Announcements and news

Tysons Corner, Virginia – July 25, 2025 – ESGI-Potomac Recruiting is delighted to announce that Megan Norris has joined the firm as Director-Career Services. In this key leadership role, Megan will oversee the development and execution of comprehensive career development strategies designed to support the continued growth and success of our team members.

Megan Norris comes to ESGI Potomac Recruiting with over 25 years of strategic communications expertise. A Certified Professional Résumé Writer, she excels at crafting compelling career narratives for a diverse cadre of accomplished professionals.

Her unique background blends two distinct careers. Megan served 12 years as a Federal Air Marshal, undertaking covert domestic and international missions and contributing in roles such as Public Affairs Officer and Taskings Division specialist. She also built a strong communications résumé prior to her federal service, holding senior roles—including Communications Manager—at the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago, Brookdale Living, and Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center. In these positions she oversaw public relations, media training, crisis communications, and executive speech writing.

Following her 2018 retirement from the Federal Air Marshal Service, Megan launched her own firm, Norris Editorial and Writing Services, delivering résumé, bio, and document writing and editing to a diverse clientele. At growth[period], she will focus on developing executive career documentation—including résumés, cover letters, executive biographies—as well as optimizing LinkedIn profiles to ensure her clients present themselves powerfully across all career platforms.

Megan has a proven ability to translate complex experience into compelling narratives. In May 2024, she received First Place in the Federal Résumé Category of the PARWCC Elite Circle Résumé Contest. She also presented at the 2024 Women in Federal Law Enforcement (WIFLE) Annual Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., on “Creating Effective Job Application Documents for Female Law Enforcement and Civilian Career Advancement,” and is a regular contributor to WIFLE’s Quarterly Newsletter.

She holds a Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications from Roosevelt University in Chicago and a Bachelor of Arts in English/Journalism with a minor in Political Analysis from Miami University (Oxford, Ohio).

“I’m excited to join ESGI Potomac Recruiting and support senior leaders in shaping their professional narratives,” said Megan Norris. “Helping clients articulate their career stories, to align with their ambitions, while standing out in competitive environments is incredibly rewarding work.”

Megan’s approach centers on thorough comprehension, strategic storytelling, and meticulous attention to detail—ensuring clients confidently present their credentials, align with industry expectations, and successfully navigate career transitions.

ESGI-Potomac Recruiting is a premier retainer based executive search firm specializing in recruiting top-tier executive and professional talent across various industries. With a commitment to excellence and a deep understanding of client needs, ESGI-Potomac Recruiting delivers tailored solutions that drive organizational success. For more information about ESGI-Potomac Recruiting and its services, please visitwww.executivesearchgroupinc.com

CONTACT

Talia Frey

info@esgipotomac.com

703.894.2121

Tyson’s Corner, Virginia – July 23, 2025 – growth[period], a provider of business development and transaction advisory services worldwide, today announced that Marnix (Mark) R. Koumans has joined the firm as a Strategic Client Advisor. Based out of growth[period]’s Virginia office, Mr. Koumans will draw from decades of transformational executive leadership experience in foreign and domestic security, trade, immigration policymaking, operations, and mission support at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) - including at DHS Headquarters, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the Department of State, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative - to advise our clients on solving complex problems.   Mr. Koumans’ extensive experience includes having served most recently as the Deputy Executive Assistant Commissioner (DEAC) for Operations Support (OS) at CBP from 2021 to 2025. Prior to that Mr. Koumans served as the Deputy Director of USCIS, as well as the Deputy Executive Assistant Commissioner (DEAC) for Enterprise Services at CBP. He also previously served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Affairs at DHS and as a Foreign Service Officer at the Department of State. Koumans joins growth[period]’s innovative Strategic Advisory Team, which offers clients experience-based, actionable, and strategic advice. growth[period] CEO, Courtney B. Spaeth, stated that “Mark adds tremendous value to growth[period] as a global organization. His experience and insights will greatly expand our expertise in the Homeland Security, customs and immigration sectors with corporate and private equity clients." As an experienced executive, Koumans helps growth[period]’s clients develop and prioritize practical approaches and solutions suited to each client’s unique culture, circumstances, and business development needs. growth[period]’s Strategic Advisory Program supports clients at every stage, whether the client is a high-growth start-up, a late-stage company preparing for a transaction, or a multinational public company. Similarly, the program is intended to support companies ranging from those with no or limited business development resources to those with well-established growth/transaction teams. For more information, visit growth[period] at www.growthprd.com.   About growth[period] For more than 18 years, growth[period]’s management consulting, business development, strategy and transaction advisory services have focused on serving the principal challenges faced by the federal contractors and commercial businesses hoping to enter the federal marketplace. The firm is nationally recognized as a leading provider to growing and established clients seeking assistance to complete sophisticated corporate and technology transactions; manage entry into the federal government contracting industry; assist with navigating the federal marketplace; represent them in partnering agreements; and/or advise them on diligence matters. With deep roots globally, growth[period] has more than 50 experts and offices in multiple markets across the United States, Canada, Latin America, Asia and Europe. For more information, please visit www.growthprd.com   CONTACT Talia Frey 703 556 0111 info@growthprd.com

