GovCon Executive Slice

CEO Perspectives: How GovCon Leaders Are Adapting with Leah Sanders, Naveen Krishnamurthy, and Tim Borchert

OrangeSlices recently hosted a new episode in our CEO Perspectives podcast series, bringing together three exceptional leaders from across the GovCon community for a candid conversation about what it takes to compete and lead in today’s evolving federal market.
Joining the discussion were ⁠Leah Sanders⁠, CEO of D&G Solutions, ⁠Naveen Krishnamurthy⁠, CEO of RIVA Solutions, and ⁠Tim Borchert⁠, CEO of Tria Federal. Each of these organizations was recently recognized as a 2026 Elev8[X] finalist, emerging from a pool of more than 1,200 companies nominated and evaluated across the federal contracting ecosystem.
These are companies that have built strong reputations supporting some of the government’s most critical missions. D&G Solutions continues to distinguish itself as a people-first, mission-driven logistics and supply chain partner supporting defense and homeland security customers. RIVA Solutions has earned recognition as a leader in digital transformation, helping agencies modernize through DevSecOps, cloud, data and analytics, and cybersecurity across federal civilian, national security, and health markets. And Tria Federal, with nearly two decades of mission support experience, remains a trusted partner delivering digital services and technology solutions that help agencies better serve veterans, service members, and civilians.
The conversation was moderated by ⁠Eric Mothershead⁠, Senior Partner at The Baldwin Group, whose questions helped spark a thoughtful exchange among the CEOs as they unpacked some of the most timely issues facing federal contractors today.
During the session, the leaders shared how they are adapting their organizations to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving GovCon market. The conversation touched on operational shifts, changing expectations for leadership and workforce performance as efficiency pressures grow, how companies are balancing innovation investments such as AI and automation with stronger margin discipline, and the harder shifts federal contractors will need to make over the next few years that the industry is not yet talking about enough.
Throughout the discussion, Sanders, Krishnamurty, and Borchert offered practical insights drawn from leading organizations that support complex missions across defense, homeland security, federal civilian, and health sectors. The exchange included thoughtful perspectives, honest reflections on current market pressures, and a bit of lively back and forth as the group explored where the market may be headed next.
For CEOs, founders, and growth-minded executives across the GovCon community, this episode offers a chance to hear directly from leaders who are building successful organizations while navigating many of the same challenges others in the market are facing today. If you are looking for real-world perspective from peers who are shaping the market while keeping it honest about the opportunities and headwinds ahead, this is an episode well worth the listen. 🎙️
Connect with our guests and moderator: ⁠Leah Sanders⁠ | ⁠D&G Solutions⁠ ⁠Naveen Krishnamurthy⁠ | ⁠RIVA Solutions⁠ ⁠Tim Borchert⁠ | ⁠Tria Federal⁠ ⁠Eric Mothershead⁠ | ⁠The Baldwin Group⁠

CEO Perspectives: How GovCon Leaders Are Adapting

OrangeSlices recently hosted a new episode in our CEO Perspectives podcast series, bringing together three exceptional leaders from across the GovCon community for a candid conversation about what it takes to compete and lead in today’s evolving federal market.
Joining the discussion were Leah Sanders, CEO of D&G Solutions, Naveen Krishnamurthy, CEO of RIVA Solutions, and Tim Borchert, CEO of Tria Federal. Each of these organizations was recently recognized as a 2026 Elev8[X] finalist, emerging from a pool of more than 1,200 companies nominated and evaluated across the federal contracting ecosystem.
These are companies that have built strong reputations supporting some of the government’s most critical missions. D&G Solutions continues to distinguish itself as a people-first, mission-driven logistics and supply chain partner supporting defense and homeland security customers. RIVA Solutions has earned recognition as a leader in digital transformation, helping agencies modernize through DevSecOps, cloud, data and analytics, and cybersecurity across federal civilian, national security, and health markets. And Tria Federal, with nearly two decades of mission support experience, remains a trusted partner delivering digital services and technology solutions that help agencies better serve veterans, service members, and civilians.
The conversation was moderated by Eric Mothershead, Senior Partner at The Baldwin Group, whose questions helped spark a thoughtful exchange among the CEOs as they unpacked some of the most timely issues facing federal contractors today.
During the session, the leaders shared how they are adapting their organizations to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving GovCon market. The conversation touched on operational shifts, changing expectations for leadership and workforce performance as efficiency pressures grow, how companies are balancing innovation investments such as AI and automation with stronger margin discipline, and the harder shifts federal contractors will need to make over the next few years that the industry is not yet talking about enough.
Throughout the discussion, Sanders, Krishnamurty, and Borchert offered practical insights drawn from leading organizations that support complex missions across defense, homeland security, federal civilian, and health sectors. The exchange included thoughtful perspectives, honest reflections on current market pressures, and a bit of lively back and forth as the group explored where the market may be headed next.
For CEOs, founders, and growth-minded executives across the GovCon community, this episode offers a chance to hear directly from leaders who are building successful organizations while navigating many of the same challenges others in the market are facing today. If you are looking for real-world perspective from peers who are shaping the market while keeping it honest about the opportunities and headwinds ahead, this is an episode well worth the listen. 🎙️
Connect with our guests and moderator:Leah Sanders | D&G SolutionsNaveen Krishnamurthy | RIVA SolutionsTim Borchert | Tria FederalEric Mothershead | The Baldwin Group

