Unveiled: GovCon Stories

In today’s small business landscape, nothing is business as usual. Economic pressures, shifting policies, and the pace of innovation are changing how entrepreneurs survive and thrive, especially those navigating the public sector.In this episode we turn to the DC Small Business Development Center to explore how they're meeting the need in this moment. With a mission rooted in hands-on guidance, deep partnerships, and real-world experience, the DC SBDC is helping local businesses move from uncertainty to action – and we’re diving into what that support really looks like today.Guest Bio:Mr. Carl Brown is the State and Executive Director of the DC Small Business Development Center at Howard University, bringing 25+ years of experience in HR, marketing, procurement, and government contracting, including roles at Verizon, Pepsi, and in federal and local government as a warranted contracting officer. He is also the creator and host of The Small Business Report on SiriusXM, with insights featured in The Wall Street Journal, MSNBC.com, and The Washington Informer, and is known for developing the financial literacy comic series Sammy the Saver. As a speaker, coach, and media voice, he brings a comprehensive, real-world perspective on how small businesses grow and thrive.Call(s) to Action:Visit dcsbdc.org to schedule a session or explore upcoming workshops. Not in DC? Find your local SBDC anywhere in the country at americassbdc.org.Help spread the word about Unveiled: GovCon Stories: https://shows.acast.com/unveiled-govcon-storiesDo you want to be a guest or recommend a topic that you would like to learn or hear about on the podcast? Let us know through our guest feedback and registration form.Links:DC SBDC: www.dcsbdc.orgThe Small Business Report The Small Business Report on Sirius XM Channel 141: https://www.thesmallbusinessreport.biz/ Sammy The Saver - Financial Literacy Superhero: https://www.sammythesaver.com/Sponsors:The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the hosts and guests, and do not reflect the views or endorsements of our sponsors.Withum – Diamond Sponsor!Withum is a forward-thinking, technology-driven advisory and accounting firm, helping clients to be in a position of strength in today’s complex business environment. Go to Withum’s website to learn more about how they can help your business!

Operating as a small business in government contracting is expensive and competitive. Everyone tells you to "stand out" and "differentiate," but when you're already stretched thin on resources, how do you decide where to invest?In this co-host episode, Tasha and Yas tackle the real costs and challenges of strategic differentiation. They explore how selling hardware and software products can create new revenue streams (and what compliance hurdles you’ll face), examine certifications like CMMC and CMMI that can unlock contract opportunities (and whether the six-figure price tags are worth it), and discuss creative diversification strategies that don’t require massive capital investments.From GSA Schedules and FedRAMP certification to strategic partnerships and niche specialization, this episode delivers an honest conversation about what it takes to compete effectively in today’s GovCon market. Whether you're considering your first product line, evaluating whether a certification makes sense for your business stage, or exploring SLED and commercial opportunities, Tasha and Yas provide a practical decision framework to help you invest strategically.Key topics covered include product sales and the compliance differences between hardware and software, how to prioritize certifications like CMMC, CMMI, ISO, and FedRAMP, and alternative differentiation strategies such as geographic expansion, partnerships, IP development, and niche specialization. They also break down real cost and timeline expectations for each option, along with a clear decision-making framework that highlights green lights and red flags for smart investments. The episode even includes accessible strategies designed specifically for businesses under $5M in revenue.Whether you're new to the GovCon space or a seasoned professional looking to grow with intention, this episode provides the honest insights you need to make smarter decisions about differentiation and investment.Call(s) to Action:Interested in learning more about or leveraging Collective’s services? Click here to schedule a call and learn more about how Collective can help power your business.Help spread the word about Unveiled: GovCon Stories.Do you want to be a guest or recommend a topic that you would like to learn or hear about on the podcast? Let us know through our guest feedback and registration form.Sponsors:The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the hosts and guests, and do not reflect the views or endorsements of our sponsors.Withum – Diamond Sponsor!Withum is a forward-thinking, technology-driven advisory and accounting firm, helping clients to be in a position of strength in today’s complex business environment. Go to Withum’s website to learn more about how they can help your business!