  Tyson’s Corner, Virginia – June 2, 2025 – growth[period], a leading provider of business development and transaction advisory services, is pleased to announce the return of Thomas Shane as Senior Partner and Chief Operating Officer (COO). In his new role, Thomas will facilitate management of the firm, focusing on client relationships, retention, and new business development. Thomas previously served as Research Analyst (2015-2016) and Senior Director (2017-2023) at growth[period], where he focused on corporate strategy development, business development, and tactical execution in the Aerospace, Defense, Technology, Telecommunications, and Industrial market sectors. His work involved pre- and post-acquisition diligence and integration projects, supporting strategic acquirers, private equity firms, and other investors. Over his tenure, Thomas built deep expertise, helping guide growth[period]'s clients toward meaningful results and sustainable growth. “We are thrilled to welcome Thomas back to growth[period],” said Courtney B. Spaeth, CEO of growth[period]. “His extensive experience, in-depth industry knowledge, and ability to execute on strategic initiatives make him the ideal fit for this key leadership role. Thomas’s passion for both long-term strategy and hands-on execution will be instrumental as we continue to scale our services and deliver exceptional value to our clients.” In his new role as Senior Partner and COO, Thomas will balance high-level strategic oversight with day-to-day operational leadership, ensuring growth[period]’s continued success in serving its clients across various sectors, including aerospace, defense, and technology. He will focus on driving growth through tailored business development strategies, operational excellence, and fostering new opportunities for the firm. Before his time at growth[period], Thomas held key positions with Management Solutions, Deloitte, and Metrea, a private equity-backed aerospace company. His broad background in corporate strategy, operational management, and acquisition integration will help strengthen growth[period]’s capabilities and enhance the firm’s ability to support clients across the aerospace, defense, and technology sectors. Thomas holds an MBA from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Birmingham-Southern College. About growth[period] For more than 18 years, growth[period] has been a recognized leader in management consulting, business development, and transaction advisory services. The firm specializes in assisting clients with complex corporate transactions, market entry strategies, federal government contracting, and business growth. With offices in multiple regions globally, growth[period] continues to provide actionable, experience-driven advice to clients across industries, enabling them to navigate change and achieve success. For more information about growth[period], please visit www.growthprd.com. CONTACT: Ashley Scrivner Phone: 703-556-0111 Email: info@growthprd.com  

