In this Former Fed Friday conversation, Shelley McGuire sits down with Anita Allen, the fiery redhead you may remember as HHS’s long-time small business specialist for CMS and NIH, now freshly retired and stepping into life as an independent consultant. With over 35 years of federal service under her belt, Anita opens up about her journey, from navigating the sudden closure of much of HHS’s small business outreach office to her recent retirement. She shares tips for small businesses on staying informed and competitive without the once-reliable direct line to a specialist, including leveraging forecasts and free resources to make the most of networking events and podcasts. Anita also hints at her behind-the-scenes efforts to keep transparency alive at CMS and ensure small businesses aren’t left in the dark. It’s equal parts personal storytelling, practical GovCon advice, and a glimpse into what’s next for one of the community’s most passionate advocates. To connect with Anita, visit her on LinkedIn here. If you liked listening to this episode, view our Former Fed Perspectives page here. To view all of our podcast series, visit our podcast page. Thank you to our sponsor vTech Solution. Don't know vTech yet? You should as vTech Solution is a trailblazer in the IT services domain with key offerings that include Digital Modernization, including Application Modernization; Managed Cloud infrastructure; and Cybersecurity.