Month: April 2025

In this episode of The Daily Windup, I interview Jackson Dalton, the president and owner of Black Box Safety, a distribution company specializing in healthcare products. Jackson shares his story, starting from his time in the Marine Corps and a career-ending injury that led him to pursue a mission of preventing workplace injuries. He discusses his entry into the safety industry, selling safety harnesses and eventually transitioning to the field of health and safety management.

Jackson explains how his passion for health and safety, combined with his interest in sales and marketing, inspired him to start his own business. He describes the challenges of forming relationships with manufacturers as a distributor and the importance of joining industry associations like the Healthcare Industry Distributors Association (Haida) to connect with major manufacturers. Jackson emphasizes the significance of being a diverse supplier and a service-disabled veteran-owned small business, leveraging those advantages to grow his company.

In this episode of The Daily Windup, we explore the crucial role of small businesses in government contracts. Highlighting the reasons why large businesses need small business program directors and subcontractors.

Federal acquisition regulations require the involvement of small businesses in the completion of government projects. Large businesses often rely on small businesses to bring specialized expertise, qualifications, and credentials to various aspects of their work, enhancing their overall offerings. Tune in now to learn more!

In today’s episode, we delve into the complex world of government contracts and cybersecurity challenges. We break down the different certification levels and their requirements for contractors. Level two contracts involve controlled unclassified information, necessitating a level two certification. However, recent changes have exempted level one contracts from third-party certification, requiring only a certification from a C-level executive within the company.

We also emphasize the importance of understanding the definition of controlled unclassified information, which currently lacks clarity and consistency across the government and contractor community. Contractors who opt for self-certification must exercise caution, as they assume the risk and responsibility without the backing of a third-party certification.

Tune in now to learn about preparing for the forthcoming Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) rollout, where the time and effort required for readiness is important.

In this episode of The Daily Windup, I engage in a conversation with a guest about the importance of clearly defining core competencies and specialized services in the world of government contracting. Emphasizing the significance of understanding contract requirements and the importance of thorough reading and comprehension to avoid pitfalls and misunderstandings. We also provide valuable insights into the significance of delivering successful outcomes on initial contracts to establish credibility and foster long-term partnerships with government agencies.

Furthermore, our conversation touches upon the significance of documenting agreements and decisions made during contract discussions, especially in gray areas or touch points that lack specific contractual details. So our advise to small businesses is to keep records of meetings and partnering sessions to refer back to when personnel changes occur within the contracting agency. Listen now to learn more!

In this episode of the GovCon Giants Podcast, I’m breaking down a seismic shift that’s about to transform government contracting in 2025. Over the last few months, I’ve had conversations with agency leaders and top contractors—and there’s one message that’s loud and clear: the rules of the game are changing. This isn’t about small tweaks to the FAR. This is a full-blown reset on how billions of dollars in federal funds will be deployed to innovative small businesses like yours.

From OTAs to new intermediary pathways and faster funding mechanisms, I’ll show you exactly how to position yourself before these opportunities hit the street. Whether you’re brand new or have years of past performance, this episode is your roadmap to getting ahead of the curve. Stop waiting, stop second-guessing—2025 is the year to take your place in the new era of government contracting.

On this episode of GovCon Giants, I’m diving deep into one of the biggest shifts we’ve seen in federal contracting in recent years. I sat down with Chelsea Meggitt—federal contracting strategist, author, and someone who knows this space inside and out—to talk about a powerful Executive Order that’s opening up brand-new opportunities for small businesses. If you’re tired of waiting on slow, traditional FAR-based contracting processes, this episode is going to open your eyes.

We’re talking fast-track pathways, non-FAR vehicles, and how to position yourself before an RFP ever drops. Chelsea and I unpack how to build real relationships with government buyers, shape requirements in your favor, and even outcompete the big primes. Whether you’re just breaking into federal work or looking for a smarter way to scale, this conversation will give you a competitive edge most people don’t even know exists.

Chelsea’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelseameggitt/ 

Company Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/collaborativecompositions/

Website: https://collaborativecompositions.com/ 

In this episode of The Daily Windup, I interview a successful entrepreneur who shares their inspiring journey from being a consultant to starting their own business. Emphasizing the importance of having startup capital and the various options available to entrepreneurs, such as taking out loans or using personal savings. Our guest also highlights the advantage of working as a consultant to accumulate the necessary funds to launch their business without dipping into personal savings.

We talk about their experience of finding a service-disabled veteran-owned company through a professional connection. Discussing how the opportunity arose for them to run the business development program of the company while also securing an investment in their own venture. This unique partnership resulted in significant growth for both companies, with our guest’s expertise and relationships contributing to the expansion of the service-disabled veteran-owned company. Listen now!

In this episode of The Daily Windup, wee dive deep into the significance of business planning and the value of leveraging free resources for small businesses. Emphasizing the importance of writing a business plan as a starting point to organize thoughts, articulate ideas, and seek validation for a concept. Highlighting the benefits of proof-testing the plan, identifying potential gaps, and gaining external feedback to refine the business strategy.

Our guest also shares their personal experience with utilizing resources like SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) and taking advantage of free courses, classes, and mentorship programs offered by organizations like SCORE and the Small Business Administration (SBA). Emphasizing the value of seeking guidance from experienced mentors and participating in programs that align with their industry or market. Furthermore, we talk about the need for small businesses to explore various free resources available to them and take full advantage of the support and knowledge-sharing opportunities they provide. Tune in now to learn more!

In today’s episode of GovCon Giants, I sit down with Bill Reinsch—Senior Adviser and Chair Emeritus at CSIS and a former Undersecretary of Commerce—to unpack the truth about trade wars, tariffs, and why global uncertainty is rattling supply chains like never before. Bill takes us behind the curtain of U.S. economic policy, drawing from decades of experience in Capitol Hill, the Clinton administration, and working with multinational corporations. Whether you’re importing components, supplying the federal government, or just wondering why your toaster costs more—this conversation is a masterclass.

We talk about the real cost of reshoring, the myth of domestic revival, and why small businesses will feel the pinch the hardest. Bill doesn’t hold back—he breaks down how tariffs are playing out in real-time, why “friend-shoring” might be a smarter bet than “America-only” strategies, and how companies like yours can rethink risk, resilience, and global dependencies. If you want the unfiltered version of what’s really going on in global trade—this is the episode for you.

Today, we’re diving into a massive opportunity with the Air Force that could transform your federal business. We’re breaking down 7 critical technologies the Air Force is actively seeking, with over $200 million in contracting opportunities through our consortium.

If you’re a technology company looking to break into defense contracting or expand your current footprint, this episode is crucial for you. We’ll show you exactly how to position your company to win these opportunities, even if you’ve never worked with the Air Force before. Let’s dive into today’s episode…