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On October 1, 2024, Lou Kerestesy will share his years of experience with attendees during his breakout session at the Insight Summit presented by Infotrend. Lou's going to discuss Why The Government Hates Reading Proposals, and How To Make It Love Reading Yours, and we dug into it just a little on this episode. Enjoy this conversation, and be sure to join us in Hanover, MD for the Insight Summit and Fiscal New Year's Bash!

About Lou
Lou Kerestesy has 30 years’ experience in government, about half as a government employee and half as a consultant. He was a local government official from 1985-1989 (Portage County, OH) and a Federal Government official from 1989-1997 (USEPA). Lou’s consulting experience includes executive positions in a federal management consulting company, and owning and operating two independent consulting practices.

Are you nourished?

Being nourished means having what you need to achieve growth, sustain health, and generally be in good condition, and that's why I host this program.

Doing business with the U.S. Government is an opportunity that brings great rewards but can also present severe consequences for buyers and sellers. What many see as a viable business opportunity is directly tied to the well-being and security of our Nation.

We'll talk about how to engage, and why. We'll hear from experts from Government and from Industry sharing what they see, and what you should know. In the end, you will have quality insights to leverage as you make your decisions.

- Go-To-Guy

Send a text to GettingFED with Go-To-Guy

We were originally calling this episode "The Photobooth Sponsorship is Mine!!!" but we toned it down just a bit. If you can't tell, this is one of several goofy fun episodes with people we consider framily (Thanks WIPP!). That's right. Business colleagues who have become good friends, so much so that they're stuck with us!

Courtney Fairchild of Global Services is definitely a framily member. She's a founding member of The ASBC circa 2004, and we actually met prior to the birth of The ASBC, and our the birth of our daughter (who is her birthday buddy). She is also one of our biggest fans, and you'll hear some it come out in this episode.

I guess we should mention Global Services is a major sponsor of the October 1, 2025 Insight Summit and Fiscal New Year's Bash in Hanover, MD. The photobooth sponsorship, which she has claimed for every Bash event we've hosted, dating back to 2009! Ready for a little fun? Here we go!

About Courtney
Courtney Fairchild is the Co-Founder, President, and CEO at Global Services. For twenty-five (25) years, Courtney has led her team in obtaining over 3,000 contract awards in excess of $20B in value. Ms. Fairchild provides pro bono services to APEX Accelerators (Formerly Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTAC)) to assist their constituents in learning about selling to the federal government, specifically via the GSA Schedule. Courtney is a Graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program (2017) and SBA’s Emerging Leaders Program (2015) and is the recipient of the following awards: Enterprising Women Award (2017), Women Impacting Policy’s Founder’s Award (2016), SmartCEO’s Brava Award (2015), MEA Magazine’s 50 Women of Influence and Power Award (2011), Washington Business Journal’s Women Who Mean Business Awards – Rising Star Award (2009), and The American Small Business Coalition (ASBC) Member of the Year Award (2008). Ms. Fairchild is Chair of the Board of Directors at Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP). Courtney holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Georgetown University (GU). When she’s not spearheading Global Services’ success, Courtney is running an Instagram account (@thecitruschronicles) for her beloved cat, Citrus.

About Global Services
Global Services helps achieve federal proposal success for government contractors. We have been operating for more than 25 years and we are proud to say that we have helped more than 3,000 businesses and government contractors earn more than $25 billion in contracts. As a small business ourselves, we understand the unique challenges that small busine

Are you nourished?

Being nourished means having what you need to achieve growth, sustain health, and generally be in good condition, and that's why I host this program.

Doing business with the U.S. Government is an opportunity that brings great rewards but can also present severe consequences for buyers and sellers. What many see as a viable business opportunity is directly tied to the well-being and security of our Nation.

We'll talk about how to engage, and why. We'll hear from experts from Government and from Industry sharing what they see, and what you should know. In the end, you will have quality insights to leverage as you make your decisions.

