The Peel

Building a Financial Foundation That Lasts with NVSBC's Lauren Masters

On this episode of The Peel Podcast, host Shelley McGuire sits down with ⁠Lauren Masters⁠, Special Events Director at NVSBC, for an inside look at one of the most practical and timely business events of the year: the NVSBC Finance Symposium.
Lauren shares how this symposium has evolved beyond traditional “access to capital” conversations into a full-scale deep dive on financial readiness, wraparound services, and long-term business strategy. From tax planning and accounting to insurance, wealth planning, and building the right advisory team, this event is designed to give small business leaders real tools, not just inspiration.
Listeners will also hear why the in-person format matters, how curated matchmaking and networking will connect attendees with the right experts, and what business owners can expect to walk away with at the end of the day: checklists, frameworks, and a stronger financial foundation to support growth.
To learn more about the NVSBC Finance Symposium and register, ⁠⁠click here⁠⁠.
To connect with Lauren, follow her on LinkedIn ⁠here⁠. Learn more about NVSBC by visiting their website ⁠here⁠.

How Smart Teams Are Adapting. Brittany Winkler on GovDash Insights

David Blackburn recently connected with Brittany Winkler to unpack how data is reshaping the competitive landscape in GovCon, and why more teams are rethinking how they go to market.
Brittany is a go-to-market leader at GovDash, an autonomous AI platform purpose-built for government contractors. GovDash brings capture, proposal development, and contract management into a single end-to-end system, using verified past performance to identify opportunities, guide capture strategy, build compliance matrices, and help teams execute with greater speed and confidence across the full lifecycle.
In her role at GovDash, Brittany is helping publish a growing series of reports and intel briefs that are getting strong attention across the market. These insights dig into expiring task orders, performance risk, shifting burn rates, and broader structural changes impacting incumbents, challengers, and small businesses alike.
In this conversation, David and Brittany explore what those findings mean in practice. They talk through how leaders can spot vulnerability earlier, where opportunity is hiding in plain sight, and how data-driven teams are adapting as competitive dynamics continue to change.
If you want a sharper view into what is happening beneath the surface, and how platforms like GovDash are helping teams stay ahead, this episode is well worth a listen.
Download the report that Brittany talks about here.Get more information about and register for the webinar series discussed in the episode here.
To connect with Brittany, follow her on LinkedIn here.Learn more about GovDash by visiting their webpage here.

GovCon Hot Topics: What Contractors Need to Know Right Now with Eric Nusbaum

In this episode of The Peel, Shelley McGuire is joined by Eric Nusbaum, CEO of ENcompass Consulting Group for a rapid-fire breakdown of the biggest GovCon acquisition updates shaping the market right now. Known for his clear-eyed take on industry trends, Eric walks through what contractors need to know, and do, about Army MAPS, the AFRL MAC IDIQ, GSA MAS Refresh 31, the cancellation of CIO SP4, and the next phase of MDA Shield.
From fast-approaching proposal deadlines and new certification requirements to major shifts in GSA reporting and the ripple effects of CIO SP4’s cancellation, this conversation cuts through the noise with practical guidance. Eric shares where opportunity still exists, how companies should reposition quickly, and why proactive business development matters more than ever in a crowded IDIQ landscape.
If you’re trying to keep pace with fast-moving federal acquisitions in 2026 and figure out where to focus your time and resources, this episode delivers timely insight and actionable perspective straight from the front lines of GovCon strategy.
To connect with Eric, visit him on LinkedIn here.To learn more about ENcompass Consulting Group, visit their website here.

More Than a New Logo: Reimagining Identity in GovCon with Barqat Bari

On this episode of The Peel Podcast, host Shelley McGuire is joined by Barqat Bari, Founder and CEO of Xemplify IT, to talk about what it really means to rebrand with purpose. Known for delivering enterprise-scale IT modernization across complex federal environments like NIH and NASA, Barqat shares the story behind transitioning from a deeply personal company identity to a brand built around mission, people, and future growth.
The conversation explores why companies choose to rebrand, how leadership and employee buy-in shape that journey, and what it takes to introduce a new identity without confusing customers or the market. Barqat discusses how Xemplify IT’s evolution reflects a shift from labor-based services to innovation-driven solutions and how that shift is opening doors to new markets, including Maryland’s growing life sciences ecosystem.
To connect with Barqat, follow him on LinkedIn here.Learn more about Xemplify IT by visiting their website here.

Trust, Data, and the Future of Generative AI with IntelliDyne's Austin Keller

On this episode of the The Peel, host Shelley McGuire sits down with Austin Keller, Director of Data Science at IntelliDyne, to unpack some of the most misunderstood concepts in artificial intelligence. With a background that spans secure generative AI, Navy operational analytics, public health, and veteran suicide prevention, Austin brings both technical depth and real-world perspective to the conversation.
The episode dives into timely questions around AI reliability, including what “hallucinations” really mean in AI systems and why they occur. Shelley and Austin explore how techniques like retrieval-augmented generation help ground AI outputs in real, up-to-date information, and why simply deploying a model isn’t enough, especially in government and healthcare environments where accuracy matters.
Austin explains how AI can best support analysts and practitioners by summarizing, comparing, and organizing massive volumes of data, while still requiring human oversight, validation, and judgment. The conversation highlights where AI excels, where it needs guardrails, and why understanding how these systems work is critical to using them responsibly.
To connect with Austin, follow him on LinkedIn here.Learn more about IntelliDyne by visiting their website here.

