Missy Joined Friendship Industries in 2001

It is with great regret that I left Friendship in June 2007 due to my family leaving the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia area for greater opportunities . I hope to continue my career with an equally rewarding organization in the Hampton Roads area.

I joined Friendship Industries, Inc. in 2001 in the newly-created position of Sales and Marketing Director, ironically enough the week after 9/11 and a major US economic down-turn. As Friendship kicked off its next phase of growth and despite recent events, management decided that I filled the requirements: an energetic, extremely focused individual with attention to customer relationships, a strategic thinker, an effective leader and skilled communicator.

The time had come in Friendship's history to develop, implement and oversee a Comprehensive Sales and Marketing Plan to assure continued growth. I acted as customer liaison and managed the internal Customer Service personnel and was responsible for seeking out New Business Opportunities for the next generation of Friendship employees.

In business development mode, I launched Friendship's quest for Federal Government Contracts by working with NISH, attending conferences, making contacts and working through NISH's Business Development Training Program.

Read more about Government Contracting at www.jwod.gov (now www.AbilityOne.gov). Friendship achieved their first government contract ever under my direction, an Escape and Evasion (E&E) Kit for the US Air Force. I worked through existing partnerships and developed new commercial partnerships while in research and development with the USAF First Aid Kit Program Manager. Appropriations for this contract through FY07 will be approximately $3.6 million (for a total of $9 million for the initial supply to all airborne men and women) . Furthermore, the contract is a set-aside, added to the JWOD Procurement List (PL) , making Friendship Industries the sole source for the E&E Kit for the life of the USAF need. This product will never be put out for competitive bid.

NOTE: the JWOD Program launched a re-branding initiative in 2007, now referred to as AbilityOne.