The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

About Client

Created in 1953, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) continues to help small business owners and entrepreneurs pursue the American dream. SBA is the only cabinet-level federal agency fully dedicated to small business and provides counseling, capital, and contracting expertise as the nation’s only go-to resource and voice for small businesses.

Client Organization Supported

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)’s Office of Government Contracting and Business Development (GCBD) 

Objective

SBA engaged LinkVisum to help drive improved results in the prescreening phase of the certificate management process for the following GCBD set-aside programs: 8(a) Business Development, Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone), Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), and Mentor-Protégé Program (MPP).

LinkVisum’s Solution

To accomplish the client’s goals, LinkVisum:

Performed prescreening activities;

Developed prescreening training documentation;

Implemented process improvements; and

Captured prescreening process metrics.

Outcome

Throughout the engagement, LinkVisum identified and implemented the following process improvements and improvement opportunities:

Created training guides for SBA set-aside programs

Reviewed and pre-screened thousands of SBA firm owner’s applications

Developed and presented case-level data by program area to SBA management

Cleared SBA program backlog of previous business firm owners’ applications

Developed GCBD executive and program dashboard containing data analytics and data visualizations, such as pie charts and graphs, to illuminate trends in SBA pre-screening data 

Reviewed and pre-screened thousands of SBA firm owner’s 

Created training guides for SBA set-aside

Developed GCBD dashboard containing data analytics and visualizations to illuminate trends in SBA pre-screening data 

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Additional Project Details

As part of its certification management process, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)’s Office of Government Contracting and Business Development (GCBD) has undertaken initiatives to comprehensively review and overhaul, as needed, how it performs the certification management function. These initiatives include the integration, streamlining, digitization, and automation of set-aside program processes. LinkVisum also used ServiceNow® to create a GCBD executive and program dashboard that helps the client observe trends, identify patterns, and pull insights from the certificate management process data for the benefit of SBA leadership. As LinkVisum supported the optimization of the certification management prescreening process, we developed institutional knowledge that our staff used to create individual training guides for each GCBD set-aside program. These training guides document all the steps, systems, and processes needed to prescreen SBA applications. Our efforts to develop the training guides resulted in process improvements and streamlined procedures. These improvements allowed the client to employ a standardized training approach for the certification management prescreening process across all GCBD set-aside programs. 

About LinkVisum

LinkVisum Consulting Group is a woman-owned company that provides a full range of management consulting services to government agencies and private industry. We are an ISO 9001 certified company with an approved DCAA accounting system. Our staff possess significant skills, advanced degrees, and relevant certifications, garnering numerous exceptional ratings on Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS).

Fatimah Moody
CEO
LinkVisum Consulting Group, Inc.

Fatimah Moody co-founded LinkVisum Consulting Group, Inc., in 2007 to apply her passion for providing exceptional client service, creating innovative solutions for modern business, and working in collaborative environments. She has more than 25 years of experience leading teams to assess key human capital business challenges and in designing and implementing effective, sustainable business strategies. Her expertise includes strategic planning, organizational and leadership development, intervention design, process improvement, and change leadership. A trusted consultant, leadership coach, and organizational development professional, Ms. Moody has successfully advised many organizations in both the public and private sector. Prior to founding LinkVisum, she was a Director at PricewaterhouseCoopers, responsible for change management and strategy for the Federal Government sector.

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Michelle Amante
Vice President of Federal Workforce Programs, Partnership for Public Service

Michelle Amante currently serves as the Vice President of Federal Workforce Programs for the Partnership for Public Service.  In this role, she works with agencies to research and find solutions to challenging human capital issues such as employee engagement, workforce planning and talent recruitment and development.

Before coming to the Partnership, Michelle served as the Director of the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance and worked in public sector consulting for Deloitte in their Labor and Workforce practice.  She has deep experience in project management, systems integration, business process transformation and employee engagement.

Michelle has Bachelor of Arts degrees in International Relations and History from Syracuse University and a Master’s of Public Administration from the George Washington University.  

