Parabilis Presents: Spilling the Tea on GovCon

In this episode of Spilling the Tea on GovCon, Teresa sits down with Dondre Lawson, CEO of Emerald Technical Solutions, to explore his journey from the U.S. Army to entrepreneurship and his mission to improve outcomes for veterans transitioning into civilian careers. Dondre shares the experiences that shaped his leadership philosophy, the lessons he learned while building Emerald Technical Solutio...

In this episode of Spilling the Tea on GovCon, Teresa welcomes Carol Ann Logue, Executive Director of the Florida Photonics Cluster, for an illuminating conversation about one of the most important technologies shaping the future of defense, space, and advanced manufacturing. Carol Ann shares her unique career journey into the world of photonics and breaks down this highly technical field into pra...

In this episode of Spilling the Tea on GovCon, Teresa sits down with Sue Tellier, President of JetCo Federal, for an insightful discussion on the realities of government contracting, defense supply chains, and what it takes for small businesses to succeed in today’s evolving federal marketplace. Sue shares how JetCo Federal supports the defense supply chain and reflects on the significant shifts s...

In this episode of Spilling the Tea on GovCon, Teresa welcomes back friends of the show, Tan Wilson, President of Entellect, LLC, and J eff Shapiro, Partner at CohnReznick LLP, for a candid and strategic conversation about the realities of winning, funding, and sustaining growth in government contracting. From the opening moments, Tan and Jeff make one thing clear, capture strategy starts long bef...

In this episode of Spilling the Tea on GovCon, Teresa welcomes John Shoraka and Trevor Skelly of Gov Contract Pros, for a timely and tactical conversation on the evolving government contracting landscape. From acquisition reform and the potential impacts of a FAR overhaul to growing concerns around socioeconomic program headwinds, John and Trevor break down the policy and compliance shifts contrac...

In this episode of Spilling the Tea on GovCon, Teresa sits down with Drew DiSilvestro Jr., CEO of AmeriTech Contracting, for a high-energy conversation on what it takes to build and scale in the federal construction space. From lessons learned during deployment to the unexpected influence of his punk rock roots, Drew shares how discipline, mindset, and structure have shaped his approach to leaders...

In this episode of Spilling the Tea on GovCon, Teresa sits down with John Barnes, CEO of Pendleton Street Business Advisors, to break down what it really means to treat your business like an asset, not just a job. John shares practical insights on financial hygiene basics, why cash flow timing can make or break your operations, and how smart financial discipline lays the groundwork for long-term v...

In this episode, Teresa Moon speaks with Shauna Weatherly, President and Founder of Fed Sub-K, about the intricacies of government contracting. Shauna shares her extensive experience in the federal marketplace, emphasizing the importance of mentorship, understanding contract consolidation, and navigating GSA schedules. The conversation highlights key strategies for small businesses to succeed in t...

In this episode, Teresa Moon welcomes back government contracts legal expert Chris Griesedieck, Jr , Partner at Venable LLP, to discuss recent developments in federal procurement, commercial solutions, and navigating the complexities of government contracting for small and commercial vendors. 00:00 Welcome and Mission 01:22 Meet Chris at Venable 03:25 Commercial Buying Push 04:23 NDAA Threshold Ch...

In this episode of Spilling the Tea on GovCon, Teresa welcomes back Judy Bradt, CEO of Summit Insight, for a strategic and eye-opening conversation about what it really takes to make progress in government contracting. Building on themes from part one, Judy revisits the power of micro-engagements and small solutions development, explaining how these focused efforts help businesses stay visible, bu...

In this episode of Spilling the Tea on GovCon , we’re joined by Ashley Farrier, Director of the Office of Small Business Programs at US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), for an inside look at how small businesses can successfully engage with one of the most dynamic organizations in the federal space. Ashley shares her career journey and the path that led her to supporting small business engage...

In this episode, Teresa is joined by Lenee Lyte, Government Contracts Advisor at Withum, to discuss how government contractors can stay prepared and resilient during uncertainty. Lenee shares insights on Withum’s GovCon services, the importance of strong partnerships, and key lessons learned from navigating government shutdowns. They also explore why banking relationships and contract understandin...

