Desarae Veit

Gov. Capture Manager leading large scale pursuits & RnD. UI/UX advocate. Love reading, aviation & travel. Inventor of and Pedantic design system

[Desarae Veit @desaraev]

God will use everything for His good—I was told this by a wise man interviewing me for a church job. I didn’t get it, but the words stuck with me, along with moments that helped me grow over the past year.

I’m thankful for unemployment, the heartbreaking layoff, and the chance to rebuild.

Tonight, I watched a movie I recommend: Soul on Fire. It’s a true story about a boy who played with fire and suffered 3rd-degree burns over 80% of his body. He nearly died—they gave him a 1% chance to live. But the real miracle is his life afterward: a community of people uniting to save him, support his family, and help him thrive. He’s found gratitude for life and even the fire that took his fingers and kept him in the hospital for nearly 6 months.

I hope you never face such brokenness, where doctors think you have no chance. The movie’s in Netflix’s top 4—it’s about being thankful for who you are, where you are, and this very moment. You can’t go back to the past; while you can plan for the future, it’s about living in the present. I’ve been guilty of dwelling on the past and future more than once, even recently.

The story is dramatically inspiring.

As a kid, we moved long-distance often. It taught me to live gratefully in the moment, avoiding leaving important things unsaid—like “I love you” or “thank you.”

Bullied in middle school, I dreamed of time traveling to change things. As I got older, I made mistakes I deeply regret. My heart is pulled by distance from family and remorse for thoughtless oversteps.

I think I wouldn’t change my past now, as it would risk changing my present. I’ve found some peace, hope, and love while trying hard to give my burdens to God—it’s a struggle, like a marathon.

The movie gave me a lot to think about. I watched it with my kiddo—the fire scene nearly had us stopping.

I asked what she learned. She said: “Don’t play with fire and don’t do bad things because others do.”

We talked during the movie about why it was okay to watch; I promised it wouldn’t hurt her—we could fast-forward, look away, or stop if needed. The explosion wasn’t the scariest part; it was the moments leading up to the inevitable decision that changed his life forever (because she knew and was afraid). We discussed how she didn’t need to fear—we knew he survived from the start. Better to learn these lessons from a story than firsthand. It can be scary, but it’s not a horror movie. We talked about God’s grace, helping others—the love and goodness poured out by strangers, hospital staff, etc.

We reflected on our lives and the people who pour love, goodness, and selflessness into us. When things are hard, I have joy in my heart—for my life and blessings.

I’ve wanted to see more real miracles in the world (Matthew: “Seek and you will find”). Praise the God of Deborah, Ruth, and Esther, still telling stories through real lives—I’m very grateful to share this story with my daughter; truth can be better than fiction. God is always good.

Tell me your takeaway.

[Desarae Veit @desaraev]

@RobertRice @oelma__ 0% for bad service or if it’s a diner where I have to get everything myself.

[Desarae Veit @desaraev]

My friend Steve Day passed before his birthday due to illness. He was a n easy friend to hang out with and talk to. He had strong political views but was always happy to learn something new and was ok with not agreeing. He loved poker.

RIP celebration of life this week.

[Desarae Veit @desaraev]

My friend Jessica Heaberlin passed in her sleep. Her sister was one of my best friends growing up and she helped me setup my first hotmail email account. I was there when she started dating her husband and chatting online.

She was funny and sweet and always sent the best memes. RIP

[Desarae Veit @desaraev]

The clock on the Acme IDIQ recompete just hit T-minus 36 hours. Section M-2 is compliant, the cost volume balances, and the past-performance citations are locked. That’s it. Close the file.

Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good enough.

Evaluators scan for shall/will/may compliance, then flip to price. They don’t award style points for the 47th synonym of “innovative.” A sentence that survives Pink Team without a red flag is a sentence that ships.

Kill the impulse to reopen Volume II for “one last polish.” Every minute spent chasing elegance is a minute the pricing team can’t stress-test the plug numbers or the subcontract lead can’t confirm burn-rate assumptions.

Good enough today beats perfect next week, and next week the shuttle is gone.

Your fellow Capture Manager
@desaraev

Checkout more tips and tools for teams at https://t.co/QvCIvp56gX including proposal writing, CRM, CMS, task management and more

[Desarae Veit @desaraev]

My friend Steve passed yesterday. I’ve known him since high school. One of the smartest guys.

He was a good friend through college and easy to talk to. Tall as a Red Oak. I am very short but he seemed bigger than most.

He introduced me to my friend Katie and his brother John. I’m thankful for their friendship and sad to hear he passed.

