Government Coins

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Kourey is a seasoned professional, distinguished by her passion for creating opportunities and fostering inclusion in procurement and supply management. She currently serves as the manager of the Office of Supplier Diversity at the City of St. Petersburg, where she leads a dynamic team of professionals and where she is championing change in procurement processes and policies centered around workforce development, wages, and small and diverse business communities. Armed with a background in interdisciplinary studies and law, she possesses a distinctive perspective that fuels her prowess in process implementation, program development, and compliance. Throughout her career, Kourey has been an advocate for enhancing opportunities and fostering an environment where small and diverse businesses are equipped to succeed. Her approach is characterized by a commitment to seeing the bigger picture, considering multiple perspectives, and pinpointing opportunities for improvement in processes and policies. Kourey is an advocate for diversity, actively engaging in outreach efforts, industry events, and conferences to amplify the importance of supplier diversity. Learn more about the City of St. Petersburg, FL and the work they do: https://www.stpete.org/ Office of Supplier Diversity https://www.stpete.org/business/procurement/supplier_diversity.php https://www.stpete.org/business/index.php https://www.stpete.org/business/small_business_assistance/index.php https://www.stpete.org/business/procurement/index.php https://www.usf.edu/business-finance/purchasing/doing-business-with-usf/index.aspx

Join us this Thursday featuring Jessica Gaskins, a seasoned professional supporting the SBA Office of Government Contracting Area III in Atlanta, GA. With extensive experience as a Procurement Center Representative (PCR), Jessica's journey began in 2009 with the Army Contracting Command before transitioning to SBA in 2019. She has demonstrated versatility, having served as a PCR and later as a Size Specialist. Jessica briefly explored a role as a Contracting Officer Representative at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, showcasing her international experience before returning to SBA in 2023. Her academic qualifications include a bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University and a master’s degree from Norfolk State University. Notably, Jessica is certified in FAC-C Professional and FAC-COR, underlining her expertise in the field. Tune in to learn from Jessica's rich professional journey and insights into government contracting. Doing Business with SBA Area III https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/counseling-help/contracting-area-directors

Join us in this insightful interview with E. Darlene Bullock, Director of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU). With over 27 years of experience in procurement, federal assistance, and acquisitions management, Ms. Bullock brings a wealth of expertise to her role. Prior to her current position, Ms. Bullock served as a Division Director and Contracting Officer in the DHS Office of Procurement Operations (OPO), overseeing billions of dollars in procurement annually. Notably, she led the award process for the first DHS-wide Program Management, Administrative, Clerical, and Technical Services (PACTS) Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contracts, valued at $1.5 billion and set aside for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs). Ms. Bullock's distinguished career includes leadership positions at various Federal and local agencies, including the U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Department of Commerce, and the District of Columbia Government. She began her acquisition career with the U.S. Army and is a Certified Federal Contract Manager (CFCM) with the National Contract Management Association (NCMA). Don't miss this opportunity to learn from Ms. Bullock's insights and experiences in fostering small and disadvantaged businesses within the DHS procurement landscape. Subscribe now for more updates and interviews with industry leaders. Doing Business with DHS https://www.dhs.gov/topics/do-business-dhs Business Opportunities at DHS https://www.dhs.gov/business-opportunities For questions: dhsosdbu@hq.dhs.gov

Welcome to Government Coins podcast, the podcast designed to dismantle entry barriers by educating the small business community and providing them with more insight on how to navigate the government contracting landscape. In this episode, we will delve into the initiatives driving inclusion and opportunity within the Dallas Independent School District (DISD) through its Minority/Women Business Enterprise (M/WBE) Program. Join us as we explore how DISD is fostering an environment where diversity isn't just celebrated but actively cultivated in its contracting and purchasing endeavors. We'll highlight the various facets of DISD's M/WBE Program, from providing equal opportunities for participation to monitoring contract compliance and promoting networking and outreach initiatives. Whether you're a vendor looking to engage with DISD, a community member interested in economic empowerment, or simply passionate about fostering diversity and inclusion, this podcast offers valuable insights and inspiration. Join us as we champion diversity and equity within the Dallas ISD and beyond. Learn more about Dallas Independent School District and the work they do: https://www.dallasisd.org/Page/52108

Dwan Courtney is the Director of UF Small Business & Supplier Diversity (SBSD), which promotes and facilitates the use of small and diverse businesses by UF departments and academic units. Through collaborative relationships with the campus, the local community, agencies, and business leaders, she develops programs and services aimed at encouraging and supporting small business participation in university procurement opportunities. Prior to returning to the institution, Dwan was the Small Business Program Coordinator at the City of Gainesville. Proceeding this position, Dwan was the Marketing and Communications Specialist in Small Business & Vendor Diversity Relations, in which she was instrumental in administering many of the department’s outreach events, including the UF Mentor Protégé Program, monthly business development workshops, and the annual vendor fair. Dwan loves what she does because she believes in the mission. https://www.ufl.edu/

In this episode meet Dr. PJ – Porscha Jackson, PhD – a powerhouse in Houston’s small business ecosystem! As the Business Development Manager at the City of Houston Office of Business Opportunity (OBO), she's not just managing programs; she's the secret sauce for small businesses hungry for success. Picture her as a go-to mentor, helping entrepreneurs navigate the business labyrinth and representing OBO with flair at community events. Beyond her city role, Dr. PJ is an author, penning "Pursuing Legacy" and contributing her brilliance to academic texts and anthologies. With a heart for the underdog, she's not just a professional rockstar but a community champion, fighting for inclusivity and brighter futures. Learn more about the City of Houston, TX, and the work they do: https://www.houstontx.gov/

Michele Torres is the Business Inclusion Manager for the Charlotte Business Inclusion Office, City of Charlotte. Michele provides operational leadership to the Office of CBI, inclusive of office management, budget operations, coordinating outreach events, and serving internal and external committees. In addition, Michele is tasked with planning and coordinating programs and activities overseeing development, compliance, and reporting. Before entering her current role, Michele was the Business Diversity Programs Manager, and later, Office of Civil Rights Manager at Charlotte Douglas International Airport for seven years. In her role at the Airport, Michele was responsible for administering the Charlotte Business Inclusion (CBI), Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE), Limited English Proficiency, Davis Bacon Act, and the ADA Programs. In her role, she sat on various boards including the Airports Council International Business Diversity Steering Group, where she represented large hub airports in the United States and Canada in the area of business diversity, equity, and inclusion. Michele also currently serves as the chair of an Airport Cooperative Research Program panel dedicated to increasing minority and women-owned business participation at airports. Michele moved to the Charlotte area from New Jersey almost 9 years ago. She has a Bachelor’s degree from Montclair State University and a Master’s degree from the University of Phoenix. Learn more about the City of Charlotte, NC, and the work they do: https://www.charlottenc.gov/Home

Shemeka Davis is an MWBE Analyst in transition to become the MWBE Officer for the City of Rochester effective January 15th, 2023. As the MWBE Analyst supporting the MWBE Officer, Shemeka processes the MWBE plans for public works construction, professional services, as well as commodities goods and services. Shemeka gathers and reports all MWBE participation for the City of Rochester. To maintain meeting the MWBE goals, Shemeka's work provides technical assistance to certified MWBE firms to ensure equitable access to contracting opportunities. Business owner who wish to apply for the MWBE certification can contact Shemeka to receive assistance.

