The Geek Within

Today's guest is Pam DeGraffenreid. She is Senior Microsoft 365 Developer and Tech Lead at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, one of the Department of Energy labs, with this one managed by UT-Battelle. Pam is also a Microsoft MVP and a Leader for the Knoxville M365 User Group. Pam and I met online through our shared passion for M365. You can engage Pam here: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/...

Today's guest is Laura Bennett. She is a Partner at Catapult Growth Partners and a High Performance Coach at BDL Consulting, where she does executive coaching. She has also volunteered with Women in Homeland Security, ACT-IAC, and HIMSS NCA. You can engage Laura here: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauradrahanbennett/ The Geek Within can be found on several podcast platforms - https://...

Today's guest is Timothy Boettcher. He is Senior VP and Head of Go-To-Market Strategy for AvePoint, currently working out of AvePoint's Public Sector office in Arlington, Virginia. Tim has been working in the SharePoint scene for just shy of 20 years and can often be found speaking at events like SharePoint Saturdays, TechCons, ARMA NOVA, KMworld, and more. You can engage Timothy here: Lin...

Today's guest is Natalie Carey. She is the Director for Alliances and Ecosystem for Unqork Government. Natalie is also a co-founder and board member for GovLink, Industry Advisory Board member for ATARC, and ACT-IAC Fellow from Partners 2021. You can engage Natalie here: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/careynv/ The Geek Within can be found on several podcast platforms - https://www.poly...

*** This is part 2 of a two-part episode. Watch last week's episode for part 1 *** Today's guest is Scott Weiss. He is the Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer at Catalest. Scott is also a former White House Presidential Innovation Fellow supporting the VA and OMB and has also worked with IDEO. You can engage Scott here: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-weiss-50b1b23/ The Geek...

*** This is part 1 of a two-part episode. Come back next week for part 2 *** Today's guest is Scott Weiss. He is the Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer at Catalest. Scott is also a former White House Presidential Innovation Fellow supporting the VA and OMB and has also worked with IDEO. You can engage Scott here: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-weiss-50b1b23/ The Geek Within ca...

Today's guest is Malcolm Harden. He is the Chief Growth Officer at Safal Partners and the IAC Chair for ACT-IAC. It is through our years of volunteering for ACT-IAC that Malcolm and I met. You can engage Malcolm here: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/malharden/ The Geek Within can be found on several podcast platforms - https://www.polywork.com/posts/W0IZQ1lu List of past episodes: https...

Today's guest is David Wennergren. He is the CEO of ACT-IAC, an amazing non-profit based in the DC area that helps government and industry collaborate to solve problems for government agencies. As a volunteer with ACT-IAC, I have seen first-hand David's commitment to the organization and expanding its reach. You can engage David here: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-wennergren-...

Today's guest is Samara Schulman. She is the President of OnPoint Consulting, a technology and consulting services firm in the government contracting space. Samara and I both participate in the ACT-IAC community in Washington DC, which is where we met. You can engage Samara here: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/samara-schulman-99335b7/ The Geek Within can be found on several podcast pla...

Today's guest is Frank Reyes. He is the Cloud Solutions Leader within the Technology and Consulting Services division at Maximus. Frank is also a graduate of the ACT-IAC Voyagers 2019 leadership development program and through interaction in the fellows community is how Frank and I met. You can engage Frank here: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankreyes/ The Geek Within can be found o...

Today's guest is Sonia Mundra. She is the President at Chenega Analytic Business Solutions, which is an 8(a) Alaska Native Corporation providing IT and Professional Services for the Federal Government. Episode 160 on YouTube - https://youtu.be/caYvLCj5OE4 You can engage Sonia here: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/soniamundra/ The Geek Within can be found on several podcast platforms - h...

Today's guest is Jennifer Folsom. She is the VP of Growth at ICF Next. Jennifer is also a Customer Experience Advisory Member at the Richmond School of Professional and Continuing Studies and the author of the book - Ringmaster: Work, Life, and Keeping It All Together. Jennifer completed the ACT-IAC Partners program in 2021 and is the industry vice-chair for Partners 2024. It is through ACT-IA...

