Welcome to this M&A focused podcast series, Mastering the Business Exit Journey, featuring Adam McNair. Designed for leaders on both the buy-side and sell-side of government contracting, the series offers real-world insights, strategies, and lessons learned for scaling, selling, or acquiring businesses. Whether you’re just beginning to plan or actively navigating a deal, this series meets you where you are with expert guidance.

The fifth episode in this series features a conversation with David Blackburn and Adam as they dive into one of the least glamorous, but most critical, parts of mergers and acquisitions - compliance. From labor category audits and security clearances to tax exposure, HR policies, and even state-specific benefits laws, Adam shares real-world examples of how overlooked details can derail deals, drain valuation, and rack up legal bills. With practical steps for getting ahead of risks and building trust with buyers, this conversation is a must-listen for leaders preparing to buy, sell, or scale in the GovCon space.

To connect with Adam, visit his LinkedIn page here.

In the third episode of The Real Deal: Winning, Growing, and Exiting in GovCon, Sarah Djamshidi, CEO and Managing Partner of SpeedShift Ventures, and David Blackburn sit down with Gary Daigle from RealmOne to unpack the real playbook behind sustained growth, strategic acquisitions, and seamless integrations in the federal contracting space.

To connect with Gary, follow him on LinkedIn here.

To connect with Sarah, visit her LinkedIn page here.

In this episode of The Peel, Shelley McGuire sits down with Dee Bowden,  author and creator of Collect the Cash, to talk about the often-overlooked world of accounts receivable and government contract closeouts. Dee shares her story of recovering $6 million in 60 days for a small IT firm to building a proven four-step framework that helps small and medium-sized businesses solve cash flow problems, recover outstanding invoices, and preserve client relationships. With humor, relatable stories, and real-world examples, Dee explains why the sale is not complete until the money’s in the bank and how mastering problem-solving, customer service, gratitude, and relationship-building can be the difference between thriving and closing your doors.

Whether you’re in government contracting, managing corporate accounts, or just want to make sure you get paid for your hard work, this episode delivers actionable insights with a dose of personality.

To connect with Dee, follow him on LinkedIn here.

Welcome to this new M&A focused podcast series, Mastering the Business Exit Journey, featuring Adam McNair. Designed for leaders on both the buy-side and sell-side of government contracting, the series offers real-world insights, strategies, and lessons learned for scaling, selling, or acquiring businesses. Whether you’re just beginning to plan or actively navigating a deal, this series meets you where you are with expert guidance.

The fourth episode in this series features a conversation with David Blackburn and Adam to unpack what truly drives value in an acquisition. From the ‘sweet spot’ of delivery maturity to the critical artifacts that prove performance, they explore how leadership structures, resourcing, and customer relationships impact valuation—and why avoiding last-minute ‘coat of paint’ fixes is key. Packed with practical insights, this conversation is a must-listen for any business leader preparing to buy or sell.

To connect with Adam, visit his LinkedIn page here.

In this episode of The Peel, Shelley McGuire sits down with Eric Nusbaum, CEO of ENcompass Consulting Group, to to unpack three of the hottest topics in the GovCon world right now. Eric shares the latest timelines and urgency behind CMMC—why October 2025 could be a game-changing deadline for defense contractors.

He then dives into MDA Shield, a $151 billion, 10-year IDIQ born from the President’s Golden Dome initiative, with an unusually low barrier to entry.

Finally, they discuss the upcoming on-ramping and new domain opportunities for OASIS+, why fall 2025 could be a pivotal time to prepare, and how companies can position themselves to win. Whether you’re a seasoned contractor or looking to pivot into new federal opportunities, this conversation provides insider insights, practical timelines, and clear next steps you can take now.

To connect with Eric, visit him on LinkedIn here.

Welcome to this new M&A focused podcast series, Mastering the Business Exit Journey, featuring Adam McNair. Designed for leaders on both the buy-side and sell-side of government contracting, the series offers real-world insights, strategies, and lessons learned for scaling, selling, or acquiring businesses. Whether you’re just beginning to plan or actively navigating a deal, this series meets you where you are with expert guidance.

Thinking about selling your company or growing through acquisition? This third episode lays the groundwork for presenting your business effectively during a transaction.