- Go-To-Guy

Send a text to GettingFED with Go-To-Guy

Our keynote session during the 2025 Fiscal Year Insight Summit on October 1st in Hanover, MD, consists of a rock-star panel of government and industry thought leaders sharing their knowledge. One of the members of the Federal Foresight Panel is Dr. John Elder, founder and chairman of the board at Elder Research.

Dr. Elder has been named one of the "10 most influential people in Analytics". He's authored innovative data mining tools, is a frequent keynote speaker, and has chaired international Analytics conferences. His courses on analysis techniques -- taught at dozens of universities, companies, and government labs -- are noted for their clarity and effectiveness. Dr. Elder was honored to serve for 5 years on a panel appointed by President Bush to guide technology for National Security.

On this edition of GettingFED™ with Go-To-Guy, Dr. Elder shares a few insights in advance of his participation on the Federal Foresight Panel on 10/1. Enjoy!

About Elder Research
Founded in 1995, Elder Research is a recognized leader in data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence consulting, helping government agencies and Fortune Global 500® companies solve real-world problems in diverse industry segments.

About Dr. Elder
Dr. John Elder founded Elder Research, America’s largest and most experienced data science consultancy in 1995. With offices in Charlottesville VA, Baltimore MD, Raleigh, NC, Washington DC, and London, they’ve solved hundreds of challenges for commercial and government clients by extracting actionable knowledge from all types of data. Dr. Elder co-authored three books — on practical data mining, ensembles, and text mining — two of which won “book of the year” awards. John has created data mining tools, was a discoverer of ensemble methods, chairs international conferences, and is a popular workshop and keynote speaker.

Are you nourished?

Being nourished means having what you need to achieve growth, sustain health, and generally be in good condition, and that's why I host this program.

Doing business with the U.S. Government is an opportunity that brings great rewards but can also present severe consequences for buyers and sellers. What many see as a viable business opportunity is directly tied to the well-being and security of our Nation.

We'll talk about how to engage, and why. We'll hear from experts from Government and from Industry sharing what they see, and what you should know. In the end, you will have quality insights to leverage as you make your decisions.

- Go-To-Guy

Send a text to GettingFED with Go-To-Guy

If you haven't had an opportunity to sit down with Chuck Dickens of IT Availability yet, you are missing out. Chuck is one of the nicest and most sincere people around, in and out of federal contracting. He is also a successful Fedpreneur, a/k/a a federal employee or military member who has transitioned from service to our Nation, to starting their own business, or going to work for an organization associated with federal contracting.

Chuck and several from the IT Availability team will be joining us at the Insight Summit on October 1st as one of our major sponsors, for the second straight year. Listen in as Chuck and I talk about the Insight Summit and the Fiscal New Year's Bash that follows. and how he and his team will participate and help us ring in the new fiscal year. Enjoy!

About Chuck Dickens

Mr. Charles L. Dickens is the founder and managing director of the professional services firm, IT Availability. He is responsible for helping his clients with tailoring the delivery of innovative solutions for managing the risks in cyber security and IT operations, the implementation of new technologies and business strategies, and facilitating transformational changes in organizations that result in seamless integration.

Mr. Dickens served as a senior executive leader at a premier intelligence agency in Global IT Operations and has an accomplished record of 35 years of experience working across the Intelligence Community. Prior to founding IT Availability, he lived and worked in Africa, Asia, South/Central America, and conflict zones to deliver new capabilities in support of the mission. He has an exceptional reputation for leading strategic changes with measurable results. He is known in the Intelligence Community as a “closer” who mentors and inspires others around him.

Mr. Dickens earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Professional Management with a minor in Business Management from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He also earned a Master of Public Administration Degree from the University of Oklahoma. He has extensive training record of courses from MIT, University of Maryland, Harvard, and the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management.

About IT Availability

IT Availability is a mission focused information technology firm, led by former senior technology executives from the US Intelligence Community. Our technical professionals have a superior record of achievement in implementing new technology, mitigating cyber risk, and ensuring data integrity across all levels of the process. We have experts in every aspect of the global IT environment from satellite and terrestrial communications, network operations and monitoring, cyber security, software development, data center services and utility infrastructure. What sets us apart is our deep understanding of our IC customers’ mission needs and our unique ability to deliver real solutions to achieve meaningful

Are you nourished?

