BULLDOG ENGINEER
Bulldogs of the Beltway: Alumnus’ firm takes a bite of D.C. consulting industry By Susan Lassetter When it comes to navigating federal budget cuts, many government offices have a secret weapon—they call Jeff Herren to let the Dawgs out. As founder and CEO of Herren Associates, the 1979 industrial graduate has used his knowledge of engineering to help organizations streamline their operations and absorb budget shortfalls without sacrificing essential services.
40 MOMENTUM Fall 2012
“We are trying to help federal executives do more with less and make smart decisions with taxpayers’ money. I see that as an industrial engineering kind of challenge,” Herren said. It’s the engineering approach that makes Herren different from his competitors in Washington, D.C. While they focus on hiring CPAs and MBAs to find ways to stretch a dollar, he said he hires industrial engineers who can implement systems that save clients money. And while not all of his employees are Mississippi State graduates, he said the company still holds true to the principles he learned as a Bulldog.
“There is a lot of competition from companies that are larger and have more political clout, but we have carved out a niche by being engineering centric,” Herren explained. “We provide quantitative information for our clients to base decisions on, which has helped us build a reputation in this town.” Herren, a native of Alexandria, La., got his start in federal budget consulting as a subcontractor with a large company specializing in helping the U.S. Navy. Then, after 10 years, one small Navy contract, which wasn’t large enough for the full company’s resources, gave him the opportunity to break out on his own.