Shemeka also provides training workshops on how to do business with the City of Rochester.

Shemeka has a Bachelor of Science in Urban Planning from Alabama A & M University. Her urban planning background, skills, and experience have been utilized throughout her tenure at the City of Rochester many projects and programs are implemented and are still used today. Prior to working with the City of Rochester, Shemeka managed a computer and electronic repair facility for over a decade. It is those entrepreneurial skills and experience that provide understanding to the constituents she serves every day.

Outside of the City of Rochester, Shemeka is active in the community as a member of Mount Vernon Baptist Church, Shemeka helps support the needs of women as a board member of the non-profit Dress For Success and also volunteers for a non-profit that supports families affected by the criminal justice system. Shemeka is a mother to an eight-year-old daughter and enjoys all things nature-related including gardening. Learn more about the City of Rochester, NY, and the work they do: https://www.cityofrochester.gov/

Sylvia Warren, a native Floridian, is a graduate of St. John’s River State College where she received a degree in Business Administration and Management, Santa Fe College where she received a BAS Degree in Organizational Management, and Saint Leo University where she received her MBA. She is also currently a 2023 doctoral candidate.

She began her career in the Finance industry, where she gained over nine years of experience. For several years, she served in a supervisory capacity. Sylvia Warren has been employed with the City of Gainesville, Office of Equity & Inclusion, since 2011, where she serves as the Equal Opportunity Manager. She oversees the small business procurement program and affirmative action programs. Some of her responsibilities include conducting independent research, studies, and surveys while making recommendations to the EO Director based on developments in these various areas. She also monitors all hires, transfers, demotions, promotions, and terminations for compliance with equal opportunity laws, policies, procedures, guidelines, and related matters. She is enthusiastic about serving her community and has worked with the City of Gainesville for approximately 12 years, performing equal-opportunity work. These experiences have cultivated in her a desire to work to promote equity in the workplace and the community at large. Learn more about the City of Gainesville, FL, and the work they do: https://www.gainesvillefl.gov/Home

Adrina Gibson joined the City and County of Denver’s Denver Economic Development and Opportunity (DEDO) in 2019 serving as the Chief Officer of the Division of Small Business Opportunity (DSBO). In this role, she leads DSBO’s key program areas: Certification, Business Utilization, Contract Compliance, Forensic/Investigation, Strategic Development, and Community Engagement/Outreach programs. Fostering a more equitable playing field on public contracts, DSBO encourages and advocates for the utilization of small and disadvantaged businesses on construction projects, professional services projects, and for the procurement of goods and services, as well as local concessionaire opportunities. Gibson leads a dynamic and passionate team that supports the growth, capacity, and sustainability of small, disadvantaged, minority, and women-owned businesses. Most notably, under Gibson’s leadership, DSBO: • Received a unanimous vote from Denver City Council to reauthorize the revised DSBO Ordinance; this law prevents discrimination, maximizes opportunities, and builds equity for small, disadvantaged, minority, and women-owned businesses • Adopted Rules and Regulations of the programs it oversees as additional guidance of the DSBO Ordinance • Implemented and administered the Citywide Mentor Protégé Program and Bridging the Gap to provide strategic development to small businesses • Oversees compliance oversight of nearly $100 million worth of city contracts that are awarded annually to certified small, disadvantaged, minority, and women-owned businesses. • Facilitates the convening of city agency executive leadership and the Mayor’s Office through the Business Equity Leadership Team (BELT) to operationalize key priorities of the small business community. Prior to joining the City and County of Denver, Gibson worked at the Regional Transportation District (RTD) as the Manager of the Small Business Office, whereby she devoted her leadership to economic development, civil rights, community activism, and capacity growth of small and disadvantaged businesses. After starting out as an intern, she served 12 years in a variety of positions within the Small Business Office of RTD’s Civil Rights Division, as a manager, consultant, and DBE/SBE project manager. As a Denver native, she is dedicated to the community she serves. Gibson’s passion for her community began early in life while in high school she interned several summers at the Metro Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC), while in college conducted research and civic engagement projects on social constructs affecting women and minorities and today volunteers assist underserved communities. Learn more about the City & County of Denver, CO, and the work they do:

https://www.denvergov.org/Business

Sky Williams, Diversity and Inclusion Manager Sky is a seasoned expert with over two decades of experience in municipal government. She's not your average professional; Sky is a visionary leader and change catalyst, known for her exceptional skills and dedication to fostering equity and diversity. Sky's journey is marked by a strong educational foundation, holding a Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resources Management and an Associate of Arts in Business Administration. Her technical prowess is unmatched, encompassing a wide range of tools, including Excel, Hyperion, and IBM Blueworks. Sky excels in data analysis, project management, and program design, demonstrating her versatility in tackling complex challenges. In her role as Senior Management Analyst at the City of Fort Worth Water Utility, Sky led transformative initiatives, such as the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) workflow mapping, showcasing her ability to find innovative solutions. Sky is not just a data-driven analyst; she's also a people-focused leader. Her role as Administrative Services Coordinator saw her driving organizational culture change and policy standardization. She excels in talent management, performance evaluations, and employee engagement. Recently, Sky embarked on a new challenge within the Diversity and Inclusion Department, where she leads efforts to address race, equity, and diversity. Her mission is to align diversity and inclusion efforts across the organization, making Fort Worth a more inclusive city for all. Sky's accomplishments are too numerous to list exhaustively, but one thing is clear: she is a force to be reckoned with. Get ready to be inspired as she takes the stage to share her remarkable journey and dedication to a brighter, more inclusive future. Sky represents limitless possibilities and an unwavering commitment to positive change.

Christina Brooks, City of Fort Worth Chief Equity Officer

Christina is a results-driven equity, diversity, access, and inclusion professional with twenty years of experience working with underrepresented populations. As the City of Fort Worth's first Chief Equity Officer and Director of Diversity and Inclusion Department, she is responsible for the enforcement of the City’s Non-Discrimination Ordinance for Fair Housing, Fair Employment, Public Accommodations, ADA and Title VI, and the Business Equity Ordinance for equitable access in City contracting and procurement and capacity building of underrepresented businesses. The newly created Department of Diversity and Inclusion supports several City Boards, Commissions, and Advisory groups including the Fort Worth Human Relations Commission, the Business Equity Advisory Board, the Mayor’s Committee on Persons with Disabilities, and the City Diversity and Inclusion Committee for Staff. Before joining the City of Fort Worth, she served in the City of South Bend's Mayor’s Office as the first Diversity and Inclusion Officer for the City under Mayor Pete Buttigieg. Christina holds a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University at South Bend with concentrations in Political Science and History and a Master’s in Non-Profit Administration from the University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business. Christina also holds a Master Compliance Administrator certification and holds Municipal Emergency Management Institute certifications from FEMA. Christina and husband Reggie have been married for over 29 years and together have 5 children. Christina was instrumental in facilitating the CDFI Friendly development process in both South Bend and Fort Worth. Learn more about the City of Fort Worth and the work they do: https://www.fortworthtexas.gov/Home

In this week's episode, we will be guested by Kevin Jennings, founder and CEO of Government Cheese. Kevin Jennings embodies resilience and determination. After facing a complete loss in the 2008 crash, he fought back, carving a niche in real estate and construction, and generating over $350 million in revenue. His tenacity led him to secure significant government contracts and a 10-year Super Bowl deal, with his achievements spotlighted by Rolling Stones Magazine. In 2017, Kevin sold one of his companies to a private equity firm. There, he masterminded acquisitions and mergers exceeding $100 million. Kevin’s story is a compelling testament to the power of perseverance and the ability to turn setbacks into monumental successes.

