GovCon M&A Talk

Sharon Heaton⁠, the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with Chelsea Roberts, Founder & CEO of Collaborative Compositions, about building a GovCon company for sustainable growth—and long-term value.
Topics covered:
● When should a small GovCon stop acting small?● Why more revenue doesn’t always mean more value● Making the leap from subcontractor to prime● Building the infrastructure to scale before you need it● Relationships vs. data: what should drive your growth strategy?● Why differentiation matters as competition increases● What proposed SBA size standards could mean for small and mid-tier GovCons● How OTAs can create new opportunities for government contractors
To connect with Chelsea, visit her LinkedIn page ⁠here⁠.To learn more about Collaborative Compositions, visit their webpage ⁠here⁠.
To connect with Sharon Heaton, visit her LinkedIn page here.To follow and learn more about sbLiftOff, check them out here.

Mike Derrios, Executive Director of George Mason University's Baroni Center for Government Contracting.
Topics covered:
● Where will the next generation of GovCon leaders come from?
● Bridging the gap between government, industry and the classroom
● What happens when a $15 million company competes against a $400 million “small business”?
● Why GovCon companies may need to throw out the old growth playbook
● Could the proposed SBA size standards discourage the next generation of small businesses?
 
To connect with Mike, visit his LinkedIn page ⁠here⁠.
To connect with Sharon Heaton, visit her LinkedIn page here.To follow and learn more about sbLiftOff, check them out here.
 

Sharon Heaton⁠, the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with Steve Koprince, National GovCon Small Business Expert.
Topics covered:
● What happens when “almost everybody’s small”?
● When your competitors suddenly get a whole lot bigger
● Are you big enough to compete as a “small” business?
● Why the SBA’s proposed changes could put M&A on the table for more GovCon owners
 
To connect with Steve, visit his LinkedIn page ⁠here⁠.To connect with Sharon Heaton, visit her LinkedIn page here.To follow and learn more about sbLiftOff, check them out here.

Sharon Heaton⁠, the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with Mark Amtower of Amtower & Company.
Topics covered:
● Why trying to be everything to everyone can hurt your GovCon company
● Do you own a company — or do you have a job?
● Why relationships ARE marketing in GovCon
● Why “the riches are in the niches”
● What being “findable” has to do with building a more valuable company
 
To connect with Mark, visit him LinkedIn page ⁠here⁠.To learn more about Amtower & Company, visit them on LinkedIn ⁠here⁠.
To connect with Sharon Heaton, visit her LinkedIn page here.To follow and learn more about sbLiftOff, check them out here.

Sharon Heaton⁠, the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with Jon Williams of PilieroMazza about bombshell SBA size standard proposed changes.
Topics covered:
● Proposed rule, not yet adopted
● If adopted, this would be a massive change
● Benefits include increased number of buyers for small businesses
● Challenges include smaller businesses having to compete with companies 10X their size
● Potential impact on mentor-protégé relationships
 
To connect with Jon, visit his LinkedIn page ⁠here⁠.To learn more about PilieroMazza, visit their webpage ⁠here⁠.
To connect with Sharon Heaton, visit her LinkedIn page here.To follow and learn more about sbLiftOff, check them out here.

Sharon Heaton⁠, the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with Paula Smithers of sbLiftOff.
Topics covered:
● Running a small business like a big business 
● Numbers can surprise you
● The big life impact of M&A
● Why a good M&A advisor positively impacts employees, customers AND owners
To connect with Paula, visit her LinkedIn page ⁠here⁠.To learn more about sbLiftOff, visit their webpage ⁠here⁠.
To connect with Sharon Heaton, visit her LinkedIn page here.To follow and learn more about sbLiftOff, check them out here.

Sharon Heaton⁠, the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with Elizabeth Shea of TreeFork Strategies.
Topics covered:
● De-risking your business
● Reducing owner dependency in stages
● Communication plans for M&A inflection points
● Why hiring an investment banker for your deal puts more money in your pocket
To connect with Elizabeth, visit her LinkedIn page ⁠here⁠.To learn more about TreeFork Strategies, visit their webpage ⁠here⁠.
To connect with Sharon Heaton, visit her LinkedIn page here.To follow and learn more about sbLiftOff, check them out here.

Sharon Heaton⁠, the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with Christine Williamson of Cohn Reznick about the 2026 GAUGE REPORT.
Topics covered:
● Only 3% of GovCon companies surveyed automate their capture● How a consistent capture process adds value to a transaction● Average net profit margins were materially below 10%● 42% of pipeline opportunities come from teaming partners
Download a copy of the GAUGE Report by clicking here.
To connect with Christine, visit her LinkedIn page ⁠here⁠.To learn more about Cohn Reznick, visit their webpage ⁠here⁠.
To connect with Sharon Heaton, visit her LinkedIn page here.To follow and learn more about sbLiftOff, check them out here.

Sharon Heaton⁠, the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with Meghan Gifford about lessons from Octo.
Topics covered:● Integration tips gleaned after four Octo acquisitions● Never underestimate the impact of uncertainty – avoid mystery● How IBM integrated Octo into its federal business● Why owners experience “the crisis after the sale”
To connect with Meghan, visit her LinkedIn page ⁠here⁠.
To connect with Sharon Heaton, visit her LinkedIn page here.To follow and learn more about sbLiftOff, check them out here.

Sharon Heaton⁠, the founder of sbLiftOff and a leading small business, growth strategies, and M&A SME, talks with Venu Ayala about his Zen transaction:
Topics covered:
● Bootstrapping with zero capital
● Recovering from contract losses
● Closing a deal before the SBA’s Jan 17, 2026 deadline
● Selling, becoming a wholly owned subsidiary and freedom 
 
To connect with Venu, visit her LinkedIn page ⁠here⁠.To learn more about ZEN STRATEGICS, visit their webpage ⁠here⁠.
To connect with Sharon Heaton, visit her LinkedIn page here.To follow and learn more about sbLiftOff, check them out here.