Dan LaBert

Secretary Collins recently joined Newsmax Media, Inc. to talk about our accomplishments and the real progress being made at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. He highlighted the significant reduction in the disability claims backlog, which continues to improve. Even better, average processing times have dropped from about 135 days to around 80 days. This is great news for #Veterans waiting on decisions. This progress reflects our commitment to putting Veterans first and at the center of everything we do. Watch the clip below to hear Secretary Collins explain how these changes are helping Veterans get faster decisions and better service.

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If you're working to build or grow a presence in the federal marketplace, the recent episode of Amtower Off Center offers essential insights. In this conversation, Judy Bradt—one of the most respected voices in government contracting—shares actionable strategies for success in federal procurement. She covers what it really takes to establish credibility with government buyers, how to avoid common contractor missteps, and why a long-term mindset is critical. Key takeaways: - Prioritize relationship-building with agency decision-makers - Focus your marketing efforts on well-researched targets - Develop a strong, clear capability statement - Leverage tools like SAM.gov to gather relevant data - Avoid chasing every opportunity—alignment is more impactful than volume Whether you're just entering the space or refining your strategy, this episode is a valuable framework for sustainable growth in the federal sector. #GovernmentContracting #FederalMarketStrategy #BusinessDevelopment #GovCon #SAMgov #CapabilityStatement #GovernmentSales #B2GMarketing

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Stronger Teams. Smarter Contracts. Organizations achieve success when their teams are certified and confident in the complexities of government contracting. Webster University’s Graduate Certificate in Government Contracting offers: - Workforce alignment with DAWIA & FAC-C standards - Training aligned with Defense Acquisition University (DAU) equivalencies - Expertise in pre-award, post-award, and analytics to reduce risk and enhance compliance - Flexible, online learning that accommodates employees’ schedules The outcome: More efficient procurement, fewer compliance issues, and Stronger contract and Purchasing results. Invest in your people. Strengthen your agency. Secure better outcomes. Program details: https://lnkd.in/gjrXH78a #GovernmentContracting #Acquisition #DAU #DAWIA #FederalProcurement #WebsterUniversity #WorkforceDevelopment

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Policy doesn’t move in a straight line — and neither do the challenges facing organizations doing business in Pennsylvania. The past two years have required leaders to think differently about advocacy, funding strategy, and stakeholder engagement. That’s why we approach our work through what we call “The Triad Way” — a disciplined focus on relationships, strategy, and timing. Our 2024–25 Impact Report shares the outcomes of that approach: • +$21M secured in grant funding • 66 client partnerships • 17 charities supported • 39 convenings to strengthen networks across sectors Behind those numbers are real results — from protecting consumers from increased rideshare taxes to securing critical funding for innovation initiatives like Invent Penn State. Advocacy is ultimately about impact — ensuring decisions made in Harrisburg translate into opportunity for businesses, institutions, and communities. I invite you to review the full report. The link is in the comments. #EconomicDevelopment #CommunityImpact #InnovationPolicy #GrantFunding #Pennsylvania #TriadWay #ImpactReport

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Great Lessons from my Colleague Judy Bradt "You don’t need a GSA Schedule to succeed in Federal sales. This short guide from Summit Insight offers three lessons that can reshape your whole capture strategy." https://lnkd.in/gzc7YC4X

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“Unionization and the WNBA’s labor struggle” “While private-sector unionization has plummeted to 6%, major team sports maintain effectively 100% unionization. This leverage stems from the ‘special skills’ of athletes who cannot be readily replaced.” https://lnkd.in/g3xSaRS8

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The Maryland Sports Commission has relaunched its online grant portal for a 45-day application period to both the Major Events Fund and Youth & Amateur Sports Grant and Michael Erin Busch Fund (Grant & Fund) Programs. https://lnkd.in/gZkqRZ5y

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From the Government "revolving door" pages -- The GSA Administrator has announced that Gregory Barbaccia, currently the Federal Chief Information Office for OMB, will join GSA as the acting director of GSA's FAS TTS arm and become a senior advisor to the GSA Administrator. Barbaccia will continue his role at OMB in a dual-hatted role with his new GSA role. Effective today (2/19), Thomas Shedd, the TTS Director and Deputy FAS Commissioner for the past year will transition to a new role as a GSA senior advisor for Fraud Prevention. (I have plenty of opinions on senior political appointee dual-hatted between multiple agencies and political initiatives, why would GSA need a Fraud Prevention dude (they don't) but...I'll save that for a happy hour someday.)