Learn more about the Government Cheese and the work they do: https://thegovernmentcheese.org/

You can follow Kevin Jennings on his social media platforms:

https://www.instagram.com/gov_cheese/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-jennings-b59727122/

https://www.facebook.com/govcongreats

Bogdan Avasiloae is a Purchasing Manager at the City of Deerfield-beach Florida. He is working with and under the direction of the Chief Financial Officer, this position is responsible for highly specialized, professional administrative and supervisory work to oversee and unify the City's purchasing and contract administration functions; serves as the City's central point of contact regarding the purchase of contracts for commodities, goods, and services for the City departments and outside agencies; responsible to monitor and ensure the City's consistency and legal compliance with procurement policies, procedures and methods, and requirements of federal, state, and local laws. Bogdan manages and supervises the procurement of commodities and services used by the City using direct purchase, formal and informal quotes, and various methods of formal competitive solicitations, sole source, or other acceptable methods of acquisition. He ensures compliance with applicable guidelines, regulations, laws, and ordinances established by the City or other outside agencies. He also prepares and submits Commission agenda items to department directors and/or the City Manager related contract awards and other procurement-related items. Bogdan negotiates and confers with vendors on terms, conditions, and pricing; analyzes bid and proposal responses for responsiveness. He serves as a consultant to departments for the sourcing of the acquisition of commodities, services, construction, and professional services including CCNA. He maintains accurate records related to the procurement of goods and services in compliance with Florida's Public Records law.

Mr Avasiloae acts, or delegates, as the City's representative for various procurement organizations including the Southeast Florida Governmental Purchasing Cooperative Group, and the National and Southeast Florida Chapter of NIGP. And abides by the NIGP Code of Ethics. Learn more about the City of Deerfield-beach and the work they do: https://www.deerfield-beach.com/

Charles Spencer is the Procurement Director for the City of Plantation. He has been working in the Public Procurement/Purchasing profession for the past twenty-three (23) years. He is a Florida Certified Contract Manager and a Florida Certified Contract Negotiator, Certified Public Procurement Associate, and a Certified Public Procurement Professional. Charles Spencer is an active member of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP), the Southeast Florida Chapter of NIGP, and the Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials (FAPPO). He holds numerous certificates relating to the Procurement profession and is always actively seeking to broaden his knowledge by continuing his education through continuing education courses and seminars. A few of Charles Spencer’s notable achievements: He wrote the City of Plantation’s first Procurement manual, and he started an annual education session for staff concerning procurement/purchasing to ensure all rules were being followed and to maximize competition. Charles Spencer also streamlined the procurement processes, and successful transition a

Procurement Division to a Procurement Department. He has a passion for Procurement and believes that the process and outcome should end as a “win/win” for both parties and tries to obtain this goal within the State, County, and Local Laws. Learn more about the City of Plantation and the work they do: https://www.plantation.org/

Mr. Marcos possesses close to 30 years of public procurement professional experience, with 25 years at the executive/managerial level. He is known to be a transformational organizational leader, a subject matter expert in his profession, and recognized for his leadership in attaining organizational excellence in procurement. Throughout his career, he has implemented new technologies and software programs; re-engineered business practices; mentored employees and changed the organizational culture by encouraging employees to be innovators and forward-thinking; drafted laws, policies, and procedures all in an effort to achieve best practices and high performance in the various organizations he has worked for.

Mr. Glenn Marcos is the Chief Procurement Officer/Assistant Finance Director for the City of Fort Lauderdale. Before serving in his current capacity, he was the former Assistant Director of Purchasing for Broward County; Assistant Director and Director of Purchasing for the City of Miami; and Assistant Director of Purchasing for the City of Coral Gables. Some of Mr. Marcos's career highlights include forming the Lauderhill Police Department in 1994 and both the City of Aventura and the Aventura Police Department in 1996. He also assisted in drafting the City of Miami’s current Procurement Law and authored the City of Coral Gables’ first Procurement Law. Mr. Marcos has also been involved in successfully implementing an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Financial Integrated system at the City of Miami, City of Aventura, Broward County, and Fort Lauderdale.

He has served as an expert witness and testified in legal matters of dispute and controversy in Court, interrogatories, and depositions. He also has been a speaker, moderator, and presenter for national, regional, state, and local public sector professional associations and chapters. Under his leadership, guidance, and stewardship his various procurement organizations have been recognized and bestowed with over 25 major awards for optimizing procurement practices, technology, professionalism, and efficiency.

Mr. Marcos holds a Master’s in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Science with a Degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Mass Communication from Florida International University. He also attended law school at Nova Southeastern. He is currently nationally certified as a Certified Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO) and Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB), and state certified as a Florida Certified Purchasing Manager (FCPM) and Florida Purchasing Agent (FCPA).

https://www.fortlauderdale.gov/

Sandra Hammerstein is the SBE M/WBE Programs Compliance Officer for the City of West Palm Beach. She is an accomplished professional with over 20 years of experience in the communications and procurement fields. Hammerstein has had extensive experience in community outreach and education, public relations, and communication strategies to reach diverse audiences.

Learn more about the City of West Palm Beach and the work they do:

https://www.wpb.org/

Natalie Richmond Assistant Director of Procurement Learn more about the City of Miramar and the work they do: https://www.miramarfl.gov/

Colette Holt represents public agencies and private firms on issues related to civil rights, public contracting, and affirmative action. She has broad experience in conducting defensible disparity studies, expert witness consulting and testimony, drafting legislation and policies, designing programs, managing initiatives, defending affirmative action programs, and counseling private firms on compliance with diversity requirements. Ms. Holt serves as General Counsel to the American Contract Compliance Association and is an author and frequent media commentator on these issues. Ms. Holt received her B.A. in Philosophy from Yale University and her J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School. She was a Law Clerk to the former Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Prior to developing her own practice, she was associated with a large law firm, Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago, and Chief Operating Officer of the Chicago Park District. She is a former Adjunct Professor at Loyola University School of Law and the John Marshall Law School. Learn more about Colette Holt & Associates and the work they do: http://www.mwbelaw.com/

Dr. Kizzy M. Parks is the President of GovCon WinnersTM As a kid, she cleaned golf balls located in an alley behind her friend's house and them through a fence to golfers. She used the money to buy FUNYUNS® and Nutty Bars. Today, she owns and operates multiple businesses and has over $60 million in federal government contract awards. She’s been featured in Entrepreneur® Magazine has a successful YouTube Channel and served on the National Guard (NG) Joint Diversity Executive Council (JDEC). Through GovCon WinnersTM her coaching clients have won over $3 million in federal government contracts in less than 6 months. Follow Dr. Kizzy Parks on IG for all tips and gems about her experience in #GovCon: https://www.instagram.com/kizzymparks/ Learn more about GovCon Winners and the work they do: https://www.govconwinners.com/

Km! Ra was born in Jamaica. Previously he worked with the State Department, Immigration and naturalization service, the Department of Homeland Security, and Miami-Dade County. And currently the Purchasing & Contracts Director at the City of Palm Beach Gardens since 2012. Km! enjoys playing classical piano, among other things.

