Looking Back at 2018

Christmas and New Year’s is a time we naturally reflect on our lives and what has happened in the past year. The years seem to fly by faster and faster, but as we look back at the past year, Watermark is proud and thankful for many things.

Perhaps the most exciting part of 2018 for us was our continued strong growth. We won new contracts and took on additional projects, adding several new employees to our fold. We also won two important business awards. Watermark earned a coveted Top 10 spot among small businesses selected as the Best Places to Work in the Washington, D.C. Area for 2018. The award, bestowed by the Washington Business Journal, was given to Watermark at a reception held on May 17th at the MGM National Harbor Hotel in Maryland. We were recognized for going above and beyond other regional employers to foster an enjoyable and meaningful work environment for our employees, and for the company’s commitment to diversity and discussion. Watermark was also recognized as one of the fastest growing companies in America by Inc. Magazine, and awarded their most prestigious honor for private businesses. The award represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the U.S. economy’s most dynamic segment—independent small businesses.

Watermark’s CEO, Matt Branigan, says, “Watermark’s growth over time has been a result of hard work and building a great reputation for quality, innovation and results. To receive two major recognition awards in the same year—one being one of Washington Business Journal’s Best Places to Work of 2018, and the other, Inc. 5000’s fastest growing companies in the nation—is a testimony to our employees’ professionalism and dedication to our client’s success. I couldn’t be prouder of our amazing team, or more thankful for the opportunity to be associated with each of them.”

Additionally, Watermark completed the highly selective and competitive Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program (10KSB). Watermark was one honored to be one of 159 companies selected out of 2,000 candidates to attend the National Cohort 9. Watermark’s President, Kevin Hodges, attended on the company’s behalf and successfully graduated from the program. Watermark is now better able to create additional jobs and economic opportunity, develop more well-streamlined processes for business operations, and respond even more efficiently to client needs.

Watermark also unveiled a brand new, interactive website and launched our blog. Some of the most popular blogs of 2018 were: Behavioral Aspects of Biosecurity; Soft Target Hardening: Protecting People from Attack; Growing Pains and the Wet Paper Towel Syndrome; Mitigating Insider Threat; and Identify Your Black Swans. If you’d like to check them out, you can click on any of the titles to go directly to the blog.

We’d like to thank each and every one of you for your continued support of our company and send best wishes to you for a wonderful holiday season! Our blog will take a break until January 8^th, but we have a lot of interesting topics lined up for 2019, so be sure to subscribe or check back in the new year.

“Happy Holidays to all of Watermark’s friends, supporters and colleagues,” Matt says. “We are especially grateful to our hard-working, dedicated and committed employees. Have a safe and joyous holiday, and Happy New Year to all!”