Govcon Giants

In this reflective and brutally practical episode, Eric reveals the seven lessons that turned his messy, uncertain 20s into the foundation for multiple million-dollar businesses. From mastering high-value skills to buying back his time, building quietly, learning real money math, and valuing relationships, Eric walks through the decisions, mentors, and mindset shifts that created his construction...

In this brutally honest episode, Eric tears down the myths that keep small businesses broke and frustrated in government contracting. He breaks down why the system was never designed with small businesses in mind, how weighted goals inflate the government's success numbers, and why relying on SAM.gov or SBA programs alone will keep you invisible. Eric exposes how top primes and politically connec...

In this power-packed conversation, Eric sits down with Sean Kingsbury, VP of Cybersecurity and Account Executive for the Department of Treasury at SAIC, to reveal exactly how small businesses can partner with one of the biggest integrators in the game. Sean breaks down when to approach primes, how SAIC vets potential partners, the role of their small business POC, and what capabilities are in hig...

In this episode, Eric Coffie breaks down one of the most overlooked—but most powerful—entry points in government contracting: local vendor pool contracts. Using Miami-Dade County as an example, Eric shows how pre-qualification pools work, why they offer low competition, and how one of his students used this exact method to go from $0 to $90,000 per month in revenue. From finding underpopulated poo...

On this episode of the GovCon Giants Podcast, Eric sits down with Mario Antwine, Yale and Howard grad, M&A strategist, and new owner of Pearl Interactive Network, to break down how a finance guy bought an eight-figure federal contractor and is now scaling it like a private equity plat...

In this episode of The Eric Coffey Show, Eric reflects on why he left Florida to plant himself in the heart of federal activity—because real opportunity often sits closest to the fire. Joined by seasoned former senior executives from NIH, USDA, and major federal organizations, the conversation touches on the importance of showing up, investing in community, stre...

In this episode of The Eric Coffey Show, Eric is joined by Danielle and Amy for a tactical breakdown on how small businesses can still win—even in a slow, uncertain GovCon climate. They share real-world strategies on how to secure meetings with federal officials (including the "red dress recognition trick"), why tenacity beats desperation every time, and how to ...

In this episode of The Eric Coffey Show, Eric sits down with Danielle, Amy, and Diane to break down the most overlooked moves small businesses should make during slow periods in GovCon. The panel shares actionable strategies on strengthening your brand visibility on LinkedIn, fixing the gaps inside your capability statement and pitch deck, refining your tech sta...

In this timely episode of The Eric Coffey Show, Eric sits down with Danielle and Amy to unpack what small businesses should be doing right now as the shutdown slows federal acquisition. They break down the practical moves contractors can execute today—strategic partnerships, diversifying into state and commercial markets, staying visible online, and tightening y...

In this episode, Eric sits down with Tony Gray from the Global Business Development Association to completely reframe what business development really is—and why most companies get it wrong. Tony explains how he built the Business Development Body of Knowledge after years of struggling to "break into BD," why traditional labels like B2B/B2C/B2G are less important than

In this episode of The Eric Coffie Show, Eric sits down with longtime student-turned-power player, Randy Ward, to unpack the real-life wins, losses, crises, and comebacks behind her remarkable GovCon journey—including how she landed $17M in contracts during COVID, survived a rogue subcontractor who tried to sabotage her, and how relationships inside federal age...

In this episode of The Eric Coffie Show, Eric challenges listeners to stop waiting for the shutdown to end and start preparing now—because when the government reopens, only the ready will win. He breaks down why agencies like DoD, CIA, FBI, and DHS are still fully funded and still awarding contracts, and shares real examples of entrepreneurs who are writing prop...

In this episode of The Eric Coffie Show, Eric reveals why so many small businesses struggle in GovCon—not because opportunities are scarce, but because most aren't procurement-ready when it counts. He highlights how high-level relationships with major primes like SAIC, Encore Funding, Collins Aerospace, and federal agencies open doors to subcontracting opportun...

In this episode of The Eric Coffie Show, Eric reconnects with Randy Ward, a longtime student-turned-partner who went from asking questions in 2017 to closing $22 million in PPE contracts during the 2020 shutdown. Together, they share the highs and lows of that experience — the excitement of massive wins, the painful lessons of unfilled orders, and the resilience th...

In this episode Eric sits down with Chris Griesedieck Jr. (GovCon counsel, Venable LLP) to unpack today's FAR Part 19 overhaul: the Rule of Two survives but is discretionary at the task-order level, size re-representation at the task-order level is removed, and 8(a) changes aim to boost post-graduation success. They also break down the CMMC rollout—starting November 10, DoD solicitations will begin...

In this powerful wrap-up episode, Eric Coffie holds nothing back. He reminds listeners that opportunity doesn't just knock—it shows up at your event and waits for you to walk through the door. From the Department of Defense's Acting Deputy Chief Digital AI Officer to Central Command and the National Science Foundation's Cyber Infrastructure Director, Eric revea...

In this episode, Eric Coffie breaks down the real secret to getting access, opportunities, and contracts in the federal space — showing up. He shares exactly how he built relationships with $40M, $75M, and even $1.6B players simply by being intentional, proactive, and unafraid to ask. From pre-planning seven to eight networking lunches before even moving to D.C....

In this episode, Eric Coffie lays out the tough truth about why so many small businesses stay stuck after getting certified. He calls out the excuses holding entrepreneurs back and shows what separates the winners from the watchers. From GSA schedules and sources sought to consulting partnerships and funded agency strategies, Eric gives a blueprint for creating your own success — even during uncer...

In this episode, Eric Coffie calls out the biggest myth in GovCon—that there aren't enough opportunities. He breaks down why lawyers, accountants, and even other small business owners already have the inside track on contracts, acquisitions, and partnerships—you're just not asking. From unused GSA schedules to overflow projects from busy contractors, Eric exposes how many deals are hiding in plain...