As Vice President and General Manager of Cornerstone’s Washington D.C. office, Monique Poydras is an expert at building relationships and seizing opportunities.

As Vice President and General Manager of Cornerstone’s Washington D.C. office, Monique Poydras is an expert at building relationships and seizing opportunities. Poydras has over 25 years of experience in business development, operations, program management, and government relations, and Cornerstone relies on that expertise each day as it works to earn business within an increasingly competitive landscape. It’s not an environment Poydras shies away from.

“I am very competitive, so I love the competitive pursuit of new A/E and Transit opportunities,” says Poydras.

As a young girl growing up in the northeast Bronx, Poydras’ competitive nature and business ambition grew from seeing her father Byron LaBeach, a 1952 Olympian representing Jamaica in track, build a successful wholesale food business, LaBeach Food Company. The world of business became so ingrained in her that she grew up believing that it was just part of everyone’s life.

“I guess it seems strange now but when I was growing up, I thought everybody had a business,” says Poydras.

Graduating from Howard University with a B.A. in Journalism (minor in Political Science) and Howard University Law School with her J.D., Poydras came back home to work with her father to further the family business, study for the bar exam, and prepare for a career in law. Instead, working alongside her father made her soon begin thinking of ways she could transition into her own career in business.

Starting out at the Metropolitan Transit Authority, New York City Transit in New York City, Poydras created an impressive body of work and a strong network that would carry her back to Washington, D.C. working for the District of Columbia Government. Once there, she built a career holding various senior and board appointments, which culminated in the position of Legislative Director and Liaison for the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Chief Charles H. Ramsey. Later she was Chief of Staff for District of Columbia, Office of Risk Management during former Mayor Fenty’s administration. Poydras then transitioned to the private sector as the Director of Operations, State and Local Government, of a Maryland-based technology company and as a Senior Consultant at a D.C. -based human capital management consulting firm.

Landing at Cornerstone was again not only the result of Poydras’ impressive track record but also her strong network. A former colleague introduced her to Wayne Perry (Cornerstone’s Founder and CEO) at a business event. Poydras joined Cornerstone initially as a consultant, and then shortly thereafter moved into her full-time role when Perry called on her to head his new Washington, D.C. office.

Today, he calls her “The Navigator”. It’s an apt description. The business development lifecycle is rarely a linear pursuit. In fact, it’s most often a winding, complex road, which requires a significant amount of time and strategic planning. The typical phases of the business development lifecycle include identifying the opportunity, pursuing the opportunity, proposal development, negotiation, post-submittal activities, delivery, ongoing customer relationship building, and account management. It is Poydras’ job to manage this entire process.

If you ask Poydras about her most memorable project, it would not be about the biggest or best award she helped to win. It’s actually about one she lost. Her first proposal effort for Cornerstone involved a workforce development program in collaboration with a New York City non-profit for submission to the Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation. Poydras and the Cornerstone team worked diligently on this proposal, but it lost on a technicality when sections of the proposal went missing in the mail transmittal. It was a devastating experience.

“In all of the proposals that I’ve worked on it was the most memorable because despite the disappointing outcome, I view it as a great lesson learned in closing a deal and ensuring every administrative and operational detail is covered,” says Poydras. “After that experience I always sent proposals by messenger or had them hand delivered with signature from recipients.” Today, with COVID-19 protocols underway, e-delivery of proposal submissions allow for transparency and immediate delivery notifications.

In addition to Poydras’ VP and GM role at Cornerstone, she serves on three advisory boards: the Transportation Diversity Council, UPO Inspire Foundation, and 5 Moms for Reform. She also volunteers at local D.C. community events.

Although Poydras’ work and volunteerism keep her on the go, she also understands the value of work-life balance. Married with two busy teenage sons, she enjoys family time and gardening. She also values maintaining a healthy lifestyle with cycling and brisk walks in her Washington, D.C. Bloomingdale neighborhood, which is close to her beloved alma mater, Howard University.

Her connection to Howard and her former classmates still runs strong and a particularly special connection was thrust into the national spotlight this past year in a very unique way. Poydras is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., the country’s first Black sorority, which was founded at Howard University in 1908. As part of the sorority’s Howard University Alpha Chapter, Poydras is also the sorority line sister of our nation’s first Black, South Asian, and female Vice President, Kamala Harris.

Her connection to Howard and her former classmates still runs strong and a particularly special connection was thrust into the national spotlight this past year in a very unique way. Poydras is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., the country’s first Black sorority, which was founded at Howard University in 1908. As part of the sorority’s Howard University Alpha Chapter, Poydras is also the sorority line sister of our nation’s first Black, South Asian, and female Vice President, Kamala Harris.

“I have experienced tremendous pride and pleasure from watching my line sister’s elevation to one of the most powerful positions in the world,” says Poydras of Harris’ historic election.

Although Harris is arguably now Howard’s most famous graduate, Poydras is set on making her own mark as well. Despite the obstacles of the pandemic, Cornerstone has made many gains and she’s confident Cornerstone’s D.C. office will continue to grow. Working alongside the many talented people at Cornerstone, Poydras is determined to do what it takes to keep winning business every day.