In Episode 4, Tim Branyan sits down with Heath Murray, a super-connector and Executive Director of DING Midwest, at Vision Studio in Kokomo. From southern Indiana coal country to law enforcement, bartending in South Carolina, and now bridging the Midwest’s defense ecosystem, Heath’s journey is packed with grit and lessons. He breaks down the complex world of Department of Defense (DoD) contracting—think beyond missiles to napkins, IT, and biotech—and shares how any entrepreneur can get started, no matter their size.

Heath spills the tea on networking your way in, why informal connections are a “weapons system,” and how DING fills the gaps for businesses eyeing government work. Recorded before his talk with the Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance, this episode dives into sam.gov, cage codes, and the 14 DoD focus areas (link below!). Whether you’re a manufacturer, software dev, or just curious, Heath’s blunt advice—plus upcoming DING events—will get you moving. Oh, and it all started over beer.

Timestamps:

0:00 - Intro: Vision Studio Vibes & Beers We Can’t Have

2:45 - Heath Murray: Cop, Surfer, DoD Dynamo

8:30 - DoD 101: It’s Not Hard, It’s Complicated

14:15 - What the Government Actually Buys

20:00 - Step 1: Sam.gov, Cage Codes, and Events

26:40 - DING Midwest: Networking as a Superpower

33:00 - Vision for Economic Growth

39:20 - How to Connect with Heath

Resources:

Connect with Heath: dingmidwest.org | LinkedIn: Heath Murray

DoD Strategic Focus Areas: Check the 14 areas here

DING Events: Bloomington Happy Hour (March 17, 2025), Purdue Roadshow (TBD Spring 2025), Fort Wayne Roadshow (TBD Spring 2025) – details at dingmidwest.org/events

SBDC Support: isbdc.org for free business help

Like, subscribe, and comment—ready to crack the DoD code? Thanks for listening!