Learn more about the City of Palm Beach Gardens and the work they do:

https://www.pbgfl.com/

“Everything I do is in service of others. Every single thing I do, I was born to do.”  Danie Spikes is a certified professional relationship coach, public speaker, and award-winning businesswoman. As CEO of Beloved Inc., Danie approaches every business and project as an opportunity to fulfill the basic needs and desires most humans share: self-love, fulfilling relationships, confidence, and healing.  This approach has led her to create a number of businesses. BeLoved Box, a fragrance house and body care brand she leads with her husband, Stephen, started with an all-natural home remedy for his eczema, and can now be found in hotels around the world. Luv and Lavender began as a birthday celebration and has grown into a one-day retreat for women who may not have a whole week to take a vacation but still need to carve out time for self-care. As CEO of a thriving beauty brand, Danie created Hello Beauty to bring together a community of other women in the industry, especially those early in their journeys, to support, encourage, and learn from one another.  Learn more about Danie Spikes and the work they do:

https://www.iamdanispikes.com/

https://belovedbox.com/

Follow Danie on IG accounts:

https://www.instagram.com/lovecoachdanispikes/

https://www.instagram.com/belovedbox/

https://www.instagram.com/hellobeauteorg/

Dr. Lauren Josephs is a Social/Behavioral Scientist and is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Visionary Vanguard Group, Inc. –a consulting firm which uses research, evaluation, training & technical assistance to help organizations eliminate disparities and achieve equitable outcomes. Her work has been done on the national level for both private corporations and governmental entities. In previous roles, she was a Health Disparities Researcher at the Center for Health Futures at Florida Hospital (now AdventHealth) where she was responsible for research, and evaluation of culturally appropriate community initiatives designed to improve the health of underserved, underinsured, and minority populations. Dr. Josephs started her career as a Mental Health A counselor working with juvenile-justice-involved youth. She has been a Florida-licensed psychotherapist, and a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) for over two decades. Dr. Josephs has worked collaboratively to address health and healthcare disparities, gender inequities, childhood trauma, as well as other issues impacting minority and under-resourced communities. Her work has been presented at the International Family Violence and Child Victimization Research Conference, the International Conference on Communication in Healthcare, the Florida Health Disparities Conference, the National Youth at Risk Conference, Georgetown Institutes, Baylor University, and numerous others. Dr. Josephs obtained master’s and Specialist Degrees in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Florida (UF). She earned a Ph.D. in Public Affairs, an interdisciplinary program drawing from the fields of public administration, social work, health management & research, criminal justice, governance, and public policy, from the University of Central Florida (UCF). She is currently a member of the Collaborative Community Council, a subcommittee of the AdventHealth Orlando Board of Trustees. She also serves on the boards of Embrace Families Solutions, and Passionate Heart Ministries. She previously served on the executive committee of the boards of Healthy Start Coalition of Orange County, Central Florida Partnership on Health Disparities, and Community Health Centers. Dr. Josephs has received several awards for her work including the Orange County Public Health Equity Heroes Award from the Florida Department of Health in Orange County, in 2016 and the Outstanding Alumni Award from the Doctoral Program in Public Affairs at UCF, in 2017. She was born on the island of Jamaica and currently resides in Orlando, FL.

Follow Dr. Lauren Josephs on IG for all tips and gems about her experience in #GovCon:

https://www.instagram.com/drlaurenjosephs/

Learn more about VV Group Inc and the work they do:

vvgroup.net

Althea A. Harris has been helping businesses her entire federal career which began in 1993 at the U.S. Department of Commerce with the late Secretary Ronald H. Brown; there, she traveled worldwide in support of small and medium-sized exporters. 

Then she helped small business owners compete for federal contracts while at the U.S. General Services Administration in the Office of Enterprise  Development. Having held several positions within the SBA office in Miami since 1999, Althea now serves as the Deputy District Director overseeing a staff that implements SBA’s mission throughout the District’s 24-county territory and advocating on behalf of the estimated 2 million+ small business owners. She is responsible for the daily operation of the District Office in Miami and the Alternate Work Site in Tampa, Florida. Althea is also the Faith- & Community-Based Initiative Coordinator for the office.  

A graduate of Howard University and the University of Miami School of Law, Althea is also active in her community. She currently shares her time and talents as the Board Chairman of Greater Miami Youth for Christ and Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Christ Journey Church in Coral Gables.  A Washington, D.C. native, Althea shares her life and love with her husband, their four wonderful children, and their Rhodesian Ridgeback.  

Learn more about SBA and the work they do:  https://www.sba.gov/district/south-florida  

Email: althea.harris@sba.gov

Mrs. Dudly Etienne-Harvard is the President of Dudly’s Professional Services (DPS). DPS is a certified small and woman-owned business within the tri-county areas in South Florida and Atlanta, GA. Mrs. Etienne-Harvard has been providing Community Engagement, Project Control, Technical Services, and Project Administrative and Small Business Support within the construction industry since 2010. Mrs. Etienne-Harvard's expertise spans both individuals as well as organizations. Mrs. Etienne-Harvard earned her B.A. in Construction Engineering Technology from Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU) in Tallahassee, Florida. Prior to starting her business, Mrs. Etienne-Harvard held several positions in Commercial Construction with an emphasis on Education, Parks & Recreation, Hospitality, Health Care Facilities, and much more. Dudly had service contracts ranging from $1.5 million to $75 million; projects include the Broward County Convention Center & Hotel Center, City of Pompano Beach Surtax Dixie Highway, Café 601 Renovation, American Airline Arenas Capital Improvement Projects, Paramount World Center, Coconut Grove Elementary School, Kenwood K-8 Center, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Cooper High School and more.  

Mrs. Etienne-Harvard takes pride in ensuring her clients are knowledgeable on the impact of hiring small businesses on profitable projects and engaging with the community when potential job opportunities arise within their projects. Mrs. Etienne-Harvard believes small businesses and working citizens are the force behind a successful economy. Once an opportunity is given, it will allow that firm or individual to strive further than they can imagine.  Mrs. Etienne-Harvard's love for small businesses extends beyond construction. Mrs. Etienne- Harvard purchased a commercial location in the city of North Miami, Florida. There she provides intimate spaces for micro and small business owners. Most small business owners meet clients at their local coffee shops. At our CoSpace location, you can bring your client and team members to a location that is professional, personal, and localized. Venture into our website for more information or let’s customize a package for you. We will be more than glad to serve you.  

