President & CEO, A3L Federal Works LLC
By Amanda Larch
“She believed she could, so she did.”
This quote has inspired Roya Maher to overcome many obstacles throughout her life, including immigrating to the U.S. from Iran with her family when she was 15 and starting her own company in the male-dominated IT industry.
In 2014, Maher founded A3L Federal Works LLC and today serves as the president and CEO. With a background in engineering, bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Cornell University and a lifelong love of math and science, she started her career working as an industrial engineer for General Motors (GM).
“As a young female, recent college graduate and engineer, I had to work hard to gain the trust of factory assembly workers who were all union members and leery of young graduates who sometimes had attitudes of superiority,” she says. “I loved the world of manufacturing, and I was eager to learn and be part of their team. It took a while, but I was accepted as a valuable member. I was honest, I worked hard, and I cared about my colleagues.”
Maher worked at GM for six years before moving to Morgantown with her husband in 1992. While they raised their four children, Maher stopped working but kept busy with school activities and by contributing to her community.
“In 2004, when my children were older, I had the opportunity to work for a woman-owned small business called Galaxy Global Corporation,” she says. “The company’s vice president of business development, Tina Mascaro, was my friend and neighbor and an engineer and mother like myself. She and the owner, Zeny Cunanan, were both totally supportive and believed in my capabilities. I then started working as a subcontractor engineer for NASA’s Independent Verification and Validation Program in Fairmont.”
It was this experience that gave Maher the courage and confidence to revive her career and start her own business—something she had always dreamed of doing. Since 2014, A3L Federal Works has grown from one employee to 20 and continues to provide engineering, technology and management services to government and commercial clients.
“Since the inception of my company in 2014, I have been 100% involved in running and managing all the daily and operational aspects of the company,” says Maher. “I am a certified project management professional and have a proven record of successful project management. I am also proud of my ability to challenge, inspire, enable, encourage and lead my employees and team members.”
While deeply involved in her company, Maher also enjoys giving back to her community and helping students, particularly those involved in the Lego robotics program and female high school students interested in STEM fields.
Maher has been involved with Mountaineer Area RoboticS (MARS) for 10 years by supporting its STEM outreach initiatives, including mentoring students on FIRST Robotics Team #2614; helping expand competitive robotics to those with less access by working with the planning committee and coordinating fundraising activities; coordinating and planning local- and state-level tournaments; and serving as a judge at numerous FIRST LEGO League tournaments.
For a time, Maher was the sole sponsor of the Zero Robotics Middle School Summer Program and the Cyber Robotics Coding Competition, which enables students to become lead programmers for a virtual robot. She is an active member and past board member of the National Contract Management Association and has organized the Dynamic Networking Conference in Fairmont for the past five years to promote networking and business growth. Maher is also an avid supporter of Girls on the Run, Fairmont State Foundation, West Virginia Robotics Alliance and the Clarksburg Mission.
“I care about helping children who are motivated and need help accessing opportunities,” she says. “I will help any organizations whose mission is to help people in need and promote STEM education for West Virginia children.”
Maher credits the Mountain State for her amazing friendships and business success.
1978 Immigrated to U.S. from Iran
1986 Graduated from Cornell University
1986 Started work at General Motors
1989 Son, Arya, was born
1990 Daughter, Ariana, was born
1992 Moved to West Virginia
1994 Son, Arman, was born
1999 Daughter, Laily, was born.
2009 Started work at Galaxy Global Corporation as a contractor for NASA IV&V
2009 Became adjunct professor at Fairmont State University
2010 Started serving as a judge for FIRST LEGO League
2012 Started work at Northrop Grumman Corporation
2012 Obtained PMP Certification
2014 Founded A3L Federal Works LLC
2014 Joined National Contract Management Association
2019 Named West Virginia SBA Encore-Owned Small Business of the Year
