Speaker Spotlight

Tasha Allen, the Vice President of Talent Management for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, oversees all HR functions within the Chamber and its Affiliates. She is responsible for recruiting new talent and developing the existing talent and developing and managing Georgia Chamber’s business initiatives and strategies across the state. She is also an eCornell Course Facilitator for courses in Leadership, Management, Organizational Structure, and DE&I. She is an experienced banker, certified human resource professional and entrepreneur known for her inclusive approach and transparency in communication.

Her professional career began in Columbus, Georgia working for Columbus Bank and Trust Company, (now Synovus). In her 7-year career with CB&T, Tasha worked in Retail Banking, Commercial Lending, the Community Resource Center as the Community Development Manager and served as the bank’s CRA Officer. She later moved to Gwinnett County with her family and worked in Gwinnett County public schools for 4 years before transitioning to Chamber work. She is an innovative thinker with a proven track record of fostering traditional and non-traditional business, community, employee, and customer relationships.

Tasha holds an MBA from Troy University and a BBA from the University of Georgia. She currently resides in Gwinnett County with her husband Marlon and their two kids.

Amir Bagherpour, Ph.D., is a Managing Director and the Analytics & Visualization Lead for Data & AI at Accenture Federal Services. He spearheads the development of advanced analytics platforms and methodologies to help organizations make more informed decisions. At Accenture, he has held various leadership roles, including head of Data & AI for Strategy & Consulting, Public Safety Lead for Data & AI, and Technical Project Lead for Applied Intelligence programs. Before joining Accenture, Dr. Bagherpour co-founded a startup focused on developing predictive analytics software. His industry experience encompasses both commercial and federal sectors. Dr. Bagherpour previously served as the Chief of the Advanced Analytics Team at the Bureau of Conflict & Stabilization Operations and subsequently as the Director of Data Analytics in the Office of the Secretary of State. Earlier in his career, he worked as an application engineer at NSK Corporation, designing bearings and motion control components for automation processes. Dr. Bagherpour holds a Ph.D. in Political Science with a specialization in Quantitative Methods from Claremont Graduate University, an MBA from the University of California Irvine, and a Bachelor of Science in Management Studies and Systems Engineering from West Point. He has published in prestigious academic journals and publications such as Foreign Affairs and Scientific American. Dr. Bagherpour is an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), where he focuses on the study of disinformation, conflict, and emerging technologies. He is also a senior fellow at TransResearch Consortium (TRC), an academic consortium focused on the data driven study of global power transitions. A veteran, he served honorably as an armor officer in the U.S. Army.

Erin supports the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-9, in the Army Community Partnership Office. She focuses on the utilization of collaborative partnership authorities to achieve mutually beneficial partnerships between our Army Installations and local communities. Erin has overseen the development of several Intergovernmental Support Agreements (IGSAs) and provides project management support to improve Army readiness and resiliency. Erin leads in the development and delivery of leadership briefings, congressional reporting and request for information, and facilitates external engagements between local community officials and the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-9 as well as the Assistant Secretary of the United States Army Installations, Energy and Environment (ASA(IE&E)).

Throughout Erin’s career, she has worked in the public sector to include public universities, local government, and the Environmental Defense Fund. Erin was selected to be on the Army review panel for the Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP) from the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC) for the past two years. Each year $100M was awarded to local communities to address deficiencies in community infrastructure to enhance military value.

Erin enjoys spending time with her husband and three sons traveling, hiking, and exploring Washington, D.C.

Sherrie Cordi is the Small Business Program Manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Memphis District. She oversees a $70M Small Business Program, ensuring compliance with federal procurement regulations while maximizing opportunities for small businesses in government contracting. A Navy veteran, Sherrie brings 9 years of combined honorable military service and government experience to the position.

