Uncle Sam's Secret Sauce

Jose Adan Gutiérrez is the President & CEO at Serentek International. Jose has more than 35 years of experience across the military, civilian, and private sectors, and is an expert in executive management and corporate strategy, business development, business operations, and program management. In this episode, we discuss: The importance of finding and building the right relationships How to address the USA's current supply chain issues The differences between managing small and large companies Why developing situational awareness is key for small business leaders    Uncle Sam's Secret Sauce is hosted by Rafael Marrero, Founder and CEO of Rafael Marrero & Company, which helps small companies do business with the world's biggest customer: the U.S. Federal Government.

Art Estopinan is the Founder & President of The Estopinan Groupand EstoHealthand is a senior-level international and public affairs chief with over three decades of experience in the US Congress. He has a proven track record of utilizing the legislative process to advance important issues, has nurtured strong relationships with both major political parties, and he is an expert in legislative issues, lobbying, public policy. In this episode, we discuss: Art's career history and experience working with the first Cuban-American and first Latina to serve as an elected member of Congress, former Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen How the COVID-19 pandemic led to a rising demand for companies to bring jobs and the supply chain back to the United States Vital lessons from Art's childhood that have helped him find success throughout his career. Why persistence and adaptability are necessary skills for successful entrepreneurship Art's top advice for up-and-coming business leaders   Uncle Sam's Secret Sauce is hosted by Rafael Marrero, Founder and CEO of Rafael Marrero & Company, which helps small companies do business with the world's biggest customer: the U.S. Federal Government.

Stuart Scheller, Founder of Authentic Americans & Author of Crisis of Command: How We Lost Trust and Confidence in America's Generals and Politicians. As a former Lieutenant Colonel of the United States Marine Corp., Stuart knows firsthand the importance of strong leadership, clear vision, and taking action.  Now that he is back in civilian life, he uses his platform to advocate for Americans to step up and do what needs to be done when it comes to organizational and political leadership, building bridges across divided political beliefs, and fighting to protect an America that's worth fighting for. In this episode we discuss: The failures of modern leadership The biggest challenges facing Americans today Why Stuart wrote Crisis of Command How and why Stuart built his platform as a podcaster and speaker The importance of just getting started when you have an idea or goal you want to pursue.   Uncle Sam's Secret Sauce is hosted by Rafael Marrero, Founder and CEO of Rafael Marrero & Company, which helps small companies do business with the world's biggest customer: the U.S. Federal Government.

Our guest is Jorge Buergo-Hernández, Sales & Business Development Director at Thales. Having been brought to the US by his family in 1996, Jorge learned the value of hard work at a young age. When he joined the military, that early mindset propelled him to earn a position that gave him domain over an attack flight company of nine Apache helicopters. Wanting to utilize his expertise to build something more after he left the military, Jorge completed his education and successfully transitioned his military experience into a career where he is known not just for his skills, but for his strategic thinking. In this episode we discuss: How Jorge pivoted his military experience into a successful career as a subject matter expert in flight avionics The benefits of military experience for young entrepreneurs How Jorge injects Purpose, Consistency, and Opportunity into all of his work Uncle Sam's Secret Sauce is hosted by Rafael Marrero, Founder and CEO of Rafael Marrero & Company, which helps small companies do business with the world's biggest customer: the U.S. Federal Government.

Newer business owners often run into trouble navigating the complex and often confusing world of government contracting, causing many businesses to miss out on great contracts or stuck in contracts that are potentially catastrophic to their business. In this episode, we have Christoph Mlinarchik, the owner of Christoph, LLC. Christoph is an attorney, professional instructor, consultant, frequent public speaker, nationally recognized subject matter expert, and author of more than 50 publications on government contracts and subcontracts, including the three bestselling books in The Government Contracts in Plain English Series. Christoph is also an experienced expert witness who has provided expert opinions and reports, research concerning damages, key findings, and case strategy for complex contracts litigation. Needless to say, Christoph knows how to navigate working with the government, and he joins the show to share his secret sauce for success. In this episode we discuss: Why Christoph launched his firm How Christoph steers his clients toward the best deals and away from the worst deals Some of the hidden details that trap companies in bad deals The key to successfully navigating contracts  Uncle Sam's Secret Sauce is hosted by Rafael Marrero, Founder and CEO of Rafael Marrero & Company, which helps small companies do business with the world's biggest customer: the U.S. Federal Government.