RIP

[Desarae Veit @desaraev]

Tv flat screen $200 obo insignia #tv #insignia

[Desarae Veit @desaraev]

Dark brown dresser $400

[Elon Musk @elonmusk]

If she’s a 10, you’re an asset 💯😂

[Desarae Veit @desaraev]

Used pack and play $150 #kids #family #baby

[Desarae Veit @desaraev]

Halloween costume $50 obo size xs could be used for cosplay as Dorothy, maid or Alice in Wonderland #halloween #costume

[Desarae Veit @desaraev]

A RARE COSMIC EVENT: COMET 3I/ATLAS AND THE NEW MOON

I love the stars, the ether, aviation, and astronomy. Whether flying planes or staring at stars glowing in the vast unknown, I’m drawn to the sky.

On October 21, 2025, something BIG is going to happen. An interstellar comet called 3I/Atlas is going to line up perfectly with OUR Sun and Moon during a New Moon in a superior conjunction.

The odds of this happening are… incredible.

This comet is maybe 7 billion years old and comes to us from beyond our solar system. IT IS FROM OUTSIDE OF OUR SYSTEM!

This is mind boggling.

It might’ve started near the Galactic Center.

The New Moon hits at 8:25 AM ET. The comet, Sun, and Moon will align in a tight band called the ecliptic.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime deal.

The comet gets closest to the Sun on October 29.

It will swing nearest to Earth in December.

It’s like God painted a masterpiece in the heavens. What lucky stars.

WHAT MAKES 3I/ATLAS A COSMIC MARVEL…?

Only three interstellar comets have ever been spotted/documented in our solar system:

- First was 1I/‘Oumuamua in 2017.
- Then came 2I/Borisov in 2019.
- 3I/Atlas is number three. Hence the number 3 in its name!! Only THREE!

That alone makes it rare.

Its hyperbolic orbit proves it’s a visitor, zipping through and out. But the real kicker? It aligns perfectly with the Sun and Moon on a New Moon.

The ecliptic is just 2 degrees wide, like a thread in space. Hitting that mark is insane. Plus, it’s speeding toward us! The SPEED it’s traveling at is about 58 km/s or roughly 129,742 miles per hour. That’s 1.8 billion miles in a year. For comparison, light travels from stars in a light year that’s 5.88 trillion miles at 671 million mph carrying ancient starlight to our eyes.

We’re not in danger, but the timing and path are mind-blowingly improbable. It’s a cosmic wink from above.

… on that note let’s talk about COMETS THAT SHAPED HISTORY

Comets have always stopped people in their tracks. In 1066, Halley’s Comet blazed before the Battle of Hastings. Folks thought it was God’s signal.

In 1910, Halley’s return sparked wonder and worry. Ancient people tied comets to big shifts. Some say the Star of Bethlehem could’ve been a comet.

These moments make us look up and wonder. They shrink us down in the grand scheme. Comets scream, “God’s work is huge.”

This event might hit deep. Some cosmic moments, like when planets shift, bring heavy feelings or challenges. This alignment could do the same.

It’s a chance to dig into life. Think about relationships and forgiveness. Making amends or calling loved ones.

Life is ever changing. Don’t let these moments pass you by… pun intended.

This moment calls for soul-searching, I think.

WHAT TO DO if you like the idea of celebrating this opportunity…

- Have a star party (get together to gaze at this event)
- Visit an observatory or local telescope
- Many libraries offer telescopes to “rent out” like books
- Grab a journal. Scribble thoughts and emotions. Pray about relationships that need mending.
- Reflect on Matthew 5:23-24: “So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”
- Ponder Psalm 8:3-4: “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” These verses anchor the heart.

TAKEAWAYS

This cosmic show is a call to pause. Gaze at the sky and feel God’s greatness. Forgive others and chase peace.

Let this spark hope. God’s universe is massive, and we’re part of it. Carry this awe forward, like fuel for a rocket.

I know I’m not the only one unemployed on here… many people have been laid off and it’s a bit of a rough market. Look up with a friend.

[Vincent Van Code @vincent_vancode]

Don't blame AWS, it is poorly archlchitected systems that had all their eggs in the US East basket.

No redundancy, no fail over, no load balancing. 99.9% availability is what AWS publishes which is 8.5 hours of downtime each year. If you need 99.999% uptime, you need to use multiple regions not just US East.

[Desarae Veit @desaraev]

I want to share a story, though I’m not sure I can do it justice.

I’ll paraphrase, hoping you catch the sweetness and it warms your heart.

I have a young child, and my best friend has one about the same age. That kid feels like family—like a second child or sibling. As Lilo says, we’re Ohana, though we’re obviously separate families.

We have lots of playdates.

I love asking them questions and playing “educational games” together. Nothing too serious. Sometimes it’s as simple as I Spy. Other times, like today, we practiced teaching each other something we thought the other didn’t know. One taught us Spanish words, and we practiced sign language. We also focused on kuleana, the Hawaiian word for responsibility.

