The Next Level: Entrepreneurs
Looking Back on A Legacy of Achievement
By USBE Online
Aug 31, 2010, 18:43

Garland Williamson is founding president and CEO of Information Control Systems Corporation, a service-disabled, veteran- owned small business (SDVOSB). In 2002, the Maryland-based company was contracted by Baltimore City Public School System to assume total control of its Information Technology Department.

BCPSS,  the fourth largest public school system in Maryland based on student enrollment, employs the fourth largest number of  employees among the 24 public school systems in Maryland.  Educational services are delivered in approximately 180 schools with an annual budget of almost $1 billion.  ICS  provided operational information technology and systems support for the BCPSS in pivotal areas. 
 
Asked about the specifics of the BCPSS mission and responsibilities of the job,  Mr. Williamson starts with his marching orders. “ICS had to provide information technology support and services to 184 schools, 119,000 students, and 14,000 staff and faculty at 186 locations in Baltimore, implement $32 million in technology in 16 months, upgrade local area networks and WANs and implement network management tools, perform IT operations management, develop BCPSS specific apps, train personnel in the use and maintenance of application and software,  develop a five-year information technology department master plan and recruit and select information technology personnel for the information technology department,” he says.
 
Under CEO Williamson's leadership, ICS took control and won the battle. 
 
Nancy S. Grasmick, Ph.D., Maryland state superintendent of schools, gushed that "for the first time in 15 years, the Baltimore City Public School System has a sound management information system that works." An independent audit firm stated in its findings that "the focus in the Master Plan on  development of management systems for financial management, human resources and student information has helped the System to begin to make substantial progress in implementing three major systems within a very short period.“
 
ICS provided software support to develop custom programs to replace applications while reducing costs, improving productivity and enhancing existing systems so they can provide competitive business advantages. In addition, the company developed Oracle applications including records management, workforce management, performance measurement, training, technical inventory control, requirements tracking, time and attendance, facilities management, budget planning and forecasting. ICS developed and maintains the data warehouse, which consists of 227 Oracle databases.

 “Being successful in business is a career achievement I am proud of and grateful for,”  Mr. Williamson says. “Longevity and success in business gives me the opportunity serve my community and hopefully impact the lives of others...I measure effectiveness on the professional level by how successful I am in helping my customers solve problems.  I am in the IT field, but my real business is helping my customers solve problems.”

As an Accenture business partner, ICS is currently supporting the transformation of the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Student Financial Assistance Programs.  Mr. Williamson says he knows the new system will help all  American students understand that college is affordable and accessible.  “So many talented students miss out on the opportunity because the overall cost seems so daunting,” he observes. 

Mr. Williamson serves as chair of the board of trustees for Baltimore City Community College, placing  him front and center of the national effort to develop the STEM pipeline. “I think the greatest contribution community colleges can bring to the STEM pipeline is fulfillment of a role that only community colleges can play:  To provide affordable, accessible training for jobs in high-demand STEM-related career fields,” he says. 
 
Two-year institutions have historically worked closely with employers to identify and accommodate their workforce training needs, Mr. Williamson comments. “Now, community colleges are focusing on the development of programs to teach highly sought-after STEM-related skills to individuals who, for whatever reason, don’t have access to a four-year institution.” 
 
A great example, he says, is the two-year-old Baltimore City Community College Life Sciences Institute (LSI) at the University of Maryland Biomedical Research Park, on the city’s West side. Housed along with 12 private biotech enterprise tenants, the Institute welcomed its first class of community college students in 2009; the students will pursue high-demand career fields such as biotechnology and environmental sciences. 
 
Mr. Williamson is immensely proud of the work of the LSI, which offers students access to university researchers and facilities,  on-site biotechnology businesses, and mentoring opportunities. “Just starting its second year of operation, the Institute has already seen a number of students hired by neighboring biotech firms as laboratory technicians,” he says. “We believe the Life Sciences Institute is well on its way to having a significant impact on increasing the participation of Baltimore’s urban minorities in a highly skilled workforce.”
 
Baltimore works because the city is looking to the future with confidence. 
 
When a young Garland Williamson started out years ago he said he only realized he had what it took to succeed when he was running his first business. It was an epiphany that would make a huge difference. “Knowing  this gave me great deal of confidence,” he reflects. “And  has set the tone for my entire career.” One word to describe this Baltimore entrepreneur's career would be success. 
 
The father of two college students says, “On a personal level, I look at how well I help my daughters succeed; how well I serve my community — this includes helping young business people as well as organizations. And last how well I take care of myself,” Then he adds, almost as an afterthought, “ I need a little work on the last one.  It is much easier to give that advice than to take it,” he states wryly.
 
Williamson says some of the businesspeople who have most inspired him are men who not only had to deal with the normal business issues but had to play on a very uneven field because of the color of their skin.  “They succeeded nevertheless and did so with extraordinary grace and dignity,” He says up-and-coming entrepreneurs should remember three things: “Make sure they enjoy the journey and have balance between work and family; give back by helping others and  no matter where you are on the journey you can always help someone else,” he advises. “Business is full of ups and downs; make sure you treat both with respect.”