Speakers
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Ms. Troendle is a Managing Director & co-lead’s their Government Technology Solutions practice with KippsDeSanto & Co. and has an extensive background providing government technology and aerospace and defense firms with transaction-related advice.
Prior to joining KippsDeSanto & Co., Ms. Troendle was a Vice President at Bluestone Capital Partners, a boutique investment bank focused on the aerospace, defense, and government services market, where she focused primarily on transaction execution and related advisory services.
Prior to joining Bluestone Capital Partners, Ms. Troendle was in the Aerospace, Defense, and Government Services Investment Banking Group at Stifel, where she worked on M&A engagements as well as equity and debt capital markets transactions.
Ms. Troendle received an M.B.A. from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business and a B.S. from Vanderbilt University with a double major in Political Science and Economics. She is registered with FINRA as a General Securities Registered Representative (Series 7, 63).

Mikhail frequently speaks at industry conferences and has published widely on defense industrial policy, technology adoption and innovation, and procurement reform.
Mikhail serves as an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security. He was one of the founders of The Strategy Bridge and serves on the Board of Globally. Mikhail holds a master’s degree in international security and a bachelor’s degree in political science and history.
Fatima Akhtar

I am an experienced leader in national security with over 20 years of Federal government digital strategy and transformation, program management, technology modernization consulting experience with experience across DHS, DOJ, and State with a focus on FEMA. I lead business development and delivery across our portfolio that spans mission areas and operational support.
Michael Borden

Provides information technology expertise, enterprise strategic planning and management, business process and information technology alignment. Builds and leads high performing teams performing enterprise analysis, systems development and integration, and reengineering support for several federal agencies and programs . Leads the formulation and execution of the overall growth strategy in the law enforcement, national security, finance, aerospace and transportation sectors
Ryan Bissett

I am a PMP-certified Portfolio Manager and ITIL V3 professional with more than 25 years of experience driving organizational growth and operational excellence across the federal government sector. Throughout my career, I’ve led portfolios exceeding $245M in value, built and guided high-performing teams of 100+ professionals, and consistently delivered results through both program execution and new business capture.
My expertise spans P&L management, enterprise IT solution design, and business development, with a proven record of securing major wins—including an 86% success rate on competitive pursuits. I thrive at the intersection of strategy and execution, where I partner with senior stakeholders to qualify billion-dollar pipelines, lead capture efforts, and deliver mission-focused solutions for agencies such as DOJ, DHS, FBI, GSA, and more.
I am passionate about building strong customer relationships, mentoring teams, and creating sustainable growth strategies that align with mission objectives.
Brandi Carter

Results-driven Project Management Professional with extensive experience successfully executing multi-million dollar software development and implementation projects on-time and within budget while maximizing client satisfaction and project profitability.
Proven ability to:
•Manage scope throughout the project lifecycle,
•Establish and monitor revenue projections and budgets for maximum profitability,
•Successfully identify and mobilize resources required for successful project completion,
•Employ comprehensive risk management throughout all phases of the project,
•Continuously improve project processes to ensure effective execution of tasks, and
•Effectively communicate with clients, senior management, and peer managers.
Specialties: Scope Management, Risk Management, Resource Management, Quality Management, Financial Management, Process Improvement, Effective Communication
Suzanne Charleston

Davyd Chung

Dr. Chung is a seasoned senior health executive with over 20 years of experience in business development, strategic growth and partnerships, market expansion, client relations, and Federal Health, leveraging his unique and diverse leadership success in the federal government, academia, and industry. He leads Digital Infuzion’s Growth function including market research and analysis, strategic planning, opportunity pipeline, and proposal development.
Prior to joining Digital Infuzion, Dr. Chung served as Vice President, Strategy and Growth, at DLH Corp., where he was responsible for leading business development across the Federal Health market including Health and Human Services (HHS) and Defense Health Agency (DHA). He helped oversee the business development and capture team and managed $2B+ pipeline, capture, and proposal processes.
Additionally, Dr. Chung held various past roles at NIH including Program Director for the Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and Program Officer for National Institute of Child Health and Human Development’s (NICHD) National Children’s Study.
Dr. Chung received his doctorate in Physiological Molecular Biology and Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Ed Cullen