David Blackburn sits down with GovCon expert Adam McNair to unpack what matters to buyers—beyond just financials. They explore how to confidently present your pipeline, articulate your value in partnerships, and show maturity in operations that build trust with investors.

Whether you're preparing to exit or simply leveling up your business, this is the kind of strategic insight you can’t afford to miss.

To connect with Adam, visit his LinkedIn page here. 

In this episode of The Peel, Shelley McGuire sits down with Todd Margules, Senior VP and Chief Growth Officer at IntelliDyne, a company delivering cutting-edge IT services and solutions to the federal government. With over 20 years of cross-industry leadership, Todd is a client-focused growth strategist, mentor, and team builder, leading the charge in securing new business and ensuring excellence in service delivery.

Todd shares his deep insights into the evolving world of government contracting, from the shift between performance-based and solution-based service models to the increasing demand for innovation and value beyond “butts in seats.” He also unpacks IntelliDyne’s strategic approach to positioning in a competitive market, the importance of partnerships, and how the company is reinventing itself to meet customer needs with advanced tools, agile delivery, and mission-driven service.

Whether you’re a GovCon executive, small business owner, or aspiring BD leader, Todd’s perspective offers both practical takeaways and high-level industry foresight.

To connect with Todd, follow him on LinkedIn here.

In the second episode of The Real Deal, Sarah Djamshidi, CEO and Managing Partner of SpeedShift Ventures, and David Blackburn have a conversation with Gautam Ijoor, CEO of Alpha Omega, to uncover the strategic blueprint behind the company's meteoric rise—from a startup to a $226M powerhouse in less than nine years. Gautam shares the internal building blocks that made Alpha Omega’s growth sustainable, including redefining company values, getting the right people in the right roles, and leading with a passionate "why." He dives into how visionary planning, both for the present and the future, fuels enterprise value, drives culture, and prepares the business for bold moves like acquisitions and private equity partnerships.

With candid insights on market headwinds, strategic M&A, and how CEOs can (and should) be ambassadors for their company’s mission, this conversation is a masterclass in long-term thinking and intentional leadership in the federal contracting space.

To connect with Gautam, follow him on LinkedIn here.

In this episode of The Peel, host Shelly McGuire sits down with Omari Teel, Vice President of Public Sector at Publicis Sapient, a digital consulting powerhouse known for driving transformative change in both government and commercial sectors.

Omari leads a team that helps federal agencies tackle big, complex challenges, from modernizing legacy systems to enhancing public service delivery through human-centered design. His approach to customer experience (CX) is deeply rooted in data, community engagement, and outcomes, not just aesthetics. Under his leadership, Publicis Sapient has delivered impactful work across agencies like HRSA and USDA, improving equity in rural healthcare and driving policy-informed CX strategies at scale.

With a background that bridges the best of both commercial and federal practices, Omari is championing agile, fail-fast, and feedback-driven CX frameworks that lead to measurable impact, not just flashy interfaces. He emphasizes how real CX is about creating services that work efficiently, reflect real community needs, and evolve with continuous input, not just look good on the surface.

From building digital journeys that help rural doctors stay in underserved areas, to integrating commercial insights that actually resonate with federal users, Omari and his team are proving that CX done right can drive operational efficiency, equity, and satisfaction—all while reducing friction across government services.

To connect with Omari, follow him on LinkedIn here.

Welcome to this new M&A focused podcast series, Mastering the Business Exit Journey featuring Adam McNair. Designed for leaders on both the buy-side and sell-side of government contracting, the series offers real-world insights, strategies, and lessons learned for scaling, selling, or acquiring businesses. Whether you’re just beginning to plan or actively navigating a deal, this series meets you where you are with expert guidance.

In this second episode of Mastering the Business Exit Journey, host David Blackburn sits down with GovCon veteran ⁠Adam McNair⁠ to discuss the topic of Your Identity – How do you explain the value of your organization as a purchase? They unpack what really matters when preparing your company for growth, acquisition, or exit. From crafting your company story to understanding buyer profiles and valuation drivers, Adam shares decades of experience navigating both buy-side and sell-side transactions.

If you’re thinking about selling—or simply want to build a more valuable company—this episode should be a key part of your roadmap.

To connect with Adam, visit his LinkedIn page here.