Tim Didjurgis is the Chief Operating Officer at Modtech Solutions, LLC, a trusted technology integrator specializing in unified communications, audio-visual design and integration, telecommunications cabling, electronic security and surveillance, and the construction of secure facilities. With a focus on delivering mission-critical technology solutions for the Department of Defense and other high-security clients, Tim leads a multidisciplinary team across project management, engineering, sales, logistics, and finance, delivering solutions from the Pacific region to the continental United States. His focus is on refining operational efficiency, driving continuous improvement, strengthening the company’s reputation as a trusted industry partner, and ultimately ensuring that defense customers receive solutions without doubt, delay, or disruption.

Before joining Modtech Solutions, Tim built a diverse career that shaped his approach to leadership and operational excellence. He served as a U.S. Navy Surface Warfare Officer for 11 years, completing multiple deployments and managing complex logistical and operational challenges. Following his military service, he transitioned to the private sector as an Operations Manager at Amazon during the pandemic, where he played a key role in maintaining supply chain resilience under unprecedented conditions. Earlier in his career, he was a professional baseball player in the Los Angeles Angels minor league system, where he developed the discipline, resilience, and teamwork that continue to define his leadership style. Drawing from these experiences, Tim collaborates with an exceptional team to foster precision, adaptability, and a high-performance culture within the defense industry, driving Modtech Solutions toward continued growth and innovation.

Linda is a dynamic leader in global trade, aerospace, and defense, with a proven track record of facilitating high-level partnerships between government agencies, industry leaders, and multinational corporations. As a Trade Commissioner covering the Aerospace, Defense & Security, and Technology sectors, she plays a pivotal role in driving cross-border innovation and business expansion, particularly in AI, cybersecurity, and advanced defense technologies. Linda’s work in global trade has taken her to Australia, Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, where she has fostered strategic alliances, facilitated market entry for businesses, and engaged with key stakeholders across diverse economic landscapes. With a deep understanding of international markets, she has navigated complex regulatory environments and helped position businesses for long-term success in high-growth sectors. With a background that includes managing air service development at the world’s busiest airport and serving as Protocol Officer at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Linda has worked extensively with the U.S. Secret Service and intelligence agencies, navigating high-stakes diplomatic and operational environments with precision and poise. Her expertise spans federal supply chains, logistics, and operational improvement, making her an invaluable asset in bridging industry, government, and economic development. She has successfully executed trade missions, aligning Canadian and U.S. defense strategies, and is now focused on scaling these efforts. Beyond her professional achievements, Linda is passionate about balancing leadership, entrepreneurship, and family. She is also the founder of The Elevate Series, a curated platform connecting industry pioneers across banking, cybersecurity, policy, and economic development to foster international collaboration.

David Fraley, is Secure IT Service Management, Inc.’s (SecureITSM) Chief Technology Officer, where he plays a pivotal role in guiding clients through their journey toward achieving CMMC compliance. With a wealth of industry and technology knowledge, David delivers operational IT solutions that not only meet but exceed security and compliance requirements, all while minimizing associated costs. His expertise and common sense allows him to work closely with industry leaders, Government executives, and DoD contractors ensuring long-term technology strategies are aligned with CMMC and NIST requirements.

Before joining SecureITSM, David served as the President of a moderate sized federal consultancy, where he successfully led efforts to deliver comprehensive technology and operational solutions. Prior to that, he spent a decade as a Senior Partner and Vice President at Gartner, Inc., a leading global research and advisory firm. A retired U.S. Army Signal Corps Officer, David also served as a Cyberwarfare Battalion Commander, allowing him to bring his military background and operational expertise to the private sector. His professional credentials include CISSP, CGRC, PMP, as well as holding both an MS and an MBA.

David is deeply passionate about cultivating high-performance, collaborative cultures where excellence and customer satisfaction are always at the forefront. Outside of his professional endeavors, he enjoys pursuing his hobbies of driving high-performance Corvettes and overlanding in a Toyota 4 Runner, embracing his love for adventure and precision engineering.

