In today's episode, I discuss the complex landscape of government contracts, focusing on the transportation sector. There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to securing contracts and advises listeners to explore different options that align with their specific situations. While I don't have direct connections to contracts, I share my expertise in helping individuals navigate the government contract minefield by providing valuable information and guidance. It's important to point out ...
Mar 21, 2025•8 min
In this episode of The Daily Windup, I dive into the topic of government contracts and citizenship requirements. Being a United States citizen is not a prerequisite for securing government contracts. In today's episode, I share various examples of contract opportunities, highlighting the specialized nature of certain projects and the potential for lucrative returns. The episode also delves into specific contract opportunities, such as laundry, dry cleaning, and alteration services. I also provid...
Mar 20, 2025•6 min
Today’s show was brought to you by our sponsor Encore Funding. Have you or someone you know recently been awarded a government contract and cannot secure funding? Encore Funding has your back, with a recently launched Government division they are funding your receivables so you can just focus on the work. Visit encoregov.com for more information on how to get the money you need to continue growing your business. Proposal writing used to be my least favorite part of government contracting—until I...
Mar 19, 2025•13 min•Season 1Ep. 257
In this episode of The Daily Windup, host Eric Coffie dives into the inspiring journey of a mom who faced the challenges of job loss and motherhood during the COVID-19 pandemic. We discuss the mental and emotional toll of being a mom without a job, compounded by the cloud of COVID hanging over their lives. Tune in to this episode of The Daily Windup to gain insights into the experiences of a resilient mother facing job loss, the uncertainties of pregnancy, and the profound impact of COVID-19. Di...
Mar 18, 2025•9 min
In today's episode, we delve into the powerful mindset of billionaires and the key lessons I learned from reading books written by these successful individuals. There is importance in having a definite purpose when reaching out to mentors and there is a fundamental difference between regular people's thinking and the extraordinary mindset of billionaires. Drawing examples from Steve Schwarzman's book, I highlight the mindset shift required for massive success. I also share the significance of pu...
Mar 17, 2025•5 min
In this episode of The Daily Wind Up, we dive into the importance of persistence and strategic partnerships for entrepreneurs. Highlighting the value of staying committed and continuously reaching out to potential partners, I share my own experiences of calling multiple times until I received positive responses. I also talk about the need to maintain a professional and respectful approach while understanding that busy professionals have their own priorities. I also discuss the significance of un...
Mar 16, 2025•8 min
In this episode, we dive into the world of bid opportunities and how they can benefit small businesses. Emphasizing the importance of assisting the government with market research, as it directly impacts the success of small enterprises. We take a step-by-step process using sam.gov, the government's database, to identify early-stage opportunities before they become public bids. By accessing source of sought notices, I explain how small businesses can proactively position themselves in front of p...
Mar 15, 2025•7 min
In today's episode of The Daily Windup, we share the inspiring story of a determined entrepreneur who stumbled upon her first government contracting success, Angela Chamberlain. Inspired by Eric's advice, she delved into government contracting and found a remarkable opportunity related to fitness training for the military. Undeterred by her lack of experience in construction, Angela identified a gym owner with the perfect skill set to pursue the government contract. Listen now as Angela reflects...
Mar 14, 2025•10 min
In this episode, we emphasize the importance of expanding your network to create new opportunities. We highlight how increasing your network will lead to connections with successful entrepreneurs, CFOs, investment bankers, and professionals in various fields. I also share insights from a recent networking event where I interacted with finance experts, commercial real estate professionals, and city officials. Networking opens doors to partnerships, access to funding, and valuable knowledge sharin...
Mar 13, 2025•6 min
Are you positive that you have the best financing in place? Ever question the charges or fees you're paying? Do you know what is industry standard versus excessive. Recently I had our partner Encore Funding look at 3 of my students previous agreements with finance companies and found many ways that they had been taken advantage of. For far too long this has become the industry norm and now with a trusted ethical company on our side we can rest assured that we are getting the best overall rate. V...
Mar 12, 2025•28 min•Season 1Ep. 256
In this episode of The Daily Windup, we discuss various aspects of government contracting. From emphasizing the impossibility of a single person knowing all the contracting offices and buying offices in the government to recommendations for government contract attorneys. We also touch upon the DOE webinar and the importance of understanding the information presented. Generally, I advise businesses to ensure you are procurement ready. Listen now as we simplify government contracting, share valuab...
