The GovCom Road Show-Denver

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.

Speakers:

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.

Fred Deese is Owner and CEO of Visual Connections, an IT consulting firm he founded in 2007, growing it from $70,000 in revenue to a multi-million dollar organization. He brings extensive federal consulting experience supporting DHS, NSA, ONI, HHS, NGA, and the VA. Fred previously held a Top Secret/SCI clearance and is a decorated Navy Service-Disabled Veteran, deployed twice to the Persian Gulf and awarded two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals.

Karla Smith Jackson, VP of Contracts at BAE Systems, brings distinguished federal acquisition leadership from NASA and the Missile Defense Agency, earning the Presidential Rank Award and recognition as a top contracting executive nationwide.

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. He'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 his work. Passionate about knowledge-sharing, he's dedicated to empowering the next generation of GovCon innovators — believing the future is about elevating the industry together.

Shomari Wade counsels clients from Fortune 50 companies to startups in government contracts law, with nearly two decades litigating hundreds of bid protests before GAO, COFC, and various Boards of Contract Appeals. He advises clients in federal small business programs (8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, SDVOSB), supports M&A due diligence for government contractors, and represents financial institutions on over $1 billion in Federal Assignment of Claims Act lending transactions. Shomari also provides ethics guidance, serving on D.C.'s Board of Ethics and Government Accountability, and has procurement experience from the Executive Office of the Mayor of D.C. He frequently lectures on bid protests and small business matters.

Wendy M. Charles, PhD, is a clinical scientist, digital health leader, and educator with over 25 years of experience in clinical research operations, regulatory compliance, and emerging technologies. She holds a PhD in Clinical Science with a specialty in Health Information Technology from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Dr. Charles serves as faculty at Denver-area universities and Editor-in-Chief of Frontiers in Blockchain: Blockchain for Science. She has held Chief Scientific Officer and Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer roles, advising policy bodies, pharmaceutical companies, and VC firms.

Lauren Wingate is Vice President of Strategic Development and Partnerships for a SDVOSB firm based in Atlanta, GA, with over 20 years in business development and 18+ years in government contracting. Known as the team's "book of knowledge," she leads capture, proposals, contract management, and marketing. Lauren also serves as Program Manager on a BPA and sits on boards including NCMA Atlanta and AFCEA Atlanta. She lives in Alpharetta, GA with her two sons.

Parabilis was founded in 2013 by former federal contracting executives who saw the need for a better funding option built for government contractors. With over 50 years of combined experience, their team creates solutions tailored to the unique needs of small and mid-sized federal contractors. Today, Parabilis leads Federal Market Credit (FMC), delivering contract-backed funding that supports mission-critical capabilities and provides small businesses the stability to perform and grow

What Sets Parabilis Apart

Parabilis provides funding solutions designed for your business, going beyond lending by combining flexible, transparent capital with one-on-one guidance from dedicated client advisors. Together, they help you manage cash flow, understand contract performance, and plan for growth with confidence. With deep expertise in federal contracting and strong partnerships across the GovCon community, Parabilis helps clients stay steady through payment cycles, maintain stability, and succeed where traditional lenders fall short.

Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) is a national nonpartisan organization advocating on behalf of women business owners—strengthening their impact on the nation’s public policy, creating economic opportunities, and forging alliances with other business organizations.