AvantGarde CEO Rebecca Contreras on Fox News: Leading with Love Through the Government Shutdown

When the federal government shut down, more than one million contract employees across the U.S. were suddenly left without pay. For many, this wasn’t just a political debate — it was a personal financial crisis.

At AvantGarde, LLC, nearly half of our federal workforce was affected overnight. Projects paused. Invoices froze. Families faced uncertainty. But rather than waiting for Washington to act, our leadership team, led by Founder and CEO Rebecca Contreras, chose to take action.

Appearing on Fox News Atlanta, Contreras shared how AvantGarde turned a moment of crisis into an opportunity for compassion and leadership. “In times like this, leadership isn’t measured by profit margins or politics — it’s measured by how we show up for our people,” she said.

To support affected team members, AvantGarde launched a zero-interest bridge-loan program, funded directly by the company’s founders. This initiative provides short-term, interest-free financial relief to employees impacted by the shutdown, allowing repayment through payroll once federal operations resume.

“Our people are the heart of AvantGarde,” Contreras emphasized. “While we can’t control when the government reopens, we can control how we show up for our team.”

The impact of the government shutdown on small federal contractors is often overlooked. Unlike federal employees, contractors don’t receive back pay. Each lost paycheck represents rent, food, and family stability. Across the country, thousands small businesses that support the federal government are feeling the same strain.

For AvantGarde, that means:

• 50% of active federal projects are delayed or halted

• Nearly half of our workforce is on unpaid leave or reduced hours

• Our people are losing more than $200,000 every pay period

• Over $1 million in completed contract work remains unpaid

  
  

These aren’t abstract numbers — they represent real lives. And at AvantGarde, people always come first.

Contreras’s message on Fox News was clear: this isn’t about politics; it’s about people. As a former White House appointee and Treasury executive, she’s seen leadership at every level — and she believes the truest form of leadership begins and ends with people.

“At AvantGarde, we believe that real leadership means putting people before politics and acting with empathy, courage, and conviction,” she said. “When we take care of our people first, everything else follows.”

About AvantGarde, LLC

AvantGarde, LLC is a management consulting firm providing human capital, IT, and organizational development solutions to public and private-sector clients. Founded by Rebecca Contreras, a former White House appointee and senior federal executive, AvantGarde helps organizations transform their workforce, culture, and leadership.

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