The "SmallsCast" Podcast

The Smalls talks to The Vetted Network!Listen in as your host Just Nate talks with Ravyn Robinson-Barco, Founder and CEO of Conscious Colorado Collective (operating under the DBA The Vetted Network).The Origin Story: Following a traumatic brain injury in 2021, Ravyn sought out non-traditional healing modalities like Reiki, Yoga, Chinese medicine, breathwork, and sound healing to take ownership of her health and avoid a lifetime of heavy prescriptions.The Vetted Network: An organization connecting professionals across alternative wellness disciplines who have completed national and state background checks to ensure safety, integrity, and professionalism.Government Contracting in Wellness: Holistic services are gaining traction in the government sector, specifically under VHA Directive 1137 for whole health and total force fitness initiatives.The Vetting Process: Professionals pay a flat monthly fee and a one-time background check, filling out a robust, government-level application before being listed so they are ready for military installations or corporate teams.Accessibility and Community: The network aims to make holistic health accessible by offering weekly in-person community meetups at Urbane Collective and an online community for those navigating life's struggles.Tap Intuit Podcast: Ravyn hosts a podcast to help individuals vet these professionals, learn their backstories, and understand alternative therapies before investing their own money.Future Vision: The long-term plan includes building a physical, third-generational space in Colorado Springs and forming a sister 501(c)(3) nonprofit to offer community access and robust wellness programming.Guest: Ravyn Robinson-Barco, Founder and CEOCompany: Conscious Colorado Collective (DBA The Vetted Network)Website: Conscious Colorado Collective HomePodcast: Tap Intuit Podcast on YouTubeLinkedIn: Ravyn Robinson-Barco on LinkedInGuest Spotlight & ResourcesTo find out more about the Smalls or become a member, please check us out at www.thesmalls.orgTo contact Just Nate: [email protected]— Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thesmalls/messageSupport this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thesmalls/supportwww.patreon.com/thesmalls

