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Ending Season 8 with a bang and a deep breath. We wrap up the season by visiting with Aaron Aylsworth, SDVOSB, to learn about options available to businesses, agencies, education, etc., looking to ensure safe, clean air within their facilities. Aylsworth shares his important insights on the problems and what air purification systems provide. Spoiler alert: it’s more than just protection from COVID. With so much interest from public sector entities in air quality and air purification products, solutions, and service, this is a busy industry for you to watch closely. Aaron goes on to reveal other solutions important to many across the private and public sectors, to include utmost important options to address and improve school safety. Do not miss it. Aylsworth wraps up the conversation by relaying the story on how his original business was able to pivot in response to the global pandemic that forced so many businesses to quickly adapt. Truly, this is a story of overcoming challenges and hardship. Rick Jennings shares a Crazy Bids that will have all of us looking forward to what’s to come in Season 9. All of that and more. A lot more! Our Guest: Mr. Aaron Aylsworth, SDVOSB Pure Air Solutions of PA MOPP Zero Bio from guest: “I served in the Air Force from 2010-2016 as a hydraulics mechanic on F-16s and A-10s. After the Air Force, I joined my father and mother inlaw's company, Advanced Floor Care. We cleaned carpet, ceramic tile, and upholstery in the hospitality industry and serviced over 50 hotels across several states. At the start of 2020, we were opening our first two franchises, and two weeks before they opened, Covid 19 hit. Advanced Floor Care then pivoted the business to find an answer for hotels to reopen and service their guests. In our search, we discovered a way to offer all commercial facilities, air purification, energy monitoring, air quality monitoring, and security monitoring. From there, I opened MOPP Zero (a disabled veteran-owned business), and my inlaws opened Pure Air Solutions of PA (a woman and Native American-owned business), offering the answer to Covid 19 and facility maintenance.” Pure Air Solutions of PA: https://pureairofpa.com/ H.R.7671 - Airborne Act: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/7671?s=1&r=36

Have you considered a rewarding career in public sector procurement? Are you a business considering pursuing government contracts? Gwen Turensky, a Procurement Specialist, in the Purchasing & Contracts Office, Maricopa County, Arizona, stopped by the show to share her expertise. Gwen breaks down specifics about the career and opportunities out there. Then, Gwen covers the bid/RFP creation process and details on what businesses should know, including the single most important suggestion every business should know! Bill offers congratulations to everyone who voted in the recent elections and a special acknowledgement to Chris Deluzio, a guest on the show back in Season 5, and is now Congressman-elect, Pennsylvania-17. Congrats to Chris and each who were elected. As always, Rick Jennings wraps up the episode with the latest installment of Crazy Bids you can win. Rev your engines and get ready for it! All of that and more. A lot more!

NIGP Forum 2022 is in the books! The event in Boston was overflowing with excitement, networking, fellowship and learning. And new friends. Bill Culhane, our host, met David Nash, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB and our audience and show are better for this new friendship. In this episode, Bill and David share their reviews on NIGP Forum. David, see his impressive bio below, shares pointers that agency professionals and suppliers should consider and make note. David covers what he would do to improve the important purchasing process. Rick wraps up the episode with a Crazy Bids that is kind of fishy. All of that and more. A lot more! Our Guest: Mr. David Nash, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB On Twitter: @Fappoman2007 Email: davidnash256@gmail.com Coming up for David: He has a number of classes coming up this fall. He will be speaking at the Mississippi NIGP Chapter conference in Natchez, MS in mid-October and also the Georgia NIGP Chapter in mid-November. Bio: David Nash retired as a Chief Warrant Officer Three from the United States Army in 1988 after 20 years of service in inventory management. In 2007, he retired from the City of Fort Lauderdale after 18 years of service in warehousing and procurement. David holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Business Administration. He was the last President of the Governmental Purchasing Association of Southeast Florida, having successfully led a merger with the SE Florida Chapter of NIGP in 2001. He was also the President of the Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials in 2006-2007 David was presented with FAPPO’s George H. Wolf Distinguished Service Award in 2010. In 2014, he was presented with FAPPO’s Educator of the Year Award. In 2019, he was presented with his second George H. Wolf Distinguished Service Award for his overall contributions to FAPPO during 25 years of membership. David is a certified instructor for NIGP and from 2010 to 2013 he served on the Evaluation Committee for the National Procurement Institute’s Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award. Since creating the online “Question of the Day” in 2007, he has helped thousands of procurement professionals prepare for their CPPB, CPPO and NIGP-CPP exams. For this contribution, he was presented with the "Spirit of NIGP Award" at the NIGP Forum in 2013. For his overall contributions to the procurement profession, he was presented with NIGP’s Distinguished Service Award at the 2018 Forum in Nashville, TN. David currently serves on the Mentorship Committee for NIGP, as well as Radio NIGP. He previously served from June 2015 to December 2019 as one of that organization’s first Chapter Ambassadors in Area 5. In August 2020 he was part of the inaugural group to receive the new NIGP-CPP certification.

