GovCon Unscripted

Welcome back to GovCon Unscripted! I’m your host, Chelsea Meggitt , and in this episode, I sit down with Dana Bonsell , an SBA certification expert and 8(a) guru. With over a decade of experience helping small businesses secure critical certifications like 8(a), HUBZone, and WOSB, Dana shares her wealth of knowledge to help you navigate the complex and rewarding world of SBA certifications. In thi...

Welcome back to GovCon Unscripted! I’m your host, Chelsea Meggitt , and in this episode, I sit down with Chris Bennett , Director of Talent Acquisition at NTI and Vice President of Programs for the AFCEA Alamo Chapter. Chris shares his inspiring journey from a college football player to a leader in the federal contracting space, with no prior IT or military background. We explore the role of AFCEA...

Welcome back to GovCon Unscripted! I’m your host, Chelsea Meggitt, and in this episode, I sit down with Fernando Machado, Managing Principal and CISO of CyberSec Investments. Fernando is an authorized CMMC third-party assessor and a LEED Certified CMMC Assessor, bringing his expertise to unpack the complexities of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program. We discuss the evolvi...

Welcome back to GovCon Unscripted ! I’m your host, Chelsea Meggitt , and in this episode, I sit down with Andy Kirkpatrick , GSA’s “professional dot connector” and program analyst for the Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) in Professional Services and Human Capital (PSHC). Andy shares his mission to bridge the gap between government agencies and small businesses, making it easier for companies to navig...

Welcome back to GovCon Unscripted ! I’m your host, Chelsea Meggitt , and in this episode, I sit down with Aubrey Lavitoria , the Small Business Programs Director at Army Futures Command (AFC) , to explore how the Army is driving innovation and breaking barriers to help small businesses thrive. Aubrey shares his journey from the Navy to Army Futures, highlighting the command’s unconventional approa...

I am your host Chelsea Meggitt , and welcome back to GovCon Unscripted. In this episode, I welcome Paul Wertz , a seasoned veteran of the world of government contracting and small business innovation. He joins me to share insights from his career at AT&T and how he came to found SherpaWerks , a company engaged in supporting federal initiatives and partnering with international businesses. We d...

Thank you, as always, for tuning in to GovCon Unscripted. I am your host Chelsea Meggitt , and in this episode of the podcast, I am excited to be welcoming back two familiar voices to the show, David Neal (of David Neal Consulting ) and Shauna Weatherly (of FedSubK )! Join us as the three of us dig deep into some unsettling developments within the government contracting industry, discussing the ch...

Thank you, as always, for tuning in to GovCon Unscripted. I am your host Chelsea Meggitt , and thanks for tuning back into GovCon Unscripted! In this episode, I sit down with Shauna Weatherly , the founder of FedSubK , to discuss her mission to empower small businesses with the tools and knowledge they need to succeed in the world of federal contracting! With over 35 years of experience across mul...

Thank you, as always, for tuning in to GovCon Unscripted! I am your host Chelsea Meggitt , and I am thrilled to have Kati Hippleheuser , the CEO of Seaside Innovations , on the show to explore her inspiring journey from Army intelligence officer to entrepreneur. Kati shares how her military background shaped her leadership skills, adaptability, and entrepreneurial spirit, fueling her transition in...

Join me, your host Chelsea Meggitt , for this episode as I discuss the nuances of government contracting with two very insightful guests - Todd Packer and Scot Loveland ! Todd, a small business owner and principal consultant of Todd Packer and Associates , has actually been on the show before and shares his journey through the complex federal marketplace. His story involves overcoming the daunting...

Thank you, as always, for tuning in to GovCon Unscripted. I am your host Chelsea Meggitt , and today, I am happy to welcome Brian Kent to the show. Brian is a retired military officer and seasoned entrepreneur who now serves as a consultant, helping companies in the defense and federal contracting sectors, along with some B2B enterprises, to scale effectively. Brian discusses the complexities of h...

