Marc Schulman, CEO and Founder of Advocate Consulting Group, LLC (“ACG”), leads a team of professionals providing medical devices and diagnostic testing resources for the medical community, federal government, private industry, and school systems. ACG distributes a wide array of point-of-care and over-the-counter medical test kits and a catalog of certified personal protective equipment (“PPE”).
Marc previously served in the U.S. Navy, and ACG is SBA Certified as a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (“SDVOSB”). After his naval service, Marc worked in the corporate world as a turnaround specialist for Fortune 50 companies and has mentored hundreds of executives in the U.S., China, and Vietnam. Marc and his wife, Jeannie, have seven grown children and four grandchildren.
ACG began working with FedBiz Access in 2021 and has been awarded his SDVOSB Certification. In addition, he has worked with FedBiz Access to maintain his SAM & DSBS registrations and to help market his business to the government marketplace with a Capability Statement and Federal Connections Package (“FCP”). He is currently working with FedBiz Access to complete his GSA Schedule.
“I'd rate FedBiz Access a ten out of ten! I recommend them to anyone who is either in the government services space or looking to get into the space,” said Marc.
ACG is currently working within the Veterans Administration (“VA”). Marc’s goal is for the business to continue to grow by working as a subcontractor with larger prime contractors, as well as acting as a prime contractor and expanding ACG’s network with the federal government.
“This would not have been possible without the great help of the wonderful people at FedBiz Access,” said Marc.
FedBiz Access is leading government contracting business development and marketing firm that offers research and engagement strategy coaching, registrations, certifications, and GSA Schedules, as well as marketing packages to targeted buyers at the federal, state, and local levels. The company has over 21 years of experience working with thousands of companies worldwide to help them win over $35.7 billion in awards. From registration to award, FedBiz helps businesses succeed in the government marketplace.
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FedBiz’5 – Episode 31
Jesse Sherr 00:02
My name is Jesse, and I work with small businesses in the government marketplace.
Jesse Sherr 00:06
You're listening to FedBiz'5, where you get informed, get connected, and get results on everything government contracting.
Jesse Sherr 00:15
Hello and welcome to another episode. We have Marc Schulman on today who is the CEO for Advocate Consulting Group, and he's here to tell us a little bit about his experience working with FedBiz Access.
Jesse Sherr 00:27
Welcome Mark, and thanks for coming on.
Marc Schulman 00:29
Thank you.
Jesse Sherr 00:30
So, can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your company? You know, like what's your story?
Marc Schulman 00:35
Well, I was in the Navy 40 years ago. I loved what I did, but I got injured a couple years in. So, I've been a disabled veteran for about 38 years now or a little bit more.
Jesse Sherr 00:45
I'm sorry to hear that.
Marc Schulman 00:46
Thanks. I was pretty discouraged at the time but wouldn't change anything over the years. I've had really good experiences. I wound up building a few companies. Sold some and got into the corporate world probably 35 years ago or so, and really had some good experiences.
Marc Schulman 01:01
My last gig, IBM hired a handful of us to turn around their worst operations around the world. So, I mentored a lot of execs in different parts of the U.S. and overseas, and just had an amazing time.
Marc Schulman 01:11
I quit 20 years ago to go on my own. And through that process, one of the guys I've mentored up, started building companies with him and built a national pharmaceutical company, built some companies in the lab space, and ended up building a couple for myself and some partners. And that's how ACG came about a little over three years ago.
Jesse Sherr 01:30
Sounds like you've had a lot of prestigious experience. So, when did you decide to take part in the government marketplace?
Marc Schulman 01:37
Well, I had played a part in it I guess 25 or 26 years ago, and it was a good experience. And then got away from it because I had an apartment in the Washington DC area that I would live there pretty much for a year and a half, Monday through Friday.
Marc Schulman 01:51
And then I had a place in Minnesota, Minneapolis area, and had a really good experience. And I just never really thought about doing this, you know serving the government with a company until probably two or three years ago.