Currently, Mrs. Etienne-Harvard is the Co-Chair on the Construction Committee for the Miami Dade County Chamber of Commerce, a member of the CBT College Advisory Committee Board (Miami Garden Campus), the City of Fort Lauderdale Economic Development Advisory Board, and the Advisory Board for Florida A& M University Construction Engineering Technology Program. Mrs. Etienne-Harvard was a part of the Marketing board with NAWIC (National Association of Women in Construction). Also, Mrs. Etienne-Harvard was Co-Chair of the Marketing committee for the South Florida National Association of Black Women in Construction (NABWIC). During her time with NABWIC, she helped facilitate and organize the first Industry Day Program at Cardozo High School in Washington, D.C. Industry Day helped educate the youth on the various occupations within the Architecture, Aviation, Construction, and Engineering industry. Since the launch of the program, NABWIC frequently conducts Industry Day programs in Washington, D.C., and South Florida.   

Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZG8b3wnNh9XYWQZV2KR0aw/join

Ms. Tisha Blue-Warren is currently the Industry Liaison for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Procurement Operations (OPO). Her role as the Industry Liaison is to interface with the industry, to the maximum extent practicable, to increase awareness of OPO initiatives and priorities and to provide insight on how to do business with DHS.   

By trade, Tisha is a seasoned acquisition professional, a contracting officer with over 20 years of experience, and over 10 years of leading people, leading change with a results-driven approach to government contracting and procurement. Previously, she served as an Associate Director for OPO Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Acquisition Division (CWMDAD) where she provided customer support to CWMD Systems Support Division (SSD) and served as the principal business advisor providing oversight for all SSD acquisition program procurements from the cradle to the grave for Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) detection devices, Minor Construction, Architect-Engineer, Inter/Intra Agency Agreements (IAAs) and Advisory & Assistance Services (A& AS) contracts.   

Tisha obtained her B.S. in Political Science from Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, NC, and her M.A. degree in Computer Resources Information Management from Webster University, St. Louis, MO. She is also an active member of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. Sorority.  

Learn more about DHS-OPO and the work they do:  https://www.dhs.gov/office-chief-procurement-officer 

Email: OPOIndustryLiaison@hq.dhs.gov  

DHSOSDBU@hq.dhs.gov.

Mariel Reed is co-founder and CEO of Pavilion, a venture-backed marketplace for state and local public procurement. Pavilion enables public servants to save time and money by purchasing from suppliers that have been pre-qualified by other public entities, and helps reduce the cost of selling into the $2T state and local public sector for businesses. 

Before founding Pavilion, Mariel served at the San Francisco Mayor’s Office, where she worked on two of the greatest challenges and opportunities for local governments: procurement and talent, and was an early employee at Coursera, an education technology startup.    

Follow Mariel Reed on LinkedIn for all tips and gems about her experience in #GovCon:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariel-reed-6b27a917/ 

Learn more about Pavilion formerly CoProcure and the work they do: https://www.withpavilion.com/ 

Website for suppliers: https://www.withpavilion.com/about/suppliers

Entellect is a full life-cycle Business Development boutique company that works with companies to help scale their current processes and resources. Our cadre of experts helps companies scale up by augmenting their current resources and elevating their marketplace status to make them more competitive. In addition, we offer tailored solutions to expand a company’s capabilities and efficiently support enduring success.   

Entellect has aided dozens of businesses in understanding the federal procurement landscape, navigating the competitive terrain, and winning contracts totaling more than $150B in value. We employ government contracting thought-leaders, individuals who share their knowledge with their clients and the GovCon community at large. These thought-leaders speak at AFCEA, regional PTACs, VETS, and other venues on GovCon topics, including partnering, debriefings and protests, capture management, pipeline management, and more.   

Entellect supports and mentors small businesses to understand and thrive in the GovCon market and provides executive coaching support to SDVOSB, 8(a), WOSB, and other minority-owned small business leaders. We provide various services, including Capture Management, Proposal Management, Strategic Pricing, Contracts Management, Financial Management, and Business Operations Optimization. These services are critical in allowing companies to win bids in the short term and become more efficient, cost-effective firms thereafter.   

As President of Entellect LLC, Ms. Tan Wilson provides full-lifecycle business support to primarily small businesses. She is an experienced and successful entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in business development and program management across federal and commercial business sectors. As a supporter of the small business community, Ms. Wilson aids businesses in their strategic planning, business development, capture management, proposal management, partnership development, operations support, and leadership coaching. She brings extensive management experience in leading large project teams of diverse stakeholders, ranging from C-level executives.   

In addition, she was the 2021 Chair of AFCEA’s Small Business Committee (SBC), Small Business Person of the Year for 2020, and has provided invaluable support to AFCEA small businesses. Ms. Wilson is also a Board Member on AFCEA International and Emeritus Chair of the SBC.  

Follow Tan Wilson on LinkedIn for all tips and gems about her experience in #GovCon:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanwilsonpmp/  

Learn more about Entellect and the work they do: entellectllc.com

Jakayla Leathers is an entrepreneur, mom of 3, and the owner of Transform Floor Care & JS LLC. Transform is a DBE WOSB Facilities Maintenance firm that provides flooring solutions, installations, maintenance, janitorial services, and more.   

Jakayla’s journey with the government included mistakes and lessons that she and her partner ultimately used as a stepping stone to their success. With lots of commitment, Jakayla went on to win her first Subcontract with a Military Housing Company and a 7 Figure Contract within her home state of SC.   

She now continues to grow her company while also helping others launch into the world of Government Contracting as a consultant.  

Follow Jakayla on Instagram for all tips and gems about her experience in #GovCon:  https://www.instagram.com/officialjakayla/  

Learn more about Transform Floor Care & Janitorial Service LLC and the work they do: https://www.transformfloor.com/

Zach Berke, Founder & Managing Partner at Exygy

Zach oversees Exygy's strategy, design, and engineering work. He serves as the Account Manager for clients such as Children’s Council, CARE, REDF, Benetech, and the SF Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development. Zach founded Exygy in 2004 with a vision: innovation and technology will accelerate progressive social change. This vision led Zach to build Exygy, the market-leading innovation agency in the for-purpose sector. Zach wrote his first line of code at age six, designed his first website at 12, co-founded a non-profit at 18, graduated with High Honors at 22, completed his AmeriCorps*VISTA fellowship at 23, and then started Exygy. A Bay Area native and father of three, today Zach is dedicated to improving the health and resilience of his community.

Learn more about Exygy and the work they do:

https://www.exygy.com/

Colleen Finnegan is the Executive Director for the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) at the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI).  She is responsible for oversight of programs that promote small business participation in DOI procurements, with special emphasis on socio-economic programs including Small Disadvantaged Businesses, Women-Owned Small Businesses, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses, and Businesses located in Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZones).    

Ms. Finnegan began her federal career at the Department of Interior in 2007, at the Minerals Management Service. Originally overseeing the management and use of offshore sediment resources for coastal restoration and resiliency projects.  Prior to her position with OSDBU, Ms. Finnegan served as the Acting Executive Chief and Deputy Chief of the Office of Strategic Resources within the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, responsible for managing and developing offshore energy and mineral resources.    

Learn more about the Department of the Interior and the work they do:  https://www.doi.gov/

Nicole Jews grew up and currently lives in the small city of Rialto, California. Nicole has been in the field of Purchasing for over 15 years. She started her career as a part-time clerical aide with the City of Rialto, moved on to a non-profit as an Accounting Assistant, then worked at the San Bernardino International Airport as a Purchasing Supervisor.   

