Govcon Giants

In this episode of The Daily Windup podcast, I interview a successful entrepreneur about her journey to building her own business. She talks about her experience working in a large company where she was exposed to many different areas of expertise and how this experience gave her the faith she needed to start her own business. However, when she became the president and CEO of her own company, she found herself lacking the resources and support she had been used to.

The entrepreneur explains how she overcame this challenge by seeking out an executive coach and investing in relationships to help her navigate the transition from being a program manager to being a president and CEO. She emphasizes the importance of having a clear vision and being unshakeable in the face of challenges. Tune in to be inspired by this entrepreneur's faith and determination in building a successful business!

In this episode of The Daily Windup podcast, we have a former cybersecurity expert who emphasizes the importance of developing a security plan for businesses, regardless of size or industry. He explains that such a plan is a living document that should grow and evolve as a company expands. They discuss various certifications and plans, including ISO 9,000, CMMC, and ISMS, that a company can consider depending on its needs. The conversation also delves into the administrative processes that are the backbone of a security plan.

This episode serves as a valuable resource for business owners who are starting to think about their security plan and want to understand how to develop it as their business grows. Listen now and learn more!

Ever been burned by finance companies, I know I have. So often as small minority owned businesses we do not get the best rates, offers or just out right get taken advantage of because of what we don't know. Thanks to our new partner, Encore Funding we are now bringing you a trusted source for government contract financing. With more than $500M in funding going to minorities alone in 2024 Encore is here to support your business. Visit encoregov.com for information on how to apply.

At our 2024 GCG Summit in Miami, we had the pleasure of hosting key players from the National Science Foundation, including Anita Perkins and Brittany Eason, who shared invaluable insights into government contracting. During those discussions, a pivotal recommendation surfaced—why not interview OSDBU Director Wonzie Gardner.

Well, today, I'm bringing that conversation straight to you. With over 40 years of experience navigating federal agencies, Wonzie has played a crucial role in ensuring small businesses secure millions in contracts while supporting vital missions like advancing science and innovation.

In this episode, Wonzie dives deep into the strategies that small businesses can use to thrive in federal contracting. We discuss the immense opportunities within the NSF vendor portal, the critical role of subcontracting in scaling a business, and the evolving landscape of small business utilization in government contracts. Whether you're new to government contracting or looking to level up, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you get in the game and stay competitive. Stay tuned and take notes—this is a conversation you won't want to miss!

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wonzie-gardner-b7574810/

Company Linedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-science-foundation/

Website: https://www.nsf.gov/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nsfgov

In this episode of The Daily Windup, we discuss the key components of a successful SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) proposal pitch deck. The importance of including a graphic of your company or logo, providing an overview of your product or service, and showcasing your company's history, expertise, and qualifications are vital. In this episode, we also emphasize the significance of accurately identifying your technology readiness level (TRL) and explaining why your technology is better or different from your competitors.

Tune in now as this episode offers valuable insights for entrepreneurs looking to secure SBIR funding by crafting the perfect pitch deck for their proposal.

In today's episode of The Daily Windup, Eric Coffie interviews an expert who provides insights into the controls that need to be implemented by anybody using containers, such as OpenShift and Kubernetes. Organizations that modernize to the cloud and those running VMs may want to move to a more orchestrated environment using containers. They highlight the need for certain configurations, including agentless implementation and telemetry, for analysts to monitor environments for attacks, power abuses, and traffic.

They also talk how FEMA helps organizations like the National Flood Insurance Program, move from a 5-year-old mainframe to OpenShift three, and soon to OpenShift four. The new technology allows for flood insurance to be issued in real-time, and they have set up an environment that can withstand external risks from the container platform while restricting access from the GetGo. Tune in to listen the importance of having these systems in place for your business!

In this episode of The Daily Wind Up, host Eric Coffie speaks with Nichelle Early, a successful entrepreneur who shares her experience with program management and proposal writing. She explains that while program management professional certification may not be necessary in all situations, it is useful for those managing large projects. She also emphasizes the importance of being a lifelong learner and seizing opportunities to gain new knowledge and skills.

Nichelle also discusses how her faith has been the key attribute contributing to her success in the face of challenges that arise in her career. This episode provides valuable insights into program management and proposal writing, as well as the importance of faith and a willingness to learn in achieving success. Tune in to learn more!

In this episode of The Daily Windup, we have Likia Hawkins talk about her plans for the future and her strategies for growth. She explains that her current focus is on pursuing government contract vehicles, such as GWA contract vehicles, and winning single award contracts to align with their capability as a prime contractor. She also emphasize the importance of talent acquisition and building a dynamic culture that cultivates intellectual and independent thought.

She also discusses their approach to strategic teaming and partnership, highlighting the criteria they use to select partners based on their core capabilities and the agencies they want to compete with. She stresses the importance of creating an environment where both companies thrive and put some skin in the game for the teaming partner. This episode provides valuable insights into strategic teaming and pursuing government contract vehicles, listen now!

In this episode we discuss the keys to successfully winning government contracts. Diane Dempsey, who is an industry expert, emphasizes the importance of thoroughly analyzing requests for proposals (RFPs) and determining whether a company is qualified to bid on a project. She advises listeners to pay attention to past performance and staff composition, as well as ensuring financial viability. She also warns against using overly flowery language and making unsupported claims. Lastly, she gives a great reminder about taking an intentional and strategic approach when pursuing government contracts. Listen now to know more!

In today's episode of The Daily Windup, we talks to Joshua Atkinson about the importance of project management education and certification. He explains that having industry certifications such as a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification can make a veteran more employable when transitioning to civilian life. Additionally, learning about project management can make anyone a better teammate or employee because every project is focused on satisfying customers and improving profitability.

He also explains the differences between PMP, Agile, Scrum, and Lean Six Sigma certifications and how they are all different aspects of project management. We discuss how Lean Six Sigma was the foundation of Toyota's organizational culture and how it applies to project management. Overall, this episode emphasizes the value of project management education and its applicability to many different industries and roles. Want to learn more? Tune in right now.

Today's show was brought to you by our sponsor Encore Funding. Have you or someone you know recently been awarded a government contract and cannot secure funding? Encore Funding has your back, with a recently launched Government division they are funding your receivables so you can just focus on the work. Visit encoregov.com for more information on how to get the money you need to continue growing your business.

In this episode, we dive deep into the SBA Mentor Protégé Program, a transformative initiative for small businesses eager to dominate the federal marketplace. I'm joined by Kanika Perkins, a powerhouse with over 16 years of federal service. As a former contracting officer and now the deputy director of this groundbreaking program, Kanika shares insights into how over 1,900 active agreements are unlocking billions of dollars in opportunities for small businesses nationwide.

Kanika was introduced to me by none other than Jackie Robinson Burnett, another legend on this show. Together, we explore the strategic moves small businesses need to scale—like avoiding costly mistakes, building capacity, and forming the right partnerships. Whether you're trying to turn $200K in revenue into multi-million-dollar contracts or simply understand how to maximize your federal contracting potential, this is a conversation you don't want to miss. Tune in to uncover the secrets to thriving in the federal marketplace!

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaperkins2008/

SBA Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/us-small-business-administration/

Website: https://www.sba.gov/

Email: s[email protected]