----more----

SOF Technology Association

Silent Partners for the Quiet Professionals

About Sof Technology Association

What are the Goals of SOF Technology Association? What are the hurdles for companies in SOF? What are the opportunities?

Tony Gray’s presentation at Florida GovCon

What are the Game changers in business development? How does SOF Technology Association LinkedIn Group help? How you must change Marketing and Response!

Be sure to check out this article on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/7-trends-third-offset-success-tony-gray-mba-pmp/

Register Today for
Florida GovCon Summit in Orlando
February 28-March 1, 2018

solvability.com/govcon-summit

Tony Gray, SOF Technology Association

To contact Jenny W Clark

CEO, Solvability, Inc

www.solvability.com

PROGRAMS

Workshops Podcasts Webinars Self Study Hand to Hold RPM Prime Focus

----more----

Hi this is Pete Blum bringing you another episode of the Veteran Connections Podcast where my mission is to help transitioning Veterans and Veterans already out of the military engage with the business community, and to share the knowledge and tools needed to successfully start a business. The Veteran Connections Podcast brings you experience and advice from fellow Veterans who are business owners and have made the transition from the military and into the business community.

There are Veterans transitioning out of the military every day. Some of them have an idea or a passion that they want to turn into a business. Having the right connections can be the one thing that makes the difference between a success or a failure. In this Veteran Connections Podcast I will be talking to Veteran business owners about what steps they are taking, the hurdles they have ran into, what advice they have for you, and what they hope life will look like a few years from now. With these real life interviews and real life results you can gain the expert knowledge from those that have been there. From your military brothers and sisters.

Today's guest is very motivated and passionate about what he does. He is an Air Force Veteran and is currently still serving in the Air Force Reserves. His goal in life is to help others heal, grow, and succeed. He is the Founder of Learn & Live and the author of the new book "Leave No Marriage Behind,". I would like to welcome Daniel Faust.

You can follow Daniel here

Website: http://learn-n-live.us/

LinikedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-faust-6bb8a949/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/survivingtwothriving/

Twitter: @PerspectReflect

Topics

It is great to have you on and I will give out a shout to the Vetpreneur Tribe Facebook group where we met. You also on a frequent basis share great advice and encouragement in the group.

So tell me a little bit about what you did in the military.

Transition from the military (easy or hard)

What was it that caused you to start your business?

Tell us about your company's mission

What were the steps you took to get your business up and running?

Do you feel like your military experience and training helped prepare you to be a Veteran business owner?

What is the key to the success of your business?

What is the one most important thing you have learned since starting your business that you can share with future Veteran business owners?

Summary

In this episode with Daniel we heard some great advice you can take advantage of on your own vetrepreneur journey!

If you're going to start a business be sure to find your passion. A good book to help figure that out is Chazown by Craig Groeschel

Have perseverance and grit, it can be a long and difficult road with the possibility of failure before you become a great success

Make sure your insured and have a LLC

Network, network, network! Your network is your net worth.

The Veteran Connections Podcast provides advice from Veterans for Veterans. A lot of people like you and me that have been through the military have the same thoughts and a lot of the same questions. We may have even had the exact same struggle. I hope you find some answers as you go on this Veteran Connections journey with me where we will learn, explore, and get answers to your questions.

Another great resource for Veterans wanting to start their own business is the Small Business Administration (SBA)

https://www.sba.gov/starting-business/how-start-business/business-types/veteran-owned-businesses

If you need more information or want assistance implementing one of the things you learned about today you can contact me. I can teach you techniques and strategies to help you connect and network in the business community so you can reach your personal or professional goals. Email me at peteblum@solvability.com and let me know how I can help you!

I hope that you have enjoyed this podcast episode and if you have a burning question that you would like to get answered by an experienced Veteran business owner about starting your own business go ahead and email me. I will be sure to answer it in a future episode!

Thank you for listening!  -Pete

----more----

Hi this is Pete Blum bringing you another episode of the Veteran Connections Podcast where my mission is to help transitioning Veterans and Veterans already out of the military engage with the business community, and to share the knowledge and tools needed to successfully start a business. The Veteran Connections Podcast brings you experience and advice from fellow Veterans who are business owners and have made the transition from the military and into the business community.

There are Veterans transitioning out of the military every day. Some of them have an idea or a passion that they want to turn into a business. Having the right connections can be the one thing that makes the difference between a success or a failure. In this Veteran Connections Podcast I will be talking to Veteran business owners about what steps they are taking, the hurdles they have ran into, what advice they have for you, and what they hope life will look like a few years from now. With these real life interviews and real life results you can gain the expert knowledge from those that have been there. From your military brothers and sisters.

Today's guest is a decorated combat Veteran and a keynote speaker that believes in mentoring, honesty, integrity, and transparency. After the military he settled down in Germany and today he helps businesses across Europe and America find success. He is an Army Veteran and the Founder & Principal, S2K2 Precision Management, Founder & Principal, and Gentlemen In Sports. I would like to welcome Steven Kuhn.

You can follow Steven here

Website: https://steven-kuhn.com/

LinikedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenekuhn/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Stevenkuhnofficial/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuy76rzjjrrYS4aXfkX5qQ/videos?view_as=subscriber

Twitter: @stevenekuhn

Topics

So where are you actually from originally?

Was there any kind of culture shock for you going from there to overseas?

So tell me a little bit about what you did in the military.

Transition from the military (easy or hard)

It seems like you did several things along the way to where you are now, tell me about you being a bodyguard for rockstars.

Also I see you have managed musicians and sports personalities, anyone I may have heard of?

So you ended up doing something completely different now than what you were doing in the military

What was it that caused you to go in that direction and start your own business?

Tell us about your company's mission S2K2 Precision Management and Gentlemen In Sports

What were the steps you took to get your business up and running?

Do you feel like your military experience and training helped prepare you to be a Veteran business owner?

What were some of the challenges you faced getting your business started?

What is the key to the success of your business?

Would you say it was your military experience or other things you learned that have been more helpful in making you successful in your business?

Are you going to use your business in some way to either help or hire other Veterans?

What is the one most important thing you have learned since starting your business that you can share with future Veteran business owners?

For transitioning Veterans wanting to start their own business what action items list would you give them?