Oscar Lamont Frazier is an internationally recognized authority in leadership methodologies, federal contracting, strategic business development, and human-centered service transformation. With over two decades of experience spanning Fortune 500 enterprises, Big 4/5 consulting firms, federal agencies, and entrepreneurial ventures, Oscar has established himself as a go-to expert in crisis leadership, business innovation, and operational transformation. As the founder of nDemand Consulting Services Inc. (2004-Present), Oscar pioneered the HIT Impact Suite methodology—a framework focused on human-centered service design, government contracting efficiency, leadership development, and business transformation strategies.

Oscar's services include federal contracting advisory, leadership development, and program management consulting. His work with agencies like DHS, FEMA, and EPA has delivered significant results, including a $4.8M efficiency improvement at the EPA and securing $2.1M in additional project funding for FEMA's improper payment debt management process. Since 2018, Oscar has expanded globally, delivering high-impact crisis leadership training across Africa, Europe, and the U.S. As a Forbes Business Council contributor with over 17 published articles, his thought leadership has shaped industry best practices in leadership agility, government contracting, and human-centered design.

Oscar began his career at Bank of America, where he led enterprise-level process improvements that increased operational efficiency by 75%. His transition to federal consulting included roles at Booz Allen Hamilton, PwC, and Kadix Systems, specializing in federal procurement strategies, business process reengineering, and crisis management. His Humanising IT™ (HIT) methodology enables organizations to redefine service delivery through a human-centered approach, focusing on service optimization, government contracting, IT leadership, and consumer engagement. His flagship keynote, "Putting the Human Back into a Dehumanized World™," emphasizes the role of people-centric leadership in government, business, and crisis response.

Andrew Gardner is CEO of Crux Defense, a partner with the National All-Domain Warfighting Center's Combat Capabilities Factory. The purpose of the Combat Capabilities Factory is to Integrate, Fund and Field Warfighting Capabilities through Experiment-Driven Exercises. Leveraging these innovations, Crux is able to help companies cross the DoD's innovation valley of death and ensure that the best capabilities get into the hands of the warfighter.

Teresa Harrington serves as Chief Operations Officer for DEFENSEWERX, Inc. In this role, she ensures seamless implementation and exceptional team member and government partner service across key operations, projects, and initiatives for DEFENSEWERX, its innovation hubs, and its ecosystem.

Dr. Harrington brings deep expertise in strategic and business planning, operations, research, marketing, corporate strategy, STEM policy, and economic and workforce development. Prior to joining DEFENSEWERX in 2021, she led industry relations and key revenue and operations initiatives for an award-winning Inc. 1000 Hall of Fame litigation services firm and served as Chief Executive Officer for a leading Southeastern U.S. communications and economic development consultancy. Dr. Harrington has served as a trusted advisor and in leadership roles in several notable workforce and economic development, STEM, and public policy initiatives at state, regional, and federal levels. She has presented and moderated at national industry conferences and been published in national and industry media including the National Law Review, Corporate Counsel, National Law Journal, Context Florida, and Florida Trend and has served as an award-winning podcast host and producer for national audiences in areas including commercial litigation, corporate risk, science, and tech. Dr. Harrington was awarded the Go-To Thought Leadership Award for multiple consecutive years by National Law Review for her thought leadership contributions on topics ranging from commercial risk and litigation to intellectual property and innovation.

Dr. Harrington earned a Doctor of Business Administration degree through Trevecca Nazarene University and completed her dissertation on the topic of Exploring the Factors that Inhibit and Promote Small Business Owner Engagement with Federal Innovation. She earned an MBA through the prestigious Gies College of Business at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a bachelor’s degree in social sciences through Thomas Edison State University. She holds several specializations, certifications, and industry memberships and is a frequent speaker and contributor at industry conferences, panels, and thought leadership forums.