To gain additional contract background Nicole worked for Transportation Corridor Agency, which operates the toll roads, then moved on to OmniTrans, the largest bus transportation agency in San Bernardino. She finally worked her way to her current position as the Purchasing Manager for the City Banning. Nicole has her Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a minor in Human Resources, from California State University, San Bernardino.   

She is currently working on her Master of Business Administration from Western Governor’s University. Nicole has two young adult children, Natalie and Austin, who are the center of her world.  

Learn more about City of Banning CA and the work they do:  https://banningca.gov/

Allen Thomas Regional Administrator Southeast Region  As Region IV Administrator, Allen Thomas will oversee SBA programs, offices, and operations in the SBA’s Southeast region, serving Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.  

Mr. Thomas is a former three-term mayor, businessman, entrepreneur, and leader in public and private enterprise. As mayor of Greenville, one of North Carolina's largest cities, Mr. Thomas led the post-recession recovery, rapid expansion, and robust economic growth, better connecting the city and region. He was recognized by the White House during the Obama-Biden Administration for community engagement in law enforcement and public safety.   

A serial entrepreneur, Mr. Thomas co-founded healthcare technology startup IQMax, which grew to service 160 medical facilities in 36 states, processing 18 million patient records per day. Mr. Thomas was appointed Executive Director of North Carolina Global TransPark by the Governor of North Carolina Roy Cooper, to revitalize the state's global multimodal transportation and logistics hub, spearheading growth in advanced manufacturing jobs, innovation, and investment.

Al Gordon serves as CEO of National Strategies (NSI).  

Since he founded the firm in 1996, Al has helped companies successfully navigate the complexities of legislative, regulatory, and procurement issues in the state and local government market. 

Under his leadership, NSI has helped generate over $33 billion in new revenue, as well as executed dozens of successful legislative and regulatory programs, for its clients.  The key to NSI’s success is Al’s strategic approach to the government market. 

Al has a proven ability to transform clients’ businesses based on an approach rooted in NSI’s extensive network of subject matter experts and consultants across the country who serve as strategic partners and understand the dynamic state and local geopolitical landscape. This concept to better navigate a fragmented marketplace began with his career as a senior aide to former NY Governor Mario Cuomo. 

For more than seven years in that capacity, Al oversaw such areas as legislative and intergovernmental relations, which included serving as liaison to local governments.  Al’s extensive experience in NY State government and politics also included serving as the Chairman of the NY State Democratic Committee and running several statewide political campaigns. 

Al received his B.A. degree in Political Science and History from Clark University and a J.D. from Fordham School of Law.   

Learn more about National Strategies (NSI) and the work they do:  http://nationalstrategies.com

Sandy McDonald has been the Director of the Broward County Office of Economic and Small BusinessDevelopment (OESBD) since June 2013. In alignment with OESBD’s mission to stimulate economic development, Mr. McDonald is committed to supporting the growth and development of small businesses in Broward County, which are a great asset to our local economy.  

Mr. McDonald also serves as Broward’s designated Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Liaison Officer (DBELO) and works to support the County’s commitment to the Federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) programs that OESBD administers along with the County’s local small business programs.  

For the past 21 years, Mr. McDonald has worked in Community and Economic Development on both local and federal programs. His expertise includes initiating tax increment financing programs, providing supportive economic development services to local municipalities, brownfield redevelopment, small business development, and disadvantaged business enterprise opportunities. Mr. McDonald continues outreach to the 31 cities in Broward as well as the Local Chambers of Commerce and multiple business organizations to ensure that the public is aware of the programs and services offered by the Broward County Office of Economic and Small Business Development.   

Learn more about Broward County and the work they do:  http://broward.org/  

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandy-michael-mcdonald-8047313/

Liz Whitehead, CEO, 12PointFive

Co-Mastermind, Diversity Masterminds®

Liz Whitehead is the CEO of 12PointFive, a business development consultancy that specializes in building business development strategies so that diverse business owners can leverage certification and ultimately win new business. She supports her clients in reaching their goals through facilitation, consulting, and one-on-one coaching.

Recognizing that diverse businesses need a program to give them the information they need when they need it, and in a way that drives them to take action, Liz co-founded Diversity Masterminds® with Heather Cox. Diversity Masterminds® is an online curriculum focused on building a roadmap to certification success.

Clients who work with Liz benefit from more matchmaker meetings at national conferences, more business opportunities, and more visibility in the supplier diversity networks.

As the leader of WBEC Greater DMV, Liz oversaw the certification, programs, and partner-building initiatives for the Regional Partner Organization of WBENC. Hired to develop the certification program at WEConnect International, she is very familiar with the global network for diverse business owners and implemented the first WEConnect Academy. She has spoken at countless events to guide diverse business owners to leverage certification such as the NGLCC national conference, the Merck Virtual Education Fair, and WBEC Pacific and WEConnect International conferences.

Liz currently serves on the WBENC National Forum and the WBEC DMV forum. Her awards include WBEC DMV’s 2018 and 2019 WBE Connection awards for completing the most Done Deals™ with other certified WBEs and 2019 Outstanding Women’s Business Advocate Award. In 2021 she was recognized by Women’s Enterprise Magazine (WE USA) as one of the Top WBE CEOs of 2021 and by the Women Presidents Organization as a President’s Award winner.

Follow 12PointFive and Diversity Masterminds on Instagram for all tips and gems about her experiences:   

@lcwhitehead12.5 

@divmasterminds  

Learn more about 12PointFive and Diversity Masterminds and the work they do:   

https://12pointfive.com/ 

https://www.diversitymasterminds.com/

One of the biggest challenges Government Contractors face is selling their services to the Federal Government. In a market worth billions, competition is high and the sales cycle is long. Small Businesses must be smart about how to spend their time and resources and arm themselves with information that can help them win more at a lower cost.   

Often, companies feel they don’t have enough information to make sales decisions, although the Federal Government makes more information available to the public than any other industry! So, why does it feel sometimes like we’re left in the dark?   

Breaking the Standard Podcast aims to provide information and insights from two points of view: Industry and Government. Their hosts each have over 10 years of experience as a Contracting Specialist for a Federal Agency and Business Development for Industry. By creating a conversation about the acquisition lifecycle from our individual points of view, we will close the communication and knowledge gap for Small Businesses in GovCon, allowing them Break their Size Standard!   

Linked In:  Breaking the Standard Page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/breakingthestandard11a1291a8/

Nicole Tripodi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoletripodi/

Morgan Tapp: https://www.linkedin.com/in/morgan-m-tapp-59b2338b/

Aubrey Gainfort: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aubrey-gainfort-ab6091a/ 

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

Morgan Tapp email: mtapp@foxrothschild.com

Corey McCaster is the Director of the Office of Small Business and Supplier Diversity at Pinellas County Economic Development. There he leads one of the top Small Business Development Centers in the State and a rapidly expanding Small Business Enterprise (SBE) program that connects small business owners to more than $500,000,000 in government contracting opportunities annually.

The SBE Program includes a sheltered market created for qualified vendors that allows small businesses to place bids for County purchases from $5,000 up to $100,000. In addition, small business participation in the program is required for all Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) and Consultants' Competitive Negotiation Act (CCNA) contracts.