Summary

In this episode with Steven we heard some great advice you can take advantage of on your own vetrepreneur journey!

You have to hustle and make it happen for yourself, no one else is going to do it for you

Invest as little money as possible to make as much money as possible

Find out what your good at and do it online

Get your business in front of other people so they know it exists

Use LinkedIn Sales Navigator for $97.00, it is worth it!

The Veteran Connections Podcast provides advice from Veterans for Veterans. A lot of people like you and me that have been through the military have the same thoughts and a lot of the same questions. We may have even had the exact same struggle. I hope you find some answers as you go on this Veteran Connections journey with me where we will learn, explore, and get answers to your questions.

Another great resource for Veterans wanting to start their own business is the Small Business Administration (SBA)

https://www.sba.gov/starting-business/how-start-business/business-types/veteran-owned-businesses

If you need more information or want assistance implementing one of the things you learned about today you can contact me. I can teach you techniques and strategies to help you connect and network in the business community so you can reach your personal or professional goals. Email me at peteblum@solvability.com and let me know how I can help you!

I hope that you have enjoyed this podcast episode and if you have a burning question that you would like to get answered by an experienced Veteran business owner about starting your own business go ahead and email me. I will be sure to answer it in a future episode!

Thank you for listening!  -Pete

----more----

Where am I?

I want to know today where I was YESTERDAY

How do you get the answers?

Register Today for
Florida GovCon Summit in Orlando
February 28-March 1, 2018

solvability.com/govcon-summit

Rich Wilkinson, Unanet

To contact Jenny W Clark

CEO, Solvability, Inc

www.solvability.com

PROGRAMS

Workshops Podcasts Webinars Self Study Hand to Hold RPM Prime Focus

----more----

Hi this is Pete Blum bringing you another episode of the Veteran Connections Podcast where my mission is to help transitioning Veterans and Veterans already out of the military engage with the business community, and to share the knowledge and tools needed to successfully start a business. The Veteran Connections Podcast brings you experience and advice from fellow Veterans who are business owners and have made the transition from the military and into the business community.

There are Veterans transitioning out of the military every day. Some of them have an idea or a passion that they want to turn into a business. Having the right connections can be the one thing that makes the difference between a success or a failure. In this Veteran Connections Podcast I will be talking to Veteran business owners about what steps they are taking, the hurdles they have ran into, what advice they have for you, and what they hope life will look like a few years from now. With these real life interviews and real life results you can gain the expert knowledge from those that have been there. From your military brothers and sisters.

Today's guest is a funny guy that loves to put a smile on peoples faces. He loves family and kids and has a passion for teaching kids of all ages how they can learn something fun and become successful. He is an Army Veteran and the Co-Founder & Executive Producer of Real Life Productions which produces Youth Center Stage, Unscripted DC, Mystery Theater, and more. I would like to welcome Darren Council.

You can follow Darren here

Website: www.reallifeproductionsllc.com and https://www.youthcenterstage.com

LinikedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darren-council-854a114/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rlpevents/ and https://www.facebook.com/youthcenterstage

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rlpllc/ and https://www.instagram.com/youthcenterstage

Twitter: @RLP_Events and @youthcenterstag

Topics

So tell me a little bit about what you did in the military.

Transition from the military (easy or hard)

You went through several jobs after getting out

What was it that caused you to start your business?

Tell us about your company's mission Real Life Productions

(Unscripted DC, The Game Show- Mystery dinner theater)

Now Youth Center Stage is something else you started that is a branch off of RLP

What were the steps you took to get your business up and running?

Do you feel like your military experience and training helped prepare you to be a Veteran business owner?

What were some of the challenges you faced getting your business started?

What is the key to the success of your business?

Would you say it was your military experience or other things you learned that have been more helpful in making you successful in your business?

Are you going to use your business in some way to either help or hire other Veterans?

What is the one most important thing you have learned since starting your business that you can share with future Veteran business owners?

For transitioning Veterans wanting to start their own business what action items list would you give them?

Summary

In this episode with Darren we heard some great advice you can take advantage of on your own vetrepreneur journey!

Always keep your goal or vision in mind so you don’t get off track

Figure out your purpose, your why for starting a business

Create a business plan, figuring out the demographic, who are you selling to, and more helps you focus, which helps sales

Make sure to have a wow statement, you never know when you will be speaking to an investor

Be sure to network, network, network- relationships in business are important

Get a team of advisors for feedback and motivation

Attend a local 1 Million Cups event to get feedback from other business owners

Be on the same page with your spouse, your business will run much smoother

The Veteran Connections Podcast provides advice from Veterans for Veterans. A lot of people like you and me that have been through the military have the same thoughts and a lot of the same questions. We may have even had the exact same struggle. I hope you find some answers as you go on this Veteran Connections journey with me where we will learn, explore, and get answers to your questions.

Another great resource for Veterans wanting to start their own business is the Small Business Administration (SBA)

https://www.sba.gov/starting-business/how-start-business/business-types/veteran-owned-businesses

If you need more information or want assistance implementing one of the things you learned about today you can contact me. I can teach you techniques and strategies to help you connect and network in the business community so you can reach your personal or professional goals. Email me at peteblum@solvability.com and let me know how I can help you!

I hope that you have enjoyed this podcast episode and if you have a burning question that you would like to get answered by an experienced Veteran business owner about starting your own business go ahead and email me. I will be sure to answer it in a future episode!

Thank you for listening!  -Pete

----more----

Creating the Experience for your GovCon Customer

The three C's

Compliant Compelling Credible

Win

Execute

Recompete

Capitalize

Register Today for
Florida GovCon Summit in Orlando
February 28-March 1, 2018

solvability.com/govcon-summit

Tony Gray

Founder and CEO. Gx

To contact Jenny W Clark

CEO, Solvability, Inc

www.solvability.com

PROGRAMS

Workshops Podcasts Webinars Self Study Hand to Hold RPM Prime Focus

----more----

Hi this is Pete Blum bringing you another episode of the Veteran Connections Podcast where my mission is to help transitioning Veterans and Veterans already out of the military engage with the business community, and to share the knowledge and tools needed to successfully start a business. The Veteran Connections Podcast brings you experience and advice from fellow Veterans who are business owners and have made the transition from the military and into the business community.