Listen in as your host Just Nate talks with Mike Crandal, CEO and co-founder of Digital Beachhead. The Urgency of CMMC 2.0: November 10th is the date for Article 48 implementation, making CMMC a mandatory default clause in all new DoD solicitations. Many small businesses are panicked because they didn't believe it would actually happen.A History Lesson in Compliance: The discussion traces the evolution from DFARS 7012 to DFARS 7019, which introduced NIST 800-171 controls and the PoAM (Program of Action and Milestones) system. CMMC was created to replace the unreliable self-attestation and perpetual PoAMs.CMMC 2.0 Levels and Requirements:Level 1 (FCI): For Federal Contract Information (FCI) only. Requires 15 controls and allows for self-assessment by a senior company representative.Level 2 (CUI): For Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). Requires all 110 NIST 800-171 controls and 320 objectives. Self-attestation is allowed for the first 12 months, but prime contractors (like Lockheed or Boeing) can still demand 3CPAO certification immediately.Understanding CUI: CUI (Controlled Unclassified Information) is a major gray area often defined differently by each government customer. They stress that CUI is not a security classification but a marking, and contractors should only mark information as CUI if the government has explicitly designated it as such.The Insurance Factor: Cyber insurance companies are now increasingly requiring CMMC-Level certification before they will pay out on a ransomware or data breach claim, making compliance an essential part of risk management.The Assessment Process: Mike outlines the four phases of a CMMC assessment by a C3PAO (like Digital Beach Head):Pre-assessment: Initial review of your data and readiness.Interview & On-site Visit: A deep dive into paperwork, controls, and physical security.Certification: Receiving a final or conditional certification.EMAS Upload: Submitting the results to the government's official system.The typical process for a small business takes three to four weeks.Cost & Strategy for Small Businesses: The average cost for a Level 2 assessment for a small business is between $40K and $50K (a one-time payment for the three-year certification). For companies with only a small portion of DoD work, they recommend creating a secure, isolated enclave (like a GCC High or Cloud PC VDI solution) to reduce the scope—and cost—of the assessment.🤝 Guest Spotlight & ResourcesGuest: Mike Crandall, CEO and Co-Founder of Digital Beach HeadCompany: Digital Beach Head is the only authorized C3PAO in Colorado Springs and one of three in the Mountain Region, specializing in cyber security services and CMMC assessment.Mike's Contact Information:Website: digitalbeachhead.comEmail: [email protected]: Search for Mike Crandall at Digital Beach Head.To find out more about the Smalls or become a member, please check us out at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thesmalls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠To contact Just Nate:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠—  Send in a voice message: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/thesmalls/message⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support this podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/thesmalls/support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/thesmalls⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen in as your host Just Nate and Greg talk with Dr. Matt Hortt about the amazing Library located in Greeley, CO. The Evolution of Libraries and the Link Facility: Dr. Hortt discusses the massive evolution of libraries over the past 25 years, moving away from things like stamped due date cards and VHS/DVDs towards online streaming services and specialized community resources. The new facility, located in Greeley, is called Link (Library and Innovation Center) and encompasses a massive 63,000 square feet. The design for Link was driven by community input that highlighted the need for skills-based development. Key Offerings and Resources: The Link facility combines many resources often found separately in other libraries into one space, including a recording studio, interactive children's areas, and a wood shop. Key features and services mentioned include:Meeting Spaces: The library offers various meeting spaces, including a boardroom (set up for streaming and public use), smaller 2-3 person spaces, and a flexible events center that can hold approximately 300 people.• Cost: All meeting spaces and core library services are free to the public, treated as prepaid services via tax dollars.• Media and Digital Access: The library still carries books (fiction, children's, graphic novels) but relies heavily on digital resources via apps like Hoopla, Libby, and Overdrive for streaming music, movies, audiobooks, and ebooks. Anyone living in the state of Colorado can obtain a library card.• Specialty Checkouts: Patrons can check out specialty items such as laptops, wireless hotspots, and state park passes (allowing free entry into state parks).• Maker Space: The maker space is industrial-grade, featuring equipment like laser cutters, 3D printers, UV printers (capable of printing on items like golf balls), and a sublimation machine. Staff with industry experience are available to teach classes and assist the public with projects.• Certifications: The library is launching a partnership with Snap-on tools (through NC3) to provide hands-on certifications to patrons related to tools and industrial skills.Operational Context and Challenges: The High Plains Library District is a government entity (a special taxing district) funded by property taxes (mill levy), supported by a strong tax base from gas and oil production in Weld County. Although they are exploring using an unstaffed model to become 24/7, they are not currently open around the clock. Dr. Hortt noted that the biggest current challenge is determining the library's next focus based on competing community ideas, securing continued government funding, and overcoming the lack of public awareness regarding the modern capabilities the library offers.To go to the Library, you can drive to 501 8th Ave, Greeley, COTo find out more about the Smalls or become a member, please check us out at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thesmalls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠To contact Just Nate:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠—  Send in a voice message: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/thesmalls/message⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support this podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/thesmalls/support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/thesmalls⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen in as your host Just Nate and Greg talk with Bill Edwards, Director of CUAS Operations and Training, COLONEL, U.S. Army (Retired). Bill is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to counter UAS.Bill Edwards has developed a sequence of training courses designed to simplify the complex CUAS market:1. C-Suite and Leader Course: To ensure executive understanding of capital investment needs.2. Introduction to CounterUAS Technologies and Federal Law.3. Drone Vulnerability and Risk Assessment: Applying technology knowledge to facility assessment.4. Drone Emergency Response Planning: Focusing on coordinating with internal and external stakeholders and developing policies.5. Left of Drone Launch: Focusing on proactive information/intelligence operationalization.Register for C-UAS Training Course:Register Now – Counter Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS)Technology & Federal Law/Drone Vulnerability & Risk Assessment (DVRA)Course – ENSCO Colorado Springs Information on the C-UAS training program found here:C-UAS Training Courses by Bill Edwards | Counter UnmannedAerial Systems | Drone Vulnerability Risk Assessment | ENSCOTo contact Bill: ⁠[email protected]⁠To find out more about the Smalls or become a member, please check us out at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thesmalls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠To contact Just Nate:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠—  Send in a voice message: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/thesmalls/message⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support this podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/thesmalls/support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/thesmalls⁠⁠⁠

