Govcon Giants Episode 008: Michelle Burnett – The Passionate & Driven Executive Director behind the HUBZone Contractors National Council
Eric Coffie
The Govcon Giant | Helping ordinary people win extraordinary contracts. Helping large companies find strategic partners. Post & articles about the process of scaling businesses through contracting..
“We’re throwing band aids on something versus looking at the underlying issue. I like to use the analogy that you can throw a sheet on top of a cardboard box and it can look like a table until you put something on it and it falls through.” (25:03)
Michelle Burnett was appointed the Executive Director for the HUBZone Contractors National Council, a member-based non-profit organization established to advocate, educate and promote the HUBZone Program. Her knowledge of the HUBZone Program and expertise on government contracting stems from 10 years supporting the HUBZone small business community both as a contractor for SBA and small business consultant.
We learn that the organization is a group of companies, organizations, and individuals that have a shared viewpoint on the HUBZone program. Michelle breaks down the The HUBZone Council to us and says it perfectly when she states “ it is different organizations … The council isn’t a person.”
The HUBZone program came about, it was initially enacted under the sponsorship of Senator Kit Bond in 1997, following the collapse of the manufacturing industry. It is a federal contracting program, but to many members of our organization, they see it for what it’s supposed to be. It means to facilitate job creation and economic growth. This was a means in order to provide a competitive advantage for companies and encourage them and incentive them to relocate into certain areas that were obviously being significantly impacted by unemployment. (3:48)
When asked where her passion for the HUBZone program stems from, she simply states that it is “because the HUBZone program is all inclusive. It doesn’t matter what color of skin you are, it doesn’t matter where you’re from, what you did. It’s a program that allows access for anyone. It’s about supporting. (6:09)” It also come from that she spent most of her life in West Virginia, and her love of living in these rural areas, because the people, they take care of each other.
Continue https://govcongiants.com/podcast/2019/06/18/008/
?
Federal Government Contracting | Consultant |Business Development
5 年This is a phenomenal podcast.? Truly insightful!?
Technical MBE/WBE/DBE, HUBZone, SBA Small Business Certification, and SAM Registration Assistance at BizHelp Business Services Consulting
5 年Fueled by?Eric Coffie's dedication and vision, I have met with several local politicians of municipalities located in HUBZone areas hoping set up free seminars conducted by SBA to present information to businesses that may benefit from this type of certification. If it helps just one business get a contract; Increase their capacity; Hire people from the community, and finally, become sustainable. My work would be done. #dreambigger