Fran Craig​, Founder​, Unanet

2020 PSC Board Member

Fran Craig Founder

B IO

Investing years of experience in Information Technology and software development, Frances (Fran Craig reengineered her first company, Computer Strategies, a professional services organization into a COTS software product company, Unanet. Unanet built a culture of creative, caring and competitive employees. Unanet collaborated with customers who contributed enhancement ideas. Unanet is committed to enhancing the customer experience and customer success.

Today, Unanet is a leading provider of ERP solutions purpose-built for Government Contractors, A/E, and Professional Services. More than 2,000 project-driven organizations depend on Unanet to turn their information into actionable insights, drive better decision-making, and nurture business growth. In 2020, JMI, a strategic growth private equity company invested funding and experience in Unanet to help with the growth. At that time, Fran Craig decided to ret ire and still serves on the Unanet Board, communicates with customers and employees, and is active in the community and with nascent technology companies, especially those owned by women.

In 1997, Fran designed t he original concept of the web-based timesheet. Since 1998, Fran has established Unanet as a leading vendor of web-based Professional Services Automation software. She led the company’s strategy and positioning, recruited the Unanet management team, board members and advisors, won key customers, and developed alliances. In 2015, Unanet released the cloud Unanet ERP software for managing projects, people and financials. Unanet’s vision is to be the market maker and market leader for software for professional services organizations.

FRAN CRAIG BIO CONTINUED

Fran founded Computer Strategies, her first company, to set a higher standard for meeting and exceeding customer needs and to create a culture of high energy, bright, responsive, caring, and dedicated team members. With experience in leading IT organizations for Carnegie-Mellon University, GTE Telenet, and DHL Courier, she understands the challenges of customers in building a profitable organization. Responsible for leading the design and development of the first worldwide tracing and tracking system used by DHL Courier, Fran has designed and developed state-of-the-art distributed applications including order management, billing, and financial applications. Fran’s passion is to enrich business performance through affordable and easily accessible software.

Fran has been active in the community serving on the Professional Services Council Board, the George Mason GovCon Board of Advisors, SECAF (Small Emerging Contractor Advisory Forum) Board, the Loudoun CEO Cabinet as Chair, the Loudoun Chamber Board and Executive Committee, the Women in Technology Board, the Northern Virginia Technology Council's Executive Forum, the Society for Information Management, President Bill Clinton's Advisory Committee on Expanding Training Opportunities, and other organizations. Deeply interested in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and women in business, Fran serves as an Honorary Trustee of the Loudoun Education Foundation, the Advisory Council of STEM for Her, and the Advisory Council for the Children’s Science Center Board.

In 2018, Unanet made the Inc 5000 list. Unanet employees nominated Fran for The SaaS Report top CEOs where she reached #10 out of 5000 nominations. Also, in 2018, the Northern Virginia Tech Council (NVTC), the membership and trade association for the technology community in Northern Virginia, selected Unanet as a 2018 Tech 100 Company and Fran as a 2018 Tech 100 Executive. Fran is a 1999 Mindshare Graduate, a nominee for the 2004 Women In Technology Leadership Award, a 2006 Woman Who Means Business (Washington Business Journal), a 2015 Nominee for the GWSCPA (Greater Washington Society of CPAs) Community Leader Category for the Woman to Watch award, and a SmartCEO 2016 Brava winner. Fran mentors and speaks on entrepreneurship, women in business, starting and operating small business, project management effectiveness, and benefits of business management software.