The Peel

Welcome to this M&A focused podcast series, Mastering the Business Exit Journey, featuring Adam McNair. Designed for leaders on both the buy-side and sell-side of government contracting, the series offers real-world insights, strategies, and lessons learned for scaling, selling, or acquiring businesses. Whether you’re just beginning to plan or actively navigating a deal, this series meets you where you are with expert guidance.
Listen to the sixth episode as David Blackburn and Adam tackle a critical question for any business anticipating a transaction: what investments create value, and which ones destroy it? Adam shares lessons from both the buy- and sell-side on how to evaluate spending decisions in people, facilities, platforms, and tools when an exit may be on the horizon. 
From avoiding multi-year commitments that can tank valuation, to negotiating flexibility in leases and subscriptions, to distinguishing between true differentiators and “nice-to-haves,” this conversation offers practical guidance for leaders preparing to scale or sell. They also explore the dangers of vanity projects and commingled side businesses that can complicate or derail a deal, and how to unwind them before diligence begins. This episode helps leaders protect downside risk while positioning their companies for maximum upside.
To connect with Adam, visit his LinkedIn page here.

On this episode of The Peel, Shelley McGuire chats with Jon Lipsky, founder and CEO of J Michael Consulting (JMC), to celebrate the company’s 14th anniversary and talk about what it really takes to build a business that can thrive beyond its founder.
Since its founding in 2011, JMC has made a mark on public health informatics, working with APHL, CDC, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and public health laboratories and agencies, while partnering with many leading health information technology firms. The company provides consulting and support in four main areas: Laboratory Informatics, Data Standards & Interoperability, Project and Program Management, and Surveillance Informatics – always with the goal of bringing science and technology together to impact patient and population health.
With over two decades of IT consulting and project management experience – much of it in public health and informatics supporting CDC and the Association of Public Health Laboratories – Jon shares how a long-term mindset, the right hires, and a culture of shared ownership have fueled JMC’s growth. He opens up about lessons learned along the way: the power of hiring rock stars, the value of taking risks over circling the wagons, and why confidence in recovery is just as important as avoiding failure.
Jon also reflects on navigating funding shifts, pivoting into new markets like private healthcare, and seizing today’s talent-rich environment to strengthen JMC for the future.
To connect with Jon, follow him on LinkedIn here.Learn more about J Michael Consulting by visiting their webpage here.
 

Listen in as David Blackburn has a conversation with Katrina and Chris Koomey, CEO and COO of Thorben Consulting, who share the origin story and evolution of their company, a 100% woman-owned small business helping government agencies transform enterprise systems. From Yellowstone family road trips to two decades of federal IT modernization, they dive into Thorben’s early SAP projects, the company’s shift to cloud and AI solutions, and how they’ve stayed ahead in a rapidly changing technology landscape. They also open up about the challenges and opportunities of federal digital transformation, the art of the possible with AI, and why mastering innovation together is more than a tagline - it’s their way of doing business.
To connect with Katrina, follow her on LinkedIn here.To connect with Chris, follow him on LinkedIn here.Learn more about Thorben Consulting by visiting their webpage here.

Welcome to this M&A focused podcast series, Mastering the Business Exit Journey, featuring Adam McNair. Designed for leaders on both the buy-side and sell-side of government contracting, the series offers real-world insights, strategies, and lessons learned for scaling, selling, or acquiring businesses. Whether you’re just beginning to plan or actively navigating a deal, this series meets you where you are with expert guidance.
The fifth episode in this series features a conversation with David Blackburn and Adam as they dive into one of the least glamorous, but most critical, parts of mergers and acquisitions - compliance. From labor category audits and security clearances to tax exposure, HR policies, and even state-specific benefits laws, Adam shares real-world examples of how overlooked details can derail deals, drain valuation, and rack up legal bills. With practical steps for getting ahead of risks and building trust with buyers, this conversation is a must-listen for leaders preparing to buy, sell, or scale in the GovCon space.
To connect with Adam, visit his LinkedIn page here.

In the third episode of The Real Deal: Winning, Growing, and Exiting in GovCon, Sarah Djamshidi, CEO and Managing Partner of SpeedShift Ventures, and David Blackburn sit down with Gary Daigle from RealmOne to unpack the real playbook behind sustained growth, strategic acquisitions, and seamless integrations in the federal contracting space.
Gary shares RealmOne’s journey from a lean startup in 2005 to a thriving middle-market powerhouse backed by Enlightenment Capital, revealing how culture, creativity, and calculated risks fueled their momentum. From breaking into prime contracts, to using M&A for smart—not just big—growth, to building a workplace that attracts top talent, Gary dives deep into the art and science of scaling.
 