Bianca Henderson serves as the Director for the Naval Facilities Engineering System Command (NAVFAC), Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP). Bianca leads 13 Small Business Professional’s across the NAVFAC enterprise with a small business spend that exceeded $5.6 billion dollars in FY-24. Bianca, has 28 years of Gov’t Contracting experience, and obtained DAWIA/FAC-C Level III Acquisition certifications. Bianca has worked for NAVFAC for 7 years and is passionate about advocating for small business utilization. She finds her job as a small business leader very meaningful and impactful. Bianca is also 11-year Marine Corps veteran.

Cliff Holbeck is a seasoned professional serving as an energy services business development consultant for Honeywell International. Cliff has 40 years’ experience in technology innovation related to Information and Operational Technology. He has worked for several of the industries leading providers of energy engineering and serves as a coordinator of large energy conservation and resiliency projects. Cliff is well versed in government contracting having worked with the DOD, VA, and GSA. He is an advocate for Small Businesses with the ability to develop trust, gain consensus, and drive collaboration. He is an excellent communicator and contributes to industry conferences and forums as a moderator and speaker.

Timothy Inman is the Director of Small Business Programs for the Air Force Sustainment Center at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. He is responsible for advocacy, execution, and advice to commanders and leaders at Robins AFB pertaining to Small Business Programs, and he leads a team of small business professionals who work with small businesses and with contracting officers and program managers to increase opportunities for small businesses to compete for contracts.

Mr Inman began his Air Force career as a contracting intern, and held and used a contracting officer’s warrant. He moved into program management, managing new and legacy information technology programs for cost, schedule, and performance. He deployed to Qatar and Afghanistan for a fifteen-month assignment as Director of Policy for Central Command’s Joint Theater Support Contracting Command. At the Air Force Sustainment Center, he directed the contract for the Air Force’s weapon system supply chains, and immediately prior to his current position, he was Technical Director for Contracting at Robins AFB.

Wesley Jefferies is the Industry Liaison for the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program (IBAS) in the U.S. Department of Defense’s Office of Industrial Base Policy. In this role, he is responsible for coordinating engagement with present and potential industry partners with the IBAS program.

He is also an Innovation Analyst with ANSER, a non-profit research institute that provides services to the U.S. Department of Defense and other federal clients. Before that, Mr. Jefferies researched the development and proliferation of drone technology with the International Security Program at New America, a think tank based in Washington, D.C. He received his M.A. in International Security from Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service and B.A. in Political Science from Arizona State University.

Dave Leinberger assumed the role as the Chief of Army Community Partnerships in July 2024.In this position, Mr. Leinberger encourages innovation and collaboration between ourinstallations and local communities to develop partnerships that are mutually beneficial,identify cost efficiencies, reduce installation service response times, and strengthens therelationship with the local communities outside our installations. Mr. Leinberger focuses theutilization of collaborative partnership authorities to achieve these goals. These authoritiesinclude Intergovernmental Support Agreements (IGSAs), Cooperative Agreements, Mutual AidAgreements, Memorandum of Understanding, Enhanced Use Lease, and Other TransactionAuthority.

Previously, Mr. Leinberger served as the Army Community Partnership Program Manager,Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management, in September 2019 and maintained thatrole following the ACSIM’s transition to Deputy Chief of Staff, G-9 (Installations).

Dave Robau is one of the sustainability movement’s most sought-after thought leaders. As an advocate for resource conservation and sustainable design solutions. Mr. Robau has extensive experience at all levels of business and government. In 2011, he was honored at a White House ceremony as one of President Obama’s “Champions of Change” for his work and dedication to sustainability.

Mr. Robau’s expertise has been sought out by various organizations as diverse as Fortune 500 companies, leading universities, national energy service companies, utilities, non-profit organizations, and the U.S. military. His research has led to ground-breaking innovations in manufacturing, renewable energy, and fortified construction. These innovations have also led to disruptive technologies in the application of advanced waste-to-energy technology.

