GovCon Unscripted

Join Chelsea Roberts on GovCon Unscripted for our new Success After Service special episode as she sits down with Brittinay Shaw , Marketing & Communications Executive at E&M Technologies . From jet engine mechanic and DoD flight attendant to recruitment marketing powerhouse, Brittinay shares her journey of translating military precision into branding, culture, and social media strategies...

In this Success After Service (SAS) Special Episode of GovCon Unscripted , Chelsea Roberts sits down with Dan Ward , Author and Co-founder of The SparkLit Group , to explore how innovation actually works after military service and why so many organizations unintentionally block it. Drawing from his career in the Air Force, his time at MITRE, and his transition to co-founding an innovation consulta...

Turning innovation into operational capability is where most GovCon efforts stall. In this episode of GovCon Unscripted, Chelsea Roberts sits down with Sumner Lee , CEO of Fuse Integration , to unpack what it actually takes to move from early-stage R&D to programs of record. Sumner shares how Fuse has navigated the SBIR and STTR ecosystem, progressed through multiple phase three transitions, a...

In this Success After Service (SAS) Special Episode of GovCon Unscripted , Chelsea Roberts sits down with Michelle Gardner-Ince , retired Air Force Colonel, former VA executive, and founder of GI Strategic Solutions , to unpack one of the most misunderstood assumptions in government contracting: that certifications alone lead to contracts. Michelle shares what she learned from fixing and leading t...

Welcome to the first GovCon Unscripted episode of the year, and a special Success After Service conversation. Chelsea Roberts sits down with Luke Shabro to unpack what it really looks like to continue serving after leaving the uniform behind. This episode explores the realities of defense innovation, why good ideas stall inside government systems, and how empathy, persistence, and understanding mi...

Strategic pricing is not a spreadsheet exercise; it is a leadership decision that affects risk, profitability, and execution long after award. In this episode of GovCon Unscripted , Marsha Lindquist , Managing Partner/President of Granite Leadership Strategies Inc ., explains why pricing must be involved early, why fixed-price contracts demand sharper strategy, and how contractors get into trouble...

In this special 'Success After Service' episode of GovCon Unscripted , Chelsea sits down with Lawrence "Larry" Pokroy , Vice President of Business Development of BayInfotech, LLC , a veteran leader who shares what it really means to continue serving after military life, just without the uniform. Larry talks candidly about transitioning into government contracting, the mindset shift...

In this episode of GovCon Unscripted , Chelsea sits down with Derek Hoyt , CEO of GovSignals AI , to explore how AI is transforming federal acquisition, collapsing procurement timelines, and reshaping compliance expectations across the DoD and government agencies. Derek breaks down what true end-to-end AI-powered acquisition looks like, why most tools in the market fall short, and how GovSignals i...

In the GovCon Unscripted Podcast 's another special episode of 'Success After Service', Chelsea sits down with David Schiff , a Navy veteran and VP of Navy Strategic Growth at Govini , for a deep dive into what it takes for companies to adapt, stay competitive, and succeed in the evolving landscape of DoD innovation. David shares hard lessons from working across the Navy, Space Force,...

In this episode of GovCon Unscripted, Chelsea welcomes Renee and Greg Glendenning of Quality Control University, construction educators and QC experts with more than 30 years in the federal contracting industry. They break down what QC actually requires on federal construction projects, the most common mistakes that cost contractors time and money, and what inspectors are really looking for during...

In this 'Success After Service' special episode of GovCon Unscripted , Chelsea sits down with Gene Moran , Founder of Capitol Integration , Navy veteran, lobbyist, and trusted advisor on federal budget strategy and congressional process. Gene breaks down how Washington truly works. Not the myths, but the real interplay of timing, process, funding cycles, and influence that determines outco...

In this episode of GovCon Unscripted , Chelsea sits down with Katie Bigelow , Founder & CEO of Mettle Ops , to talk about ethics, resilience, and the hard truths of competing in federal contracting. Katie shares her journey from Army aviation to GovCon CEO, breaking down what it really takes to lead a mission-driven company, build customer trust, and stay resilient in a market where you lose f...

In this special introductory episode, we'll be adding a twist to our usual episode setting . This time, Chelsea Roberts , CEO of Collaborative Compositions and host of GovCon Unscripted , is being interviewed by one of our special guests, Melinda Milheim of Phoenix Canyon and Christopher Zebra International. Chelsea shares the story behind her entrepreneurial journey, as well as the podcast, w...

