SPEAKERS

Matt Agresti is a Senior Vice President and Relationship Manager at EagleBank since March 2023.  Prior to arriving at EagleBank, he spent 34 years with Bank of America (25 years in the Washington DC market).  He has been in commercial banking for the majority of his career.  In his role today, he leads and quarterbacks a team of product and service specialists to deliver strategic financial advice and solutions to help government contracting organizations grow, improve cash flow, lend and manage their cash management capabilities.

Agresti has a B.A in International Studies from the University of South Florida and received a commission as an officer in the United States Air Force in 1988.   He served 8 years (7 with the USAF Reserves) and retired from the service at MacDill AFB in the summer of 1996.

As a Senior Relationship Manager on the Government Contracting Team at M&T Bank, Andrew’s focus is exclusively on the Government Contracting space. Fostering strong client relationships and guiding business owners to financial success. With a focus on collaboration and partnership, Andrew thrives in solving complex problems in a fast-paced environment. 

Jonathan Calhoun is a Senior Vice President on Bank of America’s Aerospace & Defense team.  He works with a team of banking professionals who help middle market companies achieve their overall strategic objectives by advising and executing on various capital raising approaches, merger and acquisition initiatives, treasury management solutions, and risk management strategies.

Before transitioning to the private sector and joining Bank of America in 2015, Jonathan was a Surface Warfare Officer in the U.S. Navy where he completed multiple overseas deployments and was a Naval Science Instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy.

Jonathan earned a BA degree from The Citadel and an MBA from the University of Maryland. Jonathan is a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserves currently attached to NATO Allied Command Transformation where he maintains an active security clearance. Passionate about veterans causes, he is on the board of directors of the Veterans Defense Project, a non-profit organization supporting veterans nationwide.

Barbara E. Carson is Managing Director of Programs and Services at the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) and brings more than 25 years of experience, military service, and proven leadership in successfully building and delivering programs across government and military sectors. Carson is responsible for the day-to-day management and oversight of the Institute’s national programs and services, which focus on entrepreneurship, career training, and community services. 

Carson retired as a Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve (USAFR), her last assignment was to the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Office of Public Affairs. She has served more than 25 years as an active-duty and reserve officer, and her experience includes nuclear command and control and public affairs assignments across the United States, Japan, and Europe. 

Danielle A. Davis is an Executive Director and the Southwest Head of Diverse Businesses with JP Morgan Chase’s Middle Market Banking and Specialized Industries group in the commercial bank. She is primarily focused on strategy execution, business development and growth of mid-size diverse, women, LGBTQ+ and veteran-owned businesses supporting the nine states of the southwest segment. Danielle’s passion is helping diverse businesses connect with her firm’s ecosystem of resources, as well as foster relationships through her vast network. Danielle has over 25 years of experience in the financial sector.

Joe serves as Market President of Fulton Bank in Maryland / Washington D.C.  He joined the bank in 2014.  He is a native Baltimorean with 40 years of financial services experience in the market.  Joe attended Calvert Hall College High School before graduating from Towson University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Economics.  Continuing education includes the Columbia University Graduate School of Business / Executive Education Program and completion of Leadership programs in Anne Arundel and Harford Counties.  

Joe is very engaged in the Baltimore community, serving in the following roles:  Chairman / Board of Directors, Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake, Inc. (also a member of their Executive & Human Resource Committees); Board of Directors, Greater Baltimore Committee; Y Community Engagement Committee, The Y of Central Maryland. 

Bryan Dyer founded Yorktown in 2008 and continues to serve as President and CEO.

A retired Army officer with a distinguished career as an infantryman and comptroller, Mr. Dyer’s assignments ranged from duty in special operations and airborne units to commanding an infantry battalion. He is a veteran of Operation Just Cause in the Republic of Panama, Operations Desert Shield/Storm in Saudi Arabia and Iraq, the Kosovo Campaign, and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

Mr. Dyer holds a BBA in Management Information Systems (MIS) from the University of Georgia and an MBA from Syracuse University. With almost 40 years of service to our nation, he is an expert in serving and providing services to our warfighters across the globe and continues to seek opportunities to contribute to our nation’s security.