As a former small business owner, who has also worked for prominent economic development agencies across the State, Corey understands how vital services like the SBE program are to the health of Florida’s small business landscape and has championed the cause throughout his career by expanding opportunities for start-ups, working to create small business incubator space,

and helping to launch a one-of-a-kind minority business accelerator that has proven to aid Bay Area business owners in realizing strong and sustainable growth for their companies.

Corey is a proud native Floridan who is delighted to see the growth of commerce across the Sunshine State into communities where it hadn’t traditionally flourished.

The University of South Florida Muma College of Business graduate calls Tampa Bay home and loves to golf, fish, and grow his own food.

Learn more about the Department of the Interior and the work they do:  https://www.pinellascounty.org/

Lisette Washington is a member of Dentons’ US Government Contracts Practice, where she provides legal services to companies that maintain business with federal and state government agencies. Lisette’s legal practice focuses primarily on government contract counseling and litigation, and her work includes prime and subcontract disputes, bid protests, contract and regulatory compliance, investigations, cost issues, and terminations.   

Prior to joining the Firm, Lisette worked as government contracts attorney at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Headquarters in Washington, DC, where she advised senior-level government officials on acquisition strategy and policy, challenges to contract awards, contract claims, acquisition integrity, and small business contracting.   

While earning her Juris Doctor at The George Washington University, Lisette studied government contract administration, advocacy, and pricing. In law school, Lisette also served as a judicial intern to the Honorable Thomas C. Wheeler of the US Court of Federal Claims; as a judicial intern to the Honorable Sara E. Ellis of the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois; and as legal intern at government agencies including the US General Services Administration, the US Small Business Administration, and NASA.  

Follow Dentons on Instagram for all tips and gems about her experience in #GovCon:  @dentonsglobal  

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lswashington/  

Learn more about Dentons and the work they do:  https://www.dentons.com/

Judy Bradt, CEO of Summit Insight, brings over 34 years as an expert not just in Federal contracting but also in the biggest challenge so many GovCons face on their road to their goals: how to build the relationships that we need to succeed with Federal buyers. As consultant, speaker, and author, she’s helped thousands of established businesses – small, mid-tier and large -- find their fast track to success in the Federal arena.  

Her proprietary Players and Layers Methodology to get in front of the right federal buyers...and to win over $200 million dollars in federal business. She works only with business teams who believe that relationships are the key to Federal contracting...and are committed to getting in front of their perfect Federal buyers and opportunities before their competition does.  

She’s an award-winning author, speaker, and consultant. You can pick up her latest book, #1 Bestseller Government Contracts Made Easier (Second Edition) on Amazon along with her companion strategy workbook.  

When she’s not doing GovCon, she’s a scuba diver, pilot, and professional rock-climbing instructor. Far from being a daredevil, she loves to explore by learning from the best.  

Explore Summit Insight’s private and on-demand programs when you’re ready for a proven, practical, relationship-based approach to Federal business. Judy’s unique mix of consulting, training, and coaching delivers results for people who want to grow their Federal business.  

Learn more about Summit Insight and the work they do:  http://summitinsight.com

Calvin J. Mitchell Jr, Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) In 2020, Calvin J. Mitchell Jr. joined the U.S. Department of Education leadership team as the Director of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU). As Director, implementing policies and initiatives throughout the Department to ensure that all socioeconomic categories of small businesses are afforded opportunities to compete for contracts.   

Prior to the OSDBU, Mr. Mitchell was the Deputy Director of Contracts and Acquisitions Management (CAM). As CAM Deputy Director, in the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, he was responsible for overseeing the work of four contracting divisions that provide operational procurement services to the Department of Education. Prior to joining the Department, Mitchell served as the Branch Chief of the Accounts Management Division at the General Services Administration. Mitchell led the organization toward meeting the Government-wide strategic goals to support all 24 CFO Act agency vision, mission, and strategic goals.  

Separately, Mr. Mitchell served as a Congressional Fellow for the U.S. House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee reporting to Chairman Bennie Thompson. In this position, he served as the Principal Procurement Advisor to Committee leadership and provided guidance and oversight to Members and Committee staff on procurement, small business programs, and related acquisition issues within the Department of Homeland Security. Mr. Mitchell has also held leadership positions at the U.S Army Corps of Engineers.  

Learn more about the Department of Education and the work they do:  

https://www.ed.gov/  

LinkedIn Profile:  

https://www.linkedin.com/in/calvin-j-mitchell-jr-cfcm-a705348/

Sheena Parker is the Founder & CEO of 4SYT Industries, a Facility Support Services government contracting company providing janitorial, flooring, pressure washing, painting, landscaping, real estate services, and more; to the federal and local government, as well as corporate agencies.  Sheena founded 4SYT Industries after working as a Real Estate investor, Acquisitions Manager and Wholesaler for over 5 years. She found an avenue that would bridge the gap between real estate and facility maintenance to government, local and corporate entities by providing value in three ways – 

* Understanding clients' wants and predicting their needs 

* Bringing craftsmanship and aesthetic pride back to the workplace 

* Providing Disney-like customer service at ALL times  Sheena is a retired Signal Army Warrant Officer. 

As a Warrant Officer in the Information Technology Space with multiple certifications, she has excelled in both the public and private sectors as a strong female leader in the industry holding other civilian sector positions in software development, project management, technology infrastructure, and network administration. Sheena’s passion, however, has always remained in the real estate realm.   

After many years within the government contracting industry, Sheena has decided to share her knowledge as a Government Contracting Authority - teaching businesses how to become 3-tier contractors. She does consulting, has a YouTube Channel called: Sheenapreneur, and has developed a Government Contracting Course called “GovCon For Winners”. 

She has been featured in multiple articles for her 15+ years of work as a business startup manager with her previous company. Sheena volunteers her time, especially with Veteran Organizations, Women’s Organizations, and Minority Organizations throughout the country. Sheena is a wife and a mother of two children; Nya – 17 and Terrell Jr - 14. Sheena holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Project Management.  

A lover of life and all things positive, Sheena is a plant enthusiast, who loves to read, meditate, travel, and spend lots of time with family.  

Follow 4SYT Industries on Instagram for all tips and gems about her experience in #GovCon: 

https://www.instagram.com/4syt_industries/ 

https://www.instagram.com/sheenapreneur/  

Learn more about 4SYT Industries and the work they do:  

https://4sytind.com

Subscribe to her Youtube channel: 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFIHg7tf3ZoDJEXp8w6zedQ

More About Government Coins:  

Government Coins is a podcast hosted by ShaKeia Kegler the founder of GovLia.   

Government Coins is a brand new podcast focusing on— increasing small and minority-owned business participation in government contracting! Our goal is to dismantle barriers of entry by educating the small minority business community and providing them with more insight on how to navigate the government contracting landscape. Unlike traditional outreach events and tradeshows, our podcast will allow us to connect with a wider range of small businesses both locally and nationally.   

______   

More About The Host:   - ShaKeia is the founder of GovLia ( www.govlia.com), specializing in supplier diversity management, engagement, and outreach.   

______   

Connect with us on Instagram   Government Coins: https://www.instagram.com/governmentcoins   

ShaKeia : https://www.instagram.com/govlia/    

Now let's get some of these #GovernmentCoins !

