The Peel

In this episode of The Peel, David Blackburn sits down with Luke Nascimento , the CEO and founder of Arctas, as they dive into a bold new platform purpose-built to help government leaders tackle one of the toughest parts of their job: market research. Only 90 days since launch, Arctas is already reshaping how government and industry connect - offering access to thousands of verified contractor pro...

Just months after

On this episode of The Peel, David Blackburn has a conversation with Arthur Runno , a Navy veteran and 20-year GovCon proposal expert turned tech founder. Arthur is the CEO of Turingon, the company behind Proposal Pilot, an AI-native platform purpose-built for government contractors. Unlike generic tools wrapped around ChatGPT, Proposal Pilot is fine-tuned for federal acquisition regulations, real...

Federal contractors and acquisition pros, get ready. In this episode of The Peel Podcast, Shelley McGuire sits down with Eric Nusbaum, CEO of ENcompass Consulting Group, to break down the historic FAR overhaul—its goals, challenges, and rollout strategy. The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) is undergoing a major rewrite aimed at modernizing and streamlining the federal procurement process. Thi...

In this episode of The Peel, David Blackburn sits down with Courtney Modecki, CEO of 3C Digital Solutions, a woman-owned small business specializing in cloud migration, hosting optimization, and hybrid cloud efficiency. Courtney shares how her experience at major tech companies and federal agencies inspired her to start a niche firm focused on automating and optimizing digital transformation. She...

In this episode of The Peel, Shelley McGuire catches up with Sarah Sanchez , Vice President of Digital Services at RELI Group, to explore how purpose-driven solutions are transforming the federal contracting space. With over 20 years in GovCon and a background in the U.S. Air Force, Sarah brings powerful insights on aligning technology with mission goals, leveraging government data, and the urgent...

In this episode of The Peel, David Blackburn sits down with Katey Grogan , President of K&G Enterprises, a leading a government business development firm that specializes in the United States government procurement process and whose results-oriented team creates federal and state business development programs for companies interested in selling their products and services to government entitie...

In this episode, David Blackburn sits down with Travis Sorensen , CEO, and Rob Wilkinson , CTO of Oddball—the “strangely human” digital agency making major waves in federal IT. Oddball partners with federal agencies like VA, CMS, and others to deliver modern, scalable software solutions that are intuitive, secure, and citizen-focused. Their work helps modernize critical services—from health benefi...

In July 2024, OrangeSlices hosted a Lunch & Learn session. Listen in on this panel as two of the sharpest minds in federal health business development— Nichol Case , CEO of Insight Advisors Federal Consulting, and Matt Smith , President and Owner of Business Acumen Consulting Group—joined me on Orange Slices to break down what it really takes to succeed at CMS. Nichol brings over 25 years of s...

n this episode of The Peel, host Shelley McGuire sits down with Dan Keldsen , Chief Innovation Officer at Infocap AI. From his roots in enterprise IT to revolutionizing call center experiences, Dan brings a refreshing, deeply human take on designing systems that work for the people using them, whether they're customers or employees. Dan shares insights on the power of collaboration, planning for r...

In this episode of the Peel, David Blackburn sits down with seasoned GovCon executive and operations expert Adam McNair to explore how operational adaptability is becoming essential in today’s shifting federal marketplace. The two discuss the increasing value of community among similarly situated businesses, especially for smaller firms seeking peer support and strategic insight. Jason shares why...

In this episode of The Peel,  Shelley McGuire sits down with Leann Adams , Director of Service Delivery at Armavel, for a conversation about people-first leadership in the government contracting space. With a background spanning higher education, events, and program management, Leann shares how Armavel, built remote-first from the start, prioritizes intentional team development, creative hiring pr...

In this episode of The Peel, David Blackburn sits down with Chris Arbore , President of Disruptive Solutions, and JJ Cooney , Vice President, for a conversation about the company's bold new directions. Known for their cybersecurity expertise, Disruptive Solutions is expanding its impact by launching an OEM Solutions division, a move designed to deepen their trusted relationships with clients and b...

