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Lilly Harris
CEO of Man-Machine. WOSB providing SETA, HSI, COOP support since 1990.
Professional Background
Lilly Harris is a dedicated and visionary leader, currently serving as the President and CEO of Man-Machine Systems Assessment (MSA), a distinguished employer in the defense and assessment sectors. A second-generation business owner, Lilly has embraced the legacy of her parents by not only leading the family business but by infusing her own passion for growth and community engagement into the organization. Since assuming leadership of MSA in 2008, she has focused on maintaining the company’s commitment to valuing its employees and ensuring that clients shine as they undertake missions critical to national security. Under her stewardship, MSA has garnered significant recognition, earning a place on the Inc. 5000 five times, a testament to the company’s growth and success.
Founded in El Paso, Texas, and with additional offices in Arlington, Virginia, and Aberdeen, Maryland, MSA has been at the forefront of supporting the U.S. Army through the evaluation and acquisition of over 400 military defense systems since its inception in 1990. As evaluators, MSA undertakes the responsibility of ensuring that such systems are combat-ready and that soldiers have the essential tools they require to successfully execute their missions. Additionally, MSA extends its expertise to city, state, and federal government entities, providing crucial services in business continuity and emergency preparedness.
In Lilly's role, she is highly engaged in operations that encompass a wide spectrum of capabilities, including Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA), Operational Test & Evaluation (OT&E), and Integrated Product Support (IPS). Her commitment to safety, suitability, and operational excellence extends into areas such as CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive) Force Protection and Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) compliance. She is also keenly focused on enhancing training through Test, Training, and Exercise (TT&E) design.
Education and Achievements
Lilly is a lifelong learner dedicated to personal and professional growth. Her educational background is deeply impressive, comprising studies at prestigious institutions that have shaped her business acumen and creative thinking. She studied Owner/President Management (OPM 43) at the renowned Harvard Business School, where she honed her skills in leadership and strategic management. Additionally, her pursuit of a Film Producing Certificate at the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU reflects her diverse interests and creative mindset.
Lilly earned her Bachelor of Arts (BA) from Texas Tech University, where she laid the foundation for her professional journey. This multidisciplinary approach to education enables her to lead MSA with a balanced perspective that values both technical proficiency and innovative creativity.
Community Engagement and Mentorship
A hallmark of Lilly’s leadership is her commitment to giving back to the community. Inspired by her own experiences, she takes great joy in inspiring the next generation of STEM leaders. Lilly engages actively in guest lecturing on small business management and entrepreneurship, empowering aspiring business owners with the knowledge and insights they need to succeed. Her mentoring efforts are a testament to her dedication to nurturing talent and fostering entrepreneurship in others, helping them navigate their journeys with confidence and purpose.
When Lilly is not at the helm of MSA, she immerses herself in personal enrichment and family activities. She enjoys travelling with her daughter, discovering new cultures and experiences together. Additionally, she finds fulfillment in coaching soccer, exemplifying her belief in teamwork and community spirit, while also encouraging active lifestyles among youth. Lilly is a firm believer in the power of continuous learning, often exploring new subjects that pique her interest, making her a well-rounded individual both personally and professionally.
Notable Achievements and Designations
Under Lilly’s leadership, MSA has achieved several designations that highlight the company’s commitment to diversity and quality. These include Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB), Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB), Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), and Small, Women-owned and Minority-owned Business (SWaM). These designations reflect MSA's dedication to promoting inclusivity within the industry and providing diverse solutions tailored to the needs of a varied clientele.
MSA operates under several Prime Government-wide Acquisition Contracts (GWAC) and Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts, which include GSA PSS, GSA OASIS SB Pool 1 and Pool 3, SeaPort Next Gen, and JE-RDAP. These contracts enable MSA to offer comprehensive services and support to numerous government agencies, allowing the company to maintain a dynamic portfolio of projects that contribute significantly to the nation’s security and operational readiness.
Lilly Harris exemplifies the qualities of a passionate business leader, a dedicated community servant, and an innovator in the field of defense and engineering. Her journey serves as an inspirational narrative for emerging entrepreneurs and seasoned professionals alike. Whether through mentoring future leaders or managing a successful business, Lilly continues to shape the landscape around her, ensuring that both her legacy and her endeavors contribute to a brighter future for all.
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Clay works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
Clay offers several powerful features including:
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Clay offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Clay is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Clay's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Clay has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
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Yes. Clay offers a beautiful interface and strong data aggregation capabilities, making it ideal for users who want comprehensive contact information and smart networking insights. Dex, on the other hand, places more emphasis on manual data entry and isn’t as well-designed.
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Clay's AI capabilities are at the forefront of personal CRM innovation. Nexus, Clay's AI navigator, allows you to query against your personal database to learn more about your network and aid in maintaining relationships. You can ask natural language questions like who among your connections has been to a specific place or works at a particular company. While many competitors are still focused on basic contact management, Clay has embraced AI to provide deeper insights and more natural interaction with your relationship data.
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