Welcome to RELI Group’s Leadership Spotlight series! In this series, we’ll delve into the background, passions and philosophies of some of Team RELI’s best and brightest minds. Each post includes the same five questions, offering a comprehensive glimpse into the folks that make RELI great.
In today’s Leadership Spotlight, meet Jeff Plant, Program Director at RELI Group. Jeff brings more than 20 years of experience supporting Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) initiatives and leading complex federal healthcare programs. Throughout his career, he has focused on program management, stakeholder collaboration and operational delivery, with a strong emphasis on supporting mission-driven outcomes and building high-performing teams.
Can you share a pivotal moment in your career that influenced your path in public sector consulting?
A pivotal moment in my career came while supporting Affordable Care Act initiatives at CMS earlier in my career. Working closely alongside federal employees during that time gave me a completely different perspective on government service. I saw firsthand how dedicated these teams were to improving healthcare outcomes for the American public and how committed they were to delivering meaningful change under demanding timelines. That experience reinforced my respect for CMS and solidified my interest in supporting federal healthcare programs long-term.
What drives your passion for working in government contracting?
What drives me most is the opportunity to support clients whose work directly impacts people’s lives. I enjoy being part of mission-driven teams where collaboration, accountability and continuous learning are part of the day-to-day work. Over the years, I’ve also grown to appreciate the strong relationships that develop through government contracting. Supporting clients, solving challenges together and contributing to programs that serve the public is something I find incredibly rewarding.
How do you approach leadership and team building?
I believe leadership starts with trust. People perform best when they feel empowered, supported and able to contribute in areas where they are strongest. Rather than trying to make everyone approach work the same way, I focus on building balanced teams where different skillsets complement one another. I also believe leaders should advocate for their teams and create an environment where people feel comfortable asking questions, collaborating and continuing to grow professionally.
What innovations or trends in the public sector excite you the most?
One area I find especially exciting is the innovation happening within CMS around value-based care and healthcare delivery models. CMS has significant influence across the healthcare system, and I’m encouraged by efforts focused on improving quality of care while also increasing efficiency and accountability. Initiatives such as value-based purchasing and episode-based care models have the potential to strengthen coordination across providers, improve patient outcomes and create better long-term value for both patients and taxpayers.
Can you discuss a project or initiative you’re particularly proud of?
Helping lead a successful contract recompete during a transition into a small business set-aside environment stands out as one of the more meaningful experiences in my career. The effort required coordinating with a new small business prime contractor, maintaining continuity for the client and navigating strong industry competition during a complex transition period.
As part of that process, I made the decision to step away from the project after the base year to help position the small business team for long-term success under the new contract structure. More than anything, I’m proud of the relationships and trust we built as a team throughout that experience and the collaborative culture we created while supporting an important client mission.