GovDash, Agentic AI, and the Bold Future of GovCon. A Conversation with Sean Doherty

Fresh off a breakout year and a $30M Series B raise, Sean Doherty joins David Blackburn for a timely conversation about the future of AI in government contracting.
As CEO of GovDash, Sean has helped scale the company from an AI native business development tool into a full scale, AI driven platform supporting capture, proposal, pricing, and contract workflows across nearly 200 contractors, including firms inside the top 100 federal market. Revenue surged 16x. The team expanded rapidly. FedRAMP Moderate Equivalency was achieved. And customers collectively won more than $5B in contracts in 2025.
In this episode, Sean shares what is really happening behind that growth and where GovDash is heading next.
We dig into:
The launch of a new Pricer product and how it could reshape pricing strategy and competitive positioning• A major upgrade to GovDash’s opportunity identification algorithm, built to surface true good fit pursuits faster• Expanded agentic capabilities inside Dash, enabling teams to spin up and automate complex workflows across the business• One bold prediction about where GovCon AI platforms are heading and what the broader federal market could look like in 2027
If you want to understand how one of the fastest growing AI platforms in GovCon is thinking about scale, product evolution, and the next phase of the market, this is a conversation worth your time.
To connect with Sean, follow him on LinkedIn here.Learn more about GovDash by visiting their webpage here.

The Discipline Behind FHAS with Jim Bobeck

On this episode of GovCon Executive Slice, Shelley McGuire chats with Jim Bobeck, CEO of FHAS Inc., shares how a 30-year-old company has remained a trusted small business in the federal healthcare space while navigating constant change in government contracting.
An attorney by background and a longtime leader at FHAS, Jim explains how the company built its reputation around a clear niche, medical legal reviews and coverage determinations, and a disciplined, repeatable process that delivers measurable outcomes. In today’s environment, where agencies face increased scrutiny, regulatory complexity, and a shift toward firm-fixed-price contracts, he emphasizes that the government isn’t buying hours anymore; it’s buying operational peace of mind.
Jim also discusses how FHAS is adapting to evolving requirements around interoperability, security, and AI-enabled services. After decades of primarily operating as a subcontractor, the company is expanding its footprint and investing in a health intelligence platform designed to turn medical coverage data into actionable insights for federal programs.
The conversation highlights what it takes to stay relevant in FedHealth: focus on your niche, build trust through outcomes, form the right partnerships, and continuously evolve without losing sight of who you are.
To connect with Jim, follow him on LinkedIn here.Learn more about FHAS by visiting their webpage here.

Showing Up With Intention to GovCon Events with Stacey Piper

On this episode of GovCon Executive Slice, David Blackburn welcomes Stacey Piper, Founder and CEO Piper Strategies and host of the Branding the Beltway podcast, to talk about what it really takes to stand out at GovCon events. The conversation digs into how companies show up, get noticed, and leave a lasting impression in crowded rooms.
Stacey challenges the idea that branding at events starts and ends with logoed shirts and booths, emphasizing that personal presence is often the most powerful brand touchpoint. The discussion explores how intentional details, individuality, and coordination across teams can elevate visibility, start conversations, and create memorability, whether at large-scale conferences or smaller networking gatherings.
The episode offers a fresh perspective on event branding, highlighting why thoughtful, human-centered brand expression matters just as much as traditional marketing tactics in the GovCon space.
To connect with Stacey, follow her on LinkedIn here. Learn more about Piper Strategies by visiting their webpage here.

Running the Full-Court Press on Growth with Krystn Macomber of Summit Strategy

In this episode, David Blackburn sits down with Krystn Macomber, Founder and CEO of Summit Strategy and one of the most respected voices in GovCon growth. Krystn has spent more than twenty years transforming marketing, business development, and proposal teams into true revenue engines. She has partnered with companies from early stage to global scale, building the systems, processes, and brand alignment they need to stop reacting and start winning. She leads Summit Strategy’s work as a win studio for growth-obsessed teams while giving back as a mentor and industry leader across major organizations. Krystn is also a 2026 Engage 150 honoree and a former Division I basketball player for the University of Richmond Spiders.
 
Today we will dig into the fundamentals she wishes every new GovCon-curious business owner understood, how to approach proposal improvement when you do not know where to start, and the patterns she has seen across hundreds of companies that either fuel growth or hold teams back.
 
Click here to watch The Great Proposal Bake Off: AI Edition referenced during the interview.
 