Nancy has over 30 years of experience helping small business owners at all stages of growth. As President and CEO of the WBDC of Florida, Nancy manages and leads an incredible team of staff, sponsors, partners, and women business leaders who are dedicated to certifying, connecting, and championing women in business. She is committed to promoting women- owned businesses and furthering The Council’s mission to certify, connect and champion women in business.  Nancy’s personal motto is Connections, Creativity, and Courage in all endeavors. She holds a Master’s Degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS, 1982). She was born in Haiti and raised in South Florida. Nancy is bilingual in English and French and is fluent in Spanish and Creole.  

Follow Women's Business Development Council of Florida on Instagram for all tips and gems about her experience in #GovCon: @WBECFLORIDA  

Learn more about Women's Business Development Council of Florida and the work they do:  https://www.wbecflorida.org/ 

Email Nancy : nancyallen@wbec.org

Dr. Zamora Crawford Olin is the CEO and Co-Founder of Crawford Olin, LLC. As the CEO of Crawford Olin, Dr. Olin has worked with small-medium-sized business to create viable business development strategies and sustainable growth solutions to increase their sales and competitive positioning in the federal marketplace. With over 20 years of experience in federal contracting and procurement, her strong desire to help small businesses build and scale their companies through government contracts served as the fuel to start this company. Since its founding in 2014, Dr. Olin has helped her clients win nearly $7.0 Billion in federal contracts. Dr. Olin began her career in contracting and procurement as an Aviation Storekeeper in the US Navy. During her time in the Navy, Dr. Olin received several awards and commendations for her exemplary leadership and performance in procurement. After an honorable discharge, she worked as a Sr. Buyer within a Fortune 500 company, then as a Contracts Manager for a large DoD Contractor.   

In 2008, Dr. Olin began her career as a Senior Contracting Specialist for the Navy. By 2011, Dr. Olin became the Chief of Contracts and Grants and was responsible for the annual spending of $300-$500 million in products and services. During her tenure as a Contracting Officer, she developed a passion for working with and promoting small businesses while working a temporary assignment as a Small Business Advocate.   

After leaving federal service, Dr. Olin and her partner founded Crawford Olin to help small businesses navigate the federal business development process. Recognizing the growing divide in the competitive readiness of established small and micro-small businesses, Dr. Olin founded the GovCon GrowthLab in 2019. The GovCon GrowthLab is an online community created to increase the competitive readiness of minority small businesses entering the federal marketplace. Dr. Olin uses her subject matter expertise to teach small businesses how to leverage their professional skills to launch and grow their business, obtain subcontracting opportunities, and how to position and market their capabilities to government agencies and strategic partners. 

Since 2007, Dr. Olin has taught contracting, procurement, and operations management at multiple universities.   In 2019, under Dr. Olin's leadership, Crawford Olin developed a workforce development program and became a certified provider for the Defense Acquisition University. Dr. Olin is currently pursuing an Executive Education Certificate in Business Analytics through the Harvard Business Analytics Program at Harvard Business School. She holds a Doctorate of Business Administration with a concentration in Global Business Sustainability, a Masters of Business Administration with a concentration in Management, and a Bachelor of Arts (Pre-Law) in Political Science and Criminal Justice.  

Follow GovCon GrowthLab on Instagram for all tips and gems about her experience in #GovCon: https://www.instagram.com/govcongrowthlab/  

Learn more about GovCon GrowthLab and the work they do:  https://www.govcongrowthlab.com/

One of the remarkable takeaways from the journey of 26-year-old Akil Alvin is that he began to achieve his dreams as he grew up — not when. From creating programming that revitalized his local library at 7 years old, to getting himself a job on the UniverSoul Circus marketing team at age 10, Akil tapped into his calling at a young age. It was a surprise to no one when, at 18, he launched his own company and took his place among the 3% of Black men who serve as the faces and founders of ad agencies throughout this country. It’s clear the millennial media visionary felt it when he heard these legendary lyrics by the late Christopher Wallace: “Stay far from timid / Only make moves when your heart's in it / And live the phrase ‘Sky's The Limit.’”  

As Founder and Global Chief Creative Officer of Detroit Digital Media (DDM), Akil leads a multimedia content creation company that empowers ambitious brands to thrive in contemporary culture through a unique mix of storytelling, insights, and technology, with a dash of irreplaceable #DetroitHustle. Since its launch in 2013 with the help of one of Akil’s teachers at the renowned Detroit School of Arts, DDM has grown to work with some of the world’s leading brands and municipalities. Their undeniable client roster includes McDonald’s, Bank of America, Ford Motor Company, Major League Baseball’s Detroit Tigers, the North American International Auto Show, and Coca-Cola. 

The hustle hasn’t been in vain.  In 2019, DDM was one of 10 millennial-led companies around the nation to be honored by the National Minority Supplier Development Council, and Akil was recognized as an Emerging Young Entrepreneur, landing a one-year advisory partnership with Warner Media. In 2020, DDM became the first company in history to be advised by the iconic Walt Disney Company. And under Akil's leadership, DDM recently embarked on a full circle and historic moment as the first on record ad agency to sign an exclusive multimillion-dollar agreement with a municipality in the country, handling high-level messaging and rebranding for the CIty of Detroit. 

In 2022, Akil was named one of Forbes Magazine 30 Under 30, as one the top 30 advertising executives in North America.  Akil has embedded the importance of giving back into DDM’s core, and together the team developed a community engagement program called The Mentoring Loft to mold the next generation of entrepreneurs and creatives. The initiative is one way the self-described “unstoppable dreamer” can help ensure that youth are empowered to grow up as he did, believing that the sky's the limit, and creating opportunities to Authentically. Impact. Culture  

Follow Digital Detroit Media on Instagram for all tips and gems about her experience in #GovCon: @wearedigitaldetroit  

Learn more about Digital Detroit Media and the work they do:  https://www.digitaldetroitmedia.com/

Nicole "Nic" Cober, Esquire is the Principal Managing Partner of Cober Johnson & Romney, an award-winning legal & business consulting firm and CJR Development, a real estate development and advisory firm. For nearly two decades, Nic has been an entrepreneur and advocate for the small business community. She is an executive coach & business strategist who specializes in developing management, legal, & branding strategies for leaders in the business world. Her podcast, CEOs & Soul Talk, is produced at the National Press Club.   

Nic Cober, Esquire also served as a councilmember of the National Women’s Business Council, a bipartisan council that advises the White House, Congress, & the SBA on matters concerning women in business. Nic chaired the Access to Capital subcommittee and the Communications subcommittee.  Her book, CEO of My Soul, was published in 2016 & blends valuable business advice with true accounts of relationships struggles, family triumphs, & self-reflection. No matter the platform, Cober is regarded as an expert on business matters & personal success strategy.   

On 2.2.22, Ms. Cober and 50 black women owners founded The BOW Collective, an organization with annual revenue of more than $250M collaborate to scale their businesses through capital, communications, and contracts.  

Follow the BOW Collective on Instagram for all tips and gems about her experience in #GovCon: 

https://www.instagram.com/the_b.o.w._collective/  

Learn more about the BOW Collective and the work they do: 

https://www.thebowcollective.org/