Government Contractors Association

OUR WHY - could be - YOUR WHY
As the founder of GCA, I want to share why we started the GovCon.Community. To illustrate our why, let me take you to my early beginnings. It starts with my own story of being born in the jungle of Laos with no birth certificate, no doctors, and no electricity. Just a village neighbor helping my mother bring me into the world. 

Visit the GovCon Community: https://www.govcon.community
My roots and ancestry is one generation removed from running half naked in an indigenous community amongst the mountains and valleys of tropical Laos, a small landlocked nation nestled between Thailand and Vietnam. 
Now why am I sharing this with you? You see, I grew up in a village. Not a traditional town village, but an agrarian village with homes made out of bamboo stitched together for walls and dirt floors as our carpet.

We lived as a tribal community and survived as hunters and gatherers. Our refrigerator was the abundant vegetation outside, and our meat came fresh from the day's hunt. The running water is the creek down the hill and the buckets we used to haul it back for cooking. The fire pit is our oven and we gathered late at night around the same fire pit to tell stories. Some stories are  tales of the day's hunt or legends passed down through generations.

Now, you might ask, what does this have to do with government contracting and how it relates to why the GovCon.Community is formed? 
Well, as a tribe of people, no one was lacking in our village. No one went hungry. No one felt lonely. Each person had their own skills and it was used to contribute to the whole of our community. Men would go out to hunt for meat. Women would gather vegetables and roots. An older lady would watch the babies. Young kids became apprentices and went with adults to hunt or forage in the jungle.

This idea of community resonates deeply with me, and it's at the heart of why we created the GovCon.Community.

It reminds me of a concept I learned from Greg Isenberg of Late Checkout. He shared an acronym called TRIBE. Here’s what it stands for.

T.R.I.B.E. =  Togetherness - Rituals - Identity - Belonging - Engagement

Visit the GovCon Community: https://www.govcon.community

These elements were present in my childhood village, and they're what we aim to foster in the GovCon.Community. We had TOGETHERNESS as a community. We had a RITUAL of gathering around the fire pit at night and telling stories of how the hunt went. We each had an IDENTITY where each person is recognized with their own skills and passion. We had BELONGING where no one was isolated or alone. We had ENGAGEMENT where people willingly pitched in and raised the kids in communal care.

A New Model
As such, GCA is shifting our association membership model to a community membership model. Why, because the government contracting market is a “jungle” out there. It is filled with pitfalls, unscrupulous people and companies that could care less about you. 

This village is made up of people like you and me. It’s a community with folks from all corners:

• Small business owners
• New entrepreneurs
• Leaders from large companies
• Industry innovators
• Service providers
• Agency professionals
• And many other organizations

We believe that to truly thrive and grow in this industry, we need each other. We need a T.R.I.B.E.

For the Good of Community Members
Collectively, we share one mindset, work as a village for the good of its community members. We aggregate contracting knowledge, we share our experiences, we contribute from our strengths, and we connect these resources to the appropriate needs of community members. 

We bridge the gaps between businesses to government, industry partners to businesses, professionals to organizations, agencies to contractors, and other voids in the GovCon industry.

You are Welcome Here - Sit by the Fire with us
Also, we welcome people from outside of our community as GUESTS who can explore how our village supports each other. Should they share the mindset that we are stronger collectively than we are alone in pursuing growth goals in the government market, we invite them to join our village.

If you are a guest and not yet a member of our community, come sit by the fire with us. Listen to the stories of our hunts for contract awards. Learn from the successes of our community members. Check out the many resources that we have gathered. Attend our events and get to know our people. 

Everybody Needs a Village
Lastly, if by chance, you feel that you too need a village to belong to and that as a tribal member, you’ll have a greater chance of success… then please do join our village.

Here, you'll find the support, knowledge, and connections you need to thrive in the complex world of government contracting. Just as my childhood village ensured no one went without, our community strives to ensure no member faces the challenges of this industry alone.

We understand the struggles of navigating government contracts, the frustration of missed opportunities, and the isolation that can come with building a business in this sector. That's why we've created this space - a place where you can find not just information, but understanding, support, and genuine connections.

You Matter
In our community, your experiences matter. Your challenges are heard. Your successes are celebrated. We're here to lift each other up, to share wisdom, and to grow together. Because in the end, that's what a true community does - it cares for its own.

So, whether you're just starting out or you're a seasoned professional, know that there's a place for you here. A place where you can belong, contribute, and thrive. A place where together, we can turn the challenging "jungle" of government contracting into a landscape of opportunity.

Join our tribe
Become part of the GovCon.Community. Let's navigate this journey together.