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Speakers

Get to know the speakers at Go Beyond 2024

Sue Malone

Sue Malone, founder, and CEO of Strategies for Small Business, where the focus is on starting and expanding businesses. Over the course of twenty years Sue has been responsible for funding over 30,000 businesses. Sue sits on several national boards focused on entrepreneurship and inclusion. She travels the nation meeting, promoting, and funding small business owners especially minority, women, and veteran owned businesses. She is fueled by her passion to help small business owners pursue their dreams. Sue has received numerous awards for her contribution to the success of small businesses around the nation. Sue is involved with private equity and investment funding. Sue continues to develop new financing and funding programs since “Not every business owner wears the same size shoe.” Sue sits on several national boards focused on veterans and entrepreneurship. Including, the President of the nonprofit, American Economic Empowerment. And co-founder of Women’s Military Exchange: Operation Next Step. In addition, Sue is one of the founders of VetPower.org and Vet-Power.org., both focusing on giving veterans an opportunity for entrepreneurship and job seeking. Plus, a board member of National Forum on Diversity in Construction and National Institute of Minority Economic Development. A member of the American Legion, Small Business Task Force. Sue is an active member of the Long Beach Accelerator and part of the admissions committee. Sue is the President and CEO of the on-line company National Lien Law, which helps contractors across the nation with easy and cost-efficient lien forms. She helped author several new loan programs and equity programs for small businesses. In addition, she makes sure small businesses voices are not forgotten in Washington DC. Sue is a serial entrepreneur with starting over seven businesses. She holds an MBA from St. Mary’s College.

Gloria Larkin

Summary • President, CEO, & Founder of TargetGov, a nationally recognized consulting firm focusing on government contracting and related business development and marketing services including creating effective Capability Statements, successful minority certification, contract development (IDIQs, GSA Schedules, etc.), business development, proposal management and development, and contract administration. Clients have won over $10 Billion in prime federal contracts. • Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Alumna; American Express National Procurement Advisor • Interviewed on MSNBC and quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Inc.com, TheStreet.com, USAToday, and Inc. Magazine • Expert author with over 300 articles regarding government contracting and business development published in local, regional, and national publications. • Author of “The Basic Guide to Government Contracting: How to Sell Your Services and Products to the U.S. Federal Government” (soft cover & PDF) • Author of “The Veterans Business Guide: How to Build a Successful Government Contracting Business” (soft cover & PDF) • Created the Government Contracting Institute, offering both in-person and virtual instructor-led classes. Sample of Previous Speaking Experience An experienced speaker and trainer with past engagements including: • Department of Energy Annual Conference; SAME Annual Conference • Women in Government Construction Conference, Washington DC • MacDill SDVOSB/VOSB & SB Conference, Motivational Lunch Speaker, Moderator • National Veterans Small Business Conference, The Dept. of Veterans Affairs • Fortune 50 Prime Contractor: Social Media Planning Strategy • Veteran Entrepreneur Training Symposium (VETS), Reno, Nevada • Keynote speaker: Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School “Art of Entrepreneurship” Annual Conference • OSDBU Annual Conference Workshop Session Speaker • Speaker at the National Women Business Owners Corporation National Conference • Speaker and discussion leader at AMEX OPEN for Government Contractors Summit for Success • International speaker and discussion leader at the University of Oxford Saïd Business School Power Shift Forum for Women in the World Economy 2013 • Radio show and podcast guest for BusinessWeek.com and NPR affiliate WEAA 88.9 FM • Television show guest of Anne Arundel County and Howard County Public TelevisionTargetGov at Marketing Outsource Associates, Inc. is a 100% woman-owned company. www.TargetGov.com • Keynote Speaker for the Annual BWCC Government Procurement Fair • Teaching seminars at the Howard County Economic Development Authority Business Center • Keynote speaker at the Business Women’s Network • Speaker with the Department of Homeland Security at UMBC Tech Center • Speaker at the Department of the Interior’s Procurement Conference • Keynote speaker at Maryland Association of CPAs Government Contractors Conference • Lorman Education Services Distinguished Faculty Recognitions • Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) National Educational Foundation Chair Emeritus • SBA’s 2010 Women in Business Champion, Maryland • Enterprising Women Magazine’s 2010 Enterprising Women of the Year honoree • Recognized as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Minority Business Enterprises, 2012, 2008 and 2006 • Women Impacting Public Policy Member of the Year 2007 • Bravo Business Achievement Award 2007 recipient • Recognized as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women in 2010, 2007 and 2004 • Recognized by Maryland’s Governor’s Office of Minority Affairs as one of the top Women Entrepreneurs and Top 100 Minority Enterprises in 2008 and 2006 • "Business of the Year" by the Baltimore/Washington Corridor Chamber of Commerce • Featured in various nationwide publications including USAToday and Inc Magazine and quoted in Government Executive magazine • MOA marketing projects for Howard Transit received a national American Public Transportation Association (APTA) AdWheels First Place Award and a Transportation Association of Maryland (TAM) "Best Transit System in MD" Award • Past Instructor at George Washington University in the Continuing Education Division, teaching marketing and business practices workshops What people are saying about Gloria Larkin: “I want to take this opportunity to thank you once gain for the two terrific workshops you ran for us in our region. Your approach, subject matter expertise, and professionalism provided our clients with a very informative, very well presented, and enjoyable workshop. We look forward to the next opportunity we will have to bring you back to Northeastern Pennsylvania to enrich ourselves and our clients with your energy and knowledge.” Frank A. Migneco, Government Procurement Manager, NEPA Alliance “Ms. Larkin was our keynote speaker and I am still hearing comments about how interesting her talk was.” Rhonda Tomlinson, Maryland Association of CPA’s, Federal Contracting Summit “Superb! No other word would adequately describe your presentation.” Cynetta Cardwell, Howard County Economic Development Authority

