GovCon M&A Talk

Mike Derrios, Executive Director of George Mason University's Baroni Center for Government Contracting. Topics covered: ● Where will the next generation of GovCon leaders come from? ● Bridging the gap between government, industry and the classroom ● What happens when a $15 million company competes against a $400 million “small business”? ● Why GovCon companies may need to throw out the old growth...

Sharon Heaton⁠ , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with Steve Koprince, National GovCon Small Business Expert. Topics covered: ● What happens when “almost everybody’s small”? ● When your competitors suddenly get a whole lot bigger ● Are you big enough to compete as a “small” business? ● Why the SBA’s proposed changes could put M&A...

Sharon Heaton⁠ , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with  Mark Amtower  of Amtower & Company. Topics covered: ● Why trying to be everything to everyone can hurt your GovCon company ● Do you own a company — or do you have a job? ● Why relationships ARE marketing in GovCon ● Why “the riches are in the niches” ● What being “findable” h...

Sharon Heaton⁠ , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with  Jon Williams of PilieroMazza about bombshell SBA size standard proposed changes. Topics covered: ● Proposed rule, not yet adopted ● If adopted, this would be a massive change ● Benefits include increased number of buyers for small businesses ● Challenges include smaller businesse...

Sharon Heaton⁠ , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with  Paula Smithers of sbLiftOff. Topics covered: ● Running a small business like a big business  ● Numbers can surprise you ● The big life impact of M&A ● Why a good M&A advisor positively impacts employees, customers AND owners To connect with Paula, visit her LinkedIn page...

Sharon Heaton⁠ , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with Elizabeth Shea of TreeFork Strategies. Topics covered: ● De-risking your business ● Reducing owner dependency in stages ● Communication plans for M&A inflection points ● Why hiring an investment banker for your deal puts more money in your pocket To connect with Elizabeth, vis...

Sharon Heaton⁠ , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with  Christine Williamson of Cohn Reznick about the 2026 GAUGE REPORT. Topics covered: ● Only 3% of GovCon companies surveyed automate their capture ● How a consistent capture process adds value to a transaction ● Average net profit margins were materially below 10% ● 42% of pipeline...

Sharon Heaton⁠ , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with Meghan Gifford  about lessons from Octo. Topics covered: ● Integration tips gleaned after four Octo acquisitions ● Never underestimate the impact of uncertainty – avoid mystery ● How IBM integrated Octo into its federal business ● Why owners experience “the crisis after the sale”...

Sharon Heaton⁠ , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with Venu Ayala about his Zen transaction: Topics covered: ● Bootstrapping with zero capital ● Recovering from contract losses ● Closing a deal before the SBA’s Jan 17, 2026 deadline ● Selling, becoming a wholly owned subsidiary and freedom    To connect with Venu, visit her LinkedIn p...

Sharon Heaton⁠ , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with Kate Troendle , Managing Director of KippsDeSanto & Co.. Topics covered: ● What’s next for aerospace, technology and defense ● Impacts of DOGE, tariffs and Administration procurement priorities on buyer certainty  ● Defense tech “comes roaring back” ● Not using AI? You’re “beh...

Sharon Heaton⁠ , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with Sam Le , formerly of the SBA: Topics covered: ● What’s next for the remaining 3,400 8(a)s ● FAR overhaul and impact of Rule of 2 ● Using Mentor-Protégé joint ventures effectively ● Small Business Set-Asides Momentum and Strength To connect with Sam, visit his LinkedIn page ⁠here⁠...

Sharon Heaton⁠ , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with Dyson Richards of Foxstead, a private investment firm. Topics covered: ● From the start of the computer era to the GovCon AI era ● Why founders in GovCon need strategic capital ● Patience among thoughtful private equity ● Growing by knowing defense needs To connect with Dyson, vis...

Sharon Heaton⁠ , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with  Brianna Bowling , author of Start Manage & Exit a Profitable Government Contracting Firm. Topics covered: ● Local roots and business ● Learning the art of proposal writing ● Technology pain points and the government customer ● When it’s right to sell Learn more about Brianna'...

Sharon Heaton⁠ , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with Matt Stavish of Republic Access Capital. Topics covered: ● DOW appetite for product ● Working capital financing ● Private debt markets demystified ● Creating relationships, creating solutions ● Future of the small business M&A market To connect with Matt, visit him LinkedIn pa...

Sharon Heaton⁠ , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with  Scott Jensen , CEO of the National Veteran Small Business Coalition. Topics covered: ● Customer intimacy vs customer concentration: SDVOSB strategies ● Adding commercial lines and building transferable value ● Prospects for VOSBs (veteran owned small businesses) ● What veterans w...

Sharon Heaton⁠ , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with growth guru Heather Newlin . Topics covered: ● Bridging the gap between strategy and execution ● Understanding longterm consequences of fixed term contracts ● Diversifying agencies AND diversifying contracts ● Not all growth is equal To connect with Heater, visit her LinkedIn page...

Sharon Heaton⁠ , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with  Stephanie Alexander , former owner of BOOST. Topics covered: BD, OPS and G&A need to be tied together Needing capital to grow People and culture are King Managing expectations during an M&A To connect with Stephanie, visit her LinkedIn page ⁠here⁠ . To learn more about BO...

Sharon Heaton⁠ , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with serial entrepreneur Baly Ambegaoker of BTMS. Topics covered: Build a Company to Sell It Run a Company to Keep It Taking “Gambles” as an Entrepreneur Technology and the Government Customer To connect with Baly, visit her LinkedIn page ⁠here⁠ . To learn more about BTMS, visit their...

Sharon Heaton⁠ , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with serial entrepreneur Michael Graveline of KMRG. Topics covered: ● Selling a small company to an industry legend ● Starting and selling a GovCon company in 3 years ● Winning your first prime contract in 9 months ● When it's time for inorganic growth ● When to sell and when to hold;...

Sharon Heaton⁠ , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with Marty Brennan of the GovCon strategy group Deep Water Point: Topics covered: Why due diligence matters more in 2026 How uncertainty affects today's deal structuring Shifting risk versus sharing risk Why solution focused companies not "hour focused " companies are a magnet for buye...

Sharon Heaton⁠ , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with Huntsville M&A lawyer Mike Johnson of Maynard Nexsen: Topics covered: ● M&A impact from the last shutdown ● Buyers looking at fundamentals in 2026 ● Aligning with the Administration’s priorities, including hypersonics & intelligence ● Consolidations among “smalls” To c...

Sharon Heaton⁠ , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with veteran entrepreneur Will Fortier of the Hive Group. Topics covered: Acquisition with a big A and little A The procurement life cycle Quick revenue growth Dealing with the death of a business partner To connect with Will, visit his LinkedIn page ⁠here⁠ . To learn more about Hive G...

Sharon Heaton , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with serial entrepreneur Kathryn Freeland of A-TEK: Topics covered: Founding and selling an IT GovCon company Balancing life challenges with business challenges Buying a GovCon platform to grow Digital services for today’s GovCon customer To connect with Kathryn, visit her LinkedIn page...

Sharon Heaton , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with veteran Kevin Harkins of Harkcon about his “hairy” management buyout. Topics covered: Founding and running a company with many owners Treating multiple owners fairly in a management buyout Choosing the right M&A advisor Ownership control brings responsibility and freedom To con...

Sharon Heaton , the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with  Morgan Higgins of Blue Delta Capital Partners about what investors see as they survey today's GovCon M&A landscape. Topics covered: ● Backing leadership teams who feel their best days are ahead ● The genius of founders ● Turbo charging inorganic growth ● Partnering as a minori...