Beacon Bid is here! What is the latest in e-procurement that will help both agencies and business? Live from Boston - NIGP Forum 2022, Bill Culhane sits down with Stephen Hetzel and Josh Schwartzbeck, co-founders of Beacon. They share the story behind Beacon, including how Beacon transforms common obstacles and challenges with simple and efficient solutions to solve everyday challenges. From Solicitation Broadcaster, to RFP Archive, E-Bid, and more, agencies can take advantage of an easier, better solution. For bidders, they will now have increased access, improved success, and a more positive experience in working with the public sector. As they did with BidPrime, Hetzel and Schwartzbeck are the architects behind the engineering of this excellent product, along with responsive, personalized service. Hear what they have to say. Rick Jennings shares stories of penguins and Crazy Bids. What could be better? All of that and more. A lot more!

As more and more states consider and pass laws regarding the legalization of marijuana, how does that impact you and your business? Nina French, from Hound Labs, is known across the US as an authority on employee screening services. Nina weighs in on impact of the new laws, what business leaders can do, and delves into various aspects of testing. Rick Jennings, always on the lookout for interesting and topical Crazy Bids, shares a Crazy Bids that aligns with this episode. Hear it for yourself. All of that and more. A lot more! Our Guest: Nina M. French: https://houndlabs.com/author/nina/ Hound Labs: https://houndlabs.com/ Hound Labs on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HoundLabsInc

Season 8 is off and running and who better to bring on than Dr. Rodney Rohde! Our resident US public health expert helps cover a myriad of topics. Dr. Rohde and our host, Bill Culhane, discuss what has been learned about the US healthcare system, since the beginning of the COVID pandemic. They also review the importance and rise in focus on hygiene, impact of the pandemic on staffing in healthcare, and Dr. Rohde updates us on the lab professionals calendar. In the first version of Crazy Bids for this season, Rick Jennings discloses a fear and a bid that will have you, uh, chomping at the bit. All of that and more. A lot more! Our guest: Dr. Rodney Rohde https://www.health.txstate.edu/cls/people/faculty/Rodney-E-Rohde--Program-Chair.html Twitter: @RodneyRohde

With the infrastructure bill signed on November 15th, there are now $1.2 trillion reasons for you and your business to pay attention to what is next with the legislation. Emily Feenstra, from ASCE, and Stephen Hetzel, from BidPrime, two well connected, industry experts appeared (yes!) in our very first video version of the show. Here, in the final episode of Season 7, our creative engineers share the audio from the conversations. Emily, Managing Director, Government Relations and Infrastructure Initiatives, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), shares her front row observations and opinions on: 1. More notable takeaways from the bill, 2. Needs for consulting, planning, and management as agencies prepare to launch projects, 3. Why it was important for this bill to pass now, 4. The process for the opportunities to flow down to businesses, contractors, vendors, 5. Which aspects of the bill will be managed by the federal government versus state and local entities taking the lead, 6. Overview of timeframes for project rollouts. Next, we learn from Stephen Hetzel, BidPrime’s COO and co-Founder. Hetzel elaborates on: 1. The impact this bill will have on contractors and businesses, 2. The role asset management will have in this bill, 3. What exactly do contractors and vendors need to know about identifying the resulting opportunities, 4. Specifically, how does BidPrime continue to lead the bid services industry in helping businesses identify and win contracts. Rick Jennings thinks the final Crazy Bids of Season 7 is crazy. We will let you decide. All of that and more. A lot more! Now, it is time for us to put a bow on Season 7, take a little R&R, until the journey of Season 8 commences. To our amazing guests, dedicated and incredible audience, and talented TBBT team, we thank each and every one of you! Be safe, be happy and see you next season! Our Guests: Emily Feenstra Managing Director, Government Relations and Infrastructure Initiatives at American Society of Civil Engineers ASCE twitter: @ASCEGovRel ASCE website: https://www.asce.org/ Stephen Hetzel COO and co-Founder, BidPrime BidPrime twitter: @bidprime BidPrime website: https://www.bidprime.com/