Brian Covington

Born and raised in Nashville,Tennessee, Brian Covington has become one of the area’s premier comics. Along with being one of the regular house MC's at Zanies Comedy Club in Nashville, Brian has performed at various clubs around the country. He has also taken time to perform for many other private and corporate events, and was chosen as a contestant to perform in Comedy Central’s “Open Mic Fight“ competition where he was regional finalist; along with being the winner of the Midwest Comedy Competition in Cincinnati,OH. Brian has also opened for numerous nationally known acts such as Lavell Crawford, Deon Cole, the Queen of Comedy herself Mo'Nique at Nashville's historic Grand Ole Opry House, AL Franken and the legendary Dick Gregory. Brian can also been seen on the first season of Circle Network's "Stand Up Nashville" and has also tapped an episode for Amazon Prime's first season of, "The Comedy Buzz".

Jason Johnston

Jason Johnston serves as a Procurement Center Representative (PCR) for the Office of Government Contracting, Area III, with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). He has over 13 years of Federal contracting experience, with 6 of those years serving as a Contracting Officer. Previously he worked at both the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Huntsville Center and Mobile District where he gained extensive experience with contracts ranging from simplified acquisitions to billion dollar indefinite delivery contracts. Jason Johnston serves as a Procurement Center Representative (PCR) for the Office of Government Contracting, Area III, with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). He has over 13 years of Federal contracting experience, with 6 of those years serving as a Contracting Officer. Previously he worked at both the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Huntsville Center and Mobile District where he gained extensive experience with contracts ranging from simplified acquisitions to billion dollar indefinite delivery contracts. Prior to entering federal service, Mr. Johnston practiced law in the private sector for 6 years. He has a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of South Alabama, a Juris Doctorate in Law from Cumberland School of Law, and is DAWIA Level III Contracting certified.

Chris Smith

Since 2005, Chris has been a dedicated advisor to construction companies, establishing himself as a well-known and trusted surety broker. In this role, he plays a crucial part in guiding clients through critical decisions related to surety bonds and growth opportunities. Chris boasts an impressive track record, consistently achieving surety bond approvals that enable his clients to capture profitable contracts and increase net worth. Chris collaborates closely with surety company underwriters, attorneys, accountants, and commercial bankers, fostering a collaborative team approach to problem-solving and capacity building. This approach ensures that his contractor clients receive the professional guidance necessary to make well-informed decisions. What truly sets Chris apart and fills him with immense pride is the knowledge that his surety expertise has not only helped his clients but also opened doors to new business opportunities, resulting in over $2 billion in contract revenue to small businesses. Thanks to his sage guidance, numerous entrepreneurs have achieved their dreams, rising as first-generation millionaires.

Reggie Polk

Reggie Polk is the Founder and CEO of Polk & Associates Construction Inc. (Polk), a full-service construction firm specializing in Construction Management, General Contracting, Civil Construction, Real Estate Development, and Facilities Maintenance. Polk is a leading provider of Construction Services throughout the Southeast and Midwest. Alongside Co-Founder, Tanora Polk, Reggie leads a team of construction professionals who are well versed in estimating, construction management, facilities operations, design-build, and construction processes, which enables them to provide services beyond the scope of a typical general contractor. In addition to Middle Tennessee, the firm provides construction services in Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, The Carolinas, Illinois, Virginia, and Louisiana. Polk & Associates Construction has completed as variety of work that ranges from interior build outs for national grocery retailers, national furniture retailers, and other private clients to several State, Federal, and Local agencies throughout the Southeast and Midwest. Many of these projects are valued well north of $1 million with a target focus of projects ranging from $1M -$10M. We are most proud of being a partner in the Tennessee Builders Alliance, who was the selected Construction Manager of choice to construct the new Tennessee Titans Stadium. Polk holds several certifications with Federal and State Agencies and is recognized as a trusted construction provider who utilizes established resources and relationships to meet the end goal of our clients. Polk Builds on Trust and Integrity, and these values have allowed the company to experience significant growth and increase in capacity year after year. As a former scholar-athlete, Reggie Is a Proud Alumni of Middle Tennessee State University, where he holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Concrete Industry Management, with a minor in Business Administration.

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