Hebden will advise clients on mergers and acquisitions and corporate growth Tyson’s Corner, Virginia – May 22, 2025 – growth[period], a provider of business development and transaction advisory services worldwide, today announced Roger Hebden has joined the firm as a Principal, Transaction Advisory Services. Based out of growth[period]’s Virginia office, he will work with clients on growth and development through strategic transactions. Hebden brings to growth[period] over 30 years of leadership in multimillion-dollar healthcare organizations as a Senior Executive, Board Member, and Strategic Advisor. Hebden has driven revenue growth and delivered results for firms working in the Federal contracting space as well as for Fortune 500 companies such as Microsoft, Dell, and IBM. His track record reveals a history of developing and launching healthcare technology from concept to market. Most recently, Hebden was the CEO of Livanta, a healthcare quality oversight firm supporting the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) ensuring quality care for Medicare beneficiaries.  Over his 5-year tenure, Hebden oversaw a doubling of revenue to $80M, prepared Livanta for sale, worked with the investment banking community, and successfully led negotiations with an acquiring PE firm to close the deal. Earlier in Hebden’s career, he co-founded and scaled Blueprint Technologies, a software architecture firm, to $12M in revenue.  He helped the company successfully navigate the turbulent times during the dot-com era, transitioned the business from commercial to Federal, and helped execute a private sale of the company to a large Federal contractor. Hebden has his MBA in Information Technology from the University of Maryland and a BSEG in Computer Engineering from Bucknell University. Hebden joins growth[period]’s innovative Executive Advisory Team, which offers clients experience-based, actionable, and business-focused advice. As an experienced executive, Hebden helps growth[period]’s clients develop and prioritize practical approaches and solutions suited to each client’s unique culture, circumstances, and business development needs. growth[period]’s Executive Advisory Program supports clients at every stage, whether the client is a high-growth start-up, a late-stage company preparing for a transaction, or a multinational public company. Similarly, the program is intended to support companies ranging from those with no or limited business development resources to those with well-established growth/transaction teams. For more information, visit growth[period] at www.growthperiod.com.   About growth[period] For more than 18 years, growth[period]’s management consulting, business development, strategy and transaction advisory services have focused on serving the principal challenges faced by the federal contractors and commercial businesses hoping to enter the federal marketplace. The firm is nationally recognized as a leading provider to growing and established clients seeking assistance to complete sophisticated corporate and technology transactions; manage entry into the federal government contracting industry; assist with navigating the federal marketplace; represent them in partnering agreements; and/or advise them on diligence matters. With deep roots globally, growth[period] has more than 50 experts and offices in multiple markets across the United States, Canada, Latin America, Asia and Europe. For more information, please visit www.growthperiod.com       CONTACT JackRyan Moore 703 556 0111 info@growthprd.com  

Tyson’s Corner, Virginia – May 21, 2025 – growth[period] is proud to announce that it has been selected as a finalist for the 2025 Moxie Awards in the Business & Professional Services category. This recognition highlights growth[period] as one of the boldest and most impactful companies in the Washington, D.C. metro area. The Moxie Awards celebrate organizations that exemplify boldness, resilience, and leadership across various sectors, recognizing their exceptional contributions to the region’s business landscape. As one of the finalists in the highly competitive Business & Professional Services category, growth[period] stands out for its commitment to driving innovation and providing top-tier management consulting, business development, and strategic advisory services. "We are truly honored to be recognized as a finalist for the 2025 Moxie Awards," said Courtney B. Spaeth, CEO of growth[period]. "This recognition is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our entire team, as well as our clients who trust us to guide their growth and success. We look forward to continuing to make a positive impact in the business community." The Moxie Awards, presented annually, showcase businesses that demonstrate bold leadership and innovative thinking. This year’s finalists represent a wide array of industries, from government contracting to technology, healthcare, and beyond. The full list of finalists can be found here.   About growth[period] For more than 18 years, growth[period] has been a leader in management consulting, business development, and transaction advisory services, specializing in the federal marketplace. The firm assists growing and established companies with strategic guidance, technology transactions, market entry strategies, and partnering agreements. With offices in multiple regions worldwide, growth[period] continues to support clients across industries, offering actionable and experience-driven advice. For more information about growth[period], please visit www.growthperiod.com.   CONTACT: JackRyan Moore Phone: 703-556-0111 Email: info@growthprd.com    

Tyson’s Corner, Virginia – May 20, 2025 – growth[period], a provider of business development and transaction advisory services worldwide, today announced that Lisa Weiss has joined the firm as a Strategic Client Advisor. Based out of growth[period]’s Virginia office, she will work with clients on strategic approaches for growth and development. Lisa Weiss brings to growth[period] over 28 years of leadership experience in regulatory operations, quality management, and operational excellence within FDA-regulated environments. Ms. Weiss has held senior roles within the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in which she successfully implemented governance reforms that achieved 100% compliance improvement, reduced operational costs by 20%, and increased stakeholder collaboration by 465%. Her expertise in Quality Management Systems (QMS) process ownership and cross-agency collaboration has been instrumental in optimizing performance and ensuring regulatory compliance. A passionate advocate for developing high-performing teams, Ms. Weiss specializes in empowering talent through leadership coaching, workforce development, and enterprise-wide training programs. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Drexel University. Weiss joins growth[period]’s innovative Strategic Advisory Team, which offers clients experience-based, actionable, and business-focused advice. As an experienced executive, Weiss helps growth[period]’s clients develop and prioritize practical approaches and solutions suited to each client’s unique culture, circumstances, and business development needs. growth[period]’s Strategic Advisory Program supports clients at every stage, whether the client is a high-growth start-up, a late-stage company preparing for a transaction, or a multinational public company. Similarly, the program is intended to support companies ranging from those with no or limited business development resources to those with well-established growth/transaction teams. For more information, visit growth[period] at www.growthprd.com.   About growth[period] For more than 15 years, growth[period]’s management consulting, business development, strategy and transaction advisory services have focused on serving the principal challenges faced by the federal contractors and commercial businesses hoping to enter the federal marketplace. The firm is nationally recognized as a leading provider to growing and established clients seeking assistance to complete sophisticated corporate and technology transactions; manage entry into the federal government contracting industry; assist with navigating the federal marketplace; represent them in partnering agreements; and/or advise them on diligence matters. With deep roots globally, growth[period] has more than 50 experts and offices in multiple markets across the United States, Canada, Latin America, Asia and Europe. For more information, please visit www.growthprd.com     CONTACT JackRyan Moore 703 556 0111 info@growthprd.com