Scott German is the Director of Business Development at Spartan Shield Solutions . Scott is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in banking and finance, having worked across three prominent banks. He joined Spartan Shield Solutions in early 2024, where he leverages his expertise to drive business growth for this leading provider of fractional CFO, finance, and accounting services, specializing in government contractors.

Beyond his professional achievements, Scott is deeply committed to his community. He actively participates in various non-profit organizations in Loudoun County, having served on the board and led initiatives for Leadership Loudoun and Crossroads Jobs, Inc. Originally from Baltimore, Scott has been a resident of Leesburg, VA, since 1997. He is married with four children and continues to contribute to the local community through his leadership and volunteer work.

John Hale III is the founder and CEO of The Cornerstone Group, LLC, a consultancy that provides strategic advice to businesses aiming to achieve growth and operational excellence. With over 30 years of experience, he has held executive positions in financial services, energy, government contracting, and consumer sectors. Hale served as a senior political appointee in the Obama Administration, first as Deputy Associate Administrator for the Office of Capital Access at the U.S. Small Business Administration, and later as Director of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization at the U.S. Department of Energy, where he received the Secretary's Meritorious Service Award. He currently serves on several boards, including FSC First, Next Energy, and the Private Directors Association, and holds a Master of Science in Finance from Carnegie Mellon University. 

John Halley is the Business Banking Regional Manager for M&T Bank’s Govcon and Expansion Region. He has served in multiple roles in his 16 years at the bank, all within the small to mid-sized business space, with the last 11 years dedicated to serving the Govcon and Veteran communities. John is an active member of AFCEA Central Maryland as well as the Fort Meade Alliance. He and his team are dedicated to growing relationships within the Govcon ecosystem in the DMV, helping to facilitate introductions amongst companies serving various agencies within the DoD and IC, along with providing companies the capital needed to grow and scale throughout their lifecycle.

Sharon Heaton has more than thirty years of M&A and banking experience as a lawyer, business executive, and senior Senate staff. With a 360-degree perspective on successful transactions, and an unshakable conviction about the enduring value that midmarket business owners bring to the economy, Ms. Heaton, named one of the “50 Most Influential Women in M&A” by BDO, is a recognized national thought-leader on midmarket M&A, from the commercial space to government contracting. 

Joe heads Government Contracting Specialized Banking for Atlantic Union Bank.  This group of specialized commercial bankers brings considerable expertise where we strive to be thoughtful rather than formulaic and remain a consistent and reliable source of capital thru all phases of the business life cycle. 

Joe is an accomplished finance professional with over thirty years of experience building and rebuilding business units. He and his team provide working capital, growth capital and are very active in recapitalizations and in providing senior debt in Merger and Acquisition transactions.   

He serves as Treasurer and Board Member of a multistate Certified Local Development Company, is involved with a number of local charitable organizations, and is also a course rater for GolfWeek Magazine.

A Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business owner and an executive with extensive experience in leadership and management across a 30-plus year career, Scott Jensen is the Executive Director of the National Veteran Small Business Coalition and owner of Alpine Global Solutions. He has served as the Chief Operations Officer for Team RWB, Chief Executive Officer for Protect Our Defenders and as the Assistant Vice President for Leadership Development Programs at the American Council on Education. 

Rhett Jeppson is an Executive Director at JPMorgan Chase & Co. He oversees the firm’s relationships across the private and nonprofit sectors, government and higher education on issues of veteran employment, workforce development, and entrepreneurship.

Prior to joining JPMorgan Chase, Rhett served as the Chief Executive of the United States Mint from January 2015 to January 2017. He also served as the Acting Chief Operating Officer of the Small Business Administration where he oversaw all aspects of the agency’s disaster and risk management, personnel, facilities, information technology and equal opportunity programs.

