Kathie Powers
CFO, Riverside Research
Over the past year, Kathie Powers and her team have implemented and improved systems, sold a subsidiary and made Riverside Research’s procurement requisition process more efficient. They are also adding systems to support program managers, resource planning, tracking and reporting while improving budgeting and monthly reporting for technical and corporate functions. That work touches every level of the business.
Powers is especially proud of how her team has excelled at implementing all the initiatives. They have strong standard operating procedures that have helped to manage a complex, growing workload, and they’re now imagining how best to incorporate AI into processes where appropriate to improve efficiency further.
“Kathie understands the demands on our technical teams and makes sure the business is equipped to support them,” said Tom Lash, Riverside Research president and CEO. “She asks the right questions, thinks through what the business needs and makes sure we have the financial discipline to move forward. She and her team play a critical role in Riverside Research’s continued growth.”
Powers’ team also helps ensure Riverside Research’s technical experts have the business support they need to deliver for government partners, which includes improving procurement, strengthening program manager support and making the financial and contracts processes work smoothly.
Lash also brings new energy and a different focus to Riverside Research, creating opportunities for leaders to explore how they work and what the business needs next, Powers said. “My team is focused on putting the processes and support in place to help carry out his vision,” she said.
Why Watch
Powers and her team are finishing training for program managers that covers the full contract and program lifecycle. They want to help them better understand how contracts, project control, planning and analysis, and accounting fit together and make those processes easier to navigate.
“It energizes me to see everything this company is doing,” Powers said. “Riverside Research is a fast-moving, dynamic company, with exceptional technical talent, and our team supports the work that talent makes possible.”
Fun fact: Powers grew up on a farm, and her father wanted his kids to be entrepreneurs. She sold sweet corn and vegetables at a roadside stand. Somehow, her brothers ended up with all the profits!