Mar 11, 2025•6 min
In this episode of The Daily Windup, host Eric Coffie engages in a conversation with a Jeff Stutzman, a cybersecurity expert and entrepreneur. Jeff shares his journey, starting from his work at the DOD Cyber Crime Center to building a collaborative Information Sharing environment for defense contractors and banks. They discuss the evolution of cyber attacks, emphasizing their increasing sophistication and the shift towards more user-friendly tools. Jeff also reveals his decision to become an ent...
Mar 10, 2025•7 min
In today's episode of The Daily Windup, we have Chrissy Farrington who shares her journey as a military spouse and how it has shaped her professional experiences. As a military spouse, Chrissy discusses the challenges of not having control over where and for how long they move. Initially working in education as a teacher and director of academic programming, Chrissy transitioned into the world of government contracting and grant writing. Chrissy highlights the parallels she discovered between te...
Mar 09, 2025•8 min
In this episode of The Daily Windup, I interview Austin Tsosie, a successful entrepreneur with a remarkable journey, starting with him sharing his experience of growing up on the Navajo reservation in New Mexico. He discusses the impact of the sawmill closures, which led his family to move off the reservation. Despite the challenges, his father instilled in him and his twin brother the importance of education and success in fields like medicine, law, and engineering. Fascinated by computers and ...
Mar 08, 2025•9 min
In this episode of The Daily Windup, we dive into an exciting opportunity for military spouses that is often overlooked: free LinkedIn Premium for a full year after they relocate due to a Permanent Change of Station (PCS). Joined by Chrissy Farrington, we discuss the significance of this offering and how it can benefit military families. Don't miss this insightful episode as we shed light on the benefits of LinkedIn Premium for military spouses, share personal experiences, and provide valuable i...
Mar 07, 2025•7 min
In this episode of The Daily Wind Up, Ronnette Myers and I explore the importance of talent management in companies and how it often falls short, especially in larger organizations. We highlight the tendency for employees to feel like mere numbers in such companies and emphasizes the need for better utilization of talented individuals. Furthermore, we also highlight the community outreach efforts of some companies, such as JLAN Solutions, which leverage their employees' skills and talents to mak...
Mar 06, 2025•6 min
Ever been burned by finance companies, I know I have. So often as small minority owned businesses we do not get the best rates, offers or just out right get taken advantage of because of what we don’t know. Thanks to our new partner, Encore Funding we are now bringing you a trusted source for government contract financing. With more than $500M in funding going to minorities alone in 2024 Encore is here to support your business. Visit encoregov.com for information on how to apply. In this episode...
Mar 05, 2025•17 min•Season 1Ep. 255
In today's episode of The Daily Wind Up, we have Former DoD Cyber Crime Director Jeff Stutzman who talks about the importance of cybersecurity for small businesses. He highlights the various risks that businesses face and the standard architecture used to combat these risks. Jeff emphasizes the need to have firewalls and endpoints, training, email protection, and incident response capabilities to safeguard businesses. He goes on to discuss how small businesses can have affordable cybersecurity s...
Mar 04, 2025•6 min
In this episode of The Daily Wind Up, we dive into the challenges and lessons learned by Austin Tsosie in the federal contracting industry. Auston shares his experience of starting a small business and the hurdles he faced along the way. From attending conferences to building past performance and landing contracts, he recounts the importance of confidence in navigating the intimidating federal space. Join us in this insightful episode as we emphasizes the significance of confidence and resilienc...
Mar 03, 2025•9 min
In this episode of The Daily Windup, we delve into the experiences of military spouses and the unique challenges they face while pursuing careers. Our guest speaker, Chrissy Farrington, a military spouse herself, shares her journey of joining a veteran-owned business and finding a work-life balance amidst frequent relocations and military life demands. The episode highlights the importance of understanding the nuances of military life and how veteran-owned businesses and organizations with milit...
