Two decades after its founding, HX5 has grown into a federal contractor with more than 1,000 employees working across 34 states and 90 government locations. The company, led by sole owner, CEO, and president Margarita Howard, celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2024.
HX5 is a service-disabled veteran and women-owned business based in Florida. Its specialty is STEM-focused support services for NASA and the Department of Defense, work that often requires employees to hold security clearances.
A Workforce Built on Education
Most HX5 employees have college degrees, according to Howard, and many managers hold advanced degrees. Women lead much of the company. “In fact, the majority of our management team is comprised of women, all very experienced in their respective areas, and many holding advanced degrees as well,” she said.
Staff also tend to stay. “Some of them have been with us 15 years,” Howard noted, meaning some workers joined during the company’s first five years and have stayed ever since.
The Next Chapter
Margarita Howard now faces a new task: attracting Generation Z, a cohort born between 1997 and 2012. World Economic Forum research found that 38% of Gen Z respondents are likely to leave their jobs within a year, a sharp contrast to the long tenures common at HX5. Johns Hopkins University research projects that this group will make up roughly 30% of the workforce by 2030, so its preferences will matter more each year.
The company has responded with hybrid work where security rules allow, digital tools such as instant messaging and interactive project management, and early investment in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. Howard still favors candidates who have previously supported NASA or Defense Department programs, since she considers that background very different from commercial experience.
Hiring remains difficult across the sector. National Defense Magazine reported that 82% of defense industrial base companies struggle to find qualified STEM workers. Commercial technology companies chase the same people, often with higher salaries and immediate start dates. The mix of continuity and change at HX5 will shape how the company competes for that talent in its third decade. Refer to this article for related information.
Find more information about Howard on https://www.youngupstarts.com/2025/01/10/how-hx5-and-margarita-howard-stay-ahead-in-government-contracting-as-a-women-owned-firm/
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