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Leveraging AI for strategic decision-making in government contracting. Discover how to build a GPT-powered tool for go/no-go analysis of SAM.gov opportunities. This approach involves using your company data and a well-crafted prompt to evaluate potential bids. We'll explore a practical application by testing this GPT with live RFQ data, demonstrating its capability to provide insights for critical go/no-go decisions in the contracting process. #GovernmentContracting #AIinBusiness #SAMgov #BusinessStrategy #GPT

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When a project or product intersects with public interest, strategic communication with national, state, and local government becomes essential. Developing a thoughtful, targeted government affairs plan ensures that decision-makers are fully informed and able to understand the value and impact behind the work. Clear communication shapes outcomes. #GovernmentAffairs #PublicPolicyCommunication #StrategicPlanning #StakeholderEngagement #PublicRelations

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GSA Schedules Aint' GWACs #govcon #MAS #FSS #GWAC #TheASBC The American Small Business Coalition (The ASBC™) Ethical Stalking for Government Contractors® https://lnkd.in/e3utyNCC

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Why So Many Government Relations Programs Fail Most associations say they want a strong voice at the Capitol. Far fewer build the kind of program that can actually win. In my latest blog, “Why Government Relations Programs Fail,” I walk through the most common failure points I see after 40+ years under the dome: No clear goals or purpose Leadership that is only “half in” Limited budget and no professional help Weak legislative relationships and weak sponsors Poorly written legislation and bad timing The hard truth: if any one of these pieces is missing, your chances of success drop fast. If several are missing, you don’t have a government relations program – you have a wish list. I also outline a plan for building a winning program, drawing from Chapter 9 (How Long Does It Take to Shape Public Policy) and Chapter 12 (Blueprint for Legislation) in my book, Hardball Advocacy: Secrets of the Lobby. 👉 Read the full blog here: HardballStrategies.com 👉 Grab the book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/6oEXEQ0 #GovernmentAffairs #Advocacy #PublicPolicy #AssociationLeadership #HardballAdvocacy

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Gettysburg Leadership Series — Day 2: Initiative vs. Discipline Day two at Gettysburg with our Scouts BSA troop. Yesterday: the cost of ambiguity. Today: July 2, 1863—when the difference between initiative and impulse shaped the battle's outcome. The Peach Orchard Problem Major General Dan Sickles saw weakness in his assigned position on Cemetery Ridge. Without coordinating upward, he pushed III Corps forward to what seemed like better ground—the Peach Orchard. The result was an exposed salient that fractured the Union line and nearly cost the battle. The lesson isn't about whether Sickles was tactically right or wrong. It's about what happens when individual judgment—however well-intentioned—breaks from collective strategy. Organizations don't fail because people lack courage or insight. They fail when distributed decision-making loses coherence with overarching intent. Little Round Top While confusion spread across the Wheatfield, G.K. Warren recognized what mattered: the undefended high ground on Little Round Top. Vincent and Chamberlain moved to secure it with whatever they had. When ammunition ran out, they adapted—fixing bayonets and charging downhill to hold the position that anchored the entire line. This is strategic clarity under pressure: identifying which ground actually decides the outcome, committing resources there, and trusting your people to adapt means while preserving ends. What This Means Now Most leadership failures aren't dramatic. They're gradual: pursuing initiatives that feel productive but don't align with what truly matters, or maintaining legacy positions because changing them requires difficult conversations. The questions worth asking: - Where are we expending resources on exposed positions we chose unilaterally rather than strategically? - What critical ground are we leaving undefended because we're committed elsewhere? - Do our people know clearly enough what matters most to make sound judgment calls when conditions change? The battlefield clarifies these questions quickly. Organizations have the luxury—and the curse—of ambiguity lasting much longer. #StrategicLeadership #OrganizationalAlignment #DecisionMaking #LeadershipLessons #ScoutsBSA

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The Southern Economic Development Council, in collaboration with Camoin Associates and Nourick & Associates, has released the 2025 "State of Economic Development" Report, delivering comprehensive organizational benchmarks and executive analytics to support high performing EDO teams across the #AmericanSouth. SEDC members should check their email for direct access to the report and the latest wage and benefit findings.

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The VA Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) program has launched a new online resource to communicate with industry. See the below post/link for details and how to register for email alerts, etc.! #GovCon #IndustryPartners #GovernmentContracting #FederalProcurement #PublicSectorProcurement

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Something big is happening quietly in the world of small business federal contracting. The federal small business support network — the backbone for outreach, advocacy, and subcontracting goals — is being restructured across multiple agencies. Here’s what’s unfolding 👇 ● The Department of the Treasury’s OSDBU will close on December 13, 2025, following reduction-in-force notices issued earlier this month. ● The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) now operates with only one OSDBU staff member. ● The U.S. Air Force has also downsized and reorganized its small business office. These aren’t isolated moves — they’re part of a broader federal realignment affecting how small businesses receive guidance, goal support, and advocacy inside government. What this means: ✅ Fewer internal advocates for small business participation. ✅ Potential slowdowns in subcontracting goal oversight and industry engagement. ✅ A shift in how future small business outreach is handled — possibly moving to shared or centralized structures. (Source: Homeland Security Today, Oct. 16, 2025, https://lnkd.in/gzhRtxNU)

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