Along the way, he offers candid advice for CEOs of $20–$30M GovCon firms: know your why, prioritize intangibles like culture and leadership, and be ready to pivot when mission priorities shift. Whether you’re eyeing your first acquisition or planning your exit, this conversation delivers the unfiltered insights you need to navigate today’s GovCon market with confidence.
To connect with Gary, follow him on LinkedIn here.Learn more about RealmOne by visiting their webpage here.
To connect with Sarah, visit her LinkedIn page here.Learn more about Speedshift Ventures by visiting their webpage here.

In this episode of The Peel, Shelley McGuire sits down with Dee Bowden,  author and creator of Collect the Cash, to talk about the often-overlooked world of accounts receivable and government contract closeouts. Dee shares her story of recovering $6 million in 60 days for a small IT firm to building a proven four-step framework that helps small and medium-sized businesses solve cash flow problems, recover outstanding invoices, and preserve client relationships. With humor, relatable stories, and real-world examples, Dee explains why the sale is not complete until the money’s in the bank and how mastering problem-solving, customer service, gratitude, and relationship-building can be the difference between thriving and closing your doors.
Whether you’re in government contracting, managing corporate accounts, or just want to make sure you get paid for your hard work, this episode delivers actionable insights with a dose of personality.
To connect with Dee, follow him on LinkedIn here.Learn more about IntelliDyne by visiting their webpage here.

Welcome to this new M&A focused podcast series, Mastering the Business Exit Journey, featuring Adam McNair. Designed for leaders on both the buy-side and sell-side of government contracting, the series offers real-world insights, strategies, and lessons learned for scaling, selling, or acquiring businesses. Whether you’re just beginning to plan or actively navigating a deal, this series meets you where you are with expert guidance.
The fourth episode in this series features a conversation with David Blackburn and Adam to unpack what truly drives value in an acquisition. From the ‘sweet spot’ of delivery maturity to the critical artifacts that prove performance, they explore how leadership structures, resourcing, and customer relationships impact valuation—and why avoiding last-minute ‘coat of paint’ fixes is key. Packed with practical insights, this conversation is a must-listen for any business leader preparing to buy or sell.
To connect with Adam, visit his LinkedIn page here.

In this episode of The Peel, Shelley McGuire sits down with Eric Nusbaum, CEO of ENcompass Consulting Group, to to unpack three of the hottest topics in the GovCon world right now. Eric shares the latest timelines and urgency behind CMMC—why October 2025 could be a game-changing deadline for defense contractors.
He then dives into MDA Shield, a $151 billion, 10-year IDIQ born from the President’s Golden Dome initiative, with an unusually low barrier to entry.
Finally, they discuss the upcoming on-ramping and new domain opportunities for OASIS+, why fall 2025 could be a pivotal time to prepare, and how companies can position themselves to win. Whether you’re a seasoned contractor or looking to pivot into new federal opportunities, this conversation provides insider insights, practical timelines, and clear next steps you can take now.
To connect with Eric, visit him on LinkedIn here.To learn more about ENcompass Consulting Group, visit their website here.

Welcome to this new M&A focused podcast series, Mastering the Business Exit Journey, featuring Adam McNair. Designed for leaders on both the buy-side and sell-side of government contracting, the series offers real-world insights, strategies, and lessons learned for scaling, selling, or acquiring businesses. Whether you’re just beginning to plan or actively navigating a deal, this series meets you where you are with expert guidance.
Thinking about selling your company or growing through acquisition? This third episode lays the groundwork for presenting your business effectively during a transaction.
David Blackburn sits down with GovCon expert Adam McNair to unpack what matters to buyers—beyond just financials. They explore how to confidently present your pipeline, articulate your value in partnerships, and show maturity in operations that build trust with investors.
Whether you're preparing to exit or simply leveling up your business, this is the kind of strategic insight you can’t afford to miss.
To connect with Adam, visit his LinkedIn page here. 

In this episode of The Peel, Shelley McGuire sits down with Todd Margules, Senior VP and Chief Growth Officer at IntelliDyne, a company delivering cutting-edge IT services and solutions to the federal government. With over 20 years of cross-industry leadership, Todd is a client-focused growth strategist, mentor, and team builder, leading the charge in securing new business and ensuring excellence in service delivery.
Todd shares his deep insights into the evolving world of government contracting, from the shift between performance-based and solution-based service models to the increasing demand for innovation and value beyond “butts in seats.” He also unpacks IntelliDyne’s strategic approach to positioning in a competitive market, the importance of partnerships, and how the company is reinventing itself to meet customer needs with advanced tools, agile delivery, and mission-driven service.
Whether you’re a GovCon executive, small business owner, or aspiring BD leader, Todd’s perspective offers both practical takeaways and high-level industry foresight.
To connect with Todd, follow him on LinkedIn here.Learn more about IntelliDyne by visiting their webpage here.