We played a game we made up, taking turns being the “leader.” Each child took responsibility for a small task to ensure we had a great day—like cleaning up after play, securing the dog, or helping with dishes after dinner. Little tasks for young kids, with shared responsibility.

We paused to discuss what each child thought it meant to be a leader versus a good leader. I learned wonderful lessons from them. It was so sweet. I can’t do this story justice.

What do you think it means to be a good leader?

[Desarae Veit @desaraev]

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[Desarae Veit @desaraev]

Please help me get the word out. I need to sell my home asap. I’m looking for work and need this sold.

🏡 For Sale: Renovated Condo in Des Moines, IA! 🏡

Almost 1,000 sq. ft., 1-bed, 1-bath condo with jetted tub, 5 min from downtown Des Moines. Near Drake, Roosevelt, Beaverdale, parks. Ground-floor, no stairs, central air/heat, new windows. Never lived in since 2025 reno. Pet-friendly, huge shared yard. Not for rent.

💰 HOA: $150/mo (water, trash, snow, lawn, maintenance, storage rooms)
💸 Taxes: ~$2,000/yr
⚡️ Utilities: ~$50/mo

✨ Features:
- ✓ New Windows by Window World
- ✓ Central Air (serviced 2025)
- ✓ Herringbone flooring (Nebraska Furniture Mart)
- ✓ August smart locks, keypad, doorbell
- ✓ In-unit washer/dryer + spare set
- ✓ Energy-efficient stove, microwave, dishwasher
- ✓ Butcher block counter, coffee nook
- ✓ Farm-style sink with color-changing handle
- ✓ Legrand smart switches, USB outlets
- ✓ Chandeliers, rainfall shower, bidet-ready toilet
- ✓ 3 closets (1 cedar-lined), entry drop zone
- ✓ Smart features: Nest thermostat
- ✓ Optional furniture
- ✓ Pet-friendly, large yard
- ✓ Step-free entry, wide doors
- ✓ Remodeled common areas
- ✓ Storage room across hall
- ✓ Free parking, bus stop out front
- ✓ Garage build potential
- ✓ Walk to Frederick’s Coffee, Hy-Vee, Art Market, Louie’s
- ✓ $5,000 fridge credit

🎥 See video tour!
📞 Zac at Black Phoenix Group: +1 (5️⃣1️⃣5️⃣) 4️⃣9️⃣4️⃣-7️⃣7️⃣7️⃣2️⃣
💼 Open to contract sale (like rent-to-own)

#DesMoinesRealEstate #CondoForSale #DrakeUniversity #Beaverdale #SmartHome #iowa #home #apartment

[Desarae Veit @desaraev]

Hi Job Seekers! I'm offering ONE FREE 30-minute session to supercharge your graphics project—profile photo editing, cover image design, or a post image. Only a FEW spots are available for the next 2 weeks! Drop a comment with what you need, how I can help, and send me a connection request. I’ll DM you to schedule a time. Don’t miss out! #JobSeekers #FreeSession

[Desarae Veit @desaraev]

Sharing work samples regularly to highlight my diverse skills and demonstrate why I’m an excellent candidate for various roles, in this example showcasing my experience with event management.

I need YOUR help getting the word out, I need work.

I’m passionate about pursuing my dream role as a capture manager, where I thrive in strategizing and securing high-stakes opportunities.

…However, I also bring an extensive background in event planning, marked by meticulous attention to detail and proven success. From coordinating large-scale corporate events like a 200+ executive “Palooza” to managing vendor setups at the Dallas Market Center, I’ve executed everything from logistics to custom designs for slides, posters, and workbooks.

My experience includes:

✅ Event assistant at The Gorge Amphitheater, supporting Live Nation events for 20,000+ attendees, including marketing and website design for Sasquatch Fest.
✅ Brand ambassador for US Marketing and Promotions, executing campaigns like the Pepsi Coke Challenge.
✅ Led customer days for government agencies and managed booths for GDIT at job fairs, handling setup and designing materials.
✅ Organized vendor events for up to 50 small businesses through my digital agency and managed a storefront at Dallas Market Center for 200,000+ visitors.
✅ Worked as a field marketing manager for Fusion’s release of Budweiser Harvest Reserve.
✅ Volunteer to pack and deliver food locally.
✅ Volunteered with local political events.
✅ Directed a charity fashion show twice for a nonprofit and volunteered nearly a decade at the Des Moines Wine Festival.
✅ Planned events for Team Enterprises as a Bacardi Girl for four years, managing setup, design, and social media.
✅ Freelanced for a major trucking company’s Dallas show and served as a fair judge and concert usher.
✅ Volunteered for two years at the community center, planning activities for “Love You Des Moines Days” and teaching art classes.
✅ volunteer regularly with my church.