Tyson’s Corner, Virginia – May 20, 2025 – growth[period], a provider of business development and transaction advisory services worldwide, today announced that Andie Huberty has joined the firm as a Strategic Client Advisor. Based out of growth[period]’s Virginia office, she will work with clients on strategic approaches for growth and development. Andie brings to growth[period] over two decades of executive leadership in agricultural policy, regulatory compliance, and organizational transformation within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). She is recognized for her ability to drive strategic initiatives that enhance food system resilience, modernize regulatory frameworks, and foster cross-agency collaboration. Most recently, Andie has served as the Assistant Deputy Administrator at USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), leading business process improvements in U.S. domestic plant health response, developing strategic and operational plans, facilitating financial management processes, and supporting culture change and employee engagement. Her tenure throughout the USDA APHIS highlights her capacity to coordinate complex programs and expertise in regulatory analysis and environmental compliance. Additionally, Ms. Huberty’s scientific foundation is rooted in her academic achievements, holding a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from the University of Rochester, and both a Master of Science and Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of Maryland. Huberty joins growth[period]’s innovative Strategic Advisory Team, which offers clients experience-based, actionable, and business-focused advice. As an experienced executive, Huberty helps growth[period]’s clients develop and prioritize practical approaches and solutions suited to each client’s unique culture, circumstances, and business development needs. growth[period]’s Strategic Advisory Program supports clients at every stage, whether the client is a high-growth start-up, a late-stage company preparing for a transaction, or a multinational public company. Similarly, the program is intended to support companies ranging from those with no or limited business development resources to those with well-established growth/transaction teams. For more information, visit growth[period] at www.growthprd.com.   About growth[period] For more than 15 years, growth[period]’s management consulting, business development, strategy and transaction advisory services have focused on serving the principal challenges faced by the federal contractors and commercial businesses hoping to enter the federal marketplace. The firm is nationally recognized as a leading provider to growing and established clients seeking assistance to complete sophisticated corporate and technology transactions; manage entry into the federal government contracting industry; assist with navigating the federal marketplace; represent them in partnering agreements; and/or advise them on diligence matters. With deep roots globally, growth[period] has more than 50 experts and offices in multiple markets across the United States, Canada, Latin America, Asia and Europe. For more information, please visit www.growthprd.com   CONTACT JackRyan Moore 703 556 0111 info@growthprd.com

