An Interview with Anthony Closson, Colossal Contracting, LLC CEO: ‘We are Proud to be Built on Military Core Values’

“We are a leader in every sense of the word. We strive to be authentic and place our unique stamp on the industry.”

The highest volume of activity over the longest period of time in an integration, particularly large-scale integrations, most often occurs in the information technology environment. This volume alone increases complexity. It is no wonder why research consistently shows that integrating information systems is one of the top integration challenges for sizeable transactions.

In Light of the above-mentioned scenario, we are thrilled to present Colossal Contracting, LLC.

Colossal is a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVSOB) certified through the Veterans Affairs CVE Program. The company specializes in Government Contracting to include services such as IT Integration, Government Cloud Practice, Cisco Collaboration, Mobility, Program Management, Project Management, & Professional Services.

Colossal was incorporated in 2009 and is headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland.

Anthony Closson, Colossal Contracting, LLC CEO, spoke exclusively to The Silicon Review. Below is an excerpt.

Why was the company set up? And how did you expand your company and its offerings over the years?

During my final assignment at Joint Base Andrews as an IT Project Manager, I cemented the foundation of my dream to start Colossal Contracting. At the early formation of the company, I called upon my trusted former wingmen and family to join me. Colossal is proud to have its original foundation ‘built on military core values.’

Even as the company has expanded, Colossal has not lost sight of the importance of taking care of its customers personally and specifically. Through dedication to customer service and a commitment to excellence, Colossal continues to build upon the name and reputation it has earned in the IT industry. I attribute the early success of the company to the ‘Can Do’ attitude of my entire team. This attitude is still the expectation for all employees and is believed to be the key to long-term growth and success for Colossal Contracting. If you want to be part of something greater than yourself, then Colossal is the team for you!

What kind of responses have you received from your consumers over the years? How have they motivated you to shape your offerings/grow the company?

Feedback is critical to the growth and success of a small business. We have taken our lessons learned and customer feedback and implemented them as a strategy to build a better oferring for our customers and staff.

Is your company a ‘leader or a follower?

We are a leader in every sense of the word. We strive to be authentic and place our unique stamp on the industry.

“Earning trust and respect of consumers is through consistent focus on delivering high quality in all of our actions.” How do you interpret this statement?

I interpret this in the same manner as it said. Trust, customer focus, and quality must be consistent to earn the respect of our customers and peers.

How do you keep your company up and running? What are the factors that help your company to compete on a global platform?

Our leadership realized years ago this industry is built on people and not just technology. By placing talent and morally rich people as pillars in a company you can then build on them and scale accordingly based on growth goals. By placing the right people as cornerstones in your company you can then scale to meet the customers’ mission.

Do you have any new products ready to be launched?

Colossal is proud to announce several new service offerings; we will be launching a new Cloud and Collaboration practice lead by two of the foremost experts in the industry.

Where do you see your company a couple of years from now?

We expect continual growth at all levels over the next several years. However, our best measure of success will be determined by how we elevate the missions of the customers we serve.

Anthony Closson: “The USAF laid the Foundation for me to create Colossal” In His Own Words

In 2005, I joined the USAF to serve my country while finishing my education. The journey changed my life forever and made me into the man I am today. On September 11, 2005, twenty-five USAF trainees and I boarded a plane leaving Georgia to start our Basic Military Training (BMT) at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. When we arrived, the Training Instructors (TIs) raided the bus screaming and throwing our gear into the street. We found out immediately that we were not in Georgia anymore.

Over the next seven weeks, our fifty Airman Flight group would build a bond that would last forever. After week one, I became the Dorm Chief, directly responsible for my other 49 USAF brothers. My position required understanding and awareness of my fellow Airman’s strengths and weaknesses. When we graduated our TI looked at us and told us it was time to give back to something greater than ourselves and that within the next year all of us would be in the IRAQ or Afghanistan earning the stripes on our sleeves. Our TI TSgt McGowan was right and in the next year most all of us would be deployed to the Middle East with that very chance to protect who and what love as Americans. The USAF laid the foundation for me to create Colossal and most importantly how to create a mission focused culture in which one person is never above the team.

“Our core values – derived from my military background – have shaped who we are today as a company, and made us unique as an organization.”