A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, Rhett served active duty for 28 years as an infantry officer spending significant time with US Special Operations Command. He has been deployed in conflicts ranging from Operation Desert Storm in Iraq to Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

Timm Johnson is the Director of the Mason Small Business Development Center and provides business counseling and mentoring for Virginia entrepreneurs and small business owners.  Since 2009, Timm has counseled over 2200 clients providing advice on launching, financing, marketing, and selling their businesses.  In 2018, he became the Director of the Mason SBDC and led efforts of the center’s reach into all of the communities in Northern Virginia. Timm is a practiced entrepreneur with over thirty years of finance and operations experience for technology and services growth companies in the commercial and government sectors.

Timm is a founding director of Venture Mentors, a provider of business advisory services to start-up technology companies. Through Venture Mentors, he provides leadership roles in several companies including Nexus Technology Services LLC, Omnilert LLC, and Zero Now, a 501c3.

As an experienced CFO, Timm led several companies – from business formation and strategy, venture capital acquisition, business operations management and exit.  In addition, Timm is proficient in Lean Start-up, Lean Thinking and GrowthWheel business methodologies.

Stan Kurtz retired from the U.S. Navy in 2003 completing a 23-year career. Since retiring, he has continued to serve veterans for over 17 years. He is a graduate of the Navy Senior Enlisted Academy and the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute. He served on the Secretary of the Navy Retiree council and is a graduate of the George W. Bush Stand to Leadership scholar program. Stan currently serves as the Director of Policy and Engagement for the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Office Veterans Business Development (OVBD). His previous roles within OVBD include Director of Programs and the Director of the Veteran Business Outreach Center program. Prior to serving at the U.S. Small Business Administration, Stan served as the Director of Veteran Employment Services for the Texas Veterans Commission and the Assistant Veteran Employment Services Coordinator for the State of Florida.

Dr. Jerry McGinn is the Executive Director of the Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting at George Mason University, where he leads research on government contracting, defense innovation, and industrial policy. With expertise in U.S. industrial policy, security cooperation, and supply chain management, Dr. McGinn previously served as the senior career official in the Department of Defense’s Office of Manufacturing and Industrial Base Policy. He led efforts to analyze the defense industrial base, oversaw reviews of mergers and acquisitions, and managed several manufacturing innovation institutes. Dr. McGinn has also held senior roles in defense industry firms like Deloitte, QinetiQ North America, and Northrop Grumman, and served as a U.S. Army infantry officer. He holds a Ph.D., M.S., and M.A. from Georgetown University and a B.S. from the United States Military Academy. 

Matt McShane is a Senior Government Contracting Relationship Manager with M&T Bank. Matt has worked for M&T for 6 years, going through various Management Development Programs and previously serving as a Branch Manager. He is passionate about supporting government contractors through the lifecycle of their business by providing strategic advice, GovCon industry expertise, and a full suite of banking services. He holds his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland.

Adam Milliren is a Marine Corps Veteran Combat Engineer turned surety professional specializing in helping government contractors qualify for and maximize their surety bond programs. As an owner and key expert at Parrot Surety Services, Adam works with construction, manufacturing, and other industry firms to navigate the complexities of surety credit—one of the biggest bottlenecks in government contracting.

With a comprehensive understanding of surety underwriting, financial structuring, and a deep surety industry network, Adam and his team provide strategic guidance to contractors seeking to scale their bond capacity. His expertise bridges the gap between contractors and financial institutions, ensuring businesses can secure the necessary bonding to compete and grow in the federal marketplace.

A member of the National Association of Surety Bond Producers (NASBP) Small and Emerging Business Committee and the National Veteran Small Business Coalition (NVSBC) since 2021, Adam is committed to advocating for small and emerging veteran-owned businesses.

Through Parrot Surety Services, Adam helps contractors strategically structure their financials and bonding programs, ensuring contractors unlock their full potential in the federal marketplace.

Mustafa Nasseh is a finance and banking professional with over 19 years of experience in the financial services industry. He joined Chase in 2018 as part of JPMorgan Chase's expansion in Greater Washington. In his role as Area Manager, Mustafa leads a team of Business Relationship Managers at JPMorgan Chase Business Banking, serving as a partner and trusted advisor to clients throughout the Greater DC region. 