There are Veterans transitioning out of the military every day. Some of them have an idea or a passion that they want to turn into a business. Having the right connections can be the one thing that makes the difference between a success or a failure. In this Veteran Connections Podcast I will be talking to Veteran business owners about what steps they are taking, the hurdles they have ran into, what advice they have for you, and what they hope life will look like a few years from now. With these real life interviews and real life results you can gain the expert knowledge from those that have been there. From your military brothers and sisters.

Today's guest is on the front line of helping Veterans with translating their military experience into civilian language and making a bulletproof resume. He is an Army Veteran and believes in giving back to Veterans and their families. He served 21 years and retired as a Major. He is the Founder & CEO of Battlefield Resumes. I would like to welcome Bruce Benedict.

You can follow Bruce here

Website: https://www.battlefieldresumes.com/

LinikedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/battlefieldresumes/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/battlefieldresumesLLC/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/battlefieldresumes

Twitter: @BfResumesLLC

Bruce is a retired US Army Major with a commission from OCS and also served
over 7 yrs as a DoD GS-15 Hiring Manager. He is a Certified Federal Résumé
Writer, a Certified Federal Career Coach, and Certified Coach, Speaker, and
Trainer with the John Maxwell Team. Bruce collectively has over 29 years of
military, the federal government and federal/defense contracting experience. Bruce
developed the Battlefield Résumé Methodology (BRM), which has deciphered the
federal employment process and cracked the code on military-to-federal
employment. By leverages military doctrine and strategy, he created an easily
understandable and relatable system that helps lessen the anxiety and stress when
transitioning Battlefield Résumés into the Federal Employment.

Topics

Bruce, you served 21 years in the military from right out of high school and during your career, you went from enlisted to officer. Tell me how it all started and what your career in the military was like.

So tell me a little bit about what you did in the military.

So I see you are in Stafford, VA, did you retire there after getting out of the military?

When I was stationed in Quantico I lived in Stafford. I liked it, nice little place. I really want to get back up there and see the National Museum of the Marine Corps

Transition from the military (easy or hard)

What was it that caused you to start your business?

Tell us about your company's mission

Battlefield Resumes not only helps veterans transition their battlefield experience into civilian language but also uses military tactics and doctrine when applying for civilian jobs

I like your tagline: Aim accurately at your next career

What were the steps you took to get your business up and running?

Do you feel like your military experience and training helped prepare you to be a Veteran business owner?

What were some of the challenges you faced getting your business started?

What is the key to the success of your business?

Would you say it was your military experience or other things you learned that have been more helpful in making you successful in your business?

Are you going to use your business in some way to either help or hire other Veterans?

What is the one most important thing you have learned since starting your business that you can share with future Veteran business owners?

Summary

In this episode with Bruce we heard some great advice you can take advantage of on your own vetrepreneur journey!

Networking is essential to starting a business and helps in so many ways like getting those questions answered by those that have been there

The main steps for success are determining your target, getting your process down, and figuring out your pricing for your product or service

Outline the total cost of the business, money going out and money coming in

This episode with Bruce is so packed with value bombs there are too many to list so be sure to listen!

Are you ready to start a business or find a job? Bruce tells you how to lay it out like a battle plan! He talks about it in terms you already understand!  

The Veteran Connections Podcast provides advice from Veterans for Veterans. A lot of people like you and me that have been through the military have the same thoughts and a lot of the same questions. We may have even had the exact same struggle. I hope you find some answers as you go on this Veteran Connections journey with me where we will learn, explore, and get answers to your questions.

Another great resource for Veterans wanting to start their own business is the Small Business Administration (SBA)

https://www.sba.gov/starting-business/how-start-business/business-types/veteran-owned-businesses

If you need more information or want assistance implementing one of the things you learned about today you can contact me. I can teach you techniques and strategies to help you connect and network in the business community so you can reach your personal or professional goals. Email me at peteblum@solvability.com and let me know how I can help you!

I hope that you have enjoyed this podcast episode and if you have a burning question that you would like to get answered by an experienced Veteran business owner about starting your own business go ahead and email me. I will be sure to answer it in a future episode!

Thank you for listening!  -Pete

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NDAA 2018 Ceilings

UPDATED Ceilings Other Transaction Authority Incurred Cost Audits LPTA Bid Protests

UPDATED Ceilings
Simplified Acquisition Threshold raised from $100K to $250K Micro Purchase Threshold increased from $3K to $10K TINA, CAS – raised from $750K to $2Million

NDAA 2018 Other Transaction Authority (OTA)

Other Transaction Authority (OTA)
Made permanent Prototype Projects enhancing mission effectiveness or improvements Small Businesses NonProfit Research Corporations Cost Sharing Non-Traditional Defense Contractor (no CAS) Consortiums – non-profit

NDAA 2018 Incurred Cost Audits

Incurred Cost Audits
Required annually to settle indirect rates on Cost Plus Contracts DCAA.mil for Incurred Cost Electronically Commercially accepted standards or risk and materiality Use “Qualified Private Auditors” to support DCAA Eliminate backlog by October 2020 Audits complete within 1 year Mix of Auditors to keep up Limit practice of multi-year audits Contracting Officer has sole discretion on direct costs

NDAA 2018 LPTA

LTPA
Prohibited for engineering & manufacturing development programs Limits use of LPTA
no technological advantage missed Expendable and non technical goods
Lowers reporting threshold from $10M to $5M

NDAA 2018 Bid Protests

Bid Protests
Post-Award Debriefings Pilot program for large Contractors reimburse DOD for Denied GAO Protests

Register Today for
Florida GovCon Summit in Orlando
February 28-March 1, 2018

solvability.com/govcon-summit

To contact Jenny W Clark

CEO, Solvability, Inc

www.solvability.com

PROGRAMS

Workshops Podcasts Webinars Self Study Hand to Hold RPM Prime Focus

----more----

Hi this is Pete Blum bringing you another episode of the Veteran Connections Podcast where my mission is to help transitioning Veterans and Veterans already out of the military engage with the business community, and to share the knowledge and tools needed to successfully start a business. The Veteran Connections Podcast brings you experience and advice from fellow Veterans who are business owners and have made the transition from the military and into the business community.