Listen in as your host Just Nate and Greg talk with Chris Hutson, Director of Business Development at Prime Partners.Prime Partners specializes in providing skilled labor on demand. We take pride in finding the best talent for our partnering companies based on their hiring needs and requirements.As an Executive Search Services Company, we provide skilled talent to partnering companies to support existing human resource teams and their hiring needs. Our associates are devoted to excellence and have successfully supported client needs since 2019.The team talk about how Prime Partners can help you with you staffing augmentation.To find out more about PrimePartners visit their website here: https://www.primepartners.com/https://www.primepartners.com/To email Chris click here: [email protected] find out more about the Smalls or become a member, please check us out at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thesmalls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠To contact Just Nate:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠—  Send in a voice message: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/thesmalls/message⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support this podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/thesmalls/support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/thesmalls⁠⁠⁠

Listen in as your host Just Nate, DK and GG talks with Sarah Wood, Director of Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Serving Boulder County.The team talk about how SBDC can help both new and old companies. Please see all the upcoming events below:Ascent - Customer Discovery  (only promote through September 4th)VirtualSeptember 4th - 18th9 am - 11  amApplications accepted until filled: https://sbdc.colorado.gov/programs-resources/techsource/ascent-workshopsFreeBlueprint for a Resilient Small Business ForumCU Boulder - University Memorial CenterSeptember 26th8 am - 12 pmRegistration Link:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdcXcJMSIbe0qts8YONoYp6WWpntIpiGd8eMaGtErfwnB5PXQ/viewformFreeTech Venture Accellerator - BoulderApplication Deadline September 12th (only promote through this date)Thursdays October 2nd - December 11thApplication Link: https://sbdc.colorado.gov/programs-resources/techsource/tech-venture-acceleratorLocation will be announced to chosen applicants.FreeTo find out more about the Boulder County SBDC visit their website here: https://sbdc.colorado.gov/center-locations/boulderTo find out more about the Smalls or become a member, please check us out at ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thesmalls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠To contact Just Nate:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠—  Send in a voice message: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/thesmalls/message⁠⁠⁠⁠Support this podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/thesmalls/support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/thesmalls⁠⁠⁠

Listen in as your host Just Nate, DK and guest GG talks with Mike Shanley, Founder and CEO of GovDiscovery AI.Mike Shanley – Founder and CEO, GovDiscovery AIMike Shanley is a recognized thought leader with over 20 years of experience in federal business development and government contracting strategy. As the Founder and CEO of GovDiscovery AI, he leads the company’s mission to accelerate growth for federal contractors by providingdeep, actionable market intelligence powered by artificial intelligence.GovDiscovery AI is distinguished by its federal market insider expertise. GovDiscovery AI is led by federal growth experts leveraging advanced technology to streamline and enhance the business development process, not outsiders attempting to apply general solutions to a highly specialized market. Prior to founding GovDiscovery AI, Mike supported business development efforts at a large U.S. government contractor, where he managed pipeline development, capture research, and proposal operations for federal contracts and grants. His extensive operational experience navigating the federal acquisition environment directly informs GovDiscovery AI’s approach, ensuring solutions are purpose-built to meet the complex needs of growth teams operating in the federal space. Mike is a frequent speaker at U.S. government and industry events, providing expert analysis on federal market trends, teaming strategies, and innovation adoption. He also hosts the GovDiscovery AI Podcast, featuring high-profile guests including the former Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, the Chief Innovation Officer of the Air Force Research Laboratory, Nobel Peace Prize recipients, and TIME Magazine’s Person of the Year. To find out more about GovDiscovery AI, visit their website at: https://www.govdiscoveryai.com/To sign up for the COCOMMS Newsletter COCOMMS Newsletter Sign up Link: https://forms.gle/uitVrqazs2zZMXxT6To find out more about the Smalls or become a member, please check us out at ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thesmalls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠To contact Just Nate:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠—  Send in a voice message: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/thesmalls/message⁠⁠⁠⁠Support this podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/thesmalls/support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/thesmalls⁠⁠⁠

