Veteran Federal Growth Leader Joins BTW & Co. to Accelerate Strategic Expansion and Enterprise Growth Capabilities
January 22, 2026 (Arlington, VA): BTW & Co., a growth advisory and proposal operations firm serving government contractors and mission-driven organizations, today announced that Melissa Houghton has joined the firm as Chief Strategy Officer. With more than 30 years of experience leading growth strategy and execution across the federal IT services market, Houghton will play a central role in advancing BTW & Co.’s strategic offerings and supporting clients navigating increasingly complex and competitive markets.
In her role, Houghton will oversee enterprise growth strategy across BTW & Co.’s advisory, Built to WinTM Growth as a Service offerings, Bridge the WayTM AI-enabled proposal packages, and WinReadyTM training solutions. She will work closely with clients to align business development, capture, marketing, operations, and talent strategies to market imperatives driving sustainable growth, improve win rates, and build resilient growth organizations.
“Melissa brings a rare combination of strategic vision and hands-on execution,” said Marcia Watson, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of BTW & Co. “She has built and scaled growth organizations, led major market transitions, and helped companies compete—and win—at the highest levels of federal contracting. Her leadership strengthens our ability to help clients move from reactive growth to disciplined, repeatable success.”
Theresa Thomas, Co-Founder and Chief Operations Officer of BTW & Co., added, “Melissa understands what it actually takes to run growth organizations under real-world constraints—tight timelines, limited resources, and high-stakes pursuits. Her experience designing governance, building teams, and operationalizing strategy aligns perfectly with how BTW & Co. helps clients win smarter and sustain performance over time. We’re thrilled to welcome her as a partner in shaping the next chapter of our firm.”
Houghton joins BTW & Co. after serving as Chief Growth Officer at Significance, Inc., where she designed and executed a successful graduation strategy from a small business socioeconomic category into the full and open market. Under her leadership, the company achieved substantial year-over-year growth, increased qualified prime pipeline by 50%, and expanded full and open pursuits by 30%. Her career also includes senior growth leadership roles at Ventech Solutions, Redhorse Corporation, CGI Federal, and SRA International, where she led capture and proposal strategies for pursuits ranging from tens of millions to more than $1 billion across defense, civilian, and health agencies.
“At this moment in the GovCon market, growth requires more than hustle—it requires clarity, discipline, and systems that hold up under pressure,” commented Houghton. “BTW & Co. is building exactly that. I’m excited to join a team that is redefining how growth teams operate, compete, and win—without burning people out.”
Houghton holds a Master of Public Management in National Security from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Dickinson College. She is a Project Management Professional (PMP), ITIL Foundations certified, holds a DoD Top Secret clearance, and is professionally affiliated with ACT-IAC, PSC, and AFCEA.
Her appointment reflects BTW & Co.’s continued investment in expanding its leadership bench and delivering integrated, execution-focused growth solutions to clients across federal, commercial, and emerging markets.