There are Veterans transitioning out of the military every day. Some of them have an idea or a passion that they want to turn into a business. Having the right connections can be the one thing that makes the difference between a success or a failure. In this Veteran Connections Podcast I will be talking to Veteran business owners about what steps they are taking, the hurdles they have ran into, what advice they have for you, and what they hope life will look like a few years from now. With these real life interviews and real life results you can gain the expert knowledge from those that have been there. From your military brothers and sisters.

Today's guest is one of those great guys you just love to work with that is always helping others and bringing a smile to people's faces. I worked with him for many years in the IT department of a Tampa, FL company until I moved on. He is an Army Veteran and the Owner of The Spice and Tea Exchange of Destin. I would like to welcome JJ Hanna.

You can follow JJ here

Website: https://www.spiceandtea.com/destin.html

LinikedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jjhanna/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TSTEDestin/

Topics

So tell me a little bit about what you did in the military.

Transition from the military (easy or hard)

What was it that caused you to start your business?

Tell us about your business and what you offer

What were the steps you took to get your business up and running?

Do you feel like your military experience and training helped prepare you to be a Veteran business owner?

What were some of the challenges you faced getting your business started?

What is the key to the success of your business?

Would you say it was your military experience or other things you learned that have been more helpful in making you successful in your business?

Are you going to use your business in some way to either help or hire other Veterans?

What is the one most important thing you have learned since starting your business that you can share with future Veteran business owners?

For transitioning Veterans wanting to start their own business what action items list would you give them?

Summary

In this episode with JJ we heard some great advice you can take advantage of on your own vetrepreneur journey!

A franchise is a great way to start a business and get structured help on doing things the right way

Customer service is a very important key to success. Put your customers' needs first because they can ruin you with bad reviews

Networking preparation and persistence are required to be successful

Keep your focus at all times

Write down every detail of your business. It helps to maintain order and plan future strategies

Create a digital filing system on your computer to keep all aspects of documenting and planning your business organized

A great resource is the SCORE program

The Veteran Connections Podcast provides advice from Veterans for Veterans. A lot of people like you and me that have been through the military have the same thoughts and a lot of the same questions. We may have even had the exact same struggle. I hope you find some answers as you go on this Veteran Connections journey with me where we will learn, explore, and get answers to your questions.

Another great resource for Veterans wanting to start their own business is the Small Business Administration (SBA)

https://www.sba.gov/starting-business/how-start-business/business-types/veteran-owned-businesses

If you need more information or want assistance implementing one of the things you learned about today you can contact me. I can teach you techniques and strategies to help you connect and network in the business community so you can reach your personal or professional goals. Email me at peteblum@solvability.com and let me know how I can help you!

I hope that you have enjoyed this podcast episode and if you have a burning question that you would like to get answered by an experienced Veteran business owner about starting your own business go ahead and email me. I will be sure to answer it in a future episode!

Thank you for listening!  -Pete

----more----

NIST Cyber Compliance

Multi-Factor Authentication

Continuous Monitoring

Cyber Incident Reporting

Forensic Assessment

Cyber Response

Cyber Compliance

S – Self Governance

M – Managed Network Surveillance

A - Assessments

R - Remediation

T - Training

To Contact John Fay

E-mail: john.fay@abacode.com Phone: 813-324-2754 www.abacode.com

To contact Jenny W Clark

CEO, Solvability, Inc

www.solvability.com

PROGRAMS

Workshops Podcasts Webinars Self Study Hand to Hold RPM Prime Focus

----more----

Hi this is Pete Blum bringing you another episode of the Veteran Connections Podcast where my mission is to help transitioning Veterans and Veterans already out of the military engage with the business community, and to share the knowledge and tools needed to successfully start a business. The Veteran Connections Podcast brings you experience and advice from fellow Veterans who are business owners and have made the transition from the military and into the business community.

There are Veterans transitioning out of the military every day. Some of them have an idea or a passion that they want to turn into a business. Having the right connections can be the one thing that makes the difference between a success or a failure. In this Veteran Connections Podcast I will be talking to Veteran business owners about what steps they are taking, the hurdles they have ran into, what advice they have for you, and what they hope life will look like a few years from now. With these real life interviews and real life results you can gain the expert knowledge from those that have been there. From your military brothers and sisters.

I connected with today's guest on LinkedIn and we talked about what he could do to help Veterans. I started out by helping him get the word out to the Veteran community on how he could help them. He ended up helping me also. He is a hard charger that has started his business while still on active duty. He is currently a Chief Warrant Officer 3 in the United States Army and has also served in the Marine Corps. He is the Founder of Team ADDO. I would like to welcome James Boggs.

You can follow James here

Website: http://www.teamaddo.com/

LinikedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-michael-boggs/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teamaddocharity/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/team_addo/

Topics

Well we are both a little crazy considering we signed up for two different branches of the military. I think most people get enough after signing up once! I was in the Navy, served my time and got out, then I joined the Marines.

James you started out in the Marines, then you got out and became a police officer, and now you're in the Army and fly helicopters. Tell me about all this transition you've been through to get you where you are today flying helicopters.

It sounds like you are about ready to retire. What kinds of transition steps have you taken to get ready for civilian life?

What was it that caused you to start your business while still in the military?

Starting a business while still in the military means working twice as hard while wearing two hats. How do you manage to do that and make sure you don’t cross any lines as far as the military is concerned. Can you talk about what special things you had to do to make that happen?

Tell us about your company's mission

All Heroes Open Charity Fishing Tournament

What were the steps you took to get your business up and running?

Do you feel like your military experience and training helped prepare you to be a Veteran business owner?

What were some of the challenges you faced getting your business started?

What is the key to the success of your business?

Would you say it was your military experience or other things you learned that have been more helpful in making you successful in your business?

Are you going to use your business in some way to either help or hire other Veterans?

What is the one most important thing you have learned since starting your business that you can share with future Veteran business owners?

For transitioning Veterans wanting to start their own business what action items list would you give them?

Now we talked about what transitioning Veterans need to consider before starting their own business. What other things do you think they need to think about outside of business as they prepare for transition?

