In this wrap-up session from the National 8(a) Small Business Conference in New Orleans, William Osgood, CEO of Supply Chain Management (SCM), shares key insights for small business owners, veteran entrepreneurs, and 8(a)-certified companies looking to succeed in the federal contracting arena.William discusses:• The “iceberg effect” in business and why small issues can sink big goals• The critical role of back-office operations in getting paid quickly by the federal government• The benefits and requirements of the SBA 8(a) Business Development Program• The power of sole-source contracting opportunities• How to leverage federal contract forecasting for strategic growth• Why hiring an experienced consulting firm like SCM can save you time, headaches, and increase your chances of certification success• The importance of shifting from “contractor” to “solution provider” in the eyes of the governmentWhether you’re new to federal contracting or looking to level up your business strategy, this video is full of actionable tips that can help you win more contracts, get paid faster, and position your company as a trusted partner for government agencies.Learn more about Supply Chain Management (SCM): https://www.scmsource.com#FederalContracting #8aCertification #SmallBusinessGrowth #VeteranOwnedBusiness #GovCon #WilliamOsgood #SCM #BusinessDevelopment #GovernmentContracts #Entrepreneurship

In this interview from the National 8(a) Small Business Conference, William Osgood of SCM Consulting sits down with John Cook of Strategic Growth Partners to discuss what it really takes to scale a professional services firm in the government contracting ecosystem.

John shares the story behind consolidating multiple sister companies into a single, unified brand—and why clear, concise messaging became the catalyst for accelerated growth. He explains how fragmented branding can confuse potential clients, and how simplifying the story around core capabilities led to better engagement, stronger relationships, and clearer market positioning.

Topics covered in this conversation include:

• Why clear, concise messaging is critical as companies grow

• Lessons learned from consolidating multiple businesses into strategic business units

• The “iceberg effect” of growth—what people don’t see behind success

• The importance of building the right leadership team and subject-matter expertise

• Why micromanagement limits growth and empowerment fuels scale

• How strategic partnerships and aligned teams drive long-term success

This conversation is full of golden nuggets for small business owners, consultants, and GovCon leaders looking to grow beyond founder-led operations and build sustainable, scalable organizations.

Learn more about Supply Chain Management (SCM):
https://www.scmsource.com

William Osgood interviews Janelle Askew of National Veteran Small Business Coalition (NVSBC). They discuss various topics including relationship building, government contracting, networking, and the benefits of attending or exhibiting at the Vets 25 conference.More information on NVSBC at nvsbc.org