Two years ago, I first walked through the doors of
Code and Theory, kicking off one of the most rewarding stretches of my career. On my 2nd anniversary here, I have good reason to pause, reflect, and celebrate.
Covered California's new website just launched, and for me, that project captures a lot of what I hoped this practice could become. It showed that there's a real appetite in government for something different, including a willingness to take a chance on a firm without a long list of public sector quals. It reflected a convergence I see happening between technology and creative design, which is making a meaningful difference for Americans who rely on government services but do not always have a great experience using them. And it gave us the chance to show that a firm like ours can compete on a level playing field, and deliver, alongside companies that have been built around capture and the arcane demands of government contracting.
None of it would have been possible without the team at
Covered California, whose openness, collaboration, and commitment to the people they serve made this a genuine partnership. Never before have a seen a government tech project with so few hiccups and such amazing vibes. I know
Austin LeRoy Swick would agree!
If you have a minute, take a look at our team's craftwork at
coveredca.com and let me know what you think.
Most of all, though, it is the people I have gotten to work with along the way. This team is chock-a-block with talent, and brings a creative energy and a drive to keep getting better. I have had the chance to learn, to grow, and in turn I've gotten to share with the people around me how rewarding it can be to serve the mission.
Building a government practice at a company like this is not easy. Explaining the differences, and some of the seemingly absurd realities, of doing business with the public sector has been challenging, especially inside a firm that moves as quickly as ours. Our growth team often identifies, pitches, and signs work in a matter of days, while in government the norm is months or years. I still have not fully cracked the code on explaining why the long game matters: nurturing partnerships, pursuing contract vehicles, and building an opportunity into the pipeline well before an RFP is released.
Even when it has tested their patience, from day one our leadership, starting with our founder
Dan Gardner, has given me the space and time to build a foundation for continued public sector growth at Code and Theory. I am grateful for that trust, and I am thrilled to see the seeds we planted months, and in some cases years ago begin to sprout.
Thank you to all the great people I've met along the way...
Zack Botos Brent Buntin Hannah Dow Hanna Elliott Noah Driscoll Catherine Gellatly Prarthana Reddy Kenneth Hein Jess Moore Matthew Deakin Harris Baum Michael Treff Craig Elimeliah Toby Daniels Dave DiCamillo Will Leivenberg Laura Casinelli Scott Lindenbaum Obrey Shillingford