Summary

In this episode with James we heard some great advice you can take advantage of on your own vetrepreneur journey!

Fundraising for a great cause is a great way to gain funds needed to move a new business or non-profit forward

Networking is essential to get the word out and find the right people to help you succeed

Education is always important so be sure to continually keep learning

Have multiple mentors to give you feedback and tell it to you straight

Have your idea evaluated by people in the industry

Don’t ever give up, stick with it if you want to succeed

Understand your competitors, your market, and your target customer

Be flexible because you cannot control everything

Have faith in where God puts you

The Veteran Connections Podcast provides advice from Veterans for Veterans. A lot of people like you and me that have been through the military have the same thoughts and a lot of the same questions. We may have even had the exact same struggle. I hope you find some answers as you go on this Veteran Connections journey with me where we will learn, explore, and get answers to your questions.

Another great resource for Veterans wanting to start their own business is the Small Business Administration (SBA)

https://www.sba.gov/starting-business/how-start-business/business-types/veteran-owned-businesses

If you need more information or want assistance implementing one of the things you learned about today you can contact me. I can teach you techniques and strategies to help you connect and network in the business community so you can reach your personal or professional goals. Email me at peteblum@solvability.com and let me know how I can help you!

I hope that you have enjoyed this podcast episode and if you have a burning question that you would like to get answered by an experienced Veteran business owner about starting your own business go ahead and email me. I will be sure to answer it in a future episode!

Thank you for listening!  -Pete

----more----

Virtually Vertical

Strategies to Scale Your GovCon Business

Florida GovCon Summit 2018

February 28-March 1

Orlando

Are you ready to Grow?
Virtually Vertical in 2018

Do You HAVE:

Established Strategic Relationships Brilliant Past Performance Recognized Industry Leaders and Sought-after Teammates Subs Now – but PRIMES in 2019 – managing Growth to Stay Small Handle Complex Contracts, including Cost Plus
Technically Challenging Uniquely Qualified to Execute Know how to get Employees the Customer Wants
FOCUS on GROWTH:
Pricing, Cost and Systems Strategy to bring in FIVE Years of Recurring Revenue with one Game-Changing Win!

The 20 Benchmarks

1.DCAA Compliance

2.Indirect Rates Projections

3.BD/Capture/Proposals

4.Capabilities and Web

5.Pricing

6.Invoicing & Reporting

7.Integrated Processes

8.Onboarding New Contracts

9.Recruiting Process

10.HR Process

11.Contract Administration

12.Program Management

13.IT

14.Cybersecurity

15.FSO Process

16.Branding

17.Contract Vehicles

18.Financial Capabilities

19.Risk Management

20.Advanced Certifications

Register Today for
Florida GovCon Summit in Orlando
February 28-March 1, 2018

solvability.com/govcon-summit

To contact Jenny W Clark

CEO, Solvability, Inc

www.solvability.com

PROGRAMS

Workshops Podcasts Webinars Self Study Hand to Hold RPM Prime Focus

----more----

Virtually Vertical

Strategies to Scale Your GovCon Business

Florida GovCon Summit 2018

February 28-March 1

Orlando

Virtually Vertical: Strategies to Scale YOUR GOVCON Business

Business Value Drivers Federal Value Drivers Scaling Your GovCon Business The 20 Benchmarks Recommended Reading Florida GovCon Summit Agenda Join Now

Business Value Drivers

Departure Date Financial Security Exit Path Cash Flow Business Value Personal Assets Growth Value Present Value Management Minimizing Taxes Operations Financial Control

FEDERAL Value Drivers

Strategic Relationships
Agencies Primes and Subs Teaming Partners Management Team Technical SMEs Professional SMEs
INHERITABLE
Past Performance Socio-Economic Key Skills Technology Leadership
INHERENT
Intellectual Property Locations Reputation Processes/Certifications Management Team 

The 20 Benchmarks

1.DCAA Compliance

2.Indirect Rates Projections

3.BD/Capture/Proposals

4.Capabilities and Web

5.Pricing

6.Invoicing & Reporting

7.Integrated Processes

8.Onboarding New Contracts

9.Recruiting Process

10.HR Process

11.Contract Administration

12.Program Management

13.IT

14.Cybersecurity

15.FSO Process

16.Branding

17.Contract Vehicles

18.Financial Capabilities

19.Risk Management

20.Advanced Certifications

Florida GovCon Summit 2018 Agenda

Recommended Reading

ASCEND: Forging a True Path (Anton) The Industries of the Future (Ross) Dogs Don’t Bark (Piersall) The Unstoppables (Schley) Tribe: On Homecoming (Junger) Think and Grow Rich (Hill) The Tipping Point (Gladwell) Leaders Eat Last (Sinek) Traction: Get A Grip (Wickman) Closing the Sale (Brown) Get Off the Bench (Fuchs) Save Your Time (Jans) Team of Teams (McChrystal) The Code of Trust (Dreeke) The Art of Invisibility (Mitnik) The Long Tail (Anderson) Presence (Cuddy) Big Magic (Gilbert) The Art of Work (Goins)

FEATURED VIP Workshops

Value Builders – Thursday Morning M&A for Federal Virtually Vertical 2018 Benchmarking Risk Management Maximizing your Value for Exit GSA & VA Contracting International Contracting Indirect Rate Strategies

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Established Strategic Relationships Brilliant Past Performance Recognized Industry Leaders and Sought-after Teammates Subs Now – but PRIMES in 2019 – managing Growth to Stay Small Handle Complex Contracts, including Cost Plus
Technically Challenging Uniquely Qualified to Execute Know how to get Employees the Customer Wants
FOCUS on GROWTH:
Pricing, Cost and Systems Strategy to bring in FIVE Years of Recurring Revenue with one Game-Changing Win!

Register Today for
Florida GovCon Summit in Orlando
February 28-March 1, 2018

solvability.com/govcon-summit

To contact Jenny W Clark

CEO, Solvability, Inc

www.solvability.com

PROGRAMS

Workshops Podcasts Webinars Self Study Hand to Hold RPM Prime Focus

Hi this is Pete Blum bringing you another episode of the Veteran Connections Podcast where my mission is to help transitioning Veterans and Veterans already out of the military engage with the business community, and to share the knowledge and tools needed to successfully start a business. The Veteran Connections Podcast brings you experience and advice from fellow Veterans who are business owners and have made the transition from the military and into the business community.

