About this Event
The GovCom Road Show, hosted by FORUM, is a nationwide series of curated, one-day gatherings designed to bring together leaders from the government contracting ecosystem. Each stop on the tour convenes federal, state, and local government stakeholders alongside industry executives, innovators, and growth leaders to explore the evolving landscape of public sector technology, policy, and procurement. The program blends forward-looking insights with practical strategies, creating a forum where attendees can learn how to navigate opportunities in the GovCon market while building meaningful relationships with peers and partners.
Taking place in cities across the country throughout the year, each event runs as a focused afternoon summit featuring curated speakers, market-specific topics, and intentional networking. With a format designed for “one day, maximum impact,” the Road Show prioritizes real conversations and actionable takeaways—connecting the right people in one room to share playbooks, discuss emerging challenges, and accelerate growth in the government market. The series creates a unique platform for the GovCon community to exchange ideas, discover new partnerships, and stay ahead of the trends shaping the future of government technology and contracting.
Speaker Bios:
Alexa Tsui is CEO of FORUM, blending strategy, storytelling, and connection to shape the future of the GovCon community. With 15+ years in growth, capture, and business development, she's driven transformation across the federal contracting landscape. She created and hosts #GovCom Unfiltered, a podcast surfacing authentic stories from government and industry leaders. Alexa serves on boards including NCMA MetroMD and has held key roles with MetaPhase Consulting, Technik, Bloomberg Government, and INPUT. Known for her energy, curiosity, and collaborative spirit, she thrives at the intersection of people and mission — making GovCon more human, more connected, and a lot more fun.
Teresa Moon is Vice President of Communications and Marketing at Parabilis and host of the "Spilling the Tea on GovCon" podcast. She leads communication strategy and market engagement, supporting Parabilis' mission to serve the federal contracting community, drawing on her government procurement experience to shape market strategy, public relations, and industry engagement. With an emphasis on building strategic collaborations within the federal marketplace, Ms. Moon has cultivated a growing ecosystem of partners and resources supporting GovCon organizations. She is known for building trusted relationships and fostering collaboration that strengthens the broader federal contracting community.
Tan Wilson, President of Entellect LLC, has spent 20+ years pioneering IT solutions across federal and commercial sectors, helping clients secure over $150 billion in contract wins. She's deeply committed to elevating small businesses in a competitive federal marketplace, offering strategic advisement, capture planning, proposal management, and partnership-building that transforms the broader GovCon ecosystem. Beyond business, Tan is a sought-after speaker, board member, and committee chair, with mentorship at the heart of her work. Passionate about knowledge-sharing, she's dedicated to empowering the next generation of GovCon innovators — believing the future is about elevating the industry together.
Dondre Lawson is the founder and owner of Emerald Technical Solutions, a C3PAO, 8(a), SDVOSB delivering secure, mission-focused cloud, cyber, and AI solutions to government and commercial clients, with a career centered on supporting Army and Navy mission systems through engineering, cybersecurity, and cloud modernization. Beyond his technical work, he champions STEM education and workforce development through Defense Interns, a nonprofit he founded that gives Maryland high schoolers hands-on defense industry exposure via four-month rotations across three contractors, complete with free technical certifications and vouchers, building practical skills and strengthening the sector's talent pipeline.
Robert E. Jones is the Founder and Principal Advisor of Corvata, an advisory firm helping business owners build stronger, more transferable companies and strengthen long-term enterprise value. A CPA with over two decades advising privately held businesses, he focuses on guiding leaders through growth, operational complexity, succession conversations, and transition events—helping organizations scale, endure, and transfer through formal decisions and documented processes. A frequent speaker and writer on enterprise value and leadership decision-making, Jones is based in Southern California. He joins the GovCom Road Show San Diego as a panelist on "Setting Sail: Navigating Contracting Opportunities with the Navy" and as a small business sponsor through Corvata.
Dan Mahan serves as Deputy for Small Business at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division (NSWC PHD 00K), U.S. Navy, a role he has held since May 2020. He leads outreach efforts to expand the command's small business industrial base, holding workshops and roundtables and traveling nationally to connect with contractors. Under his leadership, NSWC PHD has consistently obligated more than 50% of its contracts to small businesses, well above the typical rate across other Naval Sea Systems Command organizations. Based in Camarillo, California, Mahan is a dedicated advocate for strengthening partnerships between government and small business industry.
Heli Castaneda is Vice President and Business Access Advisor at U.S. Bank's Rancho Cucamonga Loan Center, serving the Inland SoCal market. A 16-year U.S. Bank veteran, she has held roles including Branch Manager, Performance Consultant, and now Business Access Advisor. A proud Cal Poly Pomona Bronco alumna, Heli is dedicated to advancing U.S. Bank's Access Commitment—the bank's long-term approach to helping close the wealth gap. She is passionate about community involvement and champions equitable access to capital for low- and moderate-income communities and communities of color. Heli is active with Nosotros Latinos BRG and I.E. Lead, reflecting her ongoing commitment to community leadership and empowerment.
Lauren Wingate is Vice President of Strategic Development and Partnerships for an Atlanta-based Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), bringing over 20 years in business development and project/task management, including 18+ years in government contracting. She leads the firm's business development and capture processes, pipeline building, pricing strategy, capability briefs, proposal support, recruiting, and marketing, while also serving as Program Manager for multiple BPA task orders and the firm's de facto Contract Manager. Lauren is active on several nonprofit boards, including NCMA Atlanta, AFCEA Atlanta, the Young Men's Service League, PTA, and Community Consulting Teams.
The San Diego, Orange, Imperial APEX Accelerator, hosted by Southwestern College, provides no-cost, confidential advising, training, and technical assistance to businesses interested in pursuing government contracting opportunities. Our experienced team helps small businesses navigate the complexities of federal, state, and local government procurement, including business certifications, solicitation and bid preparation, market research, and identifying contracting opportunities. Through strategic partnerships and educational programs, we help businesses build the knowledge, skills, and connections needed to successfully compete for and win government contracts.
Learn more: www.apexsocal.org
Event venue & nearby stays
880 National City Blvd, 880 National City Boulevard, San Diego, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.