Govcon Giants

In this episode of The Daily Windup, we delve into a gripping story of a high-stakes ransomware attack that unfolded four years ago. Jeff Stutzman, shares his firsthand experience of being called to Houston to handle a massive ransomware attack on a three and a half billion dollar company. The situation was dire, with only three days remaining before the attackers would cause irreversible damage....

In this episode of The Daily Windup, host Eric Coffie dives into a captivating story of leadership and organizational transformation. Starting with an unexpected turn of events, Austin Tsosie recounts how he found himself taking on the role of CEO after the turbulent times experienced by DDC IT Services. As the holding company, Nova Corporation, underwent a transformative phase, Austin faced the c...

Today's show was brought to you by our sponsor Encore Funding. Have you or someone you know recently been awarded a government contract and cannot secure funding? Encore Funding has your back, with a recently launched Government division they are funding your receivables so you can just focus on the work. Visit encoregov.com for more information on how to get the money you need to continue growing...

In this episode we dive into the challenges and opportunities within the government procurement process with Chrissy Farrington, a military spouse and senior proposal specialist at H2L solutions. We begin by highlighting the slow and often disconnected solicitation process, where there is a lack of clarity on both sides: what the government agencies want and what the businesses can provide. In tod...

In today's episode we delve into the complexities of managing employee performance and the difficult decision of firing someone. Reflecting on personal experiences, Ronnette Meyers, President/CEO of JLAN Solutions, recounts a poignant moment when she had to let go of an employee due to their consistent lateness and failure to communicate sick leave. He discusses the emotional impact of such action...

In this episode we discuss the alarming potential of cyber warfare and its unintended consequences with the Former DoD Cyber Crime Director Jeff Stutzman. Jeff highlighted the vulnerability of surveillance systems and physical security protection due to outdated firmware and neglectful maintenance, emphasizing the critical need for constant vigilance in safeguarding critical infrastructure. Jeff u...

In today's episode, we dive into the challenges and triumphs of employing Navajo individuals in federal contracting. We highlighted the unique obstacles faced by Navajos in securing jobs, such as outdated technologies and the complexities of obtaining security clearances. Also in this episode, we discuss the cultural context and historical mistrust that influence Navajo perspectives on government...

In this episode of The Daily Windup, we have expert guests talk about the SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) process. They discuss the challenges of turning an idea into a business and taking it to the commercial market, which is where most entrepreneurs fail. We explore how venture capitalists come in to fund commercialization, but if entrepreneurs do not know how to scale and enter into a...

In today's episode, I highlight a conversation with Carlton Harris, the Chief Technology Officer of End-End Enterprise Solutions. Harris discusses how his company's strong cyber background in network security led them to specialize in advanced technologies and services. He also shares how they faced rejection while trying to grow their business and overcame it by getting their SDVOSB certification...

Are you positive that you have the best financing in place? Ever question the charges or fees you're paying? Do you know what is industry standard versus excessive. Recently I had our partner Encore Funding look at 3 of my students previous agreements with finance companies and found many ways that they had been taken advantage of. For far too long this has become the industry norm and now with a...

In this episode, we talk about the imporance of organizational training programs and project management. We discuss the various types of training programs that can be implemented in organizations, from safety training to soft skills training, and how the government's contractual requirements dictate which training programs are needed.  We also talk about project management and the different levels...

In this episode of The Daily Windup, I interviews a successful entrepreneur, Likia Hawkins, who transitioned from being a contractor in the Intelligence Community (IC) to starting her own business. She shares her experience of planning and executing a solid plan to grow her business while navigating the challenges of increasing brand awareness in the IC community. Likia also provides insights into...

In this episode of The Daily Wind Up, we have a conversation between experts about quad charts and combatant commands. Quad charts are used in government contracting to concisely and clearly summarize a company's technology and capabilities, while combatant commands refer to the different regional commands in the military. Our experts explains the various components of a quad chart, such as the te...

In this episode, we will be discussing the best practices for container security. Integrating security early in the DevOps pipeline is crucial to identifying critical vulnerabilities in your production-ready apps before they ever reach production. Scanning frequently and scanning early are also important practices to adopt in order to ensure that your code is secure. Establishing quality checks wi...

In this episode of The Daily Windup podcast, I interview a successful entrepreneur about her journey to building her own business. She talks about her experience working in a large company where she was exposed to many different areas of expertise and how this experience gave her the faith she needed to start her own business. However, when she became the president and CEO of her own company, she...

In this episode of The Daily Windup podcast, we have a former cybersecurity expert who emphasizes the importance of developing a security plan for businesses, regardless of size or industry. He explains that such a plan is a living document that should grow and evolve as a company expands. They discuss various certifications and plans, including ISO 9,000, CMMC, and ISMS, that a company can consid...

Ever been burned by finance companies, I know I have. So often as small minority owned businesses we do not get the best rates, offers or just out right get taken advantage of because of what we don't know. Thanks to our new partner, Encore Funding we are now bringing you a trusted source for government contract financing. With more than $500M in funding going to minorities alone in 2024 Encore is...

In this episode of The Daily Windup, we discuss the key components of a successful SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) proposal pitch deck. The importance of including a graphic of your company or logo, providing an overview of your product or service, and showcasing your company's history, expertise, and qualifications are vital. In this episode, we also emphasize the significance of accura...

In today's episode of The Daily Windup, Eric Coffie interviews an expert who provides insights into the controls that need to be implemented by anybody using containers, such as OpenShift and Kubernetes. Organizations that modernize to the cloud and those running VMs may want to move to a more orchestrated environment using containers. They highlight the need for certain configurations, including...

In this episode of The Daily Wind Up, host Eric Coffie speaks with Nichelle Early, a successful entrepreneur who shares her experience with program management and proposal writing. She explains that while program management professional certification may not be necessary in all situations, it is useful for those managing large projects. She also emphasizes the importance of being a lifelong learne...

In this episode of The Daily Windup, we have Likia Hawkins talk about her plans for the future and her strategies for growth. She explains that her current focus is on pursuing government contract vehicles, such as GWA contract vehicles, and winning single award contracts to align with their capability as a prime contractor. She also emphasize the importance of talent acquisition and building a dy...

In this episode we discuss the keys to successfully winning government contracts. Diane Dempsey, who is an industry expert, emphasizes the importance of thoroughly analyzing requests for proposals (RFPs) and determining whether a company is qualified to bid on a project. She advises listeners to pay attention to past performance and staff composition, as well as ensuring financial viability. She a...

In today's episode of The Daily Windup, we talks to Joshua Atkinson about the importance of project management education and certification. He explains that having industry certifications such as a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification can make a veteran more employable when transitioning to civilian life. Additionally, learning about project management can make anyone a better teamm...

Today's show was brought to you by our sponsor Encore Funding. Have you or someone you know recently been awarded a government contract and cannot secure funding? Encore Funding has your back, with a recently launched Government division they are funding your receivables so you can just focus on the work. Visit encoregov.com for more information on how to get the money you need to continue growing...

In this episode of the Daily Windup, Diane Dempsey shared tips from her experience in supplier diversity. She discuss the importance of streamlined processes for small businesses and how they can affect change in their field. With this, she is able to impact the bottom line in her role and can affect change through leadership. She emphasizes the need for small businesses to have processes in place...