In this first episode of Spilling the Tea on GovCon for 2026, we sit down with Liseth Velez, CEO of LJV Development, for an inspiring conversation about building a federal contracting business where mission truly comes first. Liseth shares her background and military experience, what motivated her to launch LJV Development, and how those early decisions shaped her leadership style and company cult...

As federal budgets tighten and scrutiny increases in FY’26, pricing strategy is no longer just about being the lowest bidder, it’s about demonstrating best value . In this episode, Teresa is joined by award winning GovCon expert, Melinda Colon, who breaks down how federal buyers actually evaluate pricing and why higher-priced bids often win over cheaper ones. We dive into what “best value” really...

In this episode of Spilling the Tea on GovCon, Teresa is joined by Patricia Young, Executive Director of the Hazel-Pruitt Armory, home of the Hub for Innovators, Veterans, and Entrepreneurs (HIVE) at Shenandoah University. Patricia walks us through the mission and impact of the HIVE, an emerging powerhouse for innovation, veteran engagement, and entrepreneurial growth in the region. She shares how...

In this episode, Teresa talks with Evan Henris, Vice President of Credit and Risk Management at Parabilis, about what really happens when the federal government shuts down and why he states “Essential work continues, and small businesses will still be paid” isn’t the whole truth. Drawing on his experience as both a business owner and financial leader, Evan breaks down how shutdowns disrupt cash fl...

In this episode, Teresa talks with Ashley Duwel, CEO of Duwel Dev, and Natasha Velez, CEO of Strategic Solutions, to unpack the real value and strategy behind teaming and partnerships in the world of government contracting. Too many small businesses think they can “go it alone,” but Ashley and Natasha explain why teaming is often the difference between staying small and scaling up. They share real...

In this episode, Teresa speaks with Hannah Romick, CEO at Conscient Strategies for a candid conversation on leadership, culture, and navigating change in the federal marketplace. Hannah explains why culture is inseparable from performance, especially in periods of transition, and how reconnecting to purpose can restore clarity and motivation for leaders and teams under pressure. She shares her app...

In this episode, Teresa talks with Judy Bradt, CEO of Summit Insight and a leading expert in government sales strategy, to explore the power of micro engagements; the art of staying top-of-mind and building trust when deals are stalled, budgets are frozen, or it's just not the right time. Episode Highlights: 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:38 Guest Introduction: Judy Bradt 01:46 Judy's J...

In this episode, Teresa sits down with Fernando Machado, Managing Principal and Chief Information Security Officer at Cybersec Investments, to explore the ever-evolving world of cybersecurity compliance. Fernando shares his expertise on the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), breaking down why it matters and how it impacts organizations working with the Department of Defense. Whethe...

In this special live streamed episode, Teresa talks with Courtney Fairchild, President and CEO of Global Services, a leader in helping businesses successfully navigate the complex world of GSA Schedules for over two decades. Courtney shares her expert insights on the evolving procurement landscape and what recent changes at the GSA mean for both current and prospective contractors. Episode Time St...

In this episode, Teresa welcomes back Chris Griesedieck of Venable LLP to break down the proposed overhaul to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), with a spotlight on Part 6. They discuss what these changes mean for contractors, especially small businesses, and explore the evolving application of the Rule of Two in task orders. Whether you're a seasoned prime or a growing small business,...

In this episode, Teresa welcomes back friend to the show Dr. Robin Desmore, PhD. Dr. Desmore is founder and CEO of Avant-Garde Concepts LLC. During their time together, Dr. Desmore shares her background, the challenges and realities of GovCon as well as the importance of resilience in business. She also shares insight on a number of important topics for small businesses such as process improvement...

In this episode, Teresa speaks with Farooq Mitha. Farooq is President and CEO of Imbue Group Inc which empowers businesses in the national security and technology industrial base to compete, win, and lead in an ever-evolving landscape. During their time together, Farooq share his background through government and industry and how both have influenced his current work. He also shares some of the ac...

In this episode, Teresa welcomes Mac Liu, CEO and Noura Bashshur, Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships and Communications at Vultron. Vultron is a generative AI company, backed by Craft and Long Journey Ventures, bringing AI to federal proposal development process. During their time, they discuss how Vultron differentiating themselves from others in the industry with regard to “copilots and sea...