There are Veterans transitioning out of the military every day. Some of them have an idea or a passion that they want to turn into a business. Having the right connections can be the one thing that makes the difference between a success or a failure. In this Veteran Connections Podcast I will be talking to Veteran business owners about what steps they are taking, the hurdles they have ran into, what advice they have for you, and what they hope life will look like a few years from now. With these real life interviews and real life results you can gain the expert knowledge from those that have been there. From your military brothers and sisters.

Today's guest is a Navy Veteran that served 26 years, and he didn't just decide to get out and start a business. He decided to start a business that directly helps Veterans gain new skills in areas of cutting-edge technology. He is the Co-Founder, President & CEO of Vets2Data. I would like to welcome Enrique Acosta Gonzalez.

You can follow Enrique here

Website: http://vets2data.org/

LinikedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/enrique-acosta-gonzalez-7b6b241/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Triad-Leadership-Solutions-775547112654006/

Twitter: @TLS_FL

Topics

So while in the Navy you were a Pastor at a church in Hawaii, that is awesome. Tell me how that happened. I go to a great non-denominational church called theChapel.cc

So tell me a little bit about what you did in the military.

Transition from the military (easy or hard)

What was it that caused you to start your business?

Tell us about your company's mission: Data Science, Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

What were the steps you took to get your business up and running?

Do you feel like your military experience and training helped prepare you to be a Veteran business owner?

What were some of the challenges you faced getting your business started?

Networking with people that move your industry

What is the key to the success of your business?

Would you say it was your military experience or other things you learned that have been more helpful in making you successful in your business?

Are you going to use your business in some way to either help or hire other Veterans?

What is the one most important thing you have learned since starting your business that you can share with future Veteran business owners?

For transitioning Veterans wanting to start their own business what action items list would you give them?

Summary

In this episode with Enrique we heard some great advice you can take advantage of on your own vetrepreneur journey!

Volunteer at companies in the industry you're interested in, become a board member and gain the knowledge you need now before you get out

Make sure that when networking things are two-sided, if someone is helping you ask them how you can help them

Three key elements to success are:

Plan like you did in the military, don’t stop when you get out!

Preparing and doing your recon will help you get off to the right start

Execute, you have to get started so go do it!

Get a sounding board, a group of people you can get feedback from

Join a chamber of commerce

Utilize the SCORE program for free

The Veteran Connections Podcast provides advice from Veterans for Veterans. A lot of people like you and me that have been through the military have the same thoughts and a lot of the same questions. We may have even had the exact same struggle. I hope you find some answers as you go on this Veteran Connections journey with me where we will learn, explore, and get answers to your questions.

Another great resource for Veterans wanting to start their own business is the Small Business Administration (SBA)

https://www.sba.gov/starting-business/how-start-business/business-types/veteran-owned-businesses

If you need more information or want assistance implementing one of the things you learned about today you can contact me. I can teach you techniques and strategies to help you connect and network in the business community so you can reach your personal or professional goals. Email me at peteblum@solvability.com and let me know how I can help you!

I hope that you have enjoyed this podcast episode and if you have a burning question that you would like to get answered by an experienced Veteran business owner about starting your own business go ahead and email me. I will be sure to answer it in a future episode!

Thank you for listening!  -Pete

----more----

Hi this is Pete Blum bringing you another episode of the Veteran Connections Podcast where my mission is to help transitioning Veterans and Veterans already out of the military engage with the business community, and to share the knowledge and tools needed to successfully start a business. The Veteran Connections Podcast brings you experience and advice from fellow Veterans who are business owners and have made the transition from the military and into the business community.

There are Veterans transitioning out of the military every day. Some of them have an idea or a passion that they want to turn into a business. Having the right connections can be the one thing that makes the difference between a success or a failure. In this Veteran Connections Podcast I will be talking to Veteran business owners about what steps they are taking, the hurdles they have ran into, what advice they have for you, and what they hope life will look like a few years from now. With these real life interviews and real life results you can gain the expert knowledge from those that have been there. From your military brothers and sisters.

Today's guest is a high energy and highly motivated individual. He is an Air Force Veteran and also a fellow Associate Instructor at FourBlock that is passionate about helping Veterans. He is the Founder & Principal Consultant CEO of CIGRIE. I would like to welcome Jason Smith.

You can follow Jason here

Website: https://www.cigrie.com/

LinikedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-smith-93b9a11/Facebook:

Topics

So tell me a little bit about what you did in the military.

Transition from the military (easy or hard)

What was it that caused you to start your business?

Tell us about your company's mission

What were the steps you took to get your business up and running?

Do you feel like your military experience and training helped prepare you to be a Veteran business owner?

What were some of the challenges you faced getting your business started?

What is the key to the success of your business?

Would you say it was your military experience or other things you learned that have been more helpful in making you successful in your business?

Are you going to use your business in some way to either help or hire other Veterans?

What is the one most important thing you have learned since starting your business that you can share with future Veteran business owners?

For transitioning Veterans wanting to start their own business what action items list would you give them?

Summary

In this episode with Jason we heard some great advice you can take advantage of on your own vetrepreneur journey!

Building a network is critical as it can be a foundation for partners or customers

Research is a key to doing it right the first time and making sure there is actually a need for what you are doing

The Lean Startup Model is a great approach to getting a business up and running in an effective manner with things like customer discovery and informational interviews

Do not go it alone! Build that partnership or team and use coaches and mentors

Think about the sales process right away. look at the buyers perspective, will your idea solve their problem

The Veteran Connections Podcast provides advice from Veterans for Veterans. A lot of people like you and me that have been through the military have the same thoughts and a lot of the same questions. We may have even had the exact same struggle. I hope you find some answers as you go on this Veteran Connections journey with me where we will learn, explore, and get answers to your questions.

Another great resource for Veterans wanting to start their own business is the Small Business Administration (SBA)

https://www.sba.gov/starting-business/how-start-business/business-types/veteran-owned-businesses

If you need more information or want assistance implementing one of the things you learned about today you can contact me. I can teach you techniques and strategies to help you connect and network in the business community so you can reach your personal or professional goals. Email me at peteblum@solvability.com and let me know how I can help you!