Welcome back to GovCon Unscripted! In this episode, Chelsea sits down with Michael Allison , a Marine veteran, entrepreneur, and founder of Adversity Academy , who shares his deeply personal journey of transformation, from military service to mental breakdown to rebuilding life through purpose and leadership. Michael opens up about the moment that changed everything, his battle with identity after...

Welcome back to GovCon Unscripted! In this episode, Chelsea sits down with Kevin Plexico , Senior Vice President of Information Solutions at Deltek , to unpack what the latest government shutdowns, FAR overhauls, and GSA changes mean for contractors heading into FY2026. From budget uncertainty to data-driven opportunity, Kevin shares how leading firms are adapting to the next wave of federal marke...

Welcome back to GovCon Unscripted! In our special 'Success After Service' episode, Chelsea sits down with Brian Pultro , Navy Reservist, financial advisor, and advocate for generational wealth and transition readiness. Brian shares his story from post-9/11 Navy service to entrepreneurship, emphasizing lessons on leadership, discipline, and why financial literacy is a continuation of servic...

Welcome back to GovCon Unscripted ! In this special cross-collaboration with Tan’s Two Cents , Chelsea sits down with Tan Wilson , President & CEO of Entellect, LLC , to talk about how companies can navigate a GovCon landscape shaped by misinformation, canceled contracts, FAR overhauls, and teaming in 2026. On this episode, we discuss: The rise of #GovConGrifters and why fact-checking is missi...

Welcome back to GovCon Unscripted ! In this episode, Chelsea sits down with Jena Jones , CEO and Founder of PGT Solutions and the Molly Jones Foundation . Jena shares her journey from Army service to running a veteran-owned small business, securing prime contracts, and learning how to pivot when the market shifts. She also opens up about the Molly Jones Foundation, which is focused on animal welfa...

Welcome back to GovCon Unscripted ! In this episode, Chelsea sits down with Robert Fehlen , Managing Principal of Dark Corner Solutions. Robert shares how his defense ventures led to the launch of Mission Cultivate, a discreet and secure social networking platform designed for defense, national security, and industry professionals who are tired of “happy hour networking” and cluttered platforms. O...

Welcome back to GovCon Unscripted ! In this episode, Chelsea sits down with Giles Walger , CEO of OODAx , who transitioned from 20 years in the Marine Corps to founding a startup that helps dual-use tech companies fast-track federal contracting. From interoperability challenges in uniform to helping pre-Series A founders navigate federal markets, Giles shares candid lessons on accelerating acquisi...

Welcome back to GovCon Unscripted! In this episode, Chelsea sits down with Melinda Milheim , founder of Phoenix Canyon and Christopher Zebra International . Melinda shares her unconventional path into government contracting from pizza delivery driver to managing $7 billion in contracts and how an ethics crisis led her to build businesses that prioritize training, integrity, and long-term student s...

Welcome back to GovCon Unscripted! In this episode, Chelsea sits down with Al Vega , CEO of Clerco , to discuss the realities of recruiting in government contracting, from proposal staffing to cleared personnel challenges. Al shares why transparency with candidates matters, how to build strong talent benches, and why mission-driven professionals often value national security work more than money....

Welcome back to GovCon Unscripted ! In this episode, Chelsea talks with Al Kushner , award-winning author of " The AI LinkedIn Advantage " about how AI is transforming LinkedIn strategy for government contractors, business owners, and job seekers. From ChatGPT to Jasper and Copy AI, Al explains how to optimize LinkedIn profiles, build credibility with recommendations, and avoid the pitfall...

Welcome back to GovCon Unscripted ! In this episode, Chelsea sits down with Natasha Velez , CEO of NVS Strategic Solutions , proposal expert, and capture strategist working across state, local, federal, and even international markets. Natasha shares how companies are pivoting from federal to state and local, why proposals are shifting toward AI-driven evaluations, and how oral presentations are be...

Welcome back to GovCon Unscripted ! In this episode, Chelsea sits down with Art Trevethan , a serial entrepreneur, former Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Army Futures Command, and advisor to companies navigating the federal marketplace. From early entrepreneurial ventures to advising venture groups and law firms, Art brings candid insights on why acquisition feels broken, how to work with the system...