Mr. Robau is the founder and CEO of National Energy, an energy engineering firm that provides integrated solutions to help clients manage resources and increase their triple bottom line. His team works with clients from all sectors to develop and implement management systems tailored to meet their strategic goals and initiatives. National Energy provides leading-edge environmental expertise to government and private sector clients, addressing a full range of challenges, including regulatory compliance, natural resource management, greenhouse gas reduction, sustainability and energy/water efficiency.

Mr. Robau also serves as the founder and Executive Director of the Gulf Coast Energy Network. He leads a network of scientist, engineers, architects, and planners from the various Gulf Coast states to expand the renewable energy market and promote energy conservation. The Network extends from southeast Texas to Tampa, Florida and represents over 9,000 energy and sustainability professionals.

Brent Sadler joined Heritage Foundation after a 26 year Navy career with numerous operational tours on nuclear powered submarines, personal staffs of senior Defense Department leaders, and as a military diplomat in Asia. As a Senior Research Fellow, Brent’s focus is on maritime security and the technologies shaping our future maritime forces, especially the Navy.

Brent is a 1994 graduate with honors of the United States Naval Academy with a degree in Systems Engineering (robotics) and a minor in Japanese. As a 2004 Olmsted Scholar in Tokyo, Japan, he studied at Keio University, Jochi University and the United Nations University. He has a master of arts from Jochi University and master of science from National War College, where he graduated with distinction in 2011 and received several writing and research awards.

In 2011, he established the Navy Asia Pacific Advisory Group (NAPAG), providing regionally informed advice directly to Chief of Naval Operations’ (CNO). He again served on the CNO’s personal staff in 2015-2016, playing a key role in developing the Defense Department’s Third Offset.

At Pacific Command from 2012-2015, he held numerous key positions. As lead for Maritime Strategy and Policy, he incorporated all 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) into the first regional maritime domain awareness forum and was instrumental in the eventual passage of the $500 million-dollar Maritime Security Initiative. As Special Advisor on Japan, and a Council of Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellow in Tokyo, he played a key role in revising the U.S. and Japan Defense Guidelines. As Deputy Director Strategic Synchronization Group, he oversaw a think-tank like body of over 30 advisors and analysts. Brent led the Commander’s Rebalance Task Force coordinating execution of the President’s Defense Strategic Guidance—Rebalance to the Asia-Pacific resulting in over $12 billion USD of additional monies budgeted in fiscal years 2013 through 2015 during a time of fiscal austerity.

Following his final tour on CNO’s staff, Brent returned to Asia as Senior Defense Official, Defense and Naval Attaché in Malaysia. During his tenure he played a key role in coordinating responses to the USS McCain collision in August 2017, opened several politically sensitive ports and airfields to U.S. forces, oversaw unprecedented expansion of U.S. military relations, and steadied relations during the historic May 2018 national elections ushering in an opposition party for the first time since independence.

His final Navy assignment was China Branch of Navy Staff at the Pentagon.

Charles F. Sills is a recognized authority on U.S. Government contracting, and an advocate for Small Business/Diversity Supplier access to Federal and Military acquisition opportunities, serving as the President & CEO of the American Defense Alliance – which hosts major Defense Requirements conferences across the country, connecting private sector innovators with the Pentagon, Military commands, and Congress to accelerate National Security solutions.

Concurrently, he serves as Chief Operating Officer of the Minority Business Development Agency’s Federal Procurement Center, under the U.S. Commerce Dept.; and manages the partnership under which MBDA affiliated companies attend and benefit from ADA conferences. He is a member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Small Business Council, and the Executive Committee of the Veterans Entrepreneurship Task Force (VET-Force). He is also a Member of the Board of the American-Eurasian Business Coalition, focusing on international infrastructure, energy and investment initiatives, and serving on multinational task forces such as the Danube Basin Environmental Restoration Program and the Japan-U.S. Joint Fund for Social & Economic Development.

