uh, broader contracting as well as it space.
Eric: And what he really helped us do was take a step back,
Yohanna: um,
Eric: and share some perspectives of when, when he's gone through this in the past. I [00:11:00] think we can, a lot of times folks that are going through this can be very, uh, intimidating, a little scary, nervous, and I think that he really, one kinda assured us it was not always gonna be as bad as it seems.
Eric: Um, and it's not always gonna be as good as it seems. So remember that too, when it's, when it's when we weren't greener pastures. I think he also was, was really great, was allow, allowed us an outside person, someone outside of our company maybe, or our families. To be another person to, to lean on for advice and coaching on one-on-one, and that was extremely helpful.
Eric: Um, so I still do that to this day. Additionally, my external one-to-one mentor, um, that was part of the program as well, has, has had mul has, the reason that we kind of got paired up is because he had so many experiences on both as a federal employee. And on the contracting side from large businesses, medium sized small businesses, been through acquisitions and now is starting his own company.
Eric: So talk about someone with a broad set of experience and as we go through this, he [00:12:00] was really helpful to, um, again, talk through, um, talk through me with different options, his experiences and kind of different ways to look at this moving forward. So, you know, really grateful for that. There's other mentors along the way, but I think those are two that I wanted to highlight.
Eric: As, as we're in this program going through this time, they really helped provide some, some perspective for us to calm us down a bit and make sure that we're gonna see the light on the other side.
Yohanna: That's amazing. I also heard something echoed similar, similarly at the uh, ETNI, where folks are just kind of feeling really stressed about the current, current situation, but being in community, talking to each other, you know, like helping each other out.
Yohanna: Um. Yes. That's, that's what really help, that's what helps you get through the storm. You know, there's no real way around but through, as my mom likes to say, there's no real way around, but through. Um, so that's really good to hear that your, your, your mentors also have that outlook that they are, you know, rooted in community.
Yohanna: Absolutely. And I'm gonna
Eric: get a little sign that [00:13:00] says that now the only way through the storm is forward. I love that. So I'm gonna, I'll get a little plaque for our desk for that moving forward. Okay. Great.
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Yohanna: Can you describe a pivotal moment or maybe a project during the program that made a significant impact on you? Besides the coaching and besides like our events, was there something that was happening during the program that, um, really stuck out for you?
Eric: Absolutely. So. Certainly during some of our offsites, um, some of the most impactful that I've talked to, uh, about the other graduates in the program, uh, [00:14:00] was really some of these workshops we did, uh, around what I'll call being on the other side of the table.
Eric: So for, for some of us, we are, there's a lot of people that you maybe have interviewed in the program that are in growth roles or business development roles or capture roles. Um, and then a lot of, on the, on the government side, there's a lot of individuals that are program managers, um, or in contracting positions.
Eric: And a lot of times during a, during a pyramid process, a contracting process, we can, we really are on the other side of the table. And one of the per one of the activities we did in the beginning was we swap places. So all of the feds acted as industry folks and they had scripts and prompts and things they wanted to get outta the meeting, things they wanted to learn.
Eric: And all the industry folks were on the government side and were, had rules and regulations that we can and can't chair and things like that. And we both role played on the other side of the table and that was a very eye-opening experience. Um, it was funny to hear some of the buzzwords come back at us, uh, that we typically are, are dishing out.
Eric: [00:15:00] Well, so very, very eye-opening. Interesting and, and fun exercise. Uh, I think that that was really helpful as, and it could apply the next day just to really remind yourself what the other person, the other side of the table, um, is, is, is hoping to under get out of an interaction, a meeting, um, what they need to abide by the rules they need to abide, make sure that we kind of check ourselves a bit sometimes.
Eric: Um, so it was a, that was a really, really fun, really great experience. And then. Uh, maybe second on a lighter note. We, we, this year was the first year we did voyagers Ted Talks. And, uh, we, we got in groups of four and, um, did some kind of a skit. So, uh, something I definitely don't do every day is acting. So it gave me some act, some experience writing a script and doing some acting chops.
Eric: So my, my group was super fun and I think the, the audience was, uh, I. The audience was, was generous with, uh, the applause and laughs that probably weren't warranted, but, uh, it was a, that was also a nice, fun, great experience too.
Yohanna: Shout out to Sarah. Shout out to Sarah Hughes. I think she [00:16:00] does a really great job.
Yohanna: I was at that event at Jam and Java and I heard everyone really having a good time and getting out of their comfort zone. Um, so that's amazing that all of these, all of the, um, exercises that we have for the voyagers. Actually work. Like, you actually feel like, okay, I'm going th I'm doing this new exercise where I'm walking a mile in somebody else's shoes, you know, like, or I'm on stage nervous.
Yohanna: So that's great. That's good to know. Shout out to Sarah and, and Artie. Um, that's all done.
Eric: Absolutely. Sarah, Sarah and Artie have done an amazing job putting together fun programming along the way, keeping these coordinated and, uh, keeping a group of. You know, 30 people, uh, on the right track and, uh, and no one's gotten lost in or missed a bus yet.
Eric: So it's been, it's been perfect. That's great.
Yohanna: You guys are getting to where you need to go. That's good. So besides these, uh, these exercises, were there any skills or lessons you learned that you were able to implement immediately, uh, in your work?
Eric: Absolutely. So outside of just the making, understanding and trying to stand in someone [00:17:00] else's shoes, um, I think one of the other ones we did, um, during one of our first off sites was a, a disc assessment.
