Tysons Corner, Virginia – April 20, 2026 – growth[period], a strategic advisory firm serving public- and private-sector clients at moments of growth, complexity, and transformation, announced that Charles M. Makings has joined the firm as a Strategic Client Advisor.
Mr. Makings brings more than 17 years of leadership across the U.S. government, Congress, and the private sector to growth[period]. In his role as Strategic Client Advisor, he will support clients navigating the federal and maritime markets, leveraging his expertise in program management, governance, and strategic communications.
Mr. Makings most recently served as Acting Administrator and Deputy Administrator at the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD), where he oversaw a $1.4 billion agency supporting America’s maritime transportation infrastructure, national security, and defense sealift programs. He has also served as Assistant Administrator for Legislative Affairs at the Transportation Security Administration, as a Presidential Appointee at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and as an Associate Director at Guidehouse (formerly PricewaterhouseCoopers Public Sector), where he advised federal defense, healthcare, and cybersecurity agencies on program management, governance, and strategic communications.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Makings served as a legislative professional in the U.S. House of Representatives for nearly a decade. He holds an MBA from the University of Maryland Global Campus and a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration from George Mason University. Mr. Makings is the founder and CEO of The Makings Collective LLC, through which he brings government, media, policy, and strategic advisory expertise to clients navigating federal affairs, organizational leadership, and public-sector engagement. He holds an active TS/SCI security clearance and a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.
About growth[period]
For more than 19 years, growth[period]’s management consulting, business development, geopolitical risk, strategy and transaction advisory services have focused on serving the principal challenges faced by companies in highly regulated industries. We are nationally recognized as a leading provider to growing and established firms seeking assistance to complete sophisticated corporate and technology transactions; manage entry into the federal government contracting industry; assist with navigating the federal marketplace; represent them in partnering agreements; and/or advise them on diligence matters. With deep roots globally, growth[period] has more than 90 experts and offices in multiple markets across the United States, Canada, Latin America, Asia and Europe. For more information, please visit www.growthprd.com.
CONTACT
Talia Frey
703 556 0111
info@growthprd.com