David Lowe is the Founder & CEO of isiFederal, GOVBRIEF, and SamRadar.com, which provides a communications platform and process for key stakeholders between the government and industry leaders.Through effective relationship-building, doing great work, and always hunting for winning opportunies, David has grown his endeavors and has established himself as an expert in marketing for government contracting, and now he joins Rafael to share what it takes for you to do the same. In this episode we discuss: How David grew isiFederal, GOVBRIEF, and SamRadar.com Why businesses should look to give their clients an unfair advantage The strengths of relationship-building How many business owners are just one person away from success David's secret sauce for getting ahead of the competition  Uncle Sam's Secret Sauce is hosted by Rafael Marrero, Founder and CEO of Rafael Marrero & Company, which helps small companies do business with the world's biggest customer: the U.S. Federal Government.

Chris Hurn is the Founder and CEO of Fountainhead, one of out only 14 non-bank direct commercial lending firms licensed by the SBA. Fountainhead's leadership has a combined 300+ years of commercial lending experience and to date, the firm has financed over $28 billion in projects. Chris joins the show to share his secret sauce for success that he has developed throughout his career journey, how he founded and led Fountainhead to massive success, even amidst the pandemic and working through labor shortages. In this episode we discuss: The need to support the entrepreneurial community The importance of finding the right people and putting them in the right places The limits of scaling as a one-man operation How to develop an unconventional approach in your business and carve your own path Uncle Sam's Secret Sauce is hosted by Rafael Marrero, Founder and CEO of Rafael Marrero & Company, which helps small companies do business with the world's biggest customer: the U.S. Federal Government.

This week we sit down with Andres Fernandez and Sarimá Gracia, Co-Founders of A+S Ideas Studio, a creative services consulting firms that has worked with with the Federal Government, helped us launch this podcast, and has worked with companies like Toyota, Lincoln, and FIU. Andres and Sarimá lead A+S Ideas Studio as a true unit, which means that their clients are always getting the best of both of them, rather than just one at a time. In this episode, we talk about how they serve their clients, how they pivoted through the pandemic to actually support their clients, their approach to building their team, and their secret sauce for leading a top-performing creative services firm. Uncle Sam's Secret Sauce is hosted by Rafael Marrero, Founder and CEO of Rafael Marrero & Company, which helps small companies do business with the world's biggest customer: the U.S. Federal Government.

Maylen Montoto, President & CEO at Maylen Montoto & Associates, joins Rafael to share her expertise in communications, PR, and fundraising in the nonprofit sector. Maylen Montoto & Associates is a comprehensive communications agency that develops turn-key marketing solutions and designs and executes strategic and effective communications programs for clients.In this episode, Maylen shares: Her origin story and how she started her agency Why serving her clients is her number one priority and the secret sauce for her success The importance of maintaining professionalism in all client situations How being willing to learn from her clients and others in the industry has helped her find success Uncle Sam's Secret Sauce is hosted by Rafael Marrero, Founder and CEO of Rafael Marrero & Company, which helps small companies do business with the world's biggest customer: the U.S. Federal Government.

Enrique Perez, President & Founder at Hitex Marketing Group, joins the show to share his origin story, how he got started in business development, his philosophy of leadership, and how he eventually grew his own business into one of the top 100 marketing specialties and promotional products firms in the United States.In this episode, Enrique shares: His secret sauce for how Hitex adds immense value to the companies they work with Why Hitex works in vulnerability with both clients and competitors How Hitex pivoted their service offerings in response to the pandemic How Enrique successfully scaled Hitex to develop an international presence working with some of the world's most well-known brands  For more information about Hitex Marketing, visit:https://HitexMarketing.com or https://HitexAddingValue.com Uncle Sam's Secret Sauce is hosted by Rafael Marrero, Founder and CEO of Rafael Marrero & Company, which helps small companies do business with the world's biggest customer: the U.S. Federal Government.

There is beauty and grace in the data, and for Linda Rawson, that has made all the difference in her career journey with DynaGrace Enterprises. Since 2006, DGE has provided technical services, products, and integrated solutions to government and commercial customers. Linda Rawson is the Founder and CEO of DynaGrace Enterprises. She joins the podcast to share how she leads her boutique firm and team of 10 to drive over $3 million in revenue per year. Throughout the episode, she shares her experience in the mentor-protege program, how she still is able to do the work she is passionate about while running DynaGrace, and the unfortunate hurdles that women-owned small businesses still face today. Uncle Sam's Secret Sauce is hosted by Rafael Marrero, Founder and CEO of Rafael Marrero & Company, which helps small companies do business with the world's biggest customer: the U.S. Federal Government.

Luis Montoto, Founder of Wine41, a concierge wine boutique concept in Miami, FL, joins Rafael to share about his career journey as a first-generation Cuban immigrant and what led him to start Wine41 and host the first sparkling wine event in South Florida, bringing together over 1,000 people and 35 brands. In this episode, Luis talks about how he maintains positive relationships with distributors, how he expertly pairs the right products with the right audiences, and how he creates pairing opportunities that bridge the gaps between cultures. Luis shares the secret sauce for how he leads his team to coordinate and staff special events for the government, the importance of great distributor relationships, and the benefits of having a strong, healthy team behind you. To learn more about Wine41's special events services and other offerings, call (305) 898-1409 or visit https://wine41.com Uncle Sam's Secret Sauce is hosted by Rafael Marrero, Founder and CEO of Rafael Marrero & Company, which helps small companies do business with the world's biggest customer: the U.S. Federal Government.