Eric: Now. I've been through different, different kind of personality tests or work assessments in the past. This was my first time doing disc and uh, that not only the assessment, understanding kind of where you are in terms of how you like to lead, uh, or show up, but also the assessment goes through in depth how you interact and should be working with other people across that, that assessment, um, cycle.
Eric: That was really helpful 'cause I could really, on that drive back from that first offsite, I really thought about my colleagues, um, my peers who I work with and maybe, oh, that was how, why we have friction sometimes or how it seems like we're talking past each other and how we could maybe adjust. So that was a really helpful, I believe,
Yohanna: um,
Eric: assessment that we did, that I really applied really the next day, um, that I, that I came back.
Eric: Um. Outside of just like the lessons learned, I think there were some, some good takeaways [00:18:00] that, that we came through, through these programs. I think one is, sure there's the, well there's the relationships, um, that come outta this and people talk about these kind of like new, new kind of fraternity. You're part of these relationships for life.
Eric: And I think that's, that's something that, uh, will certainly take forward going in and that, that's helpful. Um, but I think really taking this time to pause and understand the perspective of others, like I mentioned on the other side of the table. Um, that has been truly helpful to make sure we pause. Uh, sometimes we can be in our own bubble sometimes, whether it's with our, our colleagues, et cetera, to understand how, where everybody else is showing up and how they're showing up, um, is a great time to, to really pause and do that.
Yohanna: That's a really great answer. I like that. That sounds, that sounds that like a mental yoga.
Eric: It, it certainly is mental yoga and, and I think it's, I think really specifically too, we talk about a lot of these, but it really wasn't just about eatings, but it's also about. Whether it's how each other, their perspectives around procurements maybe, [00:19:00] or maybe even in conflict situations like protests that happen.
Eric: Um, and we really shared about what it's like on each side to go through that and, and how and why. And I think, again, great very specific examples. Um, and, and nuanced, nuanced, um, places that give us, are gonna give us more perspective on both sides moving forward. And I, and I think that it's gonna make not just ourselves, but our organizations better.
Yohanna: Yeah, I agree. I agree. Absolutely. Um, so it sounds like you've had an amazing time with ACT iac. You like our events, you like our programs. Um, what would you say to someone who is considering applying to any of our professional development programs or attending an event, what is something that you'd, you know, want to, to tell them about, about Act
Eric: Y?
Eric: Yeah, probably a lot of advice. And maybe start with the, maybe the first thing that Leslie, Leslie told me, uh, when I first her and talked. She, her real advice was engage, uh, and, and that was helpful [00:20:00] because I, what I did was attended some of the events I attended ELC, um, but then I also attended some of the FIE specific events.
Eric: So I was in the DHS space and joined and participated in the DHS group. Um, I worked to help organize some of their events, um, uh, participated in, uh, attending some of the co OE events that they, they were putting on, and I. What I'd say is those are really great to participate in 'cause it gives you a flavor and a feeling for what I act is all Act.
Eric: Act is all about. Um, it really is about this collaboration, open communication and making our little space of the world, um, professionally, uh, a little better and easier and better outcomes honestly, for citizens service members, um, that rely on the services that we're all providing. So I think participate is my, my, my kind of first, my first advice in, you know, in, in act I act.
Eric: Um, I then I similarly say, make sure that, um, make sure that you're [00:21:00] participating in the program itself. Once you make it in,
Yohanna: um,
Eric: it's a very competitive program. A lot of people are applying for it, honestly. So I think that if you are, if you get selected to be in the program,
Yohanna: um,
Eric: really show up and like anything else in life, it's, you're gonna get out of it what you put in it.
Eric: But, um, actually, you know, going to all the offsite, um, really pair to smooth the group. And I'd say a lot of these conversations are, are sometimes vulnerable. You're gonna have to be vulnerable in these conversations. Share some of your hardships, share some of your concerns, some of your struggles maybe along the way.
Eric: I think that the more that you're opening up, like that, you're able to get a lot out, more of these mentors and, uh, folks that have been in, in your position, in your shoes in the past. Um, so I think those are a couple of the main, main advice I would give folks that are applying to the program, uh, looking to, to join.
Eric: Um, I'd also say absolutely do it. Make the time if you can, with your work family. Everything else going on in your life and you can make the time to participate [00:22:00] has been a really valuable use of my time. Taking a, a little bit of a pause here and there. Um, I'm getting a, a lot out of it.
Yohanna: Um,
Eric: and, and all the folks that I've talked to are, are the same way.
Eric: So I'm excited to, you know, share with my colleagues and my friends, um, in industry and trying to make sure that they apply in feature for whatever programs right for them, whether it's associates, voyagers, or partners.
Yohanna: That's good. I love that. Being vulnerable. 'cause I think when you share your story or when you share.
Yohanna: You know, a little piece of, of yourself, others feel comfortable to also do the same and meet you in that, in that space. Exactly right. Well said. Yeah. And fun things happen in that space. Fun, magical things happen. Absolutely. Thank you so much, Eric. Thank you so much for your time. Is there anywhere that people can, uh, reach out to you?
Yohanna: Do you have a
Eric: LinkedIn? Absolutely. People can find me on LinkedIn. Um, I'm pretty easy. My name is Eric, ERIC, Ritz, RITZ. So pretty easy to find. Love to connect me on LinkedIn. In person and you'll be able to find me at, uh, any Future Act to Act event coming up.
Yohanna: Great. Thank [00:23:00] you so much. Yeah, absolutely. This has been such an insightful conversation.
Yohanna: Thank you for sharing your journey and experiences with us and to our listeners. If you are interested in learning more about ACT IX Professional Development Program, be sure to check out act iac.org/professional development. Until next time, keep learning. Keep growing. And we will see you in the next episode.