This episode of The Peel, Shelley McGuire talks with Eric Nusbaum , CEO and Blake Phillips , COO of ENcompass Consulting Group for a timely and tactical discussion on how federal contractors can survive, and even thrive, amid the ongoing DOGE-driven disruption in the government contracting space. Eric explores how companies can weather the storm, offering practical strategies for cutting costs and...

In this episode of The Peel, David Blackburn chats with Akash Mandavilli , co-founder of GovEagle, an AI-powered proposal platform built for government contractors. GovEagle acts as a force multiplier, integrating with tools like Salesforce and playing well with “best-of-breed” solutions, rather than trying to be everything. Akash highlights common misconceptions around AI, including the idea that...

In July 2024, OrangeSlices hosted a  Lunch & Learn session. Listen in on this panel as three prominent voices in the CMS contracting space - Raghu Akkapeddi , CEO, Index Analytics, Bil Westerfield , President, Magpie Health Analytics, and moderator Robert Hicks , Principal, TransformIT, share their origin stories, hard-won lessons, and the keys to thriving in one of the most competitive federa...

In this episode of  The Peel Podcast Shelley McGuire sits down with Lauren Wingate , VP of Strategic Development & Partnerships at TJFACT. With over 18 years in the government contracting world, Lauren is a powerhouse of positivity and strategy. The two dive into the realities of navigating the ever-evolving federal landscape including high-stakes challenges of capture management, GSA schedule...

In this episode of The Peel, David Blackburn interviews Sukumar Iyer, CEO, Brillient Corporation. He explores his perspective on patience when working with the federal government and the importance of focusing on outcomes. Sukumar also discusses how an entrepreneurial itch led him to launch Brillient, how the company has evolved through seven versions over 19 years, and why continual reinvention i...

In this episode of The Peel, David Blackburn chats with Lucy Martin , Vice President of Growth at PingWind, a fast-growing, service-disabled, veteran-owned small business with a unique name, inspiring mission, and impressive track record. Lucy shares how she transitioned from large firms to helping build PingWind from the ground up—growing the company through smart acquisitions, a rock-solid mento...

In this episode of The Peel, Shelley McGuire is joined by her daughter Sydney, co-hosting for Take Your Child to Work Day, and featured guest Joshua Rosenthal , Director of Growth and Innovation at Cogent People. The conversation weaves through Joshua’s unexpected sailing background and segues into a rich discussion on government contracting. Joshua breaks down how to assess whether to pursue oppo...

In this episode of Orange Slices, host David Blackburn sits down with Richard Jacik , Chief Digital Officer at Brillient, to discuss the reality of AI beyond the hype. With federal agencies racing to implement AI solutions, Richard shares why the current Large Language Model (LLM) frenzy might not be the game-changer it promises to be. From AI’s legal and operational hurdles to its real-world appl...

In this episode of The Peel Podcast, host Shelley McGuire sits down with Patrick Rafferty of RaffertyWeiss Media—an award-winning producer/director with 25+ years in commercial, nonprofit, and government media. Patrick shares incredible behind-the-scenes moments with icons like Quincy Jones, Bobby Knight, and Bill Gates, while also diving deep into the unique challenges and opportunities of produc...

In this episode, David Blackburn sits down with Lisa Wetzel , President & CEO of VIKINT, a woman-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned small business transforming government contracting with scalable digital solutions. Lisa shares insights on how Vikint has positioned itself for growth, the importance of documentation in scaling operations, and its focus on federal and commercial expansion in...

In this episode of The Peel, Shelley McGuire talks with Alex Love , VP of Marketing and Communications at RIVA Solutions, about why marketing is a critical but often overlooked tool in government contracting. Alex shares how strong branding helps businesses stand out, build credibility, and create opportunities. She explains how shifting government priorities impact marketing strategies and why sm...

Listen in as David Blackburn talks with event director Scott Semple about VETS25. Hosted by the National Veteran Small Business Coalition (NVSBC), the conference takes place May 13-16, 2025, in Orlando and is the premier event for businesses navigating the federal marketplace. With 72+ training sessions, 174 exhibit booths, and 2,000 attendees, it offers unmatched opportunities for networking, lea...