Over twenty five years’ experience in leading capture, proposal and delivery of large Enterprise IT Operations programs focusing in Cyber Security, Professional Services, Operations and IT Services efficiencies. Executive Director at ManTech leading the EPA Portfolio. Expertise includes Cyber Security Services (Computer Network Defense, Continuous Monitoring, Security Operations Centers, Managed Security Services, Certification and Accreditation, Audit Preparation, Risk/Vulnerability Assessments, COOP and Disaster Recovery); IT Infrastructure Lifecycle Services (including Architecture, Design, Engineering, Testing, Implementation/Deployment services, Operations and Maintenance, Network Management, Telecommunications, and Data Center services); and Program Management of large multi-year performance-based contracts. He received an MBA degree in Management Information System from Johns Hopkins University in 2000 and received a B.S. degree from Western Illinois University in 1983. He holds professional certifications in Project Management, PMP, IT Service Management, ITILv3 Expert and Security Management (Security +).
Grafton deButts

Grafton leads various business development, capture, and marketing initiatives within Strongbridge. He brings over two decades of marketing, development, and government relations experiences to his role and also serves in several leadership positions in industry and locally, including ACT-IAC, PSC, The Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce, and the Loudoun Education Foundation.
Jason Dombrowski

Seasoned DC operative with over a decade of proven experience in the creation, development, and execution of major communications initiatives supporting large government contractors. A highly motivated and accomplished professional with experience integrating marketing, public affairs, and market intelligence to produce results.
Jenn Dougherty

Driving digital transformation, strategy and innovation in the public and private sector. Finding ways to disrupt the status quo in the federal government for the betterment of the country and citizens. Advocate for internal culture change to create a collaborative, communicative, and innovative internal culture to help create a similar environment for the Federal Government.
Amanda Eamich

Experienced digital leader operating at the intersection of experience, strategy and technology to create powerful outcomes for clients in the Federal Civilian marketplace. Focused on growth strategies through partnerships and shaping new requirements for missions that advance every citizen and customer experience. Draw upon experience as a civil servant @USDA, delivery lead growing new marketing and strategy capabilities in a small business before graduating and leading integration through acquisition. Always seeking new opportunities to advance critical missions by blending art and science, and connecting the dots between government and industry leaders.
Charmaine Edwards
Terry Fitzpatrick

Jenn Folsom

Wayne Fong

Wayne Fong is a Managing Director with DRT Strategies,with over eighteen years of experience in managing the operations and delivery of high-profile Federal IT projects and maintaining strong relationships with senior executive clients. He is proficient in strategy/technology alignment, project management, portfolio management, requirements management, and continuous process improvement. Mr. Fong is a certified Project Management Professional (by PMI), ITIL Foundations, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt trained, and holds a Public Trust. Finally, Mr. Fong is a proud Navy Veteran having retired as a Commander from the US Navy.
Maria Gaboury

More than 20 years delivering high-value solutions to the Department of Defense (DoD), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), and commercial environments, including ambulatory and inpatient electronic health records, case management solutions, clinical decision support, and patient health portals. Directed and controlled full acquisition life-cycle delivery of clinical and health resource management solutions. Extensive experience in strategic planning, client account management, sales and business development, portfolio management, implementation, and operations. Skilled in managing highly complex and technical activities requiring integrated project control and effective communication at all organizational levels.
Brenda Girod
Tammy Kimmell-Hammond

Unlocking Opportunities in NASA with Business Development that Drives Results
At Global Exploration Advisors we specialize in guiding companies through the intricate landscape of NASA's business opportunities. We help you identify, qualify, pursue, and win contract opportunities, keeping your sales pipeline healthy. With our tailored strategies and insights, we empower your organization to connect with NASA. Unlike generic consultants we specialize exclusively in NASA business development and offer hands-on detailed support tailored specifically to NASA unique requirements. .
Winning federal contracts starts long before the RFP drops. We help contractors shape opportunities early, strengthen competitive positioning, and make informed pursuit decisions that improve win probability.
We specialize in:
• Business development and market positioning
• Strategic procurement partnerships and outreach
Our personalized advice combines 20 years of NASA experience with practical planning to ensure your team is prepared, compliant, and well-positioned to win NASA projects.
Laurence Hart

I am a Vice President of Consulting Services at CGI Federal, leading digital transformation efforts that drive my clients’ success. I am currently responsible for the overall strategy, growth, and delivery of all IT and consulting solutions at a large Federal agency, having grown the business five-fold over the past five years. During that time, I’ve provided strategic guidance in information governance and led efforts to digitize and automate the agency’s processes.
A proven leader in content management and information governance, I have over two decades of experience solving the challenges organizations face as they implement and deploy information solutions. As the author of Word of Pie, I am a respected voice in the industry and contribute to multiple publications while speaking regularly on how technology can address the challenges people face today and tomorrow.
Over the years, I have led a wide range of projects including digital transformation, records management, BPM, and collaboration for the commercial, non-profit, and public sectors. These projects have spanned multiple content technologies, including Documentum, SharePoint, Sitecore, and Alfresco. They have often involved other enterprise technologies including marketing automation, ERP, and CRM solutions.
Davi Hayes