Glenn is an experienced finance professional with over 25 years of expertise in delivering client-centric solutions through specialty lending and fintech platforms. 

He is the CEO of ProudlyGive®, an award-winning fintech social enterprise he founded in 2020, dedicated to removing barriers to “making giving easier”.  ProudlyGive® seamlessly integrates embedded donations into elements of everyday corporate spending, making philanthropy more accessible to companies of all sizes.  

In addition, Glenn serves as a Director at Prudent Capital, a Washington, DC-based mezzanine fund that provides growth-oriented debt capital to later-stage operating companies, with a particular focus on the GovCon industry. 

His recent accolades include being named 2023 Entrepreneur of the Year by the Rockville Chamber of Commerce and a Moxie Award finalist in both 2023 and 2024 as a founder of one of “DC’s Most Innovative Company in Financial Services.” 

Glenn is an active community member and resides with his family in Montgomery County, Maryland. 

Mr. Ochoa is the Managing Partner of Donovan Capital Group, a private credit firm with $100 Million of capital under management that invests exclusively in Defense & Government Services businesses.   

Previously, Mr. Ochoa was an attorney at Morvillo Abramowitz and DLA Piper. At both firms, he specialized in corporate law and white-collar litigation. 

Additionally, he has served in the government as press secretary for the Lt. Governor of Colorado and in several functions at the Central Intelligence Agency and the White House. 

Mr. Ochoa attended American University’s Washington College of Law, Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, and the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado.  

After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh, Tolu began her career as a CPA at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Upon receiving her MBA from Duke University, she became an investment banker executing capital markets and M&A transactions for large multinational corporations. She is currently a banker in JP Morgan’s Innovation Economy group, where she advises growth-stage startups on optimal treasury and funding strategies.

Akinwande Oshodi (PMP, CISA, CDFM) is the Founder and CEO of The Avery Group, LLC (TAG), an SDVOSB and 8(a) firm specializing in mission support, process improvement, and systems integration for federal clients.

A proud U.S. Army veteran, Akinwande enlisted at 17 and earned commendations for his contributions to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. With over a decade of experience, he has led TAG in delivering successful projects for agencies including the CDC, FDA, VA, and Army.

Committed to supporting veteran entrepreneurs, Akinwande serves on the board of the National Veteran Small Business Coalition (NVSBC). He is also a graduate of the National Contract Management Association’s (NCMA) award-winning Contract Management Leadership Development Program (CMLDP) and currently serves as President of the NCMA Atlanta Chapter.

Beyond his professional roles, Akinwande is deeply engaged in community leadership and youth mentorship through organizations such as the 100 Black Men of Greater Washington, D.C., and the INROADS Alumni Network.

In his free time, he enjoys dominating family game night with his wife, Jarell, and their two young children, Avery and Jalen.

Phil Poliquin joined JP Morgan as the commercial banking Market Executive focused on the Aerospace, Defense, and Government Services (ADG) industries in 2023. In this capacity, he leads a national team of banking professionals who partner with middle-market government contractors to support their overall strategic objectives by advising and executing on various capital-raising approaches; M&A initiatives; treasury management solutions; various risk management strategies; and workplace financial benefits. Previous to this new role, he spent 7 years as a commercial banker with Bank of America’s middle-market ADG team.

Prior to joining the banking industry, Phil had a distinguished 24-year career in the US Navy as a pilot, primarily flying F/A-18 Hornets and Super Hornets. He supported combat operations and training exercises throughout the world flying from 7 different aircraft carriers, including the opening days of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Phil served in several senior leadership positions, including Commanding Officer of an F/A-18E squadron, where he led a group of 230+ personnel and managed assets valued at more than $800M during two combat deployments.

Len is a commercial banking, management, business strategy and financial structure professional, with over 20 years of experience in various financial institutions, presently an SVP & Area Manager of Commercial Banking with First Citizens Bank in the greater DC area.
Len also spent more than seven years outside of the banking arena, developing and growing a mid-size international vertical. In his role of a VP of International Operations, he managed a team that was responsible for the growth of specific international market segments, oversaw contract negotiations and was involved in the formulation of the overall growth strategy for the firm.
Formal education includes a JD from Cleveland Marshal College of Law and an MBA from John Carroll University. Additionally, Len meritoriously served our country during his time with the USAF, where he managed a base-wide War Readiness supply chain.

