8 questions with Karen Monahan

“My job involves helping people, which is the best part about it,” said Karen Monahan, a contracting expert who possesses a rock-solid understanding of Army regulations and policies. In a typical day, Monahan doles out business advice to PEO EIS program offices about contracting, pricing and source-selection requirements in the Federal Acquisition Regulation and Defense Acquisition Regulation Supplement. She also manages the source-selection process for professional-services contracts, evaluates contractor performance and updates the PEO EIS procurement forecast.

Before joining the civil service in 2003, Monahan managed prime contracts and subcontracts for a small business. “There are three sides to contracting — you have the contracting officer, the contractor and the customer,” Monahan said. “I have worked on all three sides, which makes me understand and appreciate the unique challenges each side faces.”

A Jersey Shore native, Monahan spent her summers swimming at the beach. “It was a wonderful way to grow up,” Monahan said. “There’s some really good food in New Jersey, and the people are wonderful. For 20 years of my adult life, I lived in a very small neighborhood just a block away from the beach. I went to the same family-owned grocery store for 20 years and knew everybody who worked there.”

In her free time, Monahan enjoys cooking, knitting and reading legal thrillers written by Michael Connelly and John Grisham.

Monahan has experienced hardships. She and her boyfriend were diagnosed with cancer in the same three-week timespan. She endured chemotherapy treatments to knock out cancer, but his illness was fatal.

We asked Monahan, today’s #PEOEISTeammateTuesday, eight questions about her career and life.

What did you dream of doing when you were 12 years old?
I had big dreams. I wanted to work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange and make a million dollars. To that end, I told my mother I wanted to go to Kent School, a prestigious boarding school in Connecticut. She said, “We can't afford it.” I applied for a scholarship and attended Kent School for four years. I got a terrific education.

How did you start your career?
I was waitressing and hadn’t yet graduated from college. I interviewed for a receptionist position supporting a government contractor. I had zero office experience. During the interview, I was asked why I wanted the job. I said, “I really don't want to work Saturday nights anymore.” The hiring manager told me I got the job because I was blatantly honest. I later joined the company’s contracting department. The contracting director taught me quite a bit. I read the Federal Acquisition Regulation and learned how to interpret it. I learned how to document contracts, follow the money and keep everything organized.

What is the best advice you ever received? 
When I was a contracting manager for a small business, my boss walked into my office and asked me if I had read a statement of work. I said, “I can’t read it because it’s too technical.” He replied, “Nothing is too technical. Read everything that comes across your desk.”

When I supported the Installation Information Infrastructure Modernization Program (I3MP), I read their engineering-change proposals. I learned what it took to bury fiber-optic cable. It made me better at contracting because I understood what I was buying. I still read everything.

How has contracting changed?
In the Army, automation has come a very long way. The Army’s project contract file is absolutely a game changer. Project contract files are incredibly important. They maintain a record of all the transactions between the government and the contractor. Everything is documented in that file, and all of it is automated.

Describe the PEO EIS culture.
The PEO EIS culture demands excellence because the people who work here are excellent. When I supported PEO EIS as a contracting intern, I deployed with I3MP staff. It would be 10 o’clock at night, and they would still be talking about work. I was in awe of how engrossed they were in their work and their commitment to excellence.

If you could thank one person for the role they played in your life, who would it be and why? 
My former supervisor, Kim Ziegler, inspired me to always perform at my very best. We worked together as a team. I never felt like I worked for her — I worked with her.

What is your proudest moment?
I negotiated a Navy sole-source contract down from $167 million to $98 million. When I got the initial proposal, I knew the price was not reasonable, but I had to prove it. When I started negotiations, the contractor wouldn’t back down. I enlisted the support of the Defense Contract Audit Agency to develop cost and pricing data. I stood my ground and ultimately saved the taxpayers a significant amount of money.

What do you enjoy about knitting and cooking?
I am not a great knitter. I do it mostly to keep my hands busy. I knit scarves and hats.

In my younger years, I was a bartender and waitress. I worked in Mexican restaurants and can make a mean margarita. I worked in everything from a 24-hour diner to a very high-end, fine-dining restaurant. At the fine-dining restaurant, I hung out in the kitchen with the chef all the time and learned quite a bit. I can cook a steak to a perfect temperature, whether you want it medium or medium rare. I cook Steak Diane — which is delicious — Chicken Piccata and a lot of pasta dishes. I cut back on the butter because my hips can't afford it anymore. [Laughs.]