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Women of Distinction

hen I approached the headquarters
Wof C2 Group, I was expecting to see
a typical engineering office, but when I I
walked through the doors, I was instantly
enveloped in what appeared to be an alter-
nate universe. Omneya Salem, CEO of C2
Group, greeted me when I arrived and led
me on a tour through their offices and ware-
house. Each office held a large desk, multiple
large monitors customized to the individual
team member, and often a futon, since their
days at work sometimes turn into nights as
well. As I spoke to the team, I was floored Photos By Paul Douda Photography
by the level of intelligence that each team
member possessed, and as a result, the entire
team embodied. The listing of projects and
unique solutions that they have consulted on
is mind-boggling, increasing my curiosity of
how the company came to be.
C2 Group is an Engineering and
Program Management firm with a core Omneya Salem
leadership team primarily composed of
women. CEO Omneya shared her vision
when forming her company “C2 Group is a
program management consulting company SOLUTIONS
that serves a variety of clients. I developed
a passion for this business when I realized C2 GROUP
that program management is the art of prob- for CHANGE
lem-solving to bridge gaps and overcome
obstacles. What makes it most challenging By Judith A. Habert
and also rewarding is the ability to lead
teams and develop systems to achieve the sion of the company intrigued them enough have nearly a three-year history leading the
one goal - Successful Execution of Pro- to leave the comfort of an established career development and implementation of electric
grams. After overcoming some challenges path for a role that would provide a creative vehicle charging programs to increase the
and establishing unique partnerships, C2 and fluid environment and challenge them availability of electric vehicle infrastructure.
Group was formed. This multi-faceted to find out of the box solutions, leveraging Their efforts in California, Oregon, and
approach helped our business grow into a the diversity of the team and the integration Washington include working closely with
custom-solution type company that adjusts of technology. multiple utilities including San Diego Gas &
to fulfill its clients’ needs and objectives. We For this entrepreneurial, dedicated and Electric, Pacific Gas & Electric, and Pacific
can help our clients become ‘unstuck’” adventurous team the gamble paid off. I have Power to support their respective transpor-
Omneya lives firmly by the famous never been among a group of people who tation electrification programs.
words of Mahatma Gandhi, who said, “You are so genuinely happy and proud of doing So, what was the story of the beginnings
must be the change you wish to see in the what they do. Each with a unique set of skills, of this unique company? “Luis Alarcon
world.” C2 Group operates its business and training, education, ingenuity, and perspec- and I had worked for several engineering
engages in challenges with self-accountabil- tive, and as different as they all are, they form companies on various projects, so we have
ity while striving to improve continually. the most cohesive group I have ever seen. known each other for years. Luis is brilliant!
Omneya’s company often serves as a “Life- In a tour of their facilities, you will We worked together at Lindbergh Field,
Line” for organizations that are looking for come across everything from a variety of reconstructing the roadways and basic
engineering or implementation solutions drones, survey equipment, 3D printers, structure that currently exists there. We kept
in unique and challenging environments, an R&D lab, a truck which can tackle any bumping into each other while working on
and to date, they have yet to leave a problem terrain, and even a Tesla Model X parked various projects, and we just clicked. Our
unsolved. in their warehouse. Every company asset minds seemed to work in the same ways,
The team members of C2 Group are as is purpose built and project-oriented to yet we had some unique differences, so we
diverse as they are open and friendly. Many drive results. One of the initiatives they complimented each other. He knew my
of the team members held senior manage- are passionate about and where the Tesla strengths, and I knew his, and they meshed
ment and director-level positions at other comes in handy, is transportation electrifi- well together while tackling some very com-
firms, some for close to 20 years. But the vi- cation. Omneya and the team at C2 Group plex projects.”

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