The GovCon Grove - Good Government supported by Great Companies - January 24, 2025

This weekly newsletter spotlights some of the top GovCon companies and leaders who recognize the importance of good culture and giving back as a way to attract and retain key talent, and good partners, thereby creating a winning formula for success. We also share some of the partner insights and featured posts found on OrangeSlices over the past week. Details on OS AI’s Daily Fresh Squeezed Newsletter are available below.??

Looking for a good partner????

• Magpie Health Analytics: Telling Stories, Connecting Data, & Building Trust to Transform Healthcare?

• Federal Emergency Management Agency focused 8(a) small businesses to know?

• ICF Vice President of Disaster Management John Rabin – Staying the Course while Looking to Leverage new State and Local Partners?

• Elev8 GovCon Spotlight: Firebird AST – Success Rooted in People and the Right Partners?

• National Institutes of Health focused 8(a) small businesses to know?

• State Department focused 8(a) small businesses to know?

Featured Posts on OS AI last week:??

• The Peel Podcast: Behind the SEWP: A Conversation with NASA’s Joanne Woytek?

• More than a dozen DHS ICE Expiring Tasks expected to draw interest in FY 2026?

• The Peel Podcast: Navigating Change and Innovation with Harkcon’s Kevin Harkins?

• Several dozen CDC expiring tasks expected to draw interest in FY 2026?

• It’s all About Community – Resources for Affected Feds?

• Two dozen DHS CBP expiring tasks expected to draw interest in FY 2026?

• Podcast: SBA Reg Shakeups: Brad Reeves of Reeves GovCon Group?

• The Peel Podcast: From Coast Guard to CEO: Navigating Changings Markets with Harkcon CEO Kevin Harkin?

• The Peel Podcast: Navigating Uncertainty in the GovCon M&A Market with Adam McNair?

• Former Fed Friday: From Federal Service to Independent Success: Insights from Frank Konieczny?

Events to have on your Radar:???

Keep abreast of the industry days and networking opportunities you don’t want to miss. Stay in the loop. Bookmark this expanded Upcoming Event page now. Check them out here.??

• Kendall Holbrook says mark your calendars for May 14th and come out?to raise a tremendous amount of money for students while enjoying time with the mothers on the Dev Technology Group, Inc. Team during the After-School All-Stars Play with a Purpose day.?

• 2025 Childhelp Shining Stars Gala – This year’s Childhelp Shining Stars Gala is hosted by event Chairs Mike Agrillo, John Heneghan, Gautam Ijoor , and Alison & Pete Santighian. Childhelp is one of the nation’s largest and oldest national non-profit organizations dedicated to the treatment and prevention of child abuse and neglect. . Details here.?

• The Children’s Inn at NIH Gala – An Evening for Hope Save the date and get in your sponsorship now for this one-of-a-kind gala and fundraising event in support of The Children's Inn at NIH . Can’t attend? Watch for the chance to be involved with the annual silent auction. More here.?

Have and event we can help support? Message us at [email protected].??

Included below we continue to shine a light on the good stuff, highlighting a few weekly examples of leading GovCon firms and executives who are proving that they understand it is not just about winning, but about building a lasting corporate culture and giving back.??????

With change a constant at the moment and many things seemingly out of control, what we do, how we engage with and support teams, clients and partners is something we can control and something that should be celebrated.?

Culture:?

• In turbulent times, the chance to come together to focus is critical. REI Systems hosted its annual All Hands, taking the opportunity to gather together and discuss goals and vision for the future. ?

• Swingtech marked International Women in Science Day proudly celebrating the incredible women who drive innovation and success! “Today and every day, we celebrate your achievements, your perseverance, and your unwavering commitment to excellence. Thank you for making Swingtech a better, brighter, and more inclusive place!”?

Giving back?

• PingWind Inc. (SDVOSB) announced a new partnership with The Northern Virginia Science Center Foundation! In 2018, PingWind began supporting the Foundation's mission to inspire a love of learning STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) by providing unique opportunities to explore and create at the Children's Science Center Lab and through mobile programs across the region.?

• Bart & Associates, Inc. is proud to sponsor the Charleston Dragon Robotics, and shared that all four of its middle school teams – the Ruby Dragons, Diamond Dragons, Emerald Dragons, and Sapphire Dragons – achieved a team best in robot game scoring! This is a fantastic accomplishment and demonstrates the hard work and dedication of these students.?

Most Viewed Comments on OS AI?

• Spatial Front, Inc - SFI goes above and beyond to take care of our employees…Today, all employees enjoy some form of teleworking…We have trained over 85% of our employees… provided SAFe training to over 120 Government personnel at no cost to the Government.???

• ServBeyond Solutions LLC - The ServBeyond team is always professional and on point. They bring deep subject matter expertise and a nimble approach to solving agency problems. I trust Manu and the SerbBeyond team to bring forth innovative solutions and …More here.?

OrangeSlices Tips of the Week:?

• It’s all About Community – Resources for Affected Feds – Here we track the resources many of you are sharing to help former federal employees and those impacted by cuts. Have others we should add? Message us at [email protected].?

• Ashley Nicholson prompted a conversation based on making decisions based on data vs reactions noting examples of mistakes and peak performance. Check them out here.?

Are you signed up yet to receive the new daily OrangeSlices AI newsletter, the Fresh Squeezed Daily?? Chock full of the latest awards, opportunities and executive shuffling that you don't want to miss, this is your must-read every morning to be sure you don't miss out.?

The GovCon Grove is compiled and published by Heather Seftel-Kirk , OrangeSlices AI’s Exec VP and our own Corporate Culture Champion charged with making sure we don’t just talk the talk, but we walk the walk. Follow Heather and connect if you are a leader passionate about employee experience and #doingittherightway??????

About OrangeSlices AI????????????????

OrangeSlices AI. Playful Name. Serious about making Data available and accessible for a more competitive marketplace and Disrupting the GovCon Competitive Intelligence Market.??????????????

The core mission for OS AI is to identify, share and create timely, actionable and responsible information and data products, tools and resources that 1) are accessible to all organizations and their teams, small to large; 2) will assist Federal government and Industry IT and consulting leaders.?