GovCon Wire
Your Direct Source for Government Contracting News
Recorded on Thursday, November 17, 2022 1:00pm-2:00pm EST Virtual, ON24
Heidi Egusquiza is a specialist in GWAC, IDIQ, and BPA capture, contract management, and business development for more than 20 years. Heidi’s client base has included nearly all Federal Civilian agencies, the U.S. Air Force, and the Department of Defense. Ms. Egusquiza is an active representative with ACT-IAC and Shared Services Leadership Coalition initiating solutions for today’s automation, security, and workforce challenges in support of the government’s Shared Services Initiatives.
Mark Fox is the Senior Sales Manager, Federal for Amazon Business (AB). He joined Amazon Web Services (AWS) in 2011 as the founding member of the AWS Public Sector DoD organization and has served in a number of Defense related roles across Sales, Sales Leadership, Partner Programs, International Defense and Strategy. Mark is an Aerospace & Defense sector industry veteran with over twenty years of experience and is a frequent public speaker. Prior to Amazon, he served in various leadership roles crossing multiple IT disciplines: Physical Security (Sensormatic/ADT), Product Development (PTC), Business Intelligence/Analytics (Business Objects/SAP), AIS Systems (Savi Technology/Lockheed Martin) and Commercial Cloud Computing with AWS. Mark is a 2017 Federal Computing Weekly (FCW) Federal 100 award recipient which recognizes government and industry leaders who have played pivotal roles in the federal government IT community. Mark is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, and qualified as a Naval Surface Warfare Officer afloat during Operations Desert Shield and Storm aboard USS Gallery (FFG-26) and then served as an Instructor at the Naval Academy before joining industry. He lives in Loudoun County, VA with his wife and four daughters. He is an active supporter of many Veteran’s charities, transition programs and coaches’ youth sports year-round.
Monica Taylor is a Procurement Innovation Coach within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Procurement Innovation Lab (PIL). The PIL is a virtual lab that provides a “safe space” for acquisition teams to test innovative techniques to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of procurements. This is done by lowering entry barriers for innovative, non-traditional contractors, shortening the time-to- award, encouraging competition, and increasing the likelihood of successful mission outcomes. The PIL promotes cultural change where smart risk-taking and innovation are championed. The PIL framework of testing, receiving feedback, sharing, and re-testing encourages a learning culture at DHS. Monica works directly with procurement teams within DHS and external federal agencies, assisting teams in determining the contract methods to be used while implementing procurement innovation techniques. Monica provides training through events such as PIL Boot Camps, PIL Webinars, speaking engagements, and more. Monica serves as the industry liaison for external PIL trainings, planning the overall industry outreach, and represents PIL on many cross-agency and external efforts. Prior to joining the PIL, Monica worked as a Senior Contracting Officer within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Departmental Management agency. In her role, Monica awarded several high visibility procurements. Monica also served as an Information Technology (IT) Team Lead Contracting Officer at the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and a Procurement Analyst within the USDA, Rural Development agency. Monica is a graduate of the Leadership Excellence in Acquisition Program (LEAP) and the Digital IT Acquisition Professional Program (DITAP). Monica holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from South Carolina State University and a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Villanova University. Monica enjoys bridging the gap between federal contracting, the mission, and its customers, internal and external.
Mike Tocci has 15 years’ Public Sector experience as a strategic and consultative executive specializing in client development and program management including HHS, USDA, DHS, and Commercial accounts. He is a member of the Potomac Officers Club with speaking expertise in the fields of SaaS, Cybersecurity, eCommerce, purchase-to-pay, business process efficiency, and best practices in purchase card program management.
Mrs. Volkmer joined the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement in October 2008. She currently serves as the ICE Purchase Card Manager, Senior Advisor at the Office of Acquisition Management. She provides guidance, performs audits and overall management for the Purchase Card program which is comprised of over 1500 members. She is a certified as Federal Acquisition Certification (FAC) Level III Contracting, Level II Contracting Office Representative, and Entry Level Program and Project Managers. From July 2006 to October 2008, she served as an Administrative Contracting Officer (ACO) with the Chief of Naval Air Training, Contract Administration Office, Corpus Christi, TX. Mrs. Volkmer administered multi-million dollar contracts in support of student pilot training. From January 1998 to June 2004 she served as the Assistant Director of Purchasing for the University of North Florida, issuing various contracts to include construction, IT and science equipment. During this time, she was also a business partner for a furniture company. From January 1988 to January 1998 she served in the Navy as a Storekeeper. Her first assignment in the Navy was at Naval Technical Training Center Corry Station, Pensacola where she was a Procurement Contracting Officer. This kicked off her career in contracting. She also served in the Navy Reserves from January 1998 to February 2009, when she retired as a Storekeeper Senior Chief. Mrs. Volkmer has her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Saint Leo University and a Master’s Degree from DeVry University. She embraces innovative ideas to provide optimal support to government such as the credit card program. Innovation means using new technologies and using new ways of thinking to add value to an existing idea. With this philosophy, she consistently seeks ways to improve government programs. With over 30 years of government service, Mrs. Volkmer understands the dynamics of civil service and leads by placing the greatest assets first, employees.
1:00pm - 1:05pm EST
Welcome & Opening Remarks
1:05pm - 1:55pm EST
Panel Discussion
1:55pm - 2:00pm EST
Closing Comments