Have you noticed how drone technology has experienced substantial growth over recent years? Both the public and private sectors are leveraging the various applications for the technology and adoption continues to rise across the board. In this episode, Paul Huish, the CEO from DroneHive, describes how drones are being used on environmental, climate, and construction projects. In addition, Huish makes note of security applications and provides an overview on how the recently signed bipartisan infrastructure bill will surely result in even busier days ahead for the drone industry. In Crazy Bids, Rick Jennings shares a bid on a work situation many have, and are, experiencing over the past couple of years. The origin of the request will possibly surprise you. All of that and more. A lot more! Our Guest: Paul Huish, DroneHive, CEO | Founder Paul founded DroneHive in 2016 to fill the need that corporations have for professional drone expert services. He has more than a dozen years of experience in resource management in technical contract labor and staff augmentation, most of it for multinational corporations in heavily regulated industries. At DroneHive, he is responsible for company strategy and business operations. He also oversees the sales and marketing teams. Prior to founding DroneHive, Paul helped build a global resource management firm supporting the highly-regulated drug and medical device manufacturing companies. In his eight years at Validant, he helped build it from a start-up to more than a $100 million in annual revenue. He is an expert at helping clients manage resources and create jobs without a long-term commitment during periods of uncertain growth. Paul holds a B.S. degree in Finance from Lehigh University and started his career as an financial analyst on Wall Street. He is a certified remote pilot and spends his free time with his wife and son enjoying the outdoors. DroneHive: https://www.dronehiveinc.com/

How do 5,217 public and 14,702 private airports in the United States happen? (data from Statista) There is much involved in building, managing and maintaining an airport and U.S. state, local, and federal agencies are actively involved in getting the work done. Tapping into his decades of experience, Mike Dikun (bio below), from Armstrong Consultants, visited the show to explain the importance of NPIAS, the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems, AIP, the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program, covers how urban air mobility fits into the future of air transport, and much more. Rick Jennings doesn’t horse around on this version of Crazy Bids. Well, actually... All of that and more. A lot more! Our Guest: Mike Dikun, C.M. C.A.E. As the Armstrong Western Pacific Territory Manager, Mike Dikun is currently involved with providing existing airport clients with the benefit of his 27 years of airport management experience, while working to develop new clients from the Reno, Nevada office. Mike has experience at Fixed Base Operators, aircraft modification and repair facilities, Part 139 Certificated airports, and General Aviation airports from New York to California. Throughout his career, Mike has demonstrated success in airport development and improvement, the FAA AIP Grant program, project management, enhancing airport revenues and business development, improving operational safety and establishing positive airport / community relations. Mike has been a private pilot since 1985 and is the proud owner of a classic 1959 Cessna 172. Armstrong Consultants: https://armstrongconsultants.com/

Cybersecurity continues to be a challenge for individuals, business, and governments. You? Roger Grimes, from KnowBe4, explains how social engineering poses an enormous threat to your IT assets and outlines what you need to prioritize to protect against cybercriminals. Are your efforts futile? Listen, as Grimes provides insights to help you tackle the problems… it isn’t a long to-do list. In Crazy Bids, Rick Jennings tips his cap to fans of the movie, Forrest Gump. Yum! All of that and more. A lot more! Our Guest: Roger Grimes Data-Driven Defense Evangelist at KnowBe4. He is a 30-year computer security professional, author of 12 books and over 1,000 national magazine articles. He frequently consults with the world’s largest and smallest companies, and militaries, and he has seen what does and doesn’t work. Grimes was a weekly security columnist for InfoWorld and CSO magazines from 2005 - 2019. He regularly presents at national computer security conferences, and has been interviewed by national magazines and radio shows, including Newsweek magazine and NPR’s All Things Considered. Roger is known for his often contrarian, fact-filled viewpoints. Grimes’ twitter: @rogeragrimes KnowBe4: https://www.knowbe4.com/

