GovCon Executive Slice

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Welcome to GovCon Executive Slice, the podcast where we hear perspectives from leaders who’ve built, scaled, and delivered while shaping the future of government contracting. Each episode features candid conversations with those who share insights on their company’s growth, challenges they’ve overcome, and the personal milestones that drive their success. From innovation and strategy to leadership and legacy, we uncover the stories behind the titles.

  1. RELI Group CEO Mohammad Elias and CVP CEO Anirudh Kulkarni on Positioning for the Next Wave of Federal Innovation

    4D AGO ·  VIDEO

    RELI Group CEO Mohammad Elias and CVP CEO Anirudh Kulkarni on Positioning for the Next Wave of Federal Innovation

    Some companies talk about transformation. Others are actually delivering it at scale across the federal market. In this episode of CEO Perspectives, we sit down with two leaders who are doing exactly that. Mohammad Elias, CEO of RELI Group, and Anirudh Kulkarni, CEO of CVP, are building organizations that don’t just support government missions. They help execute them, reaching millions of Americans through Health IT, advanced analytics, cybersecurity, and next-generation digital solutions. RELI Group has grown into a nationwide force supporting critical public services that impact more than 300 million people. CVP continues to push forward at the intersection of healthcare and emerging technology, helping agencies modernize and deliver better outcomes in some of the most complex environments in government. Moderating the conversation is Tyler Stewart of The Baldwin Group, bringing a unique perspective from working alongside hundreds of federal contractors navigating growth, cost pressures, and workforce strategy. That lens helps shape a discussion that goes beyond theory and gets into what it actually takes to scale and sustain performance in today’s market. This conversation gets into how these leaders are managing growth while staying close to delivery, where they see real opportunity right now, and what separates companies that are consistently winning from those that aren’t. If you’re trying to understand how high-performing firms are operating in this environment, this is worth your time. To connect with Mohammad, follow him on LinkedIn here. Learn more about RELI Group by visiting their webpage here. To connect with Anirudh, follow him on LinkedIn here. Learn more about CVP by visiting their webpage here. Thank you to The Baldwin Group for sponsoring this podcast.

    50 min
  2. From Requirement to Advantage. David Lawrence, CEO at ISI, on How Top Firms Use CMMC

    MAY 1 ·  VIDEO

    From Requirement to Advantage. David Lawrence, CEO at ISI, on How Top Firms Use CMMC

    CMMC has been “coming” for years. Now it is here. And the real challenge for contractors is not awareness, it is deciding how to move forward without wasting time, money, or momentum. In this episode, we sit down with David Lawrence, CEO of ISI, a firm supporting more than 900 defense contractors across CMMC and NIST compliance, FSO services, facility and personnel clearances, and managed IT and cybersecurity. ISI’s position in the market is unique. They are not just advising on compliance, they are helping companies operationalize it alongside security, which is where many efforts break down. David brings a perspective shaped by private equity, operational transformation, and scaling technology-driven businesses. From leadership roles at firms like Bain & Company and EY-Parthenon, to driving growth and performance inside portfolio companies, his lens is grounded in value creation and execution, not theory. This conversation steps back from the noise and focuses on the decisions contractors are making right now. Where companies are still waiting, where they are overcorrecting, and where they are misallocating resources in ways that will be hard to unwind later. It also reframes CMMC as more than a compliance requirement. For some, it is becoming a strategic path that shapes how they compete, grow, and position themselves in the defense market. If you are a CEO, growth leader, or operator trying to determine how CMMC fits into your business over the next 12 to 24 months, this discussion offers a clearer, more practical way to think about the path forward. To connect with David, follow him on LinkedIn here. Learn more about ISI by visiting their webpage here. Get more information and insight into CMMC at this dedicated page, here.

    20 min
  3. Nick Marchand on AI, Capital, and the Future of GovCon Execution

    APR 29 ·  VIDEO

    Nick Marchand on AI, Capital, and the Future of GovCon Execution

    The federal market is entering a new phase. Not because of a single technology shift, but because the underlying model for how innovation is funded, owned, and delivered is being challenged. In this episode, David Blackburn sits down with Nick Marchand, Operating Partner at Pleasant Land, for a conversation that moves well beyond the usual discussion of modernization and AI. Nick operates at the intersection of investment, strategy, and mission execution. In his role, he helps shape portfolio strategy and market positioning to drive long-term enterprise value across technology-enabled services. His work spans identifying scalable growth opportunities, prioritizing R&D and platform capabilities, and aligning companies to evolving federal mission needs. He also leads go-to-market strategy, supports acquisition diligence, and drives integration and value creation across portfolio companies, connecting long-term vision to measurable outcomes. That vantage point shows up throughout this discussion. Together, they unpack how the relationship between government and technology investment has evolved, where traditional approaches begin to break down, and why many transformation efforts struggle to deliver sustained impact. The conversation also explores what it really means to think like a strategic owner inside a federal environment, and why that shift is becoming critical as agencies push for faster, more meaningful results. They spend time on AI as well, but from a different angle. Moving past the typical constraints and into the deeper challenges that ultimately determine whether adoption succeeds. If you are trying to understand where the federal market is heading, how investment strategy is reshaping execution, and what it takes to align mission with real outcomes, this is a conversation worth your time. To connect with Nick, follow him on LinkedIn here. Learn more about Pleasant Land by visiting their webpage here.

