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Retired Lieutenant Colonel and HEPCO Inc's Chief Operating Officer, Christopher Kasker, recently graduated from the Veteran Institute Procurement (VIP) GROW Program, as part of his dedication to expanding HEPCO's capacity and improving the client and candidate experience. The VIP GROW Program is a comprehensive training and certification program helping veteran-owned businesses strengthen their ability to win government contracts and do business with military and civilian agencies. Over the past three months, Kasker represented HEPCO as one of the 44 businesses participating in this program. Tuxedo Park resident, Kasker served twenty-four years in the U.S Army before joining HEPCO. Kasker deployed as a military police officer to Bosnia, Kosovo, and Iraq. He then held various high-level positions including director of public affairs and communications at the United States Military Academy at West Point and public affairs officer to the Secretary of the Army. A dedicated community member, Kasker now serves his town as an elected official on the Tuxedo Park Board of Trustees and a volunteer firefighter for the Tuxedo Park Fire Department. With strong ties to serving his local and national community, Kasker set out to earn this certification on behalf of HEPCO. This certification will help Kasker and CEO, David du Pont, execute the Strategic Growth Plan they developed. By focusing on offering clients and candidates a personal staffing experience, increasing connections with government contractors, and growing knowledge of changing federal acquisition policies and requirements, they have a goal to become a “go-to” staffing firm in the federal contracting arena. "VIP Grow is a first-rate and comprehensive program." said Kasker. “Not only was I exposed to impressive leaders from federal and contractor organizations who shared in-depth knowledge, but I became acquainted with 43 other small businesses and future teaming partners.” Since the program's inception in 2009, VIP GROW graduates report growth rate averages of 61% within one year of graduation from the Institute and more than 224% two years after graduating. The program's curriculum focuses on reducing risk to veteran-owned companies, their customers, and Accounting/ Budgets/ Developing Rates; Compliance Contracting – Teaming, Joint Ventures, RFI; Financing/Capital Management; Human Resources; Insurance; Marketing – Proposals & Capture Management; Program Management/Internal Controls. "We are honored to give back to the men and women who served our country by providing them with the tools they need to succeed as government contractors," said Barbara Ashe, National Director of VIP. "We hope this training fosters their success as businesses and employers." HEPCO is grateful to receive this distinction from VIP and plans to use this status as they grow its capabilities.