Marc Schulman 02:03
One of my representatives, he said you're a disabled veteran, and you should get certified. And I didn't listen at first, but after a while I thought about it. And so, he had gotten ahold of FedBiz Access probably three years ago and started the process for some of the work that needed to be done. And he just he was doing it whether I listened to him or not. And so that's how it started. And been a great experience with you guys since then.
Jesse Sherr 02:32
So, is that about the time you started working with FedBiz Access?
Marc Schulman 02:35
For me as intimately as I've been probably the last year, but he just started having some services done for the company. Because he believed in it. Then he got my attention, and it's been nothing, but you know phenomenal.
Marc Schulman 02:51
There's some folks especially, you know, Claire, Sheryl, Amanda, and Jeff. And I'll tell you, I've spent the most time with Claire, and she would just predict things to me as I was going through the process of getting certified as a service-disabled veteran owned small business. And she was just spot on every time. She would say, okay, you need to do this, because this is the kind of question I'll be anticipating. And it was almost like she had a crystal ball. So, you know, she was perfect, and just a wonderful person to work with. I've not gotten to meet her in person yet, but I sure hope to because she's almost become family.
Jesse Sherr 03:24
Wow. That's very kind words right there. So, what else did FedBiz provide?
Marc Schulman 03:28
They helped with the GSA schedule, and I'm still in the process working with Jeff on that right now. But, so GSA schedule, and I think two or three other things. And, I'm just telling you my experience working with them, I just look forward to every time I get to speak to any of them.
Marc Schulman 03:49
But yes, so the most recent thing that they helped us do was to be certified as a service-disabled veteran owned small business, and then the last thing we'll finish up is getting some of our items on the GSA Schedule
Jesse Sherr 04:01
Outstanding. So, on a scale from one to ten. How would you rate your overall experience with FedBiz?
Marc Schulman 04:08
Oh, ten on everything!
Marc Schulman 04:10
Sometimes, if I had a question to Claire, I would send an email to her maybe four or five in the morning my time, which was probably five or six in the morning her time. She would get back to me within 10 minutes or 15 minutes. Very good response times or, you know, above and beyond.
Marc Schulman 04:27
So, definitely a ten. I'd recommend FedBiz Access to anyone who is either in the government services space or looking to get into the space.
Jesse Sherr 04:38
That's always nice to hear. We do appreciate it. But before we go, do you have any advice you could give our listeners that are interested in getting into the government marketplace?
Marc Schulman 04:48
Well, it's definitely not easy. Just a lot you need to learn, and if you do have the ability to be certified as some kind of a small, disadvantaged business make sure you do that.
Marc Schulman 05:00
That doesn't mean that, you know, money is going to fall out of the sky or contracts are going to fall out the sky, but you have a leg up. And it's just, you know, it's a good opportunity. And I would definitely contact FedBiz Access to have them help you get started.
Marc Schulman 05:14
Because like I said, it's a lot of work. Anybody who thinks that they're just jump in that market and you know coast, it's not for anybody who likes coasting. But, you folks have been phenomenal.
Jesse Sherr 05:24
Well, once again, thank you so much. And you're absolutely right. It's not something that you could really start right out of the gate.
Marc Schulman 05:31
No.
Jesse Sherr 05:31
I want to say thank you so much for coming on, and definitely a pleasure having you. And I also want to say good luck on your continued success.
Marc Schulman 05:40
Thank you very much. I'm excited to keep on going. And again you folks have helped me every step of the way, and we'll keep on going together.
Jesse Sherr 05:48
Thank you so much for coming on. Take care.
Marc Schulman 05:50
Thank you. You too. Bye.
Jesse Sherr 05:52
This concludes this week's episode of FedBiz'5, where you get informed, get connected and get results.
Jesse Sherr 06:01
Today's podcast is sponsored by FedBiz Access. Government contracts made simple.
Jesse Sherr 06:06
Visit them at FedBizAccess.com or contact them at 888-299-4498.