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Just months after retiring in January from the Federal Aviation Administration following a 32-year career in government, Joann Kansier ’73 joined Grant Thornton, one of the largest accounting and business advisory firms in the world.
“My entire career was within the federal government, and I was often reaching out to public companies,” she says. “Now I am on the flip side, responsible for helping lead Grant Thornton’s competitive sourcing efforts with our federal government clients.”
Kansier began her government career in labor relations, later moved into personnel relations, and then joined the FAA as contracting officer. As director of the FAA’s Office of Competitive Sourcing, she was responsible for leading the largest, most complex competitive-sourcing contract award in the history of public/private competitions.
“That particular program resulted in improved services to general aviation pilots and is saving the agency $2.2 billion,” she says. “It provides information to pilots through 58 flight service stations.”
Kansier loves the mission and people of the FAA. Retiring was not an easy decision, but her new position allows her to give back in new and broader ways.
“Grant Thornton has 22,000 people in 100 facilities,” she says. “The company supports government and helps it operate more efficiently and cost-effectively. Now I can use everything I learned and work cross-government with multiple agencies. This gives me the chance to spread all the great lessons learned.”
Kansier likens her transition to the experience of going from high school to college.
“This has been moving from a very structured environment to a looser one,” she says. “There is a new culture within which you have to determine success criteria. And the learning is endless. I know every day I am more knowledgeable about a field I love.”
An economics graduate, Kansier credits Morrison Handsaker with setting her on her career path. His hospitality and guidance were formative in her life.
“I had no idea who I wanted to become, and his interest helped me figure it out. Our mock meditation in class helped me believe I could be a federal mediator,” she explains. “He mentored us and took us to arbitrations. Later, I got my first job through contacts he had. Women had only just entered Lafayette, so there weren’t a lot of girlfriends, and there were no sororities or women’s sports. His interest, along with the attention his wife gave us, was important to us. The experience makes me a strong believer in small colleges and the personal contact they offer.”