To connect with Krystn, follow her on LinkedIn here.Learn more about Summit Strategy by visiting their webpage here.

A New Chapter at Red Team Consulting. Blake Harvey on Where GovCon Is Headed

In this conversation, David Blackburn is joined by Blake Harvey, the newly announced President of Red Team Consulting, one of the most trusted institutions in the GovCon market. Blake has been with Red Team since 2018, rising through the ranks and helping shape how contractors approach business development, capture, and long-term growth.
Red Team Consulting has been a steady, respected voice in the federal sector for more than two decades and was recently named a 2026 Elevate GovCon honoree. In his new role, Blake is leading day-to-day execution while helping guide the firm’s strategic direction at a moment when the federal market is changing fast.
This episode dives into Red Team’s leadership transition, what Blake is seeing across the GovCon landscape right now, and how contractors should be thinking about growth, resilience, and positioning as we head deeper into 2026. If you want perspective grounded in experience and real market exposure, this is a conversation worth your time.
To connect with Blake, follow him on LinkedIn here.Learn more about Red Team Consulting by visiting their webpage here.

Selling Smart. Tom Springer of SD Capital on Preparing for the Right Exit

In this episode, David Blackburn sits down with Tom Springer, Managing Partner at SD Capital, for a grounded, experience-driven conversation on what truly drives successful middle-market transactions.
 
Drawing on decades of experience as a business owner, operator, advisor, and former portfolio company CEO, Tom offers a clear-eyed look at how buyers evaluate companies and where sellers often leave value on the table. The discussion goes beyond theory and focuses on the practical realities of preparing for liquidity events, navigating buyer expectations, and aligning transaction strategy with long-term personal and business goals.
 
The conversation explores what buyers prioritize today, how sellers can strengthen their position before entering the market, and why preparation is as much about clarity and timing as it is about financial performance. Tom also shares perspective on working effectively with buyers, managing complexity during a sale process, and avoiding common missteps that can derail outcomes or erode value.
 
This episode is especially relevant for founders and executives considering recapitalization, management buyouts, family transitions, or other monetization paths. It offers thoughtful guidance rooted in real transactions and lived experience, making it a valuable listen for anyone navigating growth, transition, or exit decisions in the middle market.
 
To connect with Tom, follow him on LinkedIn here.Learn more about SD Capital by visiting their webpage here.

Bryon Kroger. Rise8. Rethinking How Defense Software Gets Delivered

David Blackburn, CEO of OrangeSlices AI, recently sat down with Bryon Kroger, CEO of Rise8. The conversation traces Bryon’s journey from his Air Force career to co-founding Kessel Run to now leading Rise8, a company focused on helping large enterprises deliver better software at the speed mission demands.
 
Bryon has been at the center of several major shifts in defense software development, including building the DOD’s first software factory and advancing modern approaches such as continuous Authority to Operate. Today, as CEO of Rise8, he leads an SDVOSB with a fully remote workforce and a growing track record of pairing strong engineering with a product mindset and human-centered design to support critical government and defense missions.
 
In the episode, David and Bryon dig into the gap Bryon saw in the industry, how culture influences mission outcomes, and what it really takes to push digital transformation inside complex bureaucracies. It is a clear, grounded look at the challenges and opportunities ahead for those working to modernize government software, and a conversation worth catching.
 
To connect with Bryon, follow him on LinkedIn here.Learn more about Rise8 by visiting their webpage here.

Christian Ferreira on How Procurement Sciences AI Built Awarded AI to Transform GovCon

In this podcast, David Blackburn connects with ⁠Christian Ferreira⁠, CEO of Procurement Sciences AI. The company is reshaping how government contractors operate in a market that grows more competitive every day. Procurement Sciences AI is the team behind Awarded AI. The first AI native operating system built specifically for GovCon. A platform that unifies opportunity discovery, bid decisions, proposal automation, compliance reviews, and post award delivery inside one secure environment. It is already trusted across the industry, including by nearly a quarter of the Top 100 contractors, and it recently secured a thirty million dollar Series B to accelerate what comes next. Christian’s background in engineering, strategy, and mission focused leadership, shaped in part by his service as a Marine Corps Sergeant, informs the way the company approaches this work. Built by people who have lived the GovCon pain points, Procurement Sciences AI is targeting the core inefficiencies that slow teams down and limit their ability to compete. In this episode, Christian joins to explore the questions every GovCon leader is asking. What is the biggest friction point in the lifecycle and why is AI positioned to change it. Why generic tools like ChatGPT or Copilot cannot carry the depth and compliance needs of federal contracting. What it means to build an AI platform for GovCon rather than retrofit one. And where AI is headed across the lifecycle in the next twelve to twenty four months. If you want a clear, grounded look at how AI will reshape the future of federal contracting, this conversation is one worth your time.
To connect with Christian, follow him on LinkedIn ⁠here⁠.Learn more about Procurement Sciences AI by visiting their webpage ⁠here⁠.