Heather Knowlan: Federal Resource Solutions.

• Author: Stomierowski, Peg
• Position: VIEW FROM THE TOP - Interview

Heather Knowlan is owner of Federal Resource Solutions (FRS), with offices in Anchorage and Escondido, Calif. The firm provides invoicing services and reporting tools for federal contractors.

Knowlan, who has a bachelor's degree in business management, has worked in insurance, finance and Department of Defense (DoD) contracting. Since 2002, she has been volunteer co-coordinator for the Alaska Run for Women, which benefits breast cancer programs.

Many, but not all, FRS clients are new to the world of government contracting.

"Our sole purpose," Knowlan says, "is to significantly improve the profitability of our clients' businesses."

FRS, which has enjoyed steady growth since it was started in 2007, expects substantial growth in 2010. In this challenging economy, Knowlan says, many companies are "right sizing" their work forces, and outsourcing to FRS is an economical way to benefit from expertise. Electronic invoicing is being mandated for all DoD contracts, she added, and FRS has provided training to the Anchorage Procurement Technical Assistance Center team.

ABM: How's the view from the top at FRS? How do you see your role and future?

Knowlan: Things look exciting. FRS is enabling small- to medium-sized companies to build a larger market share in federal contracts. Our team is able to eliminate aging account receivables because we focus on payment in real time not 30, 60 or 90 days after payment was due.

ABM: What gave you the idea of leveraging your expertise this way?

Knowlan: After working with DoD contracts and invoicing, I learned very quickly the government agencies involved in payment do not communicate. Most owners of small- to medium-sized businesses do not have time or resources for learning the invoicing systems. We fill a niche market, and our services make a dramatic difference.

ABM: What's the problem behind sluggish payment?

Knowlan: Reliable cash flow is key for businesses; especially in today's economy, lines-of-credit or quick loans do not come easily. FRS is able to navigate these federal invoicing systems to ensure fast processing. Many companies are intimidated by horror stories they've heard about delayed government payments. Our clients have spent a lot of time landing federal contracts, and when they are unable to rely on regular payment, performance suffers and growth is discouraged.

ABM: What types of businesses are impacted the most?

Knowlan: All businesses are impacted...