The current Federal environment requires creativity, drive and passion to succeed. Part of this creativity manifests itself in the strategies your company employs to continue its growth or maintain its current position. A number of CEOs have asked GTSC about joint ventures — why you would choose to form one, how they are formed, the different types and the legal considerations.

About our speakers:

Lisa Martin

CEO, LeapFrog Solutions

Areas of Focus: creative impact, brand and identity, digital, public engagement, program management and recruitment campaigns

As founder and CEO of LeapFrog Solutions, Ms. Martin wears many hats. Her vision for starting LeapFrog Solutions was to help her clients “leapfrog” their competition by making their message matter online and offline to improve their bottom line. Her collaborative nature permeates throughout the company and is demonstrated by her team’s innovative approach to integrating traditional marketing communications with emerging technologies.

Beyond running a successful marketing communications management firm, Lisa is a certified yoga instructor and scuba diver – although she’s never tried to combine both activities at the same time. She wanted to be a marine biologist when she grew up until she realized she was afraid of dark water. Lisa and her husband Jean-Paul, an accomplished triathlete, and their two daughters, Charlotte and Dominique, enjoy their annual trips to France to visit family. >>Read More

Brian Nault

President, BlueWater Federal Solutions, Inc.

Areas of Focus: program management, IT service delivery, software development and cybersecurity

Mr. Nault is a proven executive with over 27 years of experience in the fields of financial services, technology and Federal Government contracting. He has a strong background in corporate operations, information technology, and finance that is now being applied to National Security and Civilian Programs.

Prior to his tenure at BlueWater, Mr. Nault worked at American Operations Corporation (AOC) as a Senior Vice President, providing strategic planning and technical and business solutions. Preceding that Mr. Nault spent over 17 years at Ford Motor Company where he held a number of positions in operations, finance and executive management at the Ford Credit subsidiary.

Mr. Nault has been with BlueWater since its founding in 2005, holds a BS degree from the University of Southern Maine and in addition to his family and BlueWater, Mr. Nault maintains a passion for the “Nation’s future”— our youth. He is involved with several children’s charities, including St. Judes Children’s Hospital and the Redskins Foundation. Additionally, he supports high school scholarships and non-profit scholastic organizations. >>Read More

Devon E. Hewitt

Member, Protorae Law PLLC

Areas of Focus: Government Contracts, Business Litigation, Bid Protests

Devon Hewitt has over 20 years experience in the field of government contracts, representing small, mid-tier and large government contractors. She advises clients on a wide range of government contracting issues including  FAR compliance; small business contracting programs; intellectual property and data rights; GSA Schedule; the Service Contract Act; noncompete, nonsolicitation and nondisclosure agreements; subcontracts and teaming arrangements; joint ventures; FOIA; due diligence and novations; contract claims; business ethics and the mandatory disclosure rule; suspension and debarment; terminations and government audits and investigations.   Ms. Hewitt also is a litigator and has represented clients in nearly 100 protests before federal agencies, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, and the Government Accountability Office.  She is one of the few attorneys has that argued bid protest appeals before the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.  In addition, Ms. Hewitt represents clients in subcontract and other dispute matters in civil courts and in arbitrations.  Prior to joining Protorae Law, Ms. Hewitt was a Partner at Piliero Mazza in DC and a Partner in the Government Contracts practice of Pillsbury, one of the largest law firms in the country.

Ms. Hewitt has been recognized for her work assisting veteran-owned companies in receiving verification from the Department of Veterans Affairs.  She has served on the American Legion’s Small Business Task Force, was a featured speaker at the American Legion’s annual convention and was the only attorney that participated in a closed-door meeting with Tom Leney regarding revision of the VA’s verification regulations. Bloomberg News regularly seeks comments from and cites Ms. Hewitt in articles on veteran-owned business matters. >>Read More

T. Malcom Sandilands

Partner, Dickstein Shapiro LLP

Malcolm Sandilands is a partner in Dickstein Shapiro’s Corporate & Finance Group. He represents private and public corporations, hedge funds, private equity funds, venture capital operating companies (VCOCs), and business development companies (BDCs) in investments, acquisitions, portfolio management, and sales. Prior to joining Dickstein Shapiro, Mr. Sandilands was a partner at Bingham McCutchen. Mr. Sandilands is admitted to practice in Massachusetts and the District of Columbia. He is a member of the American Bar Association. Mr. Sandilands graduated from the University of Michigan Law School (J.D., 1989) and from the University of Oxford, New College (B.A., 1986). >>Read More