A one-person business is still a business, and in government contracting, that statement needs to be said louder. You can be GovCon ready as a business of one.Solopreneurs in government contracting face a unique set of challenges. They bring deep expertise, agility, and commitment to mission, but are often overlooked, under supported, and misjudged. You’ll hear the phrase “small business” everywhere—but when you’re a team of one, you’re often navigating the same requirements, with fewer tools, less time, and almost no tailored support.And yet, these solo operators are making real contributions to federal work, supporting national priorities, shaping policy, and delivering results.This episode is about operational legitimacy, what it takes to not just survive but position yourself for scale, even if growth isn’t the goal today. Because your compliance posture, your financial infrastructure, and your back-office operations should support your vision, not limit it.Whether you plan to stay solo or scale when the time is right, you need systems that support growth, compliance, and credibility in the eyes of the markets you serve.Today we’re talking strategy, legitimacy, and infrastructure for solopreneurs in GovCon and what it really means to build a one-person business that’s built to last.Guest Bio:Marissa Achanzar, the Strategic, Content & Education Lead @ Collective, has over eight years in public accounting and has worked closely with small business owners to navigate tax strategy and compliance. At Collective, she translates complex tax concepts for self-employed individuals into clear, practical content – supporting them on their tax journey so they feel informed, confident, and empowered to make decisions for their business.Call(s) to Action:Interested in learning more about or leveraging Collective’s services? Click here to schedule a call and learn more about how Collective can help power your business.Help spread the word about Unveiled: GovCon Stories: https://shows.acast.com/unveiled-govcon-storiesDo you want to be a guest or recommend a topic that you would like to learn or hear about on the podcast? Let us know through our guest feedback and registration form.Sponsors:The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the hosts and guests, and do not reflect the views or endorsements of our sponsors.Withum – Diamond Sponsor!Withum is a forward-thinking, technology-driven advisory and accounting firm, helping clients to be in a position of strength in today’s complex business environment. Go to Withum’s website to learn more about how they can help your business!

The Unveiled: GovCon Stories podcast returns for a special “bridge season”, a transitional series designed to reflect, refocus, and reimagine what’s next for small and micro businesses in the government contracting ecosystem.In this kickoff episode, hosts Tasha Jones and Yas Wynn revisit standout conversations from last season, from navigating reorgs and market volatility to leveraging AI for smarter pursuits, and unpack the lessons that continue to shape the GovCon landscape. The discussion explores how resilience, adaptability, and preparedness have become the new currency of success for small business owners navigating constant change.As Unveiled evolves, so does its mission. This season marks a strategic shift toward amplifying the voices of micro-businesses and consultants (1–5 person teams), the often overlooked but essential backbone of GovCon. The hosts share how the show is partnering with organizations, large and small, to deliver practical insights, tangible resources, and story-driven strategies that empower entrepreneurs to define and achieve success on their own terms.Whether you’re a founder, consultant, or corporate leader seeking meaningful engagement with the small-business community, this episode offers perspective, purpose, and an open invitation to collaborate on building a stronger, more inclusive ecosystem.Call(s) to Action:We want to hear and partner with you!!  Are you a small or micro-business founder with a story to share?Do you provide training, funding, or technology solutions for small and micro businesses?Are you a large organization redefining how you engage small-business partners?Be a partner, guest, or recommend a topic that you would like to share, learn, or hear about on the podcast  through our guest feedback and registration form.Help spread the word about Unveiled: GovCon Stories: https://shows.acast.com/unveiled-govcon-storiesSponsors:The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the hosts and guests, and do not reflect the views or endorsements of our sponsors.Withum – Diamond Sponsor!Withum is a forward-thinking, technology-driven advisory and accounting firm, helping clients to be in a position of strength in today’s complex business environment. Go to Withum’s website to learn more about how they can help your business!

In this Season 4 blow‑out finale of Unveiled: GovCon Stories, we weave together powerful insights from thought‑provoking conversations to understand what it truly takes for small businesses—and especially Woman‑Owned Small Businesses—to thrive in government contracting. We unpack how some guests turned major contract losses into strategic wins, the misconceptions they faced about readiness and resilience, the role of AI and team collaboration in navigating SLED vs. federal markets, and how political shifts, contract terminations, and agency reorganizations reshaped their playbooks. We hear from those who treated strategy not as theory, but as a living, operational tool, and how clarity of purpose became their margin of advantage. Throughout, financial resilience, market diversification, and embracing innovation emerge not as luxuries, but necessities. This episode offers an unapologetically real reflection on GovCon’s triumphs, setbacks, and what lies ahead—and why preparedness is now the real differentiator for small businesses in this space.Call(s) to Action:Help spread the word about Unveiled: GovCon Stories: https://shows.acast.com/unveiled-govcon-storiesDo you want to be a guest or recommend a topic that you would like to learn or hear about on the podcast? Let us know through our guest feedback and registration form.Links:Withum – A forward-thinking, tech-driven advisory and accounting firm supporting businesses through the full GovCon lifecycleFollow Withum on LinkedInSponsors:The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the hosts and guests, and do not reflect the views or endorsements of our sponsors.Withum – Diamond Sponsor!Withum is a forward-thinking, technology-driven advisory and accounting firm, helping clients to be in a position of strength in today’s complex business environment. Go to Withum’s website to learn more about how they can help your business!