Today's guest is Abbey Kos. She is the Digital Experience Leader of State and Local Government at Amazon Web Services. Abbey also did a stint with 18F, one of a few government offices leveraging new innovative methodologies. She was also at FutureGov doing content design for local government in the UK. You can engage Abbey here: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/abbeykos/ The Geek Within...

Today's guest is Mitzi Mead. She is President and CEO of Anakim Consulting, a women owned, HUBZone certified small business providing IT and business development services in the Federal marketplace. We know each other through the ACT-IAC community where she has served on the Industry Advisory Council's Executive Committee, has been a board member for ACT-IAC and the executive chair, has he...

Today's guest is Jon Meadows. He is the Owner of High-End Headshots and a Co-Founder of Creative Transitions which assists veterans as they transition out of the military with headshots and video and hiring events aimed at helping them to excel in the private sector. Jon is also the author of Making Bank with Photography: 10 principles that changed my life. You can engage Jon here: LinkedIn -...

Today's guest is Will Manel. He is Competitive Strategy Director at Peraton and a graduate of the ACT-IAC Voyagers Leadership Development Program in 2021. You can engage Will here: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/wmanel/ The Geek Within can be found on several podcast platforms - https://www.polywork.com/posts/W0IZQ1lu List of past episodes: https://tgwlink.net/episodes

Today's guest is Kristy Haung. She is the Business Development Manager at ABS Group, former President of AFCEA Bethesda Emerging Leaders, AFCEA 40 under 40 recipient, an ACT-IAC Associates Graduate and currently in the ACT-IAC Voyagers Program for 2024. You can engage Kristy here: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristine-huang/ The Geek Within can be found on several podcast platforms -...

Today's guest is Jen Jensen. She is a Partner at Applied Technology Solutions LLC. Jen and I met when we worked together at the Millennium Challenge Corporation and have stayed connected ever since. You can engage Jen here: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenwagoner/ Website - https://www.appliedtechsolutions.io/ The Geek Within can be found on several podcast platforms - https://www.po...

Today's guest is Janet Stevens. She is the Chief Talent Management Officer in the Office of Management at the Food Safety Inspection Service within the USDA. Janet has had a prolific career at FSIS as an Assistant Administrator for Analysis and risk management, acting Chief Data Officer, as the chief risk officer, and as the Chief Information Officer. You can engage Janet here: LinkedIn - http...

Today's guest is Jessica Price. She is Director of Customer Success at NuAxis Innovations. Jessica is on the Emerging Leaders Board at AFCEA Bethesda and was in the ACT-IAC Voyager class of 2020. It is through ACT-IAC that Jessica and I met. You can engage Jessica here: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicaprice1/ Website - https://nuaxis.com/ The Geek Within can be found on several p...

Today's guest is Richard Harbridge. He is the Chief Technology Officer at 2toLead and he has been a trusted technology advisor for many businesses. Richard is also a Microsoft MVP for Microsoft 365 and a speaker for conferences, webinars, and user groups and all-around knowledgeable individual. You can engage Richard here: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rharbridge/ Website - https://ww...

Today's guest is Keith Atherton. He is a Senior Developer at Quorum, based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Keith is a Microsoft MVP for Business Applications, a published LinkedIn instructor, a Power Apps Community Super User, public speaker, host of the On Air in the Cloud podcast, a blogger, and mentor. Keith has over 20 years of international experience as a developer and architect within the finan...

Today's guest is Tahirah Finley. She is a Program Manager for Capital Planning and Investment at the U.S. Coast Guard. Tahirah and I worked together at the Millennium Challenge Corporation where we got to know each other pretty well. You can engage Tahirah here: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tahirah-finley-35056b97/ The Geek Within can be found on several podcast platforms - https://w...

Today's guest is Sarah Hughes. She is the Manager of Professional Development at the American Council for Technology and Industry Advisory Council, better known as ACT-IAC. Sarah and I work together on the Associates Leadership Development program for early career federal and industry professionals. You can engage Sarah here: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-hughes-2418abb/ The Gee...

Today's guest is Jothi Dugar. She is the Acting Deputy Director at the Center for Information Technology at the National Institutes of Health. Jothi is also a podcast host on the Wellness for Tech show, a Certified Professional Life Coach and wellness coach, a Dance Director/Choreographer/Instructor, she is an author, mom of three and proudly declares herself as The Chaos Guru. You can engage...