Davi Hayes joined The Chertoff Group as a Senior Director in April 2024, after leading growth strategy at multiple companies of varying sizes, including Verizon Public Sector and Booz Allen Hamilton.
They specialize in comprehensive Federal Civilian, DOD, and Law Enforcement market assessment, go-to-market strategy, customer relationship engagement and development, partnerships and alliances, as well as Shipley-informed business development and capture best practices.
Davi brings advisory experience across a variety of technology areas, including telecommunications, network and security operations, proactive cybersecurity, application development, data analytics, AI/ML, case management, and technology business management.
Prior to their private sector experience, Davi served as a federal employee for over a decade supporting multiple components of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). During their tenure at Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Office of Finance, Davi oversaw an annual appropriation of over $14 billion, working with subject matter experts, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) analysts, and Congressional staff to formulate and execute the President’s Budget and Congressional Budget Justification documents.
At the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), they administered a portfolio of homeland security grant programs across multiple regions, managed disaster recovery centers, and led the maturation of enterprise-level analytical capabilities to inform senior executive decision-making.
Larry Helm

More than 20 years delivering high-value solutions to the Department of Defense (DoD), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), and commercial environments, including ambulatory and inpatient electronic health records, case management solutions, clinical decision support, and patient health portals. Directed and controlled full acquisition life-cycle delivery of clinical and health resource management solutions. Extensive experience in strategic planning, client account management, sales and business development, portfolio management, implementation, and operations. Skilled in managing highly complex and technical activities requiring integrated project control and effective communication at all organizational levels.
Vince Holloway

Forward-thinking and resourceful Senior Business & Technology Executive offering progressive leadership, general management, compliance, and legal experience delivering information technology and cybersecurity solutions to the defense sector. Excel at converting concepts into action, selling ideas, building consensus among diverse stakeholders, and marshaling resources to produce enterprise value. Trusted leader and former U.S. Army Officer who can build, coach, and empower high-performance teams to consistently surpass stretch goals. Committed to exceeding expectations through active listening, transparent communication, collaborative problem solving, data-driven decision-making, and a calm, lead-by-example style.
Tricia Iveson

April Jones

With over 30 years of Federal IT experience, including 20 years in Client and Business Development with Federal Healthcare Information Technology, and expanding into Management Consulting. Currently, with McKinsey & Company's SHaPE practice, the Client Development Advisor role focuses on facilitating growth and creating impact within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and life sciences sectors.
Previous leadership roles at Xerox, Inc. and General Dynamics Information Technology highlight a track record of driving business development, securing contracts, and fostering relationships. Expertise in healthcare IT growth and Federal contracting ensures contributions that align with organizational goals and mission-critical client needs.
Stefani Jones

I have extensive experience in business development and strategic sales working with U.S. federal civilian government clients. I am a leader across the business development spectrum from client business understanding, opportunity identification, shaping and qualification to pursuit and capture.
Jim Kainz

Kainz serves as ARA’s Director of Business Development and ensures ARA’s current and future growth by maintaining a strong backlog of ARA’s top large opportunities and working with senior managers to ensure effective capture planning and execution for strategic opportunities. He also oversees ARA’s Customer Portfolio Managers (CPMs) and has bolstered ARA’s branding and social media presence. Kainz has a bachelor’s degree in business from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and a master’s degree in Civil Engineering (Structural) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is a licensed Professional Engineer. Prior to leading ARA’s business development efforts, Kainz oversaw R&D projects in conventional and nuclear weapons effects, modeling and simulation, and software development. Prior to joining ARA, Kainz worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Products Laboratory as a research scientist and research program manager.
Van Kirstein

Senior Business Development Executive with strengths in Management of Sales Team, Consultative Solution Selling, Capture Management, Customer Relationship Development, Internal Partnership Development, Sales Life Cycle Execution, Pipeline Management and Forecasting, and Federal Government Procurement, Contracting And Budgeting Expertise. Utilize a progressive yet realistic approach to work with the customer on their journey to today’s compute environment – Cloud, As-a-Service, Cyber, and Data Analytics.
Kitty Klaus

Cecilia Kretz

Experienced Manager with a demonstrated history of working in Public Health infectious diseases at the Federal, State and Local, and non-profit management industry. Skilled in Bioinformatics, Next Generation Sequencing, Molecular Biology, implementing testing capacity and data analysis. Strong professional with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) focused in Molecular Microbiology and Bioinformatics from University of California, Irvine.
Greg Lobbin