I hope that you have enjoyed this podcast episode and if you have a burning question that you would like to get answered by an experienced Veteran business owner about starting your own business go ahead and email me. I will be sure to answer it in a future episode!

Thank you for listening!  -Pete

----more----

Indirect Rates

Definitions How Used When to change How to notify

Federal Contracting … confusion

Historical Provisional/Forward Pricing Proposal

Which Indirect Rates to Use When?

What if I get it wrong?

Wayne Leland

wayne@lb-cpas.com

www.nperspective.net

To contact Jenny W Clark

CEO, Solvability, Inc

www.solvability.com

PROGRAMS

Workshops Podcasts Webinars Self Study Hand to Hold RPM Prime Focus

----more----

Five Ways to Make the Most Out of GSA

1.Why should you consider a GSA Schedule?

2.Which Schedules should you be on (Services?)

3.What information do I need to have ready in order to start developing one?

4.How do I submit a GSA schedule?

5.Is there a Fast Track for New Companies?

I have my GSA Schedule but no work!

How do you get work under GSA Schedule? What Reporting is required? How do you keep your GSA Schedule in compliance?

Solvability UPDATE

Solvability Programs
Online GovCon Boot Camp Prime Focus Strategic Scalability
Florida GovCon Summit 2018 (Orlando)
Adding Matchmaking More Breakout Sessions Focus on All Small Collaboration

Jennifer Schaus of Jennifer Schaus & Associates

To contact Jenny W Clark

CEO, Solvability, Inc

www.solvability.com

PROGRAMS

Workshops Podcasts Webinars Self Study Hand to Hold RPM Prime Focus

----more----

Hi this is Pete Blum bringing you another episode of the Veteran Connections Podcast where my mission is to help transitioning Veterans and Veterans already out of the military engage with the business community, and to share the knowledge and tools needed to successfully start a business. The Veteran Connections Podcast brings you experience and advice from fellow Veterans who are business owners and have made the transition from the military and into the business community.

There are Veterans transitioning out of the military every day. Some of them have an idea or a passion that they want to turn into a business. Having the right connections can be the one thing that makes the difference between a success or a failure. In this Veteran Connections Podcast I will be talking to Veteran business owners about what steps they are taking, the hurdles they have ran into, what advice they have for you, and what they hope life will look like a few years from now. With these real life interviews and real life results you can gain the expert knowledge from those that have been there. From your military brothers and sisters.

Today's guest can always be found in good spirits and tends to bring smiles to people's faces at any celebration he goes to. He is a Marine Corps Veteran and believes in giving back to Veterans and their families. He is the Founder of Heroes Vodka. I would like to welcome Travis McVey.

You can follow Travis here

Website: http://www.heroesvodka.com/

LinikedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travis-mcvey-a105251a/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeroesVodka

Twitter: @HeroesVodka

Heroes Vodka is a U.S. Veteran-owned award winning premium American vodka. As the "Official Spirit of a Grateful Nation," Heroes Vodka is made from 100% American corn and it is naturally gluten-free. Each hand-crafted batch is distilled 4 times to create an ultra-pure, world-class spirit. The mission of Heroes Vodka is to deliver exceptional taste and superior value to consumers, while honoring Veterans and other American service organizations through charitable contributions. Every purchase of Heroes Vodka supports American Veterans through its Official Giveback Partnership Program. A percentage of proceeds from sales of Heroes Vodka is allocated to AMVETS to develop community assistance programs for active duty military, veterans and their families. HeroesVodka.com

Topics

Happy Birthday Devil Dog! There is no better podcast episode on the Marine Corps Birthday than two Marines talking about helping other Veterans so they can be successful.

For those listening this is a very special weekend! Not only is it the Marine Corps Birthday today but it is Veterans Day tomorrow. The Marine Corps Birthday is celebrating its 242nd year since being established in Tun Tavern. As you look back on the history of the Marines you will see we have the reputation of being the world's greatest fighting force, never giving up, and being first in and last out. Travis any words to add?

This is followed by Veterans Day where we honor those that serve our great nation to keep us free. Some give up time with their family, some miss seeing their child being born, some give u their lives. Please, when you see a Veteran say thank you for serving.

Some people only think about this once a year, Travis and I do our best to help Veterans and thank them every day.

Speaking of honoring Veterans besides running a business you are an author. You write for American Grit and you also wrote a book called Heroes Of The Stage. Can you tell me about the book and how it honors Veterans?

Travis, tomorrow is very special for you! Not only will you be celebrating Veterans Day but you're celebrating another special birthday as well! 6 years since the start of your company on 11-11-11!

Can you tell me about that special day, who was there, any special guests?

So tell me a little bit about what you did in the military.

It looks like we both served in a presidential unit. I was stationed with HMX-1, the Presidential Helicopter Squadron and you served as a Presidential Honor Guard, based on I picture I saw of you it looks like you were also in HMX-1.

Transition from the military (easy or hard)

What was it that caused you to start your business?

Tell us about your company's mission

What were the steps you took to get your business up and running?

Do you feel like your military experience and training helped prepare you to be a Veteran business owner?

What were some of the challenges you faced getting your business started?

What is the key to the success of your business?

What is the one most important thing you have learned since starting your business that you can share with future Veteran business owners?

Summary

In this episode with Travis we heard some great advice you can take advantage of on your own vetrepreneur journey!

Lots of research and development is going to be required to be successful

Have a plan to follow up after spending the time meeting other business professionals about promoting your product or service, when they don't see you, you don't want them to forget about you

Don’t start a business to make money, start a business to make a difference

Don't be afraid, you have to be willing to go for it

Find experts in the field that you want to go into and learn from them

When you think about marketing and where you want to spend money, ads and commercials can be really expensive. Consider trying to get on the news as a human interests story about what is going on with your business in your community. It's a great way to get the word out there and all it will cost you is time.

The Veteran Connections Podcast provides advice from Veterans for Veterans. A lot of people like you and me that have been through the military have the same thoughts and a lot of the same questions. We may have even had the exact same struggle. I hope you find some answers as you go on this Veteran Connections journey with me where we will learn, explore, and get answers to your questions.