Human-First AI in the Federal Space: A Conversation with Alicia Sanchez

On this episode of the The Peel, host Shelley McGuire is joined by Alicia Sanchez, Chief AI Officer at MPF Federal LLC, for an engaging conversation on generative AI, human–AI partnerships, and what readiness really means in today’s federal environment. Drawing from a career that spans research psychology, defense education, innovation leadership, healthcare AI, and now federal consulting, Alicia brings a deeply human-centered perspective to one of today’s most talked-about technologies.
The conversation explores Alicia’s unconventional career journey and how her experiences shaped her approach to AI as a mission enabler rather than a standalone technology. She discusses how agencies can move from AI curiosity and tool experimentation to mission-aligned, measurable outcomes. Together, they unpack what “AI readiness” actually looks like, why workforce willingness matters as much as governance and infrastructure, and how fear, resistance, and uncertainty show up when AI enters the workplace.
The episode also dives into the evolving relationship between humans and AI, asking where automation makes sense, where human judgment must remain central, and how organizations can rethink workflows instead of simply bolting AI onto outdated processes. 
Throughout the episode, Alicia challenges listeners to put strategy before technology, outcomes before tools, and people at the center of AI transformation, offering a thoughtful and forward-looking perspective on how AI can elevate, not replace, the federal workforce.
To connect with Alicia, follow her on LinkedIn here.Learn more about MPF Federal by visiting their website here.

Breaking Down OASIS+ Phase II with Eric Nusbaum

In this episode of The Peel, Shelley McGuire sits down with Eric Nusbaum, CEO of ENcompass Consulting Group for a discussion about OASIS+ Phase II. Eric breaks down the top 10 most frequently asked questions following their recent OASIS Plus webinar. From teaming rules and small business set-asides to joint ventures, QP requirements, and the all-important question of when to submit, this conversation cuts through the confusion with clear, practical guidance. If you’re planning to bid, or thinking about modifying an existing award, this episode is a must-listen.
To connect with Eric, visit him on LinkedIn here.To learn more about ENcompass Consulting Group, visit their website here.

Building Purpose Into Business: Leadership, Values, and Philanthropy with Shelley Gold and Allyn Finegold

On this episode of The Peel, host Shelley McGuire kicks off the new year with two familiar leaders from the CMS and GovCon community who are stepping into entrepreneurship: Shelley Gold, CEO of Gold Business and Consulting Services, and Allyn Finegold, founder of Full Glass Consulting. Drawing on decades of experience across government consulting, healthcare, environmental work, and corporate leadership, the conversation centers on what it really means to build a values-driven business.
The discussion explores why values can’t live only in branding statements or employee handbooks, and how they show up instead in daily leadership decisions, company culture, and long-term strategy. Shelley and Allyn talk about how philanthropy and community engagement can move beyond one-off donations to become a true growth strategy, one that strengthens employee engagement, deepens trust with government clients, and creates authentic partnerships across the ecosystem.
The episode also examines why values-driven leadership is especially powerful in government contracting, where mission, relationships, and credibility matter deeply. From embedding purpose into strategic planning and operations, to shifting the mindset around philanthropy as a long-term investment rather than a distraction, the conversation highlights how companies can align business success with meaningful impact.
To connect with Shelley, follow her on LinkedIn here.
To connect with Allyn, follow her on LinkedIn here.Learn more about Full Glass Consulting by visiting their website here.

Navigating CMMC with Confidence. ISI’s Proven Model

David Blackburn, CEO of OrangeSlices, recently sat down with John Nolan, Vice President of IT Operations at ISI, for a practical conversation on what defense contractors are facing right now.
 
ISI supports more than 900 defense contractors with CMMC and NIST compliance, FSO services, facility and personnel clearances, and managed IT and cybersecurity. Together, David and John cut through the noise to focus on real-world risks and decisions leaders are being forced to make.
 
The discussion explores the consequences of delaying CMMC readiness, whether competitors are capitalizing on cyber and compliance gaps, and how today’s market conditions are reshaping how companies think about risk, readiness, and long-term competitiveness.
 
This episode is a clear-eyed look at compliance not as a checkbox, but as a strategic factor in protecting contracts, reputation, and future growth.
 
To connect with John, follow him on LinkedIn here.Learn more about ISI by visiting their webpage here.

Celios.ai. Jason Hunt on IntePros Federal’s Different AI Bet

In this brief conversation, we sit down with Jason Hunt, Vice President of AI Solutions at IntePros Federal, to dig deeper into Celios.ai, a purpose-built, next-generation AI platform designed for both federal and commercial environments.
 
Celios.ai stood out as a community-selected showcase platform winner at the recent Elev8 & Engage event, where more than a thousand attendees highlighted it as one of the most compelling solutions on display. That recognition sparked this follow-up conversation.
 
Jason shares what makes Celios.ai different. From why the team is betting on small language models over large language models, to how that decision enables more secure, efficient, and mission-aligned outcomes, this discussion explores a deliberate approach to AI that goes beyond simply wrapping existing LLMs. It is a look at innovators choosing a different course, and building what comes next with intention.
 
To connect with Jason, follow him on LinkedIn here.Learn more about IntePros Federal by visiting their webpage here.