Being nourished means having what you need to achieve growth, sustain health, and generally be in good condition, and that's why I host this program.

Doing business with the U.S. Government is an opportunity that brings great rewards but can also present severe consequences for buyers and sellers. What many see as a viable business opportunity is directly tied to the well-being and security of our Nation.

We'll talk about how to engage, and why. We'll hear from experts from Government and from Industry sharing what they see, and what you should know. In the end, you will have quality insights to leverage as you make your decisions.

- Go-To-Guy

Send a text to GettingFED with Go-To-Guy

On October 1, 2024, The ASBC will host the 2025 Fiscal Year Insight Summit presented by Infotrend in Hanover, MD. This is two events in one with the Federal Foresight Keynote Panel and breakout sessions during the day, and the Fiscal New Year's Bash beginning at 5:30 PM. In this episode of GettingFED, I talk with Brian Lindholm of FedSavvy Strategies about the power of Recognizing Trends in Award Debriefs and Protests to Strengthen Decision-Making. That's the topic he'll discuss October 1st, and why it matters is because it can boost how effective your pursuit and capture decisions are, and it can reduce drag on your business development process as a whole. Listen up and see what you think, and then plan to see Brian at the Insight Summit on October 1st.

About Brian

Brian Lindholm is the Founder and Managing Principal of FedSavvy Strategies. With over 20 years in the industry, Brian has experience as a business developer, marketer, and consultant for companies that have succeeded in the federal market. Prior to launching FedSavvy Strategies, Brian worked at URS Corporation (URS, now AECOM), a Fortune 500 engineering, construction, and technical services company. He served as the Director of Marketing Communications and Research for URS’ Federal Services (now Amentum) business line generating over $2.5 billion a year.

Brian served six years on active duty in the U.S. Navy as a Supply Corps officer at multiple duty stations, to include a tour onboard the USS WASP (LHD-1). As the Supply Department Head at the Navy Recruiting Orientation Unit, Brian was instrumental in working across all Navy Recruiting Districts, Headquarters, and contractors to implement a new methodology to inspire young people to join the U.S. Navy. His military awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. Brian holds a BS in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a MBA from George Mason University.

Are you nourished?

Being nourished means having what you need to achieve growth, sustain health, and generally be in good condition, and that's why I host this program.

Doing business with the U.S. Government is an opportunity that brings great rewards but can also present severe consequences for buyers and sellers. What many see as a viable business opportunity is directly tied to the well-being and security of our Nation.

We'll talk about how to engage, and why. We'll hear from experts from Government and from Industry sharing what they see, and what you should know. In the end, you will have quality insights to leverage as you make your decisions.

- Go-To-Guy

Send a text to GettingFED with Go-To-Guy

On October 1, 2024, The ASBC will host the 2025 Fiscal Year Insight Summit presented by Infotrend in Hanover, MD. This is two events in one with the Federal Foresight Keynote Panel and breakout sessions during the day, and the Fiscal New Year's Bash beginning at 5:30 PM. Lauren Oliver of Accenture Federal Services is a futurist I connected with to moderate the keynote panel. I made the right choice, and you'll think so, too. Enjoy!

Are you nourished?

Being nourished means having what you need to achieve growth, sustain health, and generally be in good condition, and that's why I host this program.

Doing business with the U.S. Government is an opportunity that brings great rewards but can also present severe consequences for buyers and sellers. What many see as a viable business opportunity is directly tied to the well-being and security of our Nation.

We'll talk about how to engage, and why. We'll hear from experts from Government and from Industry sharing what they see, and what you should know. In the end, you will have quality insights to leverage as you make your decisions.