With over $30 billion per year in projects being purchased through multiple awards schedules, many business owners are missing out on huge opportunities to grow their business, take on bigger projects, and form new strategic partnerships. Gregg Clarke, Director of Business Development at DKA, a company that specialized in writing winning proposals and helping new small business owners win multiple general services schedules, awards schedules, and more. Gregg joins the show to talk about his experience with DKA, how he helps his clients land contracts that are in line with their specialties, links his clients with potential opportunities that align with their core competencies, and everything you need to know about the recent changes to GSA schedules. If you want to work with Gregg and DKA:https://www.dkawins.com/ 5713 Corporate Way, Suite 102, West Palm Beach, 34047 (561) 640-9171 gclarke@home.com Uncle Sam's Secret Sauce is hosted by Rafael Marrero, Founder and CEO of Rafael Marrero & Company, which helps small companies do business with the world's biggest customer: the U.S. Federal Government.

There is no excuse for doing the work. Your organization can have all the certifications, bonding, and insurance in the world, but at the end of the day, if you don't perform, you won't find new opportunities, experience growth, and scale successfully. Our guest, Yajaira Morphonios, knows firsthand what it means to do the work. Yajaira is the Co-Founder and Owner of Strategic Alliance Consultants, a minority- and women-owned engineering and construction project management firm located in Kentucky. She joins the show to share her experience in the midst of scaling her firm with certifications, a mentor/mentee program, and how she is utilizing strategic partnerships in order to take on bigger projects. Uncle Sam's Secret Sauce is hosted by Rafael Marrero, Founder and CEO of Rafael Marrero & Company, which helps small companies do business with the world's biggest customer: the U.S. Federal Government.

Renata Deweert is the Founder and CEO at Innovae Group, a Florida-based firm that specializes in global freight transportation services and the development of international logistics solutions. Renata joins the show to share about how her career journey has taken her all the way from modeling in Puerto Rico early in her career, to becoming a finance professional, a sales and logistics, to eventually launching her own firm, the Innovae Group. In this episode, we talk about how she started the Innovae Group, how she capitalized on early business opportunities, the various certifications Innovae Group has secured, how she has earned credibility through vetting processes, and how to get your foot in the door as a new contractor. Uncle Sam's Secret Sauce is hosted by Rafael Marrero, Founder and CEO of Rafael Marrero & Company, which helps small companies do business with the world's biggest customer: the U.S. Federal Government.

Surety bonding is a growing necessity in order for contractors to take on bigger and better contracts, making it a key component in remaining competitive as a contracting organization. Richard Zimmerman, Surety Bond Specialist at Seubert & Associates. Richard brings his 23 years of experience in financial markets and an expert understanding of investment capital flow to the podcast to share everything your company needs to know about how surety bonding will help you grow your company and make you more competitive in the market. He also shares key insights into how your company can and should prepare to secure a surety bond. Uncle Sam's Secret Sauce is hosted by Rafael Marrero, Founder and CEO of Rafael Marrero & Company, which helps small companies do business with the world's biggest customer: the U.S. Federal Government.

In product sourcing, only 3% of apparel is made in the US, dropping from over 50% since 1993. It is harder and harder to find high-quality, affordable apparel that is sourced and made in the United States. Dean Wegner founded Authentically American from the desire to give business owners, charity leaders, and great Americans access to top-quality, American-made apparel to represent their company. In this episode, Dean shares his background as a Veteran and why he started the business, what he has learned throughout his journey, and how he leads from his values to continue innovating, iterating, and providing great products. Uncle Sam's Secret Sauce is hosted by Rafael Marrero, Founder and CEO of Rafael Marrero & Company, which helps small companies do business with the world's biggest customer: the U.S. Federal Government.

When trying to build a successful business, many new business owners find themselves potentially having to compromise some of their values, but that isn't the case for Mari Borrero, Co-Founder and Owner of American Abatement & Demo. Together with her husband, Aaron, she has built a successful business, from its inception, has been committed to empowering the underserved, creating new opportunities for the Hispanic community, and developing and training the next generation of employees all across construction the construction industry. In this episode, Mari shares her origin story, how she has led and grown AAD, and how she sustained the company through the COVID-19 pandemic through brilliant pivoting, and the secret sauce you can replicate as you build your own successful company. Uncle Sam's Secret Sauce is hosted by Rafael Marrero, Founder and CEO of Rafael Marrero & Company, which helps small companies do business with the world's biggest customer: the U.S. Federal Government.

