Pathways-2-Partnership

Think CMMC certification is just a compliance checkbox for the big defense primes? Think again. In this episode of Mission Ready in 10, we break down why non-traditional businesses — manufacturers, IT firms, staffing companies, logistics providers — are leaving serious money on the table by ignoring the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification. We'll walk you through what CMMC Level 1 and Level...

Media literacy is no longer a “nice to have” skill, but a foundational and professionally critical one. Using a fictional company and a real-world program scenario, this episode walks through how to distinguish official sources from commentary, avoid costly misunderstandings, and recognize when confirmation bias is driving your decisions. Because in government contracting, information moves fast a...

In 2012, Palmer Luckey built a VR headset in his parents' garage. Two years later, Facebook bought it for $2 billion. Then he did something nobody saw coming—he started a defense company. Today, Anduril Industries is valued at over $30 billion and is fundamentally reshaping how the U.S. Department of War builds and deploys weapons systems. In this episode of Mission Ready in 10, Rick from MoveAmer...

Rick from MoveAmerica just got back from the National Small Business Conference in Nashville—three days of networking, matchmaking, hot chicken, and handshakes with everyone from federal agency reps to prime contractor executives. In this episode, he breaks down why industry events still matter in a world of Zoom and LinkedIn, what he learned from breakout sessions on SBIR and working with the DoW...

What do you do when a critical part breaks on a Navy ship—and it hasn't been manufactured since the Reagan administration? You print a new one.  In Episode 2 of Mission Ready in 10, Rick from MoveAmerica explores how additive manufacturing is revolutionizing military sustainment, turning 18-month procurement nightmares into same-week solutions. Then he breaks down the U.S. Department of Defense Me...

The Department of Defense just went full Marie Kondo on its Critical Technology Areas—looking at fourteen priorities and narrowing them down to six. But what does that actually mean for small businesses trying to break into the defense industrial base? In this episode of Pathways to Partnership, Rick from MoveAmerica sits down with Colonel (Ret.) Willie Burgess, Deputy Director of MoveAmerica's Ra...

In our debut episode of Mission Ready in 10, Rick from MoveAmerica tells the story of Shield AI—a company that started with two brothers, a garage in San Diego, and a mission to protect American warfighters. Today they're valued at $2.8 billion and their autonomous drone technology is being integrated into fighter jets. But here's the part nobody talks about: they didn't do it alone. Learn how SBI...

In the this episode of Pathways-2-Partnership, MoveAmerica Program Manager Athena Powell pulls back the curtain on the critical question of “what’s next” once you’ve selected a mentor, signed your Mentor-Protégé Agreement (MPA), and received a contract award. With Athena's guidance, you’ll learn how to set your business up for success when it comes to executing the contract, including how to: Oper...

In this episode of Pathways-2-Partnership (P2P), we speak with Mariano Mattei, VP of Cyber Initiatives for Eccalon and Project Spectrum, the DoD OSBP-endorsed cybersecurity platform supporting companies entering or operating within the defense industrial base. Mariano breaks down the evolving cyber landscape, the rising expectations around compliance, and the essential steps organizations must tak...

In this episode, Solomon Stavis, Director of the Rapid Innovation Accelerator - Miami (RIA-M), joins us to discuss how the RIA-M is helping emerging and non-traditional businesses and universities successfully navigate and access the federal contracting space. This podcast unpacks the 'so what' behind the RIA-M’s impact, from helping companies submit proposals to building critical partnerships acr...

In the next episode of Pathways-2-Partnership, we are joined by Duane Wilson, Director of Business Intelligence, Assessments & Advanced Computing at MoveAmerica, for a podcast about the hidden vulnerabilities threatening the nation’s most vital supply chains. From semiconductors and rare earth elements to pharmaceuticals and defense components, the stability of these essential systems underpin...

In the next episode of Pathways-2-Partnership, Jay Davis, Business Counselor at the MoveAmerica APEX Accelerator, shares insights on Entering the Federal Supply Chain: Top 5 Essentials for Dual-Use Manufacturers. This episode is designed for businesses looking to bring their dual-use products into the federal marketplace. Jay breaks down the critical components every company needs, starting with o...

In this episode of Pathways-2-Partnership from MoveAmerica, we chat with Chris Barber, Chief Nerd and founder, of the award-winning IT services firm Cheaper Than a Geek®. With more than 20 years of experience helping small businesses navigate the digital landscape, Chris shares practical guidance on how organizations can take their first steps toward stronger cybersecurity. Tune in as we discuss t...

What do you do when your business already has FOCI exposure? In this episode of Pathways-2-Partnership, Dr. Christophe McCray walks us through real-world examples of how foreign influence has compromised U.S. innovation—and what companies can do about it. From red flags and risk factors to voting trusts and mitigation strategies, this episode provides a playbook for protecting your IP and staying...

In this episode of Pathways-2-Partnership, Earl Wyatt—Executive Director of MoveAmerica and former DoD innovation lead—shares proven strategies for small and emerging businesses looking to enter the federal supply chain. From working with national labs and leveraging SBIR/STTR programs to navigating the Mentor-Protégé Program, Earl outlines the critical steps that can turn your innovation into a g...

In this episode of Pathways-2-Partnership, Dr. Christophe McCray of MoveAmerica breaks down the essentials of FOCI—Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence—and why it’s a growing concern for small businesses entering the federal marketplace. Learn how adversarial nations exploit legal loopholes, what red flags to look out for, and how to protect your intellectual property before signing that next...

In this compelling episode of Pathways-2-Partnership, we sit down with Earl Wyatt—former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense and current Executive Director of MoveAmerica—to explore how innovation is reshaping the U.S. defense industrial base. Earl shares insights from his extensive military and acquisition background, dives into key emerging technologies like AI, hypersonics, and advanced manuf...

In this episode of Pathways to Partnership, we sit down with Carolyn D. Campbell, Director of Programs and Projects at MoveAmerica, a Hanover, Maryland-based nonprofit dedicated to tackling critical and emerging technological challenges across the U.S. industrial base. Carolyn offers an inside look at the Department of Defense's Office of Small Business Programs Mentor-Protégé Program (MPP)—a vita...