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Christine Lawrence
Christine Lawrence
Director
LinkVisum Consulting Group, Inc.

Ms. Lawrence brings more than 15 years of experience assisting organizations in the design and implementation of strategic programs including training and development, workforce planning, organization design, process improvement, selection, performance management/assessment, succession planning, change management, and communications. Ms. Lawrence is a project management professional (PMP) and is highly skilled at managing complex client projects.

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LinkVisum has provided human capital support to Department of Commerce, First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) since the creation of the public-private partnership. In response to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)/Office of Personnel Management (OPM) memorandum in June 2021, FirstNet contracted LinkVisum to support with an organization-wide survey to capture employee feedback regarding return-to-work perceptions, concerns, and expectations. Employee feedback was compiled into a senior-level briefing and served to inform changes and updates to remote and telework policies and forms. LinkVisum supported the effort to modify the telework agreement for all employees, develop an annual telework form for supervisors and employees to sign, and initiated the project plan for managing the creation of a remote work arrangement policy and guidance. This new policy will be introduced according to a communications plan based on change management and change adoption strategies. To read more about LinkVisum’s work with FirstNet, Click Here

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Department of Transportation OST-B

[12:28 PM] Maryam Nozary

Department of Transportation, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs (DOT OST-B) sought assistance from LinkVisum to support the goals of retention of talent, re-engagement of staff, improving communications, and supporting employees and supervisors as they transition from primarily remote workspaces to the hybrid work arrangements approved by DOT and Office of Management and Budget (OMB)/Office of Personnel Management (OPM). LinkVisum helped to facilitate a virtual strategic planning session for division leaders to identify process improvements, operational efficiencies, technology systems considerations, and workforce planning in preparation for the return to the office and anticipated increase in hiring. To read more about LinkVisum’s work with DOT OST-B, Click Here

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Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (DOT PHMSA) contracted LinkVisum to help with updating the PHMSA Onboarding Experience in the form of three checklists. Each checklist was specific to each of the new re-entry to work arrangements. These checklists were created for both employees and supervisors to utilize and track the various tasks that need to be completed during the new hires’ first 30 days, first three months, and first year of their federal employment. To read more about LinkVisum’s work with PHMSA, Click here

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Dr. Russell Robinson
Founder of Amplified Research and Consulting LLC

Dr. Russell Robinson is the founder of Amplified Research and Consulting, LLC, which provides research, analysis and consulting solutions regarding employee engagement, voice and silence, and talent management. 

Russell has spent over twenty years as a civil servant within the US Federal Government. In his current role as the Senior Advisor of Training & Engagement of an agency’s component, Russell provides solutions to improve the workforce experience; and help leaders inspire and influence those within their span of control. Additionally, Russell is an adjunct professor at American University where he teaches graduate-level leadership.

Russell received his Doctor of Education (EdD) degree in Human Organizational Learning from the George Washington University. He received a Master’s in Public Administration from American University’s Key Program, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from the University of Dayton.

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Donna Powell
Senior Advisor of Management Directorate for the U.S. Department of the Treasury/Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP)

Donna Powell is a Government Leader recognized for delivering direct and influential leadership to develop sustainable programs and facilitate change; which includes successfully managing enterprise-wide human capital programs and improving organizational effectiveness.  She is a Senior Advisor in the Management Directorate for the U.S. Department of the Treasury/Bureau of Engraving and Printing.  She works multiple programs and projects, including organizational change management and personnel transition planning.  

Prior to joining BEP, Donna worked for the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC).  In addition to working in the DOC/Office of the Chief Information Officer, she was the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet), an independent authority within the DOC/National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).  At FirstNet, Donna led the daily operations and developed strategic solutions for human capital management, training, travel, employee safety and health, facilities management, logistics and records management.  She successfully led numerous initiatives, including facilitating a 91% organizational growth.

Donna earned of Bachelor of Science Degree from Virginia Commonwealth University, Master of Science Degree from Central Michigan University, and a Master Certificate in Project Management (IT Project Management) from the George Washington University. 

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