When people talk about innovation, they often focus on the breakthrough idea or the individual who disrupted an industry. While those moments capture headlines, I believe innovation truly begins with cultivating a dynamic business community – one that brings together curious minds who might not otherwise cross paths. You want to create a sector-focused “greenhouse,” where bringing the right people together creates the conditions for ideas and opportunities to collide.
Early in my career, I learned that entrepreneurship doesn’t thrive in isolation. It takes root in environments built on engagement and connection. That belief has shaped my career, including my work with the Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC), where I served for more than twenty years as outside counsel and board member. NVTC is an engine for regional growth, delivering relevant content, programs, and communities of interest for the technology ecosystem.
Earlier initiatives, including leadership forums and the CFO Series, reinforced a principle that still defines NVTC: the greatest value comes not from programs alone, but from trusted spaces where leaders engage in candid dialogue about growth and risk. The real impact lies in conversations and connections that continue beyond the room.
That philosophy led me to co-found the Greater Washington Government Contracting Awards. A quarter century ago, we recognized the federal marketplace would become a defining economic engine for the region. By spotlighting excellence across the GovCon ecosystem, from owners to emerging leaders, we saw how recognition raised the bar. Celebrating success is strategic. It reinforces the behaviors and values that move the industry forward.
I carried this approach into my legal practice at Pillsbury when I founded the firm’s defense and government services M&A practice. To showcase this combination of a leading corporate M&A practice and nationally recognized government contracts practice, I created the Pillsbury Annual Aerospace, Defense, and Government Services M&A Conference 26 years ago.
The vision was to create an exclusive gathering where government contracting executives, investors, and advisors could have thoughtful and open discussions about growth. Today, it brings together more than 250 leaders each year. Its impact isn’t defined by size, but by the dialogue and introductions that happen organically around it. Partnerships and deals don’t start with NDAs; they begin with relationships built on respect, trust, and shared understanding.
I’ve been fortunate to receive recognition from the business community, including the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019. That honor reflects something larger than anyone person. In 2024, the Greater Washington GovCon Awards renamed its Hall of Fame Award the LaFleur-Chason Hall of Fame Award, honoring the legacy Rich LaFleur and I built together. That recognition is meaningful not because of the name, but because it reflects a commitment to strengthening a community that continues to shape government contracting.
Innovation doesn’t always mean inventing something new. Sometimes, it means building the room, inviting the right people in, and giving them permission to think bigger together. That’s where lasting impact begins.