Murray Expands Her Role to Lead Professional Services for Public Sector Markets at growth[period]. Tyson’s Corner, Virginia – April 23, 2025 – growth[period], a provider of business development and transaction advisory services worldwide, today announced that Deirdre Murray has increased her role within the firm to become Principal, Professional Services. Based out of growth[period]’s Virginia office, Murray will now take the lead for Professional Services, advising clients on strategic growth and business development across the public sector. “Deirdre has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership and expertise in telecom, government contracting, and business development,” said Courtney B. Spaeth, CEO of growth[period]. “Her expanded role as Principal, Professional Services, will allow her to leverage her extensive experience to drive even greater value for our clients. We are thrilled to see her take on this new challenge and know she will continue to be a vital asset to our team.” Deirdre Murray brings 35 years of experience in the public and private sectors, having held key positions in management, operations, marketing, and business development at GTE (now Verizon), Sprint (now T-Mobile), and CenturyLink (earlier US WEST and Qwest Communications, now Lumen Technologies). She remains active in the Federal IT community, serving in leadership roles with several professional associations. Murray is a two-time Federal Computer Week “FED 100” and Women in Technology’s “Lifetime Achievement” honoree. growth[period] supports clients at every stage, whether the client is a high-growth start-up, a late-stage company preparing for a transaction, or a multinational public company. For more information, visit www.growthprd.com. About growth[period] For more than 15 years, growth[period]’s management consulting, business development, strategy and transaction advisory services have focused on serving the principal challenges faced by the federal contractors and commercial businesses hoping to enter the federal marketplace. The firm is nationally recognized as a leading provider to growing and established clients seeking assistance to complete sophisticated corporate and technology transactions; manage entry into the federal government contracting industry; assist with navigating the federal marketplace; represent them in partnering agreements; and/or advise them on diligence matters. With deep roots globally, growth[period] has more than 50 experts and offices in multiple markets across the United States, Canada, Latin America, Asia and Europe. For more information, please visit www.growthprd.com

May 2025 - growth[period] is proud to announce that we have been selected as a 2025 Best Place to Work by the Washington Business Journal. growth[period] ranked 3rd out of 20 companies awarded in the small business category. This is the ninth time that growth[period]has placed on the Best Places to Work List.

Every year the Washington Business Journal honors 85 companies as the ‘Best Places to Work’ in the D.C. area. Winners received this distinction by scoring the highest among hundreds of employers that participated in an annual employee engagement survey. Honorees are featured in the May 16 issue of the Washington Business Journal. Find the complete list of companies here.

Thanks to senior analyst John Albrecht for accepting the award on the company's behalf.

About growth[period]

For more than 18 years, growth[period]’s management consulting, business development, strategy and transaction advisory services have focused on serving the principal challenges faced by the federal contractors and commercial businesses hoping to enter the federal marketplace. The firm is nationally recognized as a leading provider to growing and established clients seeking assistance to complete sophisticated corporate and technology transactions; manage entry into the federal government contracting industry; assist with navigating the federal marketplace; represent them in partnering agreements; and/or advise them on diligence matters. With deep roots globally, growth[period] has more than 50 experts and offices in multiple markets across the United States, Canada, Latin America, Asia and Europe. For more information, please visit www.growthprd.com

Tyson’s Corner, Virginia – May 5, 2025 – growth[period], a provider of business development and transaction advisory services worldwide, today announced that Cynthia Plath has joined the firm as a Strategic Client Advisor. Based out of growth[period]’s Virginia office, she will work with clients on strategic approaches for growth and development. Ms. Plath brings over 20 years of experience in political and military affairs, having advised senior U.S. officials on complex geopolitical, economic, and foreign policy issues. Most recently, she served as Counselor for Political and Political-Military Affairs in Baghdad, leading negotiations on Syria, Turkey, and Iran. Her previous roles include Deputy Permanent Representative to the U.S. Delegation to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva and Senior Political Advisor to the Commander of U.S. Air Forces Europe and Africa. Ms. Plath holds an M.A. in International Relations from San Francisco State University and a B.A. in Religious Studies and Anthropology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Plath joins growth[period]’s innovative Strategic Advisory Team, which offers clients experience-based, actionable, and business-focused advice. As an experienced executive, Plath helps growth[period]’s clients develop and prioritize practical approaches and solutions suited to each client’s unique culture, circumstances, and business development needs. growth[period]’s Strategic Advisory Program supports clients at every stage, whether the client is a high-growth start-up, a late-stage company preparing for a transaction, or a multinational public company. Similarly, the program is intended to support companies ranging from those with no or limited business development resources to those with well-established growth/transaction teams. For more information, visit growth[period] at www.growthprd.com.   About growth[period] For more than 15 years, growth[period]’s management consulting, business development, strategy and transaction advisory services have focused on serving the principal challenges faced by the federal contractors and commercial businesses hoping to enter the federal marketplace. The firm is nationally recognized as a leading provider to growing and established clients seeking assistance to complete sophisticated corporate and technology transactions; manage entry into the federal government contracting industry; assist with navigating the federal marketplace; represent them in partnering agreements; and/or advise them on diligence matters. With deep roots globally, growth[period] has more than 50 experts and offices in multiple markets across the United States, Canada, Latin America, Asia and Europe. For more information, please visit www.growthprd.com