Francisco Cortes is the CEO and Chairman of Setroc Group, a Multicultural Marketing and PR Agency that has worked with the U.S. Army, BMW, New Jersey Division of Civil Rights, the US Department of Veterans Affairs, and more. Fransisco joins Rafael to share how he built Setroc Group as a veteran, how he secured his first government contracts, and what every business leader should know about working with the federal government. In this episode we discuss: Why quality branding and identity are vital to put in place How acquiring early certifications helped Setroc secure its first government contracts Why strategic alliances and partnerships are so important for businesses of all sizes How strategic pivots helped sustain Setroc Group through the pandemic.   Uncle Sam's Secret Sauce is hosted by Rafael Marrero, Founder and CEO of Rafael Marrero & Company, which helps small companies do business with the world's biggest customer: the U.S. Federal Government.

Garrie Harris, President & Founder at Alpha1 Staffing, has exponentially grown her business from an upstart in South Florida to a provider of staffing services to nearly 80 municipalities, government entities, and even TV show productions. Garrie has received multiple highly prestigious awards, such as Business of the Year by Legacy Magazine and Small Business of the Year by the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce. She was also recently featured on the front page of the South Florida Business Journal. Today, Garrie joins us to share how supplier diversity has helped her go-to-market strategy, and how securing certifications and working at both the state and federal levels have helped her grow her business to where it is today. Uncle Sam's Secret Sauce is hosted by Rafael Marrero, Founder and CEO of Rafael Marrero & Company, which helps small companies do business with the world's biggest customer: the U.S. Federal Government.

One of the most important aspects of starting a new business is scaling. Whether it's one person or 10 people, new business owners need to have a plan for how they will create a service offering that can be done for more customers at the same level of quality. Angel Diaz, Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Allegient Defense, knows the importance of scaling, and what it takes to keep getting back up when things don't always work out successfully. In this episode, you will hear about: The importance of education on the path toward success How partnerships with other contracting organizations can help you scale your business The secret sauce for prioritizing and finding organic growth How certifications can reduce competition and win you more contracts   Uncle Sam's Secret Sauce is hosted by Rafael Marrero, Founder and CEO of Rafael Marrero & Company, which helps small companies do business with the world's biggest customer: the U.S. Federal Government.

The entrepreneur journey can be the most exciting thing someone can experience in their career, but it can also be one of the most difficult journeys to embark on, especially when you don't know where to go, who you can trust, and what to do next. When growing your business, you need tenacity, passion, and adaptability, but most importantly, you need strategy and a business model that delivers what the market needs. Kathey Porter, Author & CEO of Porter Brown Associates, has been on that rewarding journey for several years, with a career built on helping organizations of all sizes with management, business strategy, scaling, and diversity. She also has a brand new book releasing in May 2022 entitled, “Supplier Diversity for Dummies.” In this episode, you will hear about: How entrepreneurs don't have to be afraid of other organizations in their industry How strong positive relationships are key to growing a business The secret sauce for being a successful entrepreneur Why accountability can transform how you do business Uncle Sam's Secret Sauce is hosted by Rafael Marrero, Founder and CEO of Rafael Marrero & Company, which helps small companies do business with the world's biggest customer: the U.S. Federal Government. Guest Info

In the early 1960s, more than 14,000 unaccompanied children, aged from 4 to 16 years old, were brought from Cuba to Miami as a part of an agreement between the U.S. State Department and Catholic Charities of Miami to help the children of those fighting against Fidel Castro's growing power and control in Cuba. Eventually, the agreement was expanded to include all Cuban families that wanted to flee from the regime. Enrique “Ric” Prado was one of these children, arriving in the U.S. at only 10 years old. Ric joins our show to share his firsthand account of seeing active conflict just outside his childhood home, how he arrived and settled in the United States, why and how he joined the CIA, and his experience as a covert operative in Central America during US operations in the Nicaraguan anti-revolution efforts in the early 1980s. To hear more about Ric Prado's journey and life as a CIA operative, be sure to check out his book, “Black Ops: The Life of a CIA Shadow Warrior” Uncle Sam's Secret Sauce is hosted by Rafael Marrero, Founder and CEO of Rafael Marrero & Company, which helps small companies do business with the world's biggest customer: the U.S. Federal Government.

There are 28 million small businesses in the United States. Of those, only 545,000 are registered to conduct business with Uncle Sam. In this introductory episode, you'll get a taste of the Secret Sauce itself! We walk through what to expect from the show, just how profitable the federal contracting business is, and how it will benefit your small business. You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Uncle Sam's Secret Sauce on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Listening on a desktop & can't see the links? Just search for Uncle Sam's Secret Sauce in your favorite podcast player.