Listen in as your host Just Nate talks with Josh Wills, Peer Navigator with Mt. Carmel Veterans Service CenterMt. Carmel Veterans Service Center is dedicated to improving the lives of our Military and Veteran communities by providing support and services in a variety of areas.Upcoming Mt. Carmel events - Join us for this month's VBC networking event.Looking forward to seeing everyone at this month's event.27 Aug, 5:30pm at Peaks N Pines Brewing. 4005Tutt Blvd - Colorado Springshttps://peaksnpinesbrewery.com/Peer Navigator Social & Networking event5 Sept 2025, 4:30PM - 6:30PM at Brues Alehouse, 120 Riverwalk Pl, Pueblo, CO 81003To find out more about Mt. Carmel Veterns Service Center please visit their website at: ⁠https://www.veteranscenter.org/To Donate to Mt. Carmel - www.veteranscenter.org/donateTo find out more about the Smalls or become a member, please check us out at ⁠⁠⁠www.thesmalls.org⁠⁠⁠To contact Just Nate:  ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠—  Send in a voice message: ⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/thesmalls/message⁠⁠⁠Support this podcast: ⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/thesmalls/support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/thesmalls⁠⁠

Listen in as your host Just Nate and guest host Greg "the lover" Glover talks with Eric Kronman from Fluet.  Fluet is the premier law firm for the national security, aerospace, defense, and intelligence sectors.Y-Combinator for SAFE forms: https://www.ycombinator.com/documentsNVCA.org for the model venture documentshttps://nvca.org/model-legal-documents/The annotated term sheet can be found here: https://nvca.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/NVCA-2020-Term-Sheet.docxAlso, in our conversation after the recording, here’s the link to the Berkshire Hathaway annual letters (you’ll really enjoy these – I’d start around 2017 and work your way to current): https://www.berkshirehathaway.com/letters/letters.htmlTo find out more about Fluet please visit their website at:  https://fluet.law/To find out more about the Smalls or become a member, please check us out at ⁠⁠www.thesmalls.org⁠⁠To contact Just Nate:  ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠—  Send in a voice message: ⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/thesmalls/message⁠⁠Support this podcast: ⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/thesmalls/support⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/thesmalls⁠

Listen in as your host Just Nate talks with our good buddy Russ Long from Long Capture.  It has been over a year since Russ was last on our podcast and things are rockin in the Capture business.  Just Nate and Russ have fun this go round and discuss everything from SBIR Phase I,II and III to include pricing, STTRs, Catalyst Campus and Long Capture "World Wide"  The wacky dual just simply have fun and get to know one another more and more each time we talk. Your Launch Pad To Success We help you connect your technology with the government by securing strategic funding and establishing partnerships. Our Mission Long Capture promotes the advancement of commercial companies and their technology through government funding programs such as the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR), Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR), and other strategic opportunities. By leveraging its network of government officials, industry partners, and universities, Long Capture drives growth for clients in the DoD space. To find out more about Russ and his company Long Capture visit his website at:  ⁠https://longcapture.com/⁠ To find out more about the Smalls or become a member, please check us out at ⁠www.thesmalls.org⁠ To contact Just Nate:  ⁠[email protected]⁠ —  Send in a voice message: ⁠https://anchor.fm/thesmalls/message⁠ Support this podcast: ⁠https://anchor.fm/thesmalls/support⁠ ⁠www.patreon.com/thesmalls