This calls for a Special Episode! Today, the US Senate voted and passed a massive $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package. How did we get here? What does this mean? What happens now? Emily Feenstra, Managing Director, Government Relations and Infrastructure Initiatives at American Society of Civil Engineers, visited with Bill Culhane to answer those questions and more. With the package calling for $550 billion in new federal spending over five years, there is a lot to unpack. So, grab a chair, call a friend, and hear analysis and opinions from Emily Feenstra and Bill Culhane on what this all means for everyone in these United States. All of that and more. A lot more! Our Guest: Emily Feenstra Managing Director, Government Relations and Infrastructure Initiatives at American Society of Civil Engineers ASCE twitter: @ASCEGovRel ASCE website: https://www.asce.org/ 2021 Report Card: https://2017.infrastructurereportcard.org/

Does everyone in your business or agency understand and believe that providing superior customer service is one important way to set yourself apart from the competition? Shep Hyken, best selling author and sought after speaker, returns to TBBT to share tips on delivering an AMAZING! customer service experience that keeps customers coming back for more. Shep also outlines many of the interesting and important points he presents in his latest book, ‘I’ll Be Back’. In a Crazy Bids true to its name, Rick Jennings discovered a bid that pairs bourbon, beer and books. All of that and more. A lot more! Our Guest: Shep Hyken @Hyken About Shep: www.Hyken.com Pre Order: ‘I’ll Be Back: How to Get Customers to Come Back Again and Again.’ : https://hyken.com/online-store/ill-be-back/?utm_content=buffer1091e&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

How are you taking advantage of video conferencing solutions? Over the past couple of years, the video conferencing industry has experienced explosive growth. In this episode, hear how businesses and the public sector are making use of the services and solutions. Will Purcell, from Pepperland Marketing, visits with Bill Culhane to discuss Purcell’s report on the industry, filled with interesting information (see below), and what we can expect to see in the future. Rick Jennings shines the light, and sound, on this Crazy Bids. All of that and more. A lot more! Our Guest: Will Purcell @WPurcell04 About Will Purcell: https://www.pepperlandmarketing.com/team/will-purcell Article: https://www.pepperlandmarketing.com/blog/video-conference-stats Pepperland Marketing: https://www.pepperlandmarketing.com/

Is the U.S. ready to solve the infrastructure problem? In this episode, we have an expert, Dr. Joseph Schofer, who is quite open about his opinions on how to address the lingering U.S. infrastructure challenges. There’s a lot of news, debate, plans, report cards on the subject, but you can invest a few minutes to hear from this Northwestern University professor, a veteran of many decades in studying, researching, and teaching the subject matter. Rick Jennings takes you to school with this version of Crazy Bids. All of that and more. A lot more! Our Guest: Dr. Joseph Schofer About Dr. Schofer: https://www.mccormick.northwestern.edu/research-faculty/directory/profiles/schofer-joseph.html Dr. Schofer in the news: https://news.northwestern.edu/for-journalists/faculty-experts/expert/joseph-l-schofer ‘The Infrastructure Show’: http://theinfrastructureshow.com/podcasts ASCE Report Card: https://infrastructurereportcard.org/ Twitter accounts to follow: @cee_nwu @NorthwesternEng

Hear from an actual expert, whose reputation has made him a sought after authority on many aspects of the global pandemic. A year after his last visit to the show, just as COVID-19 was becoming known in the US, Dr. Rodney Rohde returns to help us launch Season 7. Dr. Rohde covers a wide range of issues related to the ongoing battle against this coronavirus. From how the virus is evolving, to testing and vaccinations, his opinions on PPE, funding, and how heroes in the Lab are vital to the ongoing efforts, Dr. Rohde covers it all. See below for important and interesting references. Despite having a long break, Rick Jennings seems really, uh, crabby in this first installment of Crazy Bids for Season 7. All of that and more. A lot more! Resources: Dr. Rodney Rohde bio: https://www.health.txstate.edu/cls/people/faculty/Rodney-E-Rohde--Program-Chair.html More from Dr. Rohde: https://rodneyerohde.wp.txstate.edu/ ‘Virus Spillover and Emerging Pathogens Pick Up Speed’, as found in Contagion Live: https://www.contagionlive.com/view/virus-spillover-and-emerging-pathogens-pick-up-speed On Twitter: @RodneyRohde