I, your host Chelsea Meggitt , welcome Todd Packer , a consultant dedicated to innovation, as we discuss the intricate world of federal awards and government contracting. Todd unveils strategies for leveraging federally funded resources, emphasizing the value of small business centers, accelerators, and women's business centers to navigate complex government landscapes without hefty service fe...

Thank you, as always, for tuning in to GovCon Unscripted. I am your host Chelsea Meggitt , and if you heard the very first episode of the show, then you likely remember today’s guest, David Neal of David Neal Consulting . David is a true game-changer in the world of government contracting, and you might remember him as someone who has been helping small, economically disadvantaged businesses enter...

This week, I, your host Chelsea Meggitt , am excited to welcome Jennifer Schaus of JSchaus & Associates to the show! Jennifer's ventures offer everything from assisting with market analysis reports and crafting go-to-market plans, to proposal writing and GSA schedule support, ensuring post-award compliance. If you're a company selling to, or working within, the government contracting s...

Hello, this is Chelsea Meggitt, and I'm excited to discuss a topic that is fundamental to scaling in the federal contracting space. Shirley Collier , president and founder of Scale2Market and a federal business development consultant, will be joining me. Shirley provides a wealth of experience, having created strategic playbooks that have helped tiny GovCons grow from humble beginnings to majo...

It's, as always, your host Chelsea Meggitt , and this week, I am so excited to shift gears and share my insightful conversation with Judy Bradt , the CEO of Summit Insight , and a 36-year veteran in federal government contracting. Judy has an impressive track record, including helping businesses secure millions in federal contracts and authoring the Amazon bestseller, Government Contracts Made...

I had the pleasure in this episode of speaking with Mark Amtower of Amtower & Company . Mark is an expert in government marketing and joins me in this episode of GovCon Unscripted to talk about the complexities of building relationships within the government contracting space. He shares his fascinating journey, starting from his early days as a telemarketer to launching his own firm focused on...

I’m your host Chelsea Meggitt , and I am so thrilled to be sitting down for a talk with Kirsten Sandlin of RFPrepared . Kirsten truly has a wealth of experience in guiding small business government contractors through the often daunting world of proposal development. Listen as Kirsten shares her journey, starting from her early days in sales and marketing for a small electrical firm, where she fir...

I am, as always, your host Chelsea Meggitt , and I am happy to be bringing to you my enlightening and insightful conversation with Larry Allen of Allen Federal Business Partners ! Larry joins me to talk about the rapidly evolving world of government contracting, bringing his wealth of experience helping businesses of all sizes navigate the complexities of federal compliance. If you're a small...

I, your host Chelsea, am very excited to be bringing this episode with Trish Martinelli to you! Trish is the CEO of The Difference LLC and a defense industry expert with more than twenty years of experience in uniform and in the private sector. Listen in as she walks us through her unique perspective on some of the challenges that small businesses face when engaging with the Department of Defense....

I am really excited to be bringing you this week’s episode of GovCon Unscripted featuring a truly remarkable guest, Stephanie Hutch , CEO & President of Makai Defense and founder of Kekoa Foundation , a nonprofit in Hawaii. Listen as Stephanie shares her incredible journey from growing up in a military family to building a successful defense contracting company. Throughout our conversation, St...

Welcome back to GovCon Unscripted! For this episode, I am so thrilled to welcome Teresa Moon of Parabilis ! Teresa is a passionate advocate for small businesses that are navigating the intricate world of federal contracting, and her insights into the challenges and triumphs faced by small contractors are nothing short of invaluable. Join us as we dive deep into the nuances of funding and financial...

Thanks for tuning in to GovCon, a podcast in which we dive into the unfiltered, unscripted stories and strategies from all over the world of government contracting. I am your host Chelsea Meggitt , and I hope that you will join this journey as I (along with guests) explore how to navigate, thrive, and win in this complex but lucrative industry! For the introductory episode, I am joined by David Ne...