Program manager and client delivery executive with over 30 years of experience leading large-scale technology projects and managing teams to deliver results in fast-paced environments. Demonstrated success delivering innovative solutions that drive positive mission outcomes for both government and commercial organizations. Skilled in project management (PMP Certified), team leadership, and stakeholder engagement, with a strong understanding of the Federal IT services industry. Expertise in IT solutions, business strategy, and data analysis. Strong background in client service, leadership, innovation, and transformation, with effective communication skills and a passion for driving results and promoting change.
Sandy Mestre

Sandy Mestre is a seasoned business development executive with over 30 years of diverse experience ranging from fortune 500 companies to startup companies in the federal information technology services marketplace. She has held both direct sales and business development positions in the federal and commercial industry. Ms. Mestre has a proven track record of leveraging relationships within the IT community to drive new sales opportunities and support corporate growth. Ms. Mestre is an active member of the Industry Advisory Council (IAC), AFCEA Energy and a current board member of the Association for Federal Information Resources Management (AFFIRM).
Kim McCarley

With a robust track record, my focus has been on spearheading business development strategies and fostering growth within ACF and social programs. My expertise lies in capture management, market analysis, and partnership cultivation, ensuring profitable revenue streams and market share expansion.
Previously as head of business development at multiple organizations, I honed my skills in contract management and new business development. My contributions included driving initiatives that significantly enhanced service offerings in strategic agencies. Companies have benefited from my strategic guidance in leveraging company-wide capabilities to advance our position in target markets. My professional journey reflects a steadfast commitment to innovating business strategies and building enduring client relationships.
Andrea McCarthy

Andrea C. McCarthy founded HARP in 2013. HARP helps companies grow their Federal business by tapping into our extensive Federal business growth expertise and Government agency knowledge. Andrea built the firm to deliver “on-demand” support in five areas: Business Development, Capture Management, Proposal Support Services, Training and Business Operations.
Andrea works closely with HARP’s vetted and seasoned team of business growth consulting professionals.
A results-oriented business leader, Andrea has 20-plus years of successful Federal business growth experience and know-how. She is highly networked with Federal Government personnel and the Government Contractor community. Andrea and her team understands how to sell technology and solutions to the Federal Government, both to the U.S. Department of Defense and Civilian Agencies. HARP has a specialization in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
Andrea, an award-winning industry expert, is a frequent speaker at Government / Industry events. She plays a leadership role in key industry associations like the Professional Services Council (PSC). Andrea has also raised millions of dollars for charities throughout her career.
Andrea graduated from University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business Strategic Marketing Executive program. She earned her undergraduate degree at Boston University graduating cum laude with Distinction. She was awarded a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Anglo-Irish Literature from Trinity College – Dublin (Ireland).
In her spare time, Andrea loves to travel, garden and spend time with her husband and son and her friends.
Mike “Strike” Messer

Currently Senior Cyber Account Executive supporting growth and development of programs for the Cybersecurity Services and Solutions Line of Business at ICF across DoD, FedCiv, and commercial markets.
Retired 25-year senior US Air Force leader and officer with experience in cyberspace network operations and cyber security at the national level. Led USCYBERCOM's Current Operations Division and Joint Operations Center.
Project Management Profession (PMP) certified. Global Information Assurance Certification in Security Leadership (GSLC). Current TS-SCI clearance and CI polygraph. Six Sigma Black Belt.
Other key areas of experience include aviation (pilot, instructor, evaluator), airfield management, and operations analysis.
Kim Osborn

I connect organizations with ICF's health, regulatory, and contaminated site solution consulting services, including economic and regulatory analysis, human health risk and exposure assessment of chemicals and microbes, and contaminated site reclamation, reuse, and compliance optimization assistance. I am particularly interested in collaboration, conflict resolution, transparent evidence integration, and visualization to support innovation, research, and decision making to achieve prosperity while protecting public health.
Todd Pantezzi

Laura Parsons

Laura Parsons has been helping improve government services and program outcomes for over 20 years, supporting both state and federal government agencies. She has led strategic growth and operations initiatives at programs across the government, including health, civilian and defense agencies. Recognized as one of the Top 50 Women Leaders in KS by "Women We Admire", Laura develops and leads high performing teams with authenticity, humility, and curiosity.
Marybeth Puckace
Marguerite Raaen

