Our Board
Noah Vasquez, Executive Director
Noah Vasquez is an accomplished executive that is an alumni of Norwich University and DePaul University as well the Bud Andrews Airman Leadership School, Thunderbird School of Global Management, UCLA Anderson School of Management, and Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
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An Air Force veteran and entrepreneur with over 18+ years of experience in government requirement development, and acquisition; Noah’s professional experience began as an Analyst with Citibank in Chicago more than 15 years ago. Noah was a leading contributor to a top-performing sales division and also led community outreach activities in an effort to bring financial literacy to those who needed it most. In 2001, Noah departed the world of finance to contribute directly to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom”. Upon entry in 2001, Noah trained hard and pursued an advanced degree in business, attaining a BA from DePaul University in 2006 and an MBA from Norwich University in 2008. During this time Noah progressed in rank being promoted in rank “Below the Zone” while deployed to Sather Air Base in Baghdad.
In 2008, Noah departed the Air Force a decorated veteran with 70% service-connected disabilities. He served as a Contract Officer (KO) with the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). In his role as KO, Noah supported multifunctional teams and facilitated the successful execution of more than $2.5B in complex requirements and source selections across the DoD. In 2011, Mr. Vasquez departed civil service to build a mission-oriented management and technology enablement services practice. By 2016 Mr. Vasquez had not only received a scholarship from Cisco Systems, Inc. to attend UCLA's Silicon Valley Management Development for Entrepreneurs (MDE) Program but was named one of St. Louis Business Journal's 40 Under 40.
It is important to note that the above accomplishments reflect the transformational journey of a fifteen-year-old homeless, high school dropout (G.E.D. recipient) who found himself in a Chicago Youth Rehabilitation Home with no vision for a meaningful future. Noah found his faith in that youth home in 1996. Since then he has strived to embody the notion that when stewardship is the tinder, the fire of possibility shines BRIGHT. Fed Tech Cares is a nonprofit that promotes, supports, and encourages students and veterans to study and engage in the fields of science, technology, and entrepreneurship; investing in those who invest in themselves.
Vanessa Vasquez, Director
Vanessa Vasquez is an accomplished executive and mother of two who holds a Bachelors degree, with a focus in Business Management, from DePaul University in Chicago, IL.
Vanessa has over 15 years of professional experience leading Information Technology business operations, sales, financial management, business process optimization, enterprise relationship management, and IT Value-Added Reseller (VAR) growth. Vanessa has leveraged strategic resources to develop and manage a unique strategy to produce successful organizational performance, growing company revenues through periods of year over year exponential revenue, profit, human capital, and overall market share growth.
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Vanessa has not only led the development and growth of various management and technology consulting firms over the past decade but has a long history supporting and enabling inner-city outreach through education, training, and faith-based life skills programs in service to men, women, and children.
Vanessa and her family moved from Los Angeles to the city of Chicago in 1991 when she was 10 years old to establish an inner-city outreach ministry in Chicago’s North Side (Humboldt Park). It was in Humboldt Park that Vanessa and her family opened their home to men and women seeking food, shelter, and a new way of life free of drugs, gangs, and domestic violence. Eventually, these outreach services extended from her parents’ home through newly established separate rehab facilities for men, women, and youth. These homes hosted bible studies, street rallies, and other social programs aimed at enabling those seeking rehabilitation to achieve it. It was in one of these youth rehabilitation homes that Vanessa would meet, and eventually marry, her future husband Noah.
Vanessa and Noah met in 1996 at a bible study in the very youth rehabilitation home founded by her parents. They would later go on to build Competitive Range Solutions, LLC and today have decided to relaunch Fed Tech Cares alongside a growing board of like-minded men and women who believe that education, training, and entrepreneurship can be as transformational to young people as it has been for her and her family.
Exavier Watson, Director, Philanthropic Engagement
Exavier Watson is an accomplished executive with 20 years GOVCON experience supporting DOD and Civilian Agencies, with a master’s degree from Morgan State University, a bachelor’s degree from South Carolina State University, Harvard University Emerging Leader, Department of Transportation Dwight David Eisenhower Fellow, Executive Certification from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Executive Certification from Virginia Tech, Executive Certification from the University of Phoenix, and two-time Clemson University Computer Engineer Scholar.
Growing up on a small farm in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina region, the son of a US Army Veteran and 40+ year teaching professional; Exavier knew two things: (1) He wanted to support the US Military and federal government, (2) He always wanted to continue learning throughout his career.
Beginning his GOVCON career in 2002 supporting a Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration customer, Exavier also became an active member of the community volunteering his time as a Montgomery County Election Official and youth mentor providing mentorship in STEM, Health and Wellness, Economic Empowerment, Education, and Leadership Development. 20 years later, Exavier is still actively mentoring in the community and still supporting the Federal Government.
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Sara Byrd, Director
A two-time recipient of the FedHealthIT 100 award, Sara has built a vast network of both industry and government contacts. She has earned the trust of leaders in government and industry by embracing responsibilities entrusted to her and applying prudent guidance to complete the mission. Sara has a knack for using her professional connections to pair clients together to create dream teams built to win.
Steering business development and IT initiatives across both commercial and Federal health, defense and intelligence agencies, she has managed robust portfolios for several firms. As a senior leader and officer, she developed growth plans, managed multiple sales and support teams, and shaped marketing strategies. She also focused on the development of staff, mentoring key individuals for their growth and success. Her work has resulted in successful strategy implementation, restructurings, IT and cyber security improvements, and Agile development initiatives for the Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Homeland Security, Military Health System, and the Intelligence Community. Previously, as a client executive and technical recruiter, she directed major accounts for Fortune 500 companies, mid-size commercial markets and small businesses, generating new business, fostering
process improvements, and boosting team efficiency.
Bolstering her knowledge and networks that benefits her clients, Sara sits on the board of directors of FedTechCares, a nonprofit providing educational programs and events for Federal IT stakeholders to generate awareness and raise funds for local charities. Her commitment to giving back continues, as she also serves on the Advisory Board for Best Buddies International, National Capital Region, helping create inclusion opportunities and lifelong friendships for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.