Ms. Susman is a nationally recognized expert in government procurement and related areas in the fields of health care and information technology. As a senior business executive and savvy Washington insider, she provides clients with high-level consultation and advice on how to penetrate and succeed in federal and state markets. For over 20 years, Ms. Susman has helped senior executives throughout industry work successfully within the federal procurement environment. In 1988, Ms. Susman created a unique Washington business consulting practice that marries knowledge of specific markets (Health and IT), specific understanding of procurement rules and how to bid and win government contracts, with her deep understanding of how Washington works. She knows how to impact decisions within agencies and on Capitol Hill to help achieve our clients' business goals. During the past few years, Ms. Susman has expanded this practice to help our clients understand and capture state business. She has applied the same distinct approach to state business consulting projects that has been so successful in her federal consulting practice. Ms. Susman advises government officials on how to align policy and program operations with acquisition reform and the shift to performance-based contracting. Ms. Susman developed and taught to both government and industry comprehensive health care training courses that addressed all aspects of federal contracting. Ms. Susman is the President and CEO and majority shareholder of Jefferson Consulting Group, LLC, a small, woman-owned Washington, DC-based business consulting, lobbying and government contracting. From 1988 to 1998, she was a senior executive, shareholder and a member of the Board of Directors of The Jefferson Group, the predecessor company to Jefferson Consulting Group. Prior to joining The Jefferson Group, Ms. Susman managed the Washington operations of McDonnell Douglas' Health Information Systems Company. She was responsible for strategic planning, federal marketing, business development, congressional advocacy, proposal development and contract negotiations. Previously she served as Deputy Staff Director, Legislative Director and Deputy Chief Counsel to the U.S. Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee. Ms. Susman also serves as Chair of the Health Affairs Committee of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Professional Services Council (PSC). Ms. Susman received a B. A. from Sarah Lawrence College and a Masters Degree in Psychological Counseling from The George Washington University. She completed graduate work in Human Development at the University of Maryland.