Another great resource for Veterans wanting to start their own business is the Small Business Administration (SBA)

https://www.sba.gov/starting-business/how-start-business/business-types/veteran-owned-businesses

If you need more information or want assistance implementing one of the things you learned about today you can contact me. I can teach you techniques and strategies to help you connect and network in the business community so you can reach your personal or professional goals. Email me at peteblum@solvability.com and let me know how I can help you!

I hope that you have enjoyed this podcast episode and if you have a burning question that you would like to get answered by an experienced Veteran business owner about starting your own business go ahead and email me. I will be sure to answer it in a future episode!

Thank you for listening!  -Pete

----more----

Organizational Strategy for Small Business

About Russ
Why What How
Purposeful Approach, not trial and error Right decisions, right time, right order Purposefully Profitable

How Russ can Help You

Resources.. Book Podcast Let’s Learn More!!

Solvability Programs & Events

Solvability programs
GovCon Boot Camp Prime Focus Strategic Scalability
Florida GovCon Summit 2018 (Orlando)
Adding Matchmaking More Breakout Session Focus on All Small Collaboration

Russ Barnes

www.systro.org

813-520-5770

russ@systro.org

www.linkedin.com/in/rcbarnes

To contact Jenny W Clark

CEO, Solvability, Inc

www.solvability.com

PROGRAMS

Workshops Podcasts Webinars Self Study Hand to Hold RPM Prime Focus

----more----

Hi this is Pete Blum bringing you another episode of the Veteran Connections Podcast where my mission is to help transitioning Veterans and Veterans already out of the military engage with the business community, and to share the knowledge and tools needed to successfully start a business. The Veteran Connections Podcast brings you experience and advice from fellow Veterans who are business owners and have made the transition from the military and into the business community.

There are Veterans transitioning out of the military every day. Some of them have an idea or a passion that they want to turn into a business. Having the right connections can be the one thing that makes the difference between a success or a failure. In this Veteran Connections Podcast I will be talking to Veteran business owners about what steps they are taking, the hurdles they have ran into, what advice they have for you, and what they hope life will look like a few years from now. With these real life interviews and real life results you can gain the expert knowledge from those that have been there. From your military brothers and sisters.

I connected with today's guest on LinkedIn and run into him at Veteran networking events. He is a hard charger that has started his business while still on active duty. He is currently a Master Sergeant in the United States Army and has served 29 years so far. He is the Founder & CEO of Webley On The Go. I would like to welcome Steve Webley.

Website: http://www.webleyonthego.com/

LinikedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/webley-steve-37251a142/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/webleyonthego

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/webleyonthego/

Twitter: @WebleyOnTheGo

Email: INFO@WEBLEYONTHEGO.COM

Phone: 813-586- 0235

Steven Webley enlisted the Army in 1988 and served as a Military Police

He deployed multiple times from Desert Storm to Iraqi Freedom

HIGHLIGHTS OF QUALIFICATIONS

Non-Lethal Weapons Instructor, Military Police Investigator (MPI), Corrections/Detention Specialist, Conventional Physical Security/Crime Prevention Specialist, Crime & Criminal Intelligence Analyst, Police Transition Team, Antiterrorism Officer, Protective Services Officer (PSO), Antiterrorism Evasive Driver, and Security Manager

US DECORATIONS/BADGES

Bronzes Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation, Army Good Conduct Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal (Expeditionary), Global War on Terrorism Medal (Service), NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia), Kuwait Liberation Medal (Emirate of Kuwait), Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon, and Parachute Badge

As he prepares to retire, he has started his own company, Webley On The Go.

Webley On The Go (WOTG) is a veteran-family owned and operated mobile multimedia and entertainment company. WOTG services the Tampa/St. Petersburg area with the ability to travel statewide.

Topics

So tell me a little bit about what you do in the military and what your career has been like up till now.

It sounds like you are ready to retire and have started the transition process. What transition steps have you taken to get ready for civilian life?

What was it that caused you to start your business while still in the military?

Starting a business while still in the military means working twice as hard while wearing two hats. How do you manage to do that and make sure you don’t cross any lines as far as the military is concerned. Can you talk about what special things you had to do to make that happen?

Tell us about your company's mission

What were the steps you took to get your business up and running?

Do you feel like your military experience and training helped prepare you to be a Veteran business owner?

What were some of the challenges you faced getting your business started?

What is the key to the success of your business?

Would you say it was your military experience or other things you learned that have been more helpful in making you successful in your business?

Are you going to use your business in some way to either help or hire other Veterans?

What is the one most important thing you have learned since starting your business that you can share with future Veteran business owners?

For transitioning Veterans wanting to start their own business what action items list would you give them?

Now we talked about what transitioning Veterans need to consider before starting their own business. What other things do you think they need to think about outside of business as they prepare for transition?

Summary

In this episode with Steve we heard some great advice you can take advantage of on your own vetrepreneur journey!

While still in the military and starting your own business it is especially critical to manage your time and pay attention to detail as you don't want to cross any lines that could lead to trouble.

In a community where there is already a tight network of people who work together it is even more important to engage with that community so that you can become one of those people.

You must be passionate about your business.

Additional advice!

Be sure to take care of all medical, dental, and other similar things before getting out.

The Veteran Connections Podcast provides advice from Veterans for Veterans. A lot of people like you and me that have been through the military have the same thoughts and a lot of the same questions. We may have even had the exact same struggle. I hope you find some answers as you go on this Veteran Connections journey with me where we will learn, explore, and get answers to your questions.

Another great resource for Veterans wanting to start their own business is the Small Business Administration (SBA)

https://www.sba.gov/starting-business/how-start-business/business-types/veteran-owned-businesses

If you need more information or want assistance implementing one of the things you learned about today you can contact me. I can teach you techniques and strategies to help you connect and network in the business community so you can reach your personal or professional goals. Email me at peteblum@solvability.com and let me know how I can help you!

I hope that you have enjoyed this podcast episode and if you have a burning question that you would like to get answered by an experienced Veteran business owner about starting your own business go ahead and email me. I will be sure to answer it in a future episode!

Thank you for listening!  -Pete