Mar 02, 2025•6 min
In this episode of The Daily Windup, my guest Ronnette Myers shares a powerful personal story of her weight loss journey. She opens up about her struggles with weight since childhood and how it impacted her confidence and health. After a significant incident involving her knees, she decided to make a change. With the support of a personal trainer and a community of women, she set a goal to lose 50 pounds before turning 50. On her 50th birthday, she achieved her goal, but she didn't stop there. S...
Mar 01, 2025•7 min
In this episode of The Daily Windup, we delve into a gripping story of a high-stakes ransomware attack that unfolded four years ago. Jeff Stutzman, shares his firsthand experience of being called to Houston to handle a massive ransomware attack on a three and a half billion dollar company. The situation was dire, with only three days remaining before the attackers would cause irreversible damage. Jeff takes charge and guides the CEO and chief security officer through the complex negotiations and...
Feb 28, 2025•6 min
In this episode of The Daily Windup, host Eric Coffie dives into a captivating story of leadership and organizational transformation. Starting with an unexpected turn of events, Austin Tsosie recounts how he found himself taking on the role of CEO after the turbulent times experienced by DDC IT Services. As the holding company, Nova Corporation, underwent a transformative phase, Austin faced the challenge of aligning subsidiaries and implementing a competitive strategy to overcome revenue loss a...
Feb 27, 2025•8 min
Today’s show was brought to you by our sponsor Encore Funding. Have you or someone you know recently been awarded a government contract and cannot secure funding? Encore Funding has your back, with a recently launched Government division they are funding your receivables so you can just focus on the work. Visit encoregov.com for more information on how to get the money you need to continue growing your business. Welcome back to another powerhouse episode of the GovCon Giants Podcast! Today, I si...
Feb 26, 2025•58 min•Season 1Ep. 254
In this episode we dive into the challenges and opportunities within the government procurement process with Chrissy Farrington, a military spouse and senior proposal specialist at H2L solutions. We begin by highlighting the slow and often disconnected solicitation process, where there is a lack of clarity on both sides: what the government agencies want and what the businesses can provide. In today's episode, we discuss the chronic issues observed, such as miscommunication, misconceptions, and ...
Feb 25, 2025•7 min
In today's episode we delve into the complexities of managing employee performance and the difficult decision of firing someone. Reflecting on personal experiences, Ronnette Meyers, President/CEO of JLAN Solutions, recounts a poignant moment when she had to let go of an employee due to their consistent lateness and failure to communicate sick leave. He discusses the emotional impact of such actions, recognizing the ripple effects on the individual's livelihood and the company's reputation. Drawi...
Feb 24, 2025•5 min
In this episode we discuss the alarming potential of cyber warfare and its unintended consequences with the Former DoD Cyber Crime Director Jeff Stutzman. Jeff highlighted the vulnerability of surveillance systems and physical security protection due to outdated firmware and neglectful maintenance, emphasizing the critical need for constant vigilance in safeguarding critical infrastructure. Jeff urges listeners, particularly small defense contractors and businesses, to prioritize robust cybersec...
Feb 23, 2025•10 min
In today's episode, we dive into the challenges and triumphs of employing Navajo individuals in federal contracting. We highlighted the unique obstacles faced by Navajos in securing jobs, such as outdated technologies and the complexities of obtaining security clearances. Also in this episode, we discuss the cultural context and historical mistrust that influence Navajo perspectives on government involvement. In this episode, we talk about the importance of recognizing and addressing these barri...
Feb 22, 2025•10 min
In this episode of The Daily Windup, we have expert guests talk about the SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) process. They discuss the challenges of turning an idea into a business and taking it to the commercial market, which is where most entrepreneurs fail. We explore how venture capitalists come in to fund commercialization, but if entrepreneurs do not know how to scale and enter into a business, the funding becomes pointless. We also talk about how the SBIR process is not just about ...
Feb 21, 2025•9 min
In today's episode, I highlight a conversation with Carlton Harris, the Chief Technology Officer of End-End Enterprise Solutions. Harris discusses how his company's strong cyber background in network security led them to specialize in advanced technologies and services. He also shares how they faced rejection while trying to grow their business and overcame it by getting their SDVOSB certification and forming partnerships with other small businesses to eliminate the "no". Harris further explains...
Feb 20, 2025•7 min