    29 min
  4. CEO Perspectives: Execution, Cyber, and Digital Delivery with Jessica Morris, Al Sowers, and Colin Corlett

    APR 28 ·  VIDEO

    CEO Perspectives: Execution, Cyber, and Digital Delivery with Jessica Morris, Al Sowers, and Colin Corlett

    As pressure builds across the federal market, the difference between companies that are growing and those that are falling behind is becoming clearer. Execution. That was the center of this OrangeSlices CEO Perspectives conversation, bringing together three CEOs who are operating in some of the most critical areas of today’s GovCon landscape. Jessica Morris of Pluribus Digital is helping reshape how government delivers services through modern digital products. Al Sowers of OneZero Solutions is leading in high-stakes cybersecurity and enterprise infrastructure. And Colin Corlett of Excentium is guiding agencies through the increasingly complex world of cloud, compliance, and FedRAMP. Moderated by Tyler Stewart of The Baldwin Group, the discussion stays grounded in how leaders are actually responding to today’s environment. From tightening margins and rising expectations, to the need for stronger operational discipline and smarter investment in innovation. The group shares candid perspectives on what is changing, what is not, and where leaders need to be paying closer attention. If you want a clearer view into how CEOs are navigating complexity while continuing to deliver, this conversation is worth a listen. To connect with Jessica, follow her on LinkedIn here. Learn more about Pluribus Digital by visiting their webpage here. To connect with Al, follow him on LinkedIn here. Learn more about OneZero Solutions by visiting their webpage here. To connect with Colin, follow him on LinkedIn here. Learn more about Excentium by visiting their webpage here. Thank you to The Baldwin Group for sponsoring this podcast.

    47 min
  5. Delivering Rural Health Transformation Where It Matters Most. Yael Harris and Laurel Health Advisors

    APR 24 ·  VIDEO

    Delivering Rural Health Transformation Where It Matters Most. Yael Harris and Laurel Health Advisors

    Healthcare in this country doesn’t have a shortage of ideas. It has a shortage of execution, especially in the places that need it most. Rural communities, underserved populations, and systems that still struggle to connect. The challenges are well known. What’s less clear is who’s actually turning insight into impact, and what that really looks like in practice. This conversation gets into that. Dr. Yael Harris, founder of Laurel Health Advisors, brings a perspective shaped by more than 16 years inside the Department of Health and Human Services, with leadership roles spanning CMS, ONC, HRSA, and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health. She’s helped shape national programs around access, quality, interoperability, and health equity, and now applies that experience directly to state and community-level transformation efforts. Through her work today, including recent efforts supporting Ohio, Dr. Harris is focused on translating policy and data into real-world outcomes, helping organizations move beyond analysis and into action. In this discussion, listeners will get a grounded view of what’s actually working right now, how states are approaching transformation in a more practical way, how data can be used to drive better decisions, and what separates organizations that talk about impact from those that consistently deliver it. If you’re trying to understand where healthcare transformation is heading, and what it really takes to execute in today’s environment, this is a conversation worth your time. To connect with Yael, follow her on LinkedIn here. Learn more about Laurel Health Advisors, LLC by visiting their webpage here.

    16 min
  6. Three CEOs. Three SDVOSBs. Kentro, Ibility, and LMR Redefining Federal Performance

    APR 21 ·  VIDEO

    Three CEOs. Three SDVOSBs. Kentro, Ibility, and LMR Redefining Federal Performance

    The federal market is at a turning point. The bar is higher, the pace is faster, and the companies breaking through are the ones closest to the mission, built to move, built to adapt, and built to deliver. This episode of our CEO Perspectives series, part of the OrangeSlices community, brings together three CEOs leading Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs) that are operating at that level. Pinakin Patel, Kentro. Innovation-driven. Design thinking at the core. A culture of continuous improvement helping agencies cut through complexity and execute with clarity. Danielle Krakora, Ibility / Tribility. People-first leadership. Mission-focused transformation. Driving real impact across federal healthcare through integrated, outcomes-oriented solutions. Chris Larkin, LMR Technical Group. Warfighter-focused. Performance-driven. Integrating training, human performance, data, and technology to directly support Department of Defense mission success. Moderated by Tyler Stewart of The Baldwin Group, an organization built to help businesses operate with confidence through expertise in insurance, employee benefits, and long-term financial strategy. This is a group defined by execution. Leaders and companies that understand the environment, align to the mission, and deliver where it counts. If you are in the federal market, or want to understand where it is going, this is the kind of perspective you do not want to miss. These are the operators setting the pace. Listen now to stay ahead. To connect with Danielle, follow her on LinkedIn here. Learn more about Ibility by visiting their webpage here. To connect with Pinakin, follow him on LinkedIn here. Learn more about Kentro by visiting their webpage here. To connect with Chris, follow him on LinkedIn here. Learn more about LMR Technical Group by visiting their webpage here. Thank you to The Baldwin Group for sponsoring this podcast.

    37 min

About

Welcome to GovCon Executive Slice, the podcast where we hear perspectives from leaders who’ve built, scaled, and delivered while shaping the future of government contracting. Each episode features candid conversations with those who share insights on their company’s growth, challenges they’ve overcome, and the personal milestones that drive their success. From innovation and strategy to leadership and legacy, we uncover the stories behind the titles.

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