Unveiled: GovCon Stories

Breaking into government contracting is a challenge for small businesses, and the Aerospace and Defense sector adds another layer of complexity. In this episode, we provide insights into best practices for small businesses pursuing opportunities in this high-demand industry. Learn how to build relationships with key stakeholders, navigate the government procurement process, manage lengthy timeline...

Imagine this: You’re fresh into government contracting, stepping into a small business as a new managing partner. The stakes are high. Not only are you navigating a whole new market, but you also have the pressure of enabling a company’s growth on your shoulders. Sound overwhelming? You bet! But it’s also where the magic happens. And here’s the exciting part: it’s not just about surviving those ea...

Welcome to Season 4 of Unveiled: GovCon Stories! We’re thrilled to kick off this new season with a powerful reflection on some of the most insightful moments from Season 3. Last season, we delved into government contracting, discussing key strategies for scaling small businesses, the importance of forging strong partnerships with officials, and how staying innovative is critical for long-term succ...

Summer is on its way and that means we are at the end of another season of Unveiled: GovCon Stories. In this episode, we recap the main takeaways of this season’s insightful and informative conversations with our amazing guests. We also answer questions from listeners and share our perspectives on the topics covered this season. In our conversation, we dig into how the leadership styles in the pub...

Many people may not know just how critical an acceptable accounting system is to the success of government contracting small businesses. As Principal CPA at Withum for the Government Contractors Group, Lenee Lyte is the perfect person to explain the role of adequate accounting systems in GovCon small businesses! Joining us as today’s guest, Lenee begins by describing an acceptable accounting syste...

Being your authentic self requires a lot of courage and experience, and in business, it plays a pivotal role in your company's success. Today, we are joined by Desurai Wilson, the President and CEO of Laveer Logix, to discuss the question of conformance or being true to yourself. Listening in, you’ll learn about Desurai’s transition into GovCon, how she stayed true to herself in that process, how...

Micro purchasing is often overlooked but the truth is, it is an incredible opportunity to build a competitive advantage and move up the value chain as an entrepreneur. Today we are joined by retired GOVCON consultant, CEO of THINK Acquisition, and founder of MicroMarket.co, William C. Randolph to discuss how micro purchasing wins builds macro success! Tuning in, you’ll hear about William’s governm...

What is recapitalization? And how does it factor into the growth plans of small business owners and government contractors? Many entrepreneurs reach a certain level of success and then hesitate to undergo an organic scaling process. The dream of a significant exit in government contracting often looms large, but it doesn’t always entail selling the business or stepping away as the founder or CEO....

Small business program offices play a pivotal role in fostering connections with small businesses and maximizing their impact across federal acquisitions. And in this world, policies play second fiddle to the people who are driving them. Today’s episode explores the human side of government contracting. We are thrilled to be joined by the Program Specialist at the Department of Veterans Affairs (V...

Today’s guest is one of those rare individuals who has excelled in leadership positions that include not just public sector government service but the private sector as well. We are joined by Rob Brown, the current Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President of Systalex, a company providing commercial and federal agencies with contemporary solutions. Prior to his roles at Systalex, Rob w...

Are you looking to master the art of the unexpected? Then look no further, as today we dive into proven strategies to help you succeed in ambiguous situations, gain insights into effective communication, and learn how to turn adversity into an advantage. Joining us is Shenell Glover, dynamic leader and CEO of Ambitious Strategies. Shenell has extensive experience in public policy, business develop...

Today on Unveiled: GovCon Stories, we explore the incredible journey of Joseph Lee, a business owner who came from the 9th Ward in New Orleans and navigated through adversity to succeed in government contracting. As the President and CEO of JLGOV LLC, a commercial and government contracting firm specializing in IT and cybersecurity solutions, Joe knows a thing or two about hard work! This remarkab...

Today we are exploring inspiring tales of small businesses navigating the challenging landscape of national security. It’s a game where the stakes are high and the challenges of recruiting are downright daunting, but today’s guest, Katie Helbling, has nailed it down to a science! Katie is the Content Marketing Manager at ClearanceJobs – the largest career network for professionals with federal gov...

In this episode, we welcome back Sokha Kim, the President and Founder of Zen Solutions, to continue the conversation about his company’s resurrection story and unpack how the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) impacted the company’s recovery. Zen Solutions is a leading IT services company specializing in a holistic approach to innovative and precise solutions. Kim is a seasoned professional, boasti...

Welcome back to Unveiled: GovCon Stories, where we unpack the unfiltered narratives and real-life experiences of small businesses navigating the complex landscape of government contracting. In this season's premiere episode, we recap our biggest takeaways from the previous season, highlighting the amazing guests we had on the show and the incredible stories they shared. We talk about why we have c...

Ever notice how time seems to slip away when you're immersed in something extraordinary? Well, I’m glad you are still with us because we've been on an exhilarating journey over the past few months, engaging with incredible guests and grappling with the twists and turns of turbulent economic and political landscapes. As we speed towards the year's finale, the closing act of another season is upon u...

I know you’ve seen it on YouTube or Instagram, read it on LinkedIn, or heard it at one of the small business conferences. You know that GovCon 101 information series about what to do when you find an opportunity that was made just for your business. “Create a custom capability statement” or “write a proposal response”, followed by some generic description of what to do. Or maybe you read or heard...

Amongst small GovCon businesses, a lot of the conversations speak to the concerns of companies who are already situated within the government contracting market. However, what about established new entrants, the micro smalls who are bootstrapping, or companies that have not received that first prime or sub contracts beyond one or two people? As we've discussed on previous podcasts, where do you st...

In this episode we are discussing as a small business how you can not only capture the attention of large business, prime contractors, but ensure you are prepared for what a partnership with a large government contractor requires. Bianca started her career early on as a developer and quickly progressed into program and project management where she found leveraging technical skill sets with the ful...

In this eye-opening episode, we delve into the critical role of legal support in the government contracting (GovCon) landscape. Our special guest, Cherylyn Harley LeBon, a seasoned lawyer and partner at Womble Bond Dickinson, sheds light on the challenges businesses face when lacking access to experienced legal assistance. We explore the profound impact that a deficiency in legal expertise can hav...

In this episode, we have the pleasure of hosting Mr. Ronnie McGhee, the owner and principal of R. McGhee Associates. With over three decades of professional experience in architecture, Mr. McGhee specializes in new construction, rehabilitation of existing buildings, and restoration projects. His extensive portfolio includes notable works like the Washington Harbor and various landmark properties,...

Everyday thousands of companies contemplate or make the decision to pursue opportunities for growth in the U.S. government contracting market. With so many options and opportunities to startup and grow a business...Why GovCon? Today we’re going to hear a new origin story about how one small business founder made the decision to start her business in GovCon, the labyrinth of processes she must navi...

Getting that first award is one of the most exciting opportunities for a small business in government contracting. For new entrants or companies that have been struggling to get their footing in the government contracting and that first opportunity can seem like an almost impossible task. On this episode we discuss a couple of foundational elements, technical credibility and focus on a target mark...

Today’s discussion is on understanding how known and unknown changes can impact your business and how to prepare. "Change is inevitable. Growth is optional." — John Maxwell. There are so many moving parts to navigating government contracting; and sometimes you can't control or anticipate the change. In those cases Ms. Maya Angelou says it best "If you don't like something, change it. If you can't...

If you look at self-help GovCon videos on social media platforms like YouTube and Instagram you see the many “Make Millions in GovCon” ads and videos all the time; and you can make a lot of money; especially through partnering with other companies. However, this commonly used mechanism is not as easily leveraged as it seems. The potential to be rejected is very real. Today we’re going to hear a st...