In today's episode, Gene interviews special guest, John Rhatigan, the CEO of the Marine Machinery Association. John is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in the marine and defense industries. He is here to provide us with valuable insights into his role as the chairman of the association, its mission, and how it has been navigating the complex challenges of the industry for over four decades.   SUMMARY   Gene Moran and John Rhatigan delve into the background of the Marine...

In this episode, we have a special guest, “Tip” Wight, a remarkable individual with a diverse background in law enforcement, military service, and corporate leadership. Join us as we dive into Tip's journey, starting from his humble beginnings as a police officer in Oklahoma to his impressive career flying fighter jets in the Air Force.   SUMMARY Tip shares the inspiration behind his decision to transition from law enforcement to the military and the incredible experiences he had as an...

In this episode of the Make Your Move podcast, we dive into an exclusive interview with Thomas Constable, a seasoned senior DoD executive who has had a remarkable career in the Pentagon under multiple administrations.   SUMMARY Throughout his career, Thomas has been focused on governance, assisting the administration in achieving its objectives within the confines of the law and available resources. He has a wealth of experience in addressing complex issues, such as misconduct, and finding...

In this episode, Gene Moran interviews Joe McDonnell, the President and CEO of Howell Laboratories, Inc., a well-established company that has been supplying equipment to the US Navy and US Coast Guard since 1964.   SUMMARY Howell Labs is an employee-owned company through an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan). This unique ownership model creates a culture where everyone is motivated to make decisions that benefit the company. Collaborative committees have been formed to involve employees...

On this episode of Make Your Move, Maria Cherjovsky, the CEO of the Camaraderie Foundation, shares insights about the organization's mission to support individuals with mental health challenges, transitions, and PTSD, ultimately saving lives and preventing suicide.   SUMMARY Maria discusses the Camaraderie Foundation’s various programs and services provided by the Camaraderie Foundation, including mental health counseling, support for families, employment opportunities for veterans, and a...

On this episode of Make Your Move, host Gene Moran sits down with Matt Zimmermann, CEO of Beast Code, an expert in digital transformation and software engineering focused on helping the warfighter.   SUMMARY Matt shares his experience working with the Navy's DDG 1000 Zumwalt class destroyer for live fire test and evaluation. He explains how his team used simulations to evaluate threats and created an interactive representation of the destroyer using CAD models. With over 1.2 million...

On this episode of Make Your Move, host Gene Moran brings on special guest Bryan McGrath to discuss the complex relationship between the military and government, the challenges of defense procurement, and the importance of sea power to the United States.   SUMMARY   McGrath, a former naval officer with command experience, now works as a defense consultant, helping clients with communications, strategy, and thinking. Drawing from his operational experience and knowledge of conflict at sea,...

In this episode, Sarah Carter shares her insights and experiences wearing the President hat in a small business, offering valuable takeaways for leaders and professionals in various industries.   SUMMARY   On this episode of Make Your Move, we dive into the world of small business leadership with our guest, Sarah Carter. Sarah, the current President of Gnostech, shares her experiences and insights on wearing the President hat and the unique perspective it brings to problem-solving within...

On this first episode of Season 4 we explore the world of competitive pursuits and the transformative power of Peter Lierni’s Solution Engineering Tool ™ or SET ™ for short, which helps businesses excel in their pursuit of high-value contracts. SET ™ promises to break the mold by filling a critical industry gap.   SUMMARY Our guest, Peter Lierni, discusses the various roles such as agency engagers, and proposal managers, emphasizing the importance of understanding capture and adopting a...

U.S. Navy Veteran, founder of Capitol Integration and the host of the 'Make Your Move' podcast, Gene Moran, delivers a compelling review of the first Three Seasons and paves the way for the much-anticipated Fourth Season.   SUMMARY Gene Moran shares the journey from his book 'Make Your Move' to its podcast adaptation, revealing how guests imparted various strategies for achieving success and fulfillment in life post-military. Emphasizing the integral role of mentorship in military life, a...

U.S. Air Force Veteran, Trish Murphy, weathered extreme Alaskan conditions as a mechanic during her time on active duty. Her inspiring narrative of homeschooling her children and launching a fresh entrepreneurial venture is certain to captivate and motivate listeners.   SUMMARY   Trish Murphy embarked on a remarkable journey when she enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, serving as a mechanic. While stationed in Alaska, she honed her skills, maintaining and repairing complex machinery like...

Retired U.S. Air Force veteran, Wanda Wright, devoted five years of her life to active-duty service in the role of a budget officer. Following this, she joined the Arizona National Guard, where she ascended to the rank of Colonel. In 2015, she was honored with an appointment as the Director for the Department of Veteran Services by Governor Ducey of Arizona. Currently, she continues her dedication to veterans as the Director for the Office of Veteran and Military Academic Engagement at...

Jim Young, a U.S. Army veteran, recounts his active-duty years and the injury he sustained while patrolling the East-West German border, which led to his military retirement. Today, he thrives as a successful entrepreneur. Coffee enthusiasts, you're in for a treat in this episode!   SUMMARY   Jim Young, initially courted by the Marines, chose instead to enlist in the U.S. Army as an Infantryman at the young age of 17. His military journey took him to Europe, where he patrolled the border...

