JOSEPH JANECKA: THE NASTD CONNECTOR
CEO, Parsolvo | Vice Chair, NASTD Corporate Affiliates Committee
The CEO Who Still (Often) Answers His Own Phone
In a world of gatekeepers and carefully managed calendars, Joe Janecka is refreshingly different. He's the executive who might miss half the conference sessions (and most of his calls) because he's on calls solving real member problems, but somehow always materializes when you need him most—usually with a solution and a bourbon or cigar recommendation. And, if you do miss him, he will make sure he gets back to you – mostly. Text is terrific due to his airtime as he often admits!
WHY JOE MATTERS TO NASTD:
The Bridge Builder
Running a boutique consulting firm that serves both states and vendors, Joe lives in the messy middle where commercial interests meet public sector reality. He doesn't pretend it's easy. Instead, he translates: helping states understand what vendors actually offer beyond the marketing speak, and helping vendors understand why that 90-day implementation timeline is fantasy in state government.
With hands-on experience at GSA, VA, and federal agencies, he knows the frustration of procurement cycles and the pressure of modernizing systems that can't afford to fail. At Parsolvo, he channels this understanding into practical solutions—whether that's helping a state build a defensible chargeback model or showing a vendor how to navigate the RFP process without losing their soul.
The Super Connector
Joe's real superpower isn't just his expertise—it's his mental rolodex and his compulsion to connect people. That cloud migration challenge keeping you up at night? Joe knows three states who solved it last year and a vendor who actually gets government constraints. More importantly, he'll make the introduction without asking what's in it for him.
These aren't token LinkedIn connections. Joe follows up. He remembers that you're struggling with legislative buy-in and sends an article about how Montana solved it. When new members feel lost at their first regional seminar, Joe makes sure they leave with five meaningful connections and a clear sense of belonging.
The Detail (Quality) Obsessive
Here's what sets Joe apart: he obsesses over the details that make or break success – aka, quality. He'll notice that your chargeback model doesn't account for disaster recovery costs. He'll catch the procurement clause that'll haunt you in year three. He'll remember that your CFO hates acronyms and adjust his presentation accordingly. This meticulous attention isn't just about being thorough—it's about ensuring every state member and corporate partner actually succeeds, not just survives.
This obsession extends to partner success too. When Parsolvo works with other Corporate Affiliates, Joe treats their reputation like his own. When a state struggles with implementation, he'll jump on calls at 10 PM to troubleshoot. Success isn't measured in contracts signed but in transformations completed, citizens served, and careers advanced.
THE PARSOLVO PARADOX:
Joe runs a consulting firm specialized on solving complex shared services challenges and that often competes as much as partners with the very Corporate Affiliates he serves as Vice Chair. Yet vendors trust him because he'll tell them the truth about their state government readiness. States trust him because he'll admit when his firm isn't the right fit and recommend a competitor who is.
This isn't altruism—it's smart business. Joe learned that in the small world of state government IT, reputation is everything. Building an ecosystem where everyone succeeds? That's a career.
THE "CONFERENCE SESSION" REALITY:
Here's the truth: You probably won't find Joe in many conference sessions. Not because he doesn't care—but because he's juggling seventeen things at once. He's on a client call in the parking lot. He's helping prepare session content from his hotel room. He's connecting two members via text while handling a Parsolvo matter.
But catch him between sessions, at the beverage station (bourbon after 5 until, well - late), or during those critical networking breaks? That's where the magic happens. Joe understands that the real value of NASTD isn't in the PowerPoints—it's in the conversations that happen in between them. When his energy fills a room, you feel it. When he's absent (which happens more than he'd like), that energy gap is noticeable.
This isn't a bug; it's a feature. Joe maximizes every minute he's physically present because he knows his time is split between serving clients, supporting the CAC, and being the connector the community needs. Quality over quantity—every interaction counts.
THE BALANCING ACT TRUTH:
Joe's calculus is different from most. He's orchestrating a complex dance between:
- · Running Parsolvo with demanding clients who need him yesterday
- · Supporting NASTD's mission as CAC Vice Chair
- · Being the connector and resource members count on
- · Actually having a life (occasionally)
- · Traveling the world while getting more work done when he’s in the US (so he's told)
It's messy. It means missed sessions and apologetic texts. But it also means when Joe shows up—really shows up—he brings solutions, connections, and energy that transforms conversations into outcomes.
JOE'S PROMISE TO YOU:
"I might not be in every session, but I'm always accessible. Text me during a presentation if you need something. Find me in the hallway. Grab me at the beverage station. My job is to help you succeed, and that happens in real conversations, not conference rooms."