Month: July 2019

Beverly Kuykendall, President of Government Business, leads AMD’s expansion into key areas aligned with the firm’s long-term strategic goals. She has a background in relationship development and government contracting, and brings a facilitative approach to understanding and proposing solutions to difficult economic issues.

In March 2016, AMD was awarded a $1.2 billion government contract for the provision of medical supplies to more than 60 VA Medical Centers from Florida to Maine.

Throughout a career that has spanned more three decades, Ms. Kuykendall has earned numerous honors including being named one of the 50 Most Powerful Minority Women in Business and Entrepreneur of the Year by the Black Business Association of Los Angeles. Her relationship-driven, facilitative approach and keen understanding of economic issues has resulted in the development of key initiatives involving organizations in both the private and public sectors.

For Show Notes visit: https://govcongiants.org/podcast/

Orlando Epinosa is the recipient of the U.S Small Business Administration South Florida District and State of Florida Small Business Advocate of the year for 2016 and 2018. In this episode, we talk about the SBA Emerging Leaders program as well as other valuable resources.

Orlando is the co-founder of Emineo Media, an organization that designs, develops and implements business and outreach curriculums for government agencies, municipalities and organizations to market their brand by educating and training businesses. He speaks on brand-building entrepreneurship, leadership, sales and marketing.

For Show Notes visit: https://govcongiants.org/podcast/

Today’s guest was gracious enough to take time out of his busy schedule as the newly-appointed SBA regional administrator, to talk with us. Ashley D. Bell was appointed Feb. 2018, by the White House, to serve as regional administrator for the US Small Business Administration, Region IV, serving nine district locations and eight southeastern states, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

In today’s interview, we discuss the decline of the 8a program, the new measures him and his team are putting together to curb that decline, and we briefly talk about the Opportunity Zones and funds instituted last year, and how small business owners should be taking advantage of them.

For show notes visit:  www.govcongiants.com/podcast/

Donnie Harris, former senior contracting officer with an unlimited warrant, meaning he could sign off at any size contract. Over the course of his 20 years in government he managed complex and high-profile procurements totaling over $3 billion, that’s billion with a B, from the acquisition phase to the pre-award for three DC agencies.

His government customers where Mr. Harris provided procurement support included the Internal Revenue Service, Federal Aviation Administration, the Veterans Administration, Food and Drug Administration, Commerce, SBA, Department of Homeland Security, Coast Guard, DOE, National Institutes of Health, and the Department of Labor.

What I like the most about this interview with Mr. Harris was that he shared some truths about how the government works from the inside. These are things that are rarely heard outside of the government workplace.

For show notes: www.govcongiants.com/podcast

Dr. Karen Vieira owns The Med Writers, is an author and speaker. The Med Writers formed in 2011, writes content for medical and scientific clients in the fields of pharmaceutical, healthcare, supplement, and biotech.

Her doctorate is in biomedical sciences, with a Masters in Management. Last year, she was awarded the Small Business Administration Miami’s Women-Owned Small Business Person of the Year.

Her company writes capability statements and proposals for many companies, tools we all need in our arsenal. She’s a doctor/CEO, something that I’ve rarely heard of before.

In this episode, we talk about self-doubt, lessons learned, and what it takes to write proposals for other people.

For show notes visit: www.govcongiants.com/podcast