Stephen Hetzel, the COO at BidPrime, helped us close down season 6 of TBBT. In this episode, Hetzel looks at the industries most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. He also shared his insights into what's ahead in 2021 and how we’re going to get out of this. He provided an interesting comparison of the 2009 recovery and looked at some of the industries that are due for a turnaround and growth in 2021 as government investment spurs the recovery. He ends the interview with an update on BidPrime's lawsuit v DemandStar, as BidPrime continues their pledge to support and fight for free and fair competition in government purchasing. Rick Jennings, with a tear in his eye, delivers the final #CrazyBids of Season 6. You're likely going to say, "that's a cheesy Crazy Bids". All of that and more. Much more.

Across the United States, there are many ‘smart city’ projects already completed with a multitude ahead in the multi $billion industry. Elaina Farnsworth, CEO, The NEXT Education, an expert on all things transportation, visited the show to share her insights on what’s happening in the exciting worlds of smart city tech, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and a myriad of other related topics. Looking for opportunity? Elaina explains why, “making sure that the best technologies are married with the best people” makes sense. Hear how that happens. Rick Jennings closes down the episode with a Crazy Bids that will have Californians shouting, “We’re number one, we’re number one!” All of that and more. A lot more! Our Guest: Elaina Farnsworth CEO The NEXT Education On Twitter: @ElainaFarnswort, @The_NEXT_Ed Resources: The NEXT Education https://thenexted.com/ NIST: National Institute of Standards and Technology https://www.nist.gov/ NIST Vehicle Teleoperation Forum https://www.nist.gov/news-events/events/2020/11/nist-vehicle-teleoperation-forum

What are your opinions on autonomous vehicles? Across the U.S., development and adoption of autonomous vehicles (AVs) has resulted in a vigorous debate. In this episode, we stayed close to home and visited with Dr. Kara Kockelman, professor at the University and Texas, and well published (see link below) and noted expert on transportation issues. From benefits and uses, to the future of the technologies and her extensive research, Dr. Kockelman shares an interesting and in-depth analysis on the industry. Rick Jennings identified the perfect Crazy Bids for this episode. In the future, how will your prized packages be delivered? All of that and more. A lot more! Our Guest: Dr. Kara Kockelman Professor Dewitt C. Greer Centennial Professorship in Transportation Engineering On Twitter: @KaraKockelman Resources: https://www.caee.utexas.edu/prof/kockelman/

Were you and your school ready for the ‘20-’21 school year? In the midst of the pandemic, a lot of leadership, planning, creativity and collaboration were needed. In this episode, we called upon three experts in education to share their stories. David Childress and Ken Bouwens, from Louisa County Public Schools, share how they thought “outside the box” to address connectivity and access issues. Dr. Delia Carrizales, from Texas Tech’s School of Education, provides her insights and shares useful tips on online learning. Below, see background information on ‘Wireless on Wheels’ and ‘...Tips for Successful Distance Learning…’ Rick Jennings goes high tech on this Crazy Bids. Weld, what else would you expect? All of that and more. A lot more! Our Guests: David Childress, Director of Technology, Louisa County Public Schools Ken Bouwens, Director of CTE/STEAM, Louisa County Public Schools On Twitter: @BouwensCTE Dr. Delia Carrizales, Assistant Professor, Texas Tech University Resources: Wireless on Wheels: https://wow.lcps.k12.va.us/ Tips for distance learning: https://today.ttu.edu/posts/2020/03/Stories/Expert-Available-tips-Distance-Learning-During-Pandemic

Don’t have time to catch the full episode, but need help for your business? Here are some key moments from our recent conversation with Dan Kane, who spent much time at the SBA and has transitioned to start up and small business advocate and expert. Listen, download, and share as Kane discusses: > SBA. What does he know about the SBA? What do you need before contacting the SBA? > Woman-owned small business (WOSB). Important details to know. > Veteran-owned small business (VOSB). Important details to know. > Payroll Protection Program (PPP). What’s next? Full episode: https://www.spreaker.com/user/8134970/sba-wosb-vosb-questions-answered-by-expert