Brad Reaves founded the Government Contracts law firm Reaves GovCon Group as well as www.GovConTraining.com.  Brad counsels government contractor clients throughout the United States to help them avoid risk and grow more profitable, thriving businesses. He helps his clients make sense of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Small Business Regulations, and other statutory, regulatory, and legal minefields that keep business owners up at night. Brad is deeply familiar with the SBA’s Small Business Programs and compliance requirements, including the 8(a), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB), HUBZone, Women-Owned Small business (WOSB and EDWOSB), Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) programs, as well as the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program and state small business and socio-economic certification programs.  

Brad also has particular expertise guiding Mergers & Acquisitions for Government Contractors (both on the buy and sell side) especially when these transactions involve small or set-aside businesses, and he frequently represents his Government Contractor clients in bid protests at the Government Accountability Office (GAO) as well as the Court of Federal Claims.

Laurie Sayles is an author, change agent, thought leader, and President & CEO of Civility Management Solutions (CivilityMS), a professional services consulting firm working within the Government and Commercial space. CivilityMS is a certified Small Business Administration 8(a), Women-Owned, and verified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned professional services consulting firm working within the Government and Commercial space.   

She developed love for entrepreneurship in the projects of South Chicago through her creation of novice business models for childcare and the selling of goods. Merging her mindset of being in service with the desire to be of service, Laurie joined the United States Marine Corps and concluded with seven years of active duty.  

Born and raised in Burlington, Vermont. Will Scott brings over three decades of business solutions expertise from super-regional banks and major metropolitan credit unions across the country. Mr. Scott possesses a Graduate Degree in Banking from Stonier college at the Wharton School of Business. In addition, he has earned certifications as a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, Total Quality Management Professional, and Wharton’s Executive Leader.

Scott E. Semple has extensive knowledge and experience in business strategy and operations in the Federal government marketplace. Scott has served as a senior business executive, entrepreneur, technologist, and strategic advisor to Federal and commercial clients globally. Scott also envisioned and led the founding of the nations largest not for profit organization dedicated to advancing business opportunities for Veteran entrepreneurs.

Bringing a unique knowledge of business development & technical expertise, Scott has served in roles including CEO, CIO, COO, SVP BD, operating committee member, advisor to the Board of Directors, and advisor to several investment funds & VC’s.

He has successfully envisioned and led several technology-based businesses from concept to profitability and exit, both as entrepreneur and corporate executive. Scott offers extensive experience in corporate and business development, product and service creation & management, IP creation (awarded US patent), emerging technologies (including cloud & green computing, cyber security, managed services), marketing, operations, JVs and strategic alliances.

Scott Thompson is an accomplished executive leader with a proven track record of building, motivating, mentoring, and leading multi-disciplinary teams to achieve significant business outcomes within aggressive timeframes. Recognized as a leader and change agent, he is skilled at driving large-scale business transformation through disciplined project management and Agile methodology. Highly adaptable, Scott is also a turnaround specialist with demonstrated abilities to provide clarity amid ambiguity and positively impact financial performance. His extensive operational business experience includes roles as VP and C-Level Board member for Fortune 500 companies, government organizations, and non-profit sectors. Additionally, Scott has 22 years of military experience across multiple commands and post-9/11 mobilizations, retiring as a field-grade officer. He is the founder and CEO of DuraBante LLC, a management consulting firm that has been serving Fortune 500 companies and government agencies in the US and Canada for over 18 years. 

Deniz Tolu is the Executive Director Business Banking Area Manager JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

With 27 years of banking experience, primarily in business banking, Deniz is a dedicated financial professional committed to transparency and integrity. A graduate of the Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, Deniz specializes in helping businesses navigate financial solutions. Currently she leads a team of bankers in the state of Maryland supporting the small business community. Outside of work, she enjoys running and spending time with her husband and two kids.