The GovNavigators Show

In this episode of The Lending Brief  (sponsored by Allocore), Bill Webner, CEO of Allocore, joins the podcast to break down why federal lending remains one of government’s most mission-critical—but technologically neglected—functions, and what it will take to modernize it at scale.
Drawing on his career spanning Freddie Mac, Booz Allen, Capgemini, and now Allocore, Webner explains how legacy, fragmented loan systems slow disbursements, increase fraud risk, and drive unnecessary operating costs across more than 175 federal credit programs. He contrasts the federal approach with modern commercial banking platforms, where speed and accountability are the norm, not the exception.
The conversation explores lessons from SBA’s pandemic-era lending programs, why emergency conditions often catalyze modernization, and how a sanctioned, shared lending platform could dramatically improve speed to disbursement, borrower experience, and fraud prevention across government. Webner also discusses why federal lending modernization is uniquely solvable, how it mirrors past shared-services efforts like payroll and travel, and why getting this right has an outsized impact on the broader economy.
Want more from The Lending Brief? Check out The Lending Brief Newsletter.

This week on The GovNavigators Show, Robert and Adam are joined by Venice Goodwine, former CIO of the Department of the Air Force and current CIO and Product Owner at Arlo Solutions, for a candid conversation about leadership, culture, and change across government. 
Venice reflects on a remarkable career spanning more than three decades of active-duty and reserve service, senior executive roles at the Department of Agriculture and the Air Force, and hands-on leadership across nearly every military service. She shares how navigating wildly different organizational cultures shaped her leadership style, why mission understanding matters more than titles, and what it really takes to modernize enterprise IT at scale.
The discussion also dives into major accomplishments, including IT-as-a-service transformations, cybersecurity improvements, early GenAI experimentation inside DoD, and lessons learned from retiring (twice!) and choosing to keep contributing. Venice closes with advice for today’s public servants navigating uncertainty, efficiency mandates, and cultural resistance, emphasizing curiosity, coalition-building, and keeping the end mission in mind.
Show Notes:
H.R.7148: Consolidated Appropriations Act
Reform For Results
What's on the GovNavigators' Radar:
Feb 3: ITI's The Intersect 2026
Feb 5: Shared Services Leadership Coalition Government Efficiency Roundtable

This week on The GovNavigators Show, Robert and Adam are joined by Doug Criscitello, newly named Executive Director of the Center for U.S. Lending, to unpack what’s next for federal credit programs, and why modernization can’t wait.
Doug outlines the Center’s mission to improve how Americans access the federal government’s $5 trillion loan portfolio, from student loans and housing to small business and infrastructure finance. Additionally, we learn how the Center plans to convene agencies, Congress, lenders, and contractors, and why improving program design and performance measurement is just as important as upgrading technology.
It’s a wide-ranging discussion on what it will take to make federal lending more effective, more secure, and more user-centered, without making it “exciting for the wrong reasons.”
Show Notes:
Appropriations Progress
Technology Modernization Fund (TMF)
GAO's Federal Debt Audit
What's on the GovNavigator's Radar:
Jan 27: CMS Industry Day
Jan 26-28: National Small Business Conference

In this episode of The Lending Brief (sponsored by Allocore), the GovNavigators talk with Anthony Curcio, Senior Partner at Summit Consulting and longtime federal credit expert, about the fundamentals of government lending.
Curcio explains why federal loan programs exist in the first place, how they differ from private-sector financing, and the two distinct sides of federal credit: large consumer programs like student loans and mortgages, and project-based lending for infrastructure, manufacturing, and industrial policy.
The discussion covers the practical challenges agencies face and the central tension of federal lending: advancing public policy while still operating like a disciplined, repayable loan program.
For anyone looking to understand the strategy, mechanics, and future of federal credit, this conversation is a clear and candid guide.
Want more from The Lending Brief? Check out The Lending Brief Newsletter

This week on The GovNavigators Show, Robert and Adam sit down with Jon Stehle, Director of Intergovernmental Partnerships at the Association of Government Accountants (AGA), for a discussion on the intersection of federal, state, and local government.
A former four-term Fairfax City Council member, Jon reflects on lessons learned from local office; why strategic planning matters, how regional collaboration actually works, and why many of the services people rely on are funded far beyond their own city hall. He explains how AGA helps connect practitioners across jurisdictions, from sharing best practices through citizen-centric reporting to building the next generation of government financial managers. Jon also digs into timely issues like improper payments and fraud, the importance of clear definitions and accountability, and what state and local leaders are feeling as policies and funding priorities shift in Washington.
Can't get enough of Jon and AGA? Keep an eye out for their upcoming events, including AGA's National Leadership Training and the return of its Professional Development Training conference to Washington, DC.
Show Notes:
House Oversight Federal Fraud Hearing
AGA's CGFM Certification
AGA Professional Development Training 2026
What's on the GovNavigators Radar:
Jan 21: Scoop News Group's SNG Live: Government Efficiency 
Jan 27: ACT-IAC’s Acquisition and Innovation Forum
Feb 5: Adobe’s Government Forum
Feb 18-19: AGA’s NLT
Feb 24: State of the Union Address