In this episode of Unveiled: GovCon Stories, Mac Liu, CEO of Vultron, and Noura Bashshur, Sr. Director of Growth, discuss how AI is transforming GovCon BD. From proposal sprints to intelligent automation, they break down what makes GovCon unique—and why now is the time to evolve. Mac shares lessons from Google and DoD innovation, while Noura offers real-world guidance on using AI to boost proposal quality and delivery. Whether you're after city, civilian, or defense contracts, this one’s for you.Guest Bio:Mac Liu is the CEO of Vultron and a seasoned engineering leader with experience at Google, Robinhood, and Anduril. He’s led major defense projects with NASA, DoD, and the U.S. Space Force—scaling contracts to $240M. At Vultron, he’s applying that cross-sector expertise to help GovCon teams win smarter with AI-powered solutions.Noura Bashshur is Vultron’s Senior Director of Growth, leading strategy, partnerships, and AI-driven innovation in GovCon. With 7+ years in federal contracting, she’s led multi-million-dollar wins, built federal health practices, and brings deep expertise in BD, capture, and tech-enabled healthcare. Noura holds a Master’s in Health Services Administration from the University of Michigan.Call(s) to Action:Help spread the word about UnveilLenee: GovCon Stories: https://shows.acast.com/unveilLenee-govcon-storiesDo you want to be a guest or recommend a topic that you would like to learn or hear about on the podcast? Let us know through our guest feedback and registration form.Links:Learn more about Vultron, request a demoCheckout Vultron’s AI-Powered Federal Proposal Development Platforms: Evaluation Framework and FactorsSponsors:The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the hosts and guests, and do not reflect the views or endorsements of our sponsors.Withum – Diamond Sponsor!Withum is a forward-thinking, technology-driven advisory and accounting firm, helping clients to be in a position of strength in today’s complex business environment. Go to Withum’s website to learn more about how they can help your business!

The GovCon landscape continues to shift under our feet. Agencies are reorganizing rapidly—driven more by politics than strategy. Budgets are in flux. Priorities are shifting. Entire programs are being paused, rebranded, or canceled.Here’s the reality: a few good tactics won’t cut it. In uncertain times, the businesses that survive—and grow—are those with strategies clear enough to guide decisions, yet flexible enough to evolve. Without that, you're not navigating change—you’re being swept up by it.In this episode, we unpack what happens when strategy takes a back seat and why now, more than ever, small businesses must pair big-picture thinking with tactical precision to stay competitive in a market where tomorrow’s rules are changing today.Guest Bio:Jazmen Jackson is a strategy consultant who helps small businesses grow with clarity and confidence. With over 10 years of experience working with entrepreneurs, family-run companies, and early-stage startups, Jazmen specializes in simplifying strategic planning, identifying growth opportunities, and turning everyday challenges into smart, actionable strategies.Rather than offering one-size-fits-all advice, Jazmen works directly with business owners to create clear, practical plans—whether it’s refining a business model, improving operations, or charting a course for sustainable growth. Clients appreciate her down-to-earth style, no-jargon communication, and genuine investment in their success.Jazmen holds a certificate in Strategic Management from Georgetown University and is a Certified Project Management Professional, Senior Business Strategy Professional, and Project Management Office - Certified Practitioner. She has experience in business process improvement, and small business consulting, equipping her with both the tools and insights to deliver real results—without the corporate fluff.Call(s) to Action:Help spread the word about Unveiled: GovCon Stories: https://shows.acast.com/unveiled-govcon-storiesDo you want to be a guest or recommend a topic that you would like to learn or hear about on the podcast? Let us know through our guest feedback and registration form.Links:Standard Strategy (STS) GroupAccess the Strategy Under Pressure: Action GuideSponsors:The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the hosts and guests, and do not reflect the views or endorsements of our sponsors.Withum – Diamond Sponsor!Withum is a forward-thinking, technology-driven advisory and accounting firm, helping clients to be in a position of strength in today’s complex business environment. Go to Withum’s website to learn more about how they can help your business!

