Vice President of Human Resources & Administration, Murphy Oil
Search every verified Maria Martinez interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. In a September 2020 appearance, Maria Martinez discussed her experiences working with engineering firms and shared advice for subcontractors. She stated that she was "burned really bad by a big engineering company" and lost money, adding that she wants to help engineering companies "grow big and challenge the bad actors out there." Martinez described lessons she learned from being in business, including the need to "put my foot down and be more stern" and that "the small headaches and big headaches are the same frustration that you go through." Martinez also offered guidance on government contracting, noting that while prime contractors need to be registered in SAM, subcontractors do not, and that many engineering companies "contract out smaller jobs to help you get past performance." She characterized the Department of Labor and Training as "a difficult entity to do business with" with more stringent requirements. Additionally, she encouraged potential contractors by stating that "most people don't actually fail; they're self-defeated because they never attempt it."
“I've learned that I have to put my foot down and be more stern and I think that's one of the biggest lessons I'm taking away from being in business: you can't just be like okay, oh you're gonna be late, it's okay. If I'm gonna get headaches, they're gonna be worth it.”
“The smaller projects gave me a little bit of confidence but the small headaches and big headaches are the same frustration that you go through, so you don't equate the dollar amount with the amount of headaches.”
“I think people are still going to frustrate you and I just got to make it worth the frustration at the end of the day but let me have it.”
“If you want to be a prime contractor and get direct with the government, you need to be registered SAM, but it's not required to be a subcontractor. Many engineering companies contract out smaller jobs to help you get past performance.”
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