Behind the Win

In this Lift Up episode, Josh Johnson, head of office operations and strategy for LSI in the Washington, D.C. region, explains that visiting your Congress member is not as simple as walking into Congress. There is a variety of other staff working to ensure that information reaches your Congress member through the proper channels; this episode details which ones you are likely to speak to.

Welcome back to Behind the Win. Today's conversation is about something so many people think about, but far fewer actually do. What does it really look like to walk away from a stable career and build something on your own? And not just build it, but grow it in a way that stays true to who you are, your values, and your community. Because from the outside, success can look simple, but behind every win there's risk, pressure, and a lot of what people don't see. Joining us today is Amy Lund, owner of Dough Lady, a brand that's grown not just in popularity, but in purpose.

Today's Lift Up episode features a HIPE breakout session led by Randy Glantz, who shares how to do a capability statement right. "Your capability statement is one input into whether they say yes to engaging you on their next move or inviting you to their next industry day."

We hear a lot about workforce programs, training pipelines, and development initiatives, but the real question is what actually works? What actually changes someone's life, not just in theory, but in reality? Because behind every job placement, every certification, every success story, there's a person who made a decision to start over. Joining us today is Shannon O'Shea, director of the Clearfield Job Corps Center, where lives are being changed every single day through education, training, and opportunity.

In this episode, Josh Johnson, head of office operations and strategy for LSI in the Washington, D.C. region, shares insights from his 40-year career living and working in the nation's capital. Drawing on his 17 years of experience as a professional congressional committee staffer, Johnson breaks down the unique responsibilities, day-to-day realities, and vital role that committee staffers play in the legislative process.

Today's conversation is about something every business owner feels but not always knows how to navigate: regulation, policy, and having a voice in the system. We're talking about what it actually takes to cut through the red tape and create an environment where small businesses can grow and compete. Joining me today is Trent Staggs, regional advocate for the US Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy, representing Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota. In this role, Trent serves as a direct voice for small businesses, working to influence policy, reduce regulatory burden, and make sure business owners are heard at the federal level. He also brings experience as the former mayor of Riverton, Utah, giving him a unique perspective from both local leadership and national advocacy.

In this episode of Lift Up, we feature an insightful keynote speech delivered by LSI’s Sam Beasley at the 2026 Hill Industry Partner Exchange. Drawing from LSI’s extensive logistics work with complex organizations like CAL FIRE, Sam breaks down the hidden reasons why business partnerships fail and how to build alliances that actually last. Skip the performative "communication theater" and discover why true organizational trust is a byproduct of clear structure, how mismatched financial goals can quietly ruin a deal, and what it takes to future-proof your partnerships against sudden market disruptions.

Today's episode is a special one for us, because I'm joined by someone who helped shape not only my own leadership journey, but also the trajectory of our company and the podcast. Sean Slatter is the former president and CEO of LSI, a lifetime leader in government contracting, and currently serves as chairman of the board. Over the course of his career, he has worked at the intersection of business, policy, national security, and international trade, and that perspective is exactly why er wanted him on the show today, because the world is entering what many analysts are calling a new era of strategic competition, where energy, technology, and economic pressure are increasingly being used as tools of geopolitical power. From tensions involving Iran and global energy routes, to the semiconductor race between the United States and China, to sanctions becoming one of the most powerful tools governments use short of war, today we're talking about how global power is shifting and what it means for business, policy, and strategy.

Are you chasing the right opportunities? Do you know what you're chasing and why? In this episode of Behind the Win's Lift Up Series, learn insider tips and tricks on knowing what opportunities are worth your time and what ones you have the highest chance of winning.

We're joined by Cisco C.Minthorn, an attorney and former federal leader whose career spans public service, law, and highly complex policy environments. Cisco has worked inside systems where decisions are scrutinized, consequences are long-lasting, and the margin for error is thin. This episode is about what it really takes to lead under pressure, beyond theory, beyond headlines, and what leaders outside government often misunderstand about how public service actually works.