Returning for a second episode, Loree Draude, a former Lieutenant Commander of the U.S. Navy and Naval Aviator, opens up about the joys and challenges of pursuing creative outlets.   SUMMARY Loree, a former naval aviator, made a captivating appearance on episode 8 of the Make Your Move podcast. She not only shared her remarkable military experiences but also discussed her achievements in life after the military. In her return to the show, Loree offers valuable insights into the importance...

US Army veteran, Dan Cooper shares his 8 years of service and how having a “Buddha Mind” has helped him find real balance in life.   SUMMARY Dan Cooper, a remarkable individual, embarked on his journey with the US Army in 2000, proudly serving with the esteemed 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) until 2003. Little did he know that his life would forever be impacted on that fateful day, 9/11, when a plane struck the Pentagon while he and his unit were just half a mile away, engaged...

Paul Taylor, US Army Colonel (Ret.) and cancer survivor shares how cultivating relationships can often open the door to new post-military career opportunities.   H3 SUMMARY   Paul Taylor is a West Point graduate who served in the US Army for 23 years. He describes his military career as having two distinct parts. In the first part, he served as an Armor officer in various roles, including commanding at the squadron level with the 101st Airborne. During the second part of his military...

The host of the Make Your Move podcast, Gene Moran, shares 10 business tips sure to help you achieve success in both federal and commercial.   SUMMARY Welcome to today's episode. Distilling his expertise, Gene offers invaluable insight on how to navigate the federal sales process and achieve success in business.   In this episode, Gene shares his ten easy-to-remember business tips that will benefit any company. He draws from his personal experiences and provides examples of what to do...

In this podcast episode, US Army veteran Eric Bakey shares his journey from serving in Iraq to leaving the military after six years. Discover how Eric's artistic talents helped him find his dream career once he gained clarity on his goals and aspirations.   SUMMARY   In this podcast episode, we hear from Eric Bakey, who enlisted in the US Army as an engineer right after high school and later served in Ramadi, Iraq. Eric discusses his deployment experience and how it fueled his ambition to...

I welcome Ralph DiBenedetto, a former Marine who enlisted right after high school and dedicated seven years to serving his country. He shares why having a plan and asking questions can help you with career transitions.   SUMMARY   In this episode I am joined by Ralph DiBenedetto, who followed in his grandfather's and father's service footsteps by enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps right after high school. Ralph served as an anti-tank assaultman at Camp Lejeune for seven years before...

Carla D. Bass, a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel is responsible for managing vital communications between high-ranking government officials and Congress. She emphasizes the importance of effectively conveying one's story to make a meaningful impact.   SUMMARY   In this episode, Gene Moran talks with Carla Bass, a retired U.S. Air Force veteran who continues to serve in the national intelligence community. From a young age, Carla knew she wanted to follow in her father's footsteps and serve...

Former US Navy data systems and electronics technician, Rebecca Paris, served on the aircraft carrier, John C. Stennis and traveled the world. She turned down a $45,000 re-enlistment bonus when she decided she wanted to build her own company focused on financial intelligence.     SUMMARY  Veteran, Rebecca Paris, discusses her experience of active duty, including her role as a data systems technician on board the aircraft carrier John C. Stennis and riding in the Blue Angels’s C-130,...

Former U.S. Navy Surface Warfare Officer, Kristen Alexander, shares how outreach and dialogue can create multiple post-military career opportunities.   SUMMARY   Retired U.S. Navy Surface Warfare Officer Kristen Alexander served on the USS Sampson and USS Pearl Harbor before becoming the first experimentation officer at the Surface and Mine Warfare Development Center in San Diego.   Her duties included developing a course of study to train surface warfare officers in tactics...

From Electrician’s Mate to Career Recruiter. If you have seen any of the US Navy’s social media posts prior to 2021, chances are Grant Khanbalinov was the talent behind the media.   SUMMARY   Grant Khanbalinov joined the U.S. Navy as an electrician's mate, serving on two ships and completing six deployments before becoming a career recruiter at U.S. Navy Recruiting Command in Millington, Tennessee. As a national social media trainer, Khanbalinov shared his knowledge on how various social...

Are you using the right tools of influence when selling to the federal government? Gene shares 7 tools of influence one should understand for successful federal funding outcomes.   SUMMARY   Gene has helped many clients navigate and move through the federal sales process by exposing them to opportunities many don’t even know exist. The result is millions of dollars in federal sales.   Can you move through the process faster than most? The answer is yes. Gene’s clients have skipped 12 to...

Follow along as Gene maps out a very busy travel schedule filled with high-level events, keynote speaking, award recognition, and scheduled meetings in Washington, DC.   SUMMARY Although Gene doesn’t recommend the schedule he kept over the last week in February to anyone, he does admit that each and every flight and hotel stay that took him to an event or meeting led to positive benefits for him personally and for his business.   Gene starts off at the Ritz-Carlton in Sarasota, where he...