- Go-To-Guy

Send a text to GettingFED with Go-To-Guy

On October 1, 2024, The ASBC will host the 2025 Fiscal Year Insight Summit presented by Infotrend in Hanover, MD. This is two events in one with the Federal Foresight Keynote Panel and breakout sessions during the day, and the Fiscal New Year's Bash beginning at 5:30 PM. Stephen Yuter of BrainGu is one of the Insights Sessions speakers selected by our Summit Planning Committee, and he dropped by to share a little about his session topic: Bid or No Nid? RFP Strategies and Best Practices for Government and Industry. Take a listen, and then plan on being there October 1st to engage him, and the other presenters.

About Stephen

Stephen J. Yuter is currently a Vice President at BrainGu, a hypergrowth defense technology company supporting both federal and commercial sectors. As part of the Executive Leadership Team, Mr. Yuter oversees all aspects of contracts, risk management, and compliance. In his previous roles as Principal with Booz Allen Hamilton, Senior Vice President with FleishmanHillard, and Chief Contracts Strategist with Deloitte, he provided invaluable insights into shaping and strengthening go-to market strategies to support exponential growth across their respective Public Sector practices. As a former member of the Senior Executive Service (SES), Mr. Yuter provided executive leadership for operations, policy, and workforce development across several civilian and defense agencies, and served as source selection authority for over $10B of contracts.

Mr. Yuter holds a B.S. in Marketing and Business Administration from Florida Atlantic University, an M.S. in Management from the Florida Institute of Technology, a Master's Certificate in Government Contracting from George Washington University, and a Certificate in Executive Leadership from Cornell University. He currently holds numerous professional certifications including the CPCM, CFCM, and PMP. Mr. Yuter is an adjunct faculty member at both the University of Virginia and The Public Contracting Institute.

Are you nourished?

Being nourished means having what you need to achieve growth, sustain health, and generally be in good condition, and that's why I host this program.

Doing business with the U.S. Government is an opportunity that brings great rewards but can also present severe consequences for buyers and sellers. What many see as a viable business opportunity is directly tied to the well-being and security of our Nation.

We'll talk about how to engage, and why. We'll hear from experts from Government and from Industry sharing what they see, and what you should know. In the end, you will have quality insights to leverage as you make your decisions.

- Go-To-Guy

Send a text to GettingFED with Go-To-Guy

I shared a poll on LinkedIn to get feedback about pre-award protests to understand what would trigger someone to pursue that course of action. After receiving 54 votes from Industry and Government, the results indicated evaluation criteria as the top reason for those responding. Responses were submitted by small and large companies, and representatives of federal agencies, too.

One of those responding to the poll was Jaime Gracia. At the time of his response, he was a procurement official at U.S. Department of State. Today, he is back in industry, but still bringing insights to benefit stakeholders on both sides. Enjoy!

About Jaime

With over 20 years of progressive experience in federal procurement, Mr. Jaime Gracia is a visionary leader and a subject matter expert in delivering innovative, cutting-edge acquisitions, training, projects, and programs for public and private sector clients.

His most recent public sector role was being the Director of Strategic Enterprise Programs in the Center for Acquisition Experience (CAE) at the U.S. Department of State, where he led the new Acquisition Experience (AcqX) program across the Department, defining and enhancing the perceptions and touchpoints of professionals, customers, and stakeholders with the acquisition ecosystem. He also spearheaded the Industry Liaison Program, the Cognitive Procurement Program for RPA, ML, and AI tools, and the OMB programs for Category Management, Vendor Management, and Value Engineering.

His continuing mission is to transform the procurement culture and create agile contract solutions that enable effective and efficient service delivery and value creation.

Are you nourished?

Being nourished means having what you need to achieve growth, sustain health, and generally be in good condition, and that's why I host this program.

Doing business with the U.S. Government is an opportunity that brings great rewards but can also present severe consequences for buyers and sellers. What many see as a viable business opportunity is directly tied to the well-being and security of our Nation.

We'll talk about how to engage, and why. We'll hear from experts from Government and from Industry sharing what they see, and what you should know. In the end, you will have quality insights to leverage as you make your decisions.

- Go-To-Guy