Vikki Hawthorne

Vikki L. Hawthorne—known as “Your GovCon Muse™”—is a trusted advisor, advocate, and connector with over four decades of experience in federal procurement, supplier development, and small business advocacy. She currently serves as a Procurement Counselor with the Ohio APEX Accelerator at Ohio University.

As a business owner of Market Your Wares, Vikki brings firsthand experience and deep understanding of the challenges small businesses face in today’s evolving marketplace landscape—allowing her to provide practical, real-world guidance grounded in both policy and lived experience.

Throughout her distinguished career, Vikki served as National Director of Supplier Development with the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce (USWCC) and in multiple leadership roles within the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Land and Maritime, including procurement, supplier outreach, and small business advocacy. She is a 2016 inductee into the DLA Land and Maritime Hall of Fame, recognized for her lasting impact on supplier engagement and industrial base development.  

In addition to her GovCon expertise, Vikki is a Certified Artificial Intelligence Consultant (CAIC™) through the United States Artificial Intelligence Institute. She is at the forefront of integrating AI into government contracting, helping small businesses leverage technology to strengthen proposals, improve decision-making, and increase competitiveness while maintaining a Human-in-the-Lead approach.

At her core, Vikki is a boots-on-the-ground small business advocate—committed to expanding access, building capacity, and creating pathways for underserved and underrepresented communities to succeed in the dynamic, government ecosystem.