The family that consults together, well… consults together. That mantra certainly rings true for husband and wife team Chris and Mary Beth Romani, who both previously worked for large consultancies.
“We both wanted to start a business and debated which one should leave their firm,” says CEO Chris Romani. “Then it hit us, if we did it together, we’d be so committed that it couldn’t fail.”
And it sure hasn’t. In early 2006, the two launched Integrity Management Consulting. “We wanted a company where customer service was absolutely No. 1, and a principle that was near and dear to both our hearts was the integrity of the business,” Romani says. “So that’s what we called the firm.”
Integrity started slowly with just the two of them and some contractors. Then, in January 2009, came Integrity’s big break. The firm landed a $100 million BPA with the General Services Administration. “That really put us on the map,” Romani says. “It was a nationwide contract providing acquisition program management support to any and all parts of the GSA, and it could be leveraged to other parts of the government. That really accelerated our growth.”
Success with the GSA led to an agreement with the TSA and Integrity was off and running. “We started this company with a clean slate and built it brick by brick,” he says. “Every contract we’ve won has been a competitive win, and we’re very proud of that. It was never because of any special status. We’ve earned where we are, and that’s very satisfying.”
And where they are is impressive. The firm has steadily built up its revenue and headcount and now is poised to for a 40 percent spike, which will bring the firm to $20 million and 90 consultants by year end. Romani says Integrity will be at $30 million and 150 consultants by 2014.
And people are starting to notice. In 2010, Integrity landed at No. 83 on the Inc. 500 list of the Fastest Growing Privately Held Companies in the United States. At that point, its revenue was $5.3 million. The following year, with revenue of $12.2 million, the company grabbed the 44th spot on the same list, and the distinction of being the fastest growing privately held company in the Washington D.C. area. “Boy, that sure put a spring in our step,” he says. “And it’s really helped with recruiting, something we really need as we grow so rapidly.”
Coming from large firms, both Romanis understand the impact rapid growth can have on culture. That’s where Mary Beth Romani, who serves as Chief Strategy Officer, comes in. “It’s her job to make sure we have the culture we want. She created our ‘impact triangle,’ which consists of taking care of the customer, taking care of our people and taking care of the community,” he says. “Everything we do ties back to one of those three.”
—J.K.