As a former Naval Intelligence Officer, he held positions at the Defense Intelligence Agency, the U.S. Middle East Force, and NATO Supreme Allied Command/Atlantic; and subsequently worked in Lockheed Martin’s International Division managing strategic marketing and export licensing for defense systems as well as renewable energy technologies. His education includes an M.A. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and an A.B. from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public & International Affairs.

James E. Simpson is the President and CEO of JES Acquisitions and Business Solutions, LLC — a consulting firm that helps organizations enhance their capacity and performance in the federal government and commercial sectors.

Through JES, Mr. Simpson advises small and mid-size defense contractors on procurement best practices, federal compliance, and strategic business development. He supports clients with pipeline development, targeted pursuit strategies, and proposal optimization to improve their competitiveness in federal contracting.

He also partners with defense contractors to develop predictive decision-making tools that improve acquisition forecasting and investment decisions. In addition, he provides executive-level training and messaging guidance to help clients clearly communicate their value to government stakeholders.

Kareem A. Sykes currently serves as Program Manager for Project Spectrum, a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) recognized cybersecurity awareness initiative that offer resources, training and tools toward increasing cybersecurity awareness and hygiene for small businesses in particular. Mr. Sykes provides strategic leadership for a dynamic team of cybersecurity and outreach professionals whose collective aim centers around providing the educational resources and tools small businesses and institutions need to develop, implement, and maintain cybersecurity compliance. He oversees and directs the daily execution of multiple projects within the large-scale program and assures that the initiative adheres to government regulatory guidance. Mr. Sykes also manages contractual requirements to assure that Project Spectrum meets the cost, schedule, and performance goals required by the DoD Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP).

Prior to joining Project Spectrum, Mr. Sykes served as a dynamic and ITIL v4-certified Program Manager. He amassed more than 15 years of organizational thought leadership experience and leveraged proven Program and Project Management principles, rooted in the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK®) methodology. Mr. Sykes is particularly adept at implementing enhanced business processes that result in an economy of scale. He is a proven rapport and relationship cultivator who focuses on the three Cs: Customer Service, Collaboration, and Communication. Mr. Sykes has a hallmark for motivating, mentoring, and coaching high-performance teams that deliver scalable results that drive productivity.

Mr. Sykes has a strong track record of successful matrix management of large teams (100+ FTEs), primes, subcontractors, and third-party vendors. He has managed various personnel levels, including Project Managers, Business Process Engineers, IAT II & III Cyber Systems Analysts, Network Engineers, Dev Ops, Application Support Specialists, Help Desk Technicians (Tier 1-3), Information Assurance Managers, Quality Managers, Sr. Business Analysts, Project Administrators, and Training Analysts, and Supervisors.

Mr. Sykes obtained his Bachelors degree from the University of Baltimore, having studied Jurisprudence-Pre law and holds a A.A. degree in Interdisciplinary Studies as well.

Aimee is a strategic and empowering innovator who partners with executive leadership to build and execute strategies which fuel growth and operational effectiveness. Strong financial acumen with ability to align all functional units on common goals and objectives. Addresses challenging business issues by leveraging resources, technology, human capital, and processes for multibillion-dollar organizations. Drives implementation of new processes and systems, critical to supporting quality improvement. Offers holistic approach to business and strong command of delivering large scale operational initiatives.

Prior to joining the Improve Group in 2018 - the most incredible small business team headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico - Aimee’s 21 year military service career began enlisted while on active duty in the Air Force leading to commission in the Air National Guard and encompassed: Defense Finance and Accounting Service (Offutt & Spangdahlem) , Command and Control (Michigan and Colorado), Aircraft Maintenance (Colorado). Aimee’s civilian career included: Vice President Security Operations & Support at MasTec Advanced Technologies and Senior Leadership & Organizational Development Executive at Charter Communications.