Today’s episode is for the dreamers and the doers—especially the ones who thought getting a DUNS, a Cage Code, and a nice logo meant they were ready to roll. Let’s be real—there are a lot of misconceptions about how easy it is to “start” in GovCon. The truth? Many businesses start officially, but never truly enter the market. And some find out the hard way that they underestimated the time, money, and focus it takes just to get to the starting line; and in this episode, we’re going to evaluate that. First, we’ll explore the many ways small businesses find their way into this space—some by design, some by default. Then we’ll unpack what it really means to build alignment between your vision, your capacity, and your funding over time. Whether you’re new and exhausted, or established and re-evaluating, this episode is your reminder: It’s not just about getting in—it’s about staying in and growing on purpose. Guest Bio:Shakira (Shak) McCants is the CEO of MacMore, a women owned, Management and IT firm. Shak is a results-driven professional with nearly 20 years of experience in business development, project management, operations management, and strategic planning. She has a demonstrated track record of driving revenue growth and winning new projects through delivery excellence and identifying and transforming clients’ business needs into valued solutions. She was a member of the 2019 American Council for Technical and Industry Advisory Council (ACT-IAC) Voyagers program, served as a Leadership Industry Vice Chair for the 2021 ACT-IAC Associates program and she is currently the Industry Vice Chair for the ACT-IAC IT Management & Modernization Community of Interest and the ACT-IAC Voyagers 25 class. Shak holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of South Alabama. Call(s) to Action:Help spread the word about Unveiled: GovCon Stories: https://shows.acast.com/unveiled-govcon-storiesDo you want to be a guest or recommend a topic that you would like to learn or hear about on the podcast? Let us know through our guest feedback and registration form.Links:MACMORE: https://www.macmorellc.com/ Follow MACMORE on LinkedInSponsors:The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the hosts and guests, and do not reflect the views or endorsements of our sponsors.Withum – Diamond Sponsor!Withum is a forward-thinking, technology-driven advisory and accounting firm, helping clients to be in a position of strength in today’s complex business environment. Go to Withum’s website to learn more about how they can help your business!

Today’s discussion is all about something that doesn’t get talked about enough—but when it happens, it can shake your whole business: termination for convenience. It sounds polite, right? Like the government just doesn’t “need your services anymore.” But for a small business, it can mean canceled plans, stranded staff, sunk costs—and a scramble to recover.In this episode, we’re breaking down what termination for convenience actually is, how it shows up, and what you can do—legally, financially, and strategically—to prepare for it or respond when it hits. Because in GovCon, it’s not always about what you win—it’s about how you withstand the unexpected.Let’s get into it.Guest Bio:CPA at Withum for the Government Contractors group. She has over 18 years of experience in accounting. Lenee assists clients across a broad range of industries to include Government Contracting, Banking and Financial Services, and Manufacturing industries. Her role includes Internal Audit, SOX Compliance, FAR/DFARS Compliance, General Ledger Accounting, and SEC Financial Reporting responsibilities. She has implemented ERP and Financial Systems using Software Development Lifecyle (SDLC) best practices which include documenting business and data requirements, system integration testing, and user acceptance testing.Call(s) to Action:Help spread the word about Unveiled: GovCon Stories: https://shows.acast.com/unveilLenee-govcon-storiesDo you want to be a guest or recommend a topic that you would like to learn or hear about on the podcast? Let us know through our guest feLeneeback and registration form.Links:Learn more about Withum on their websiteEmail Lenee LyteCatch up with Withum at SECAF, SAME, and the VETS2025 conference in Orlando the week of May 12th!Termination for Convenience ChecklistSponsors:The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the hosts and guests, and do not reflect the views or endorsements of our sponsors.Withum – Diamond Sponsor!Withum is a forward-thinking, technology-driven advisory and accounting firm, helping clients to be in a position of strength in today’s complex business environment. Go to Withum’s website to learn more about how they can help your business!