Dr. Marguerite Raaen is a recognized innovative executive leader with global business acumen and deep technical knowledge. She has held global leadership roles with corporations such as IBM, Chase Manhattan Bank- NYC, and Cable & Wireless - London, CTO/ CIO with the US DOED, Executive Scientific Appointee with NIH / National Cancer Institute. 2002, Dr. Raaen received US Congressional recognition, as one of the top 5 US Executives, for "Best Practices for Efficient IT Development Processes" by the Federal Government GAO Office. She was the recipient of the prestigious IBM Corporate Strategy Award ; Top Practice Executive, 1994; SW Executive of the Year, 1993; and the Chairman's Eagle Award: Top Employee of the Year, 1989. Throughout her 25-year career with IBM, Dr. Raaen held progressively more responsible executive positions culminating as the Chief of Staff for the CFO of IBM.
Mike Reilly
Rajib Roy

Industry executive with Business Strategy, Capture Management, Price-to-Win, Competitive Intelligence and Systems Engineering experience. Specializing in large, complex federal captures, including $1B+ multi-year pursuits with independent solution estimation/development. Published article, “Strategic Portfolio Management,” at Mission Critical Enterprise Solutions Symposium. Six Sigma/Lean Process Improvement Green Belt & ITIL V3 Foundation Certified. Engineering Leadership Development Program (ELDP) graduate & former Advanced Technical Leadership Program (ATLP) participant at Lockheed Martin.
Dominic Sale

Revolutionizing government services through customer-centric digital transformation.
With 30+ years of public and private sector expertise, I’m on a mission to rebuild trust in government by designing seamless, positive experiences alongside the American people.
Expertise:
• Orchestrating cross-agency partnerships
• Architecting strategic technology transformations
• Navigating complex policy and budget landscapes
• Pioneering human-centric cybersecurity approaches
Empowering government executives to turn visionary ideas into impactful realities.
Ready to redefine the government-citizen relationship through digital excellence.
Roman Schweizer

MJ Sivulich

Crystal Smith

Crystal Smith brings unparalleled experience and a proven ability to drive business growth in diverse sectors, backed by practical wisdom shared through her published work and industry contributions. With over two decades of experience in key account management and business development, this seasoned professional has consistently demonstrated excellence in driving sales and fostering client relationships. Crystal brings a successful track record of managing large teams and generating substantial revenue, and her expertise is further solidified as the published author of No-Fear Sales: A Real-World Guide to Customer-Focused Sales Success, showcasing her thought leadership in the field
Robert Suggs

I offer a vast array of experience in federal government procurement process improvement, business development, Medicare and Medicaid program leadership, and customer acquisition and retention. I am an articulate communicator with an aptitude to establish lasting partnerships across all organizational levels, maintain communication with CMS and HHS agencies, and build a strong network of industry partners.
Jonathan Tarlin

Experienced Business Development professional with a demonstrated history of working in the aerospace & defense and commercial and government information technology and services industries. Skilled in Business Planning, Government Contracting, Financial & Price Analysis, Price to Win, Market Analysis & Strategy, Market Research, Competitive Intelligence, and Mergers & Acquisitions.
Kate Thomas

Results-oriented Information Technology Executive with demonstrated success engaging new accounts and growing strategic clients. Well versed in all aspects of business development, client expansion, and relationship management. Proven ability to communicate with all levels throughout an organization, and utilize exceptional negotiation, relationship management and mentoring skills, to achieve results. Looking for a highly motivated organization that maintains an excellent vision, as well as a positive and realistic methodology for attaining corporate goals.
Chad Thyes

Chad Thyes is a business leader with more than 24 years progressive responsibility in business transformation and experience executing, leading, and supporting mission critical programs. His experience encompasses program implementation, strategic consulting, healthcare IT, contract management, financial management, continuous improvement, and performance analytics.
Mike Vogel

Kriste Webb

More than 35 years' experience providing support in all facets of business development and marketing services, including identifying and targeting opportunities, identifying potential team partners and competitors, developing strategies for new opportunities, managing conferences, and developing marketing materials. Prepares proposals in response to Requests for Proposals (RFPs) issued by commercial and federal government clients. Supports small businesses in a variety of aspects to help them grow and pursue new strategic initiatives, including serving as a counselor with the East Tennessee Procurement Technical Assistance Center. Serves as a volunteer supporting the Professional Services Council (PSC) Vision Forecast and serves on the Executive Advisory Board for the PSC Civilian Agencies Council. Achieved APMP Certification – Foundation Level, and holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix.
Kip Whiteman

Entrepreneur, experienced IT manager, consultant and retired Coast Guard Officer who still gets excited about advancing the mission and business goals of federal government customers. I bring significant insight from my experiences inside the federal government and mix in the best consulting and large systems integration experience to deliver tremendous service and exceptional value. Our small team is well-trained and focused on helping customers achieve their goals.
Mark Youman

Released on Nov. 19, 2024 during the two-day Vision Conference
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