Parents who’ve attended my daughter’s meticulously planned birthday parties, like the one at Spare Time Entertainment with unlimited bowling and laser tag, can attest to my organizational skills. I’m happy to provide references from any of my events to showcase my ability to deliver exceptional results.

While capture management or product management is my goal, my event planning expertise ensures I can excel in this role with precision and creativity.

If you need someone short term to help plan events or booths for your business, please consider me. Attached is a poster made for my daughters birthday where I turned all her friends into cartoons on 2 six foot posters to match the princess theme. Each kid received a coloring book with themselves on the cover.

It’s simple and free to help—share with someone looking for talent, say hi, or like this post.

More samples: https://t.co/XmUgQP4WxW

https://t.co/OEo0bFTW0x

[Desarae Veit @desaraev]

Navigating the FAR: A Capture Manager’s Playbook for Winning Federal Contracts

As a capture manager, the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) is your guiding light in the complex world of government contracting. It’s not just rules—it’s the backbone of how you chase and win federal deals, from IT modernization to health services contracts. At 2,000+ pages, the FAR can feel daunting, but mastering it is your ticket to success. Let’s dive into how capture managers can leverage the FAR, weave in Shipley’s proven strategies, and spark a conversation about winning in the federal space.

The FAR: Your Strategic Foundation
The FAR governs every step of federal procurement—solicitations, contract types (CPFF, T&M, FFP), and compliance. For capture managers, it’s more than a checklist; it’s a strategic tool. FAR Part 15 (Contracting by Negotiation) shapes how you craft proposals to nail agency evaluation criteria. Overlook a clause on past performance or socio-economic goals? Your bid could be dead on arrival.

Beyond compliance, the FAR informs your capture plan. Take FAR 8.405-5 for GSA schedules—knowing it helps position your solution as best-value for agencies like HHS or VA. It’s about aligning win themes with government priorities, whether it’s cybersecurity, Section 508 accessibility, or small business goals. The FAR also guides you through teaming agreements and SCARs (Supplier Corrective Action Requests), ensuring partnerships and performance stay on track.

Shipley’s Playbook: Discipline Meets Insight
Enter Shipley’s capture management methodology—a game-changer for turning FAR knowledge into wins. Shipley’s structured approach starts with opportunity assessment: analyzing the RFP, agency mission, and customer needs. It emphasizes early intelligence gathering (FAR Part 10, Market Research) to understand the client’s pain points and budget. From there, Shipley’s process guides you through building a solution, developing win themes, and crafting a compliant, compelling proposal.

Shipley’s color team reviews—pink, red, gold—keep your proposal sharp and FAR-compliant. For example, a red team review stress-tests your response against FAR 15.305 evaluation factors, ensuring you hit technical, cost, and risk requirements. Shipley also pushes you to think like the evaluator: how does your solution deliver mission impact while checking every FAR box?

Sparking the Conversation
The FAR isn’t static—it evolves with policies like cybersecurity mandates or sustainability goals. Capture managers must stay ahead, blending FAR expertise with Shipley’s disciplined process. But here’s the question: how do you balance FAR compliance with innovative solutions that wow evaluators? Have you found Shipley’s methods effective in navigating complex RFPs? What FAR clauses trip up your team most? Drop your thoughts below—let’s talk about turning FAR mastery into federal wins.

[Desarae Veit @desaraev]

STORYBOARDS
The accompanying images are a storyboard crafted for a commissioned activity book about Iowa’s capital. This visual tool sequences pages into a clear narrative. Much like wireframes for UX, the goal is to visualize the big picture and organize concepts. This method keeps concepts loose and easy to rearrange.

WHAT IS A STORYBOARD?
Storyboarding transforms ideas into a vivid sequential blueprint. Conceived in 1930s film studios, it uses sketches or notes to map a narrative or project’s trajectory. This method crystallizes concepts into actionable plans to foster precision via a shared vision.

NEXT: How to use this method to enable teams to communicate and organize ideas logically.

HOW TO USE
Storyboarding drives innovation across industries with its visual clarity.

• Filmmakers sketch scenes to perfect pacing, as seen in Pixar’s pre-production for films like Toy Story
• Marketers map campaigns for impact, like Coca-Cola ads
• UX user journeys refine apps (e.g. for seamless navigation)
• Educators sequence lessons visually
• Linguists storyboard to elicit narratives, enriching studies in indigenous language preservation

Each field leverages storyboarding to align teams and brainstorm.

BOOK DEVELOPMENT
Books rely on storyboards to develop content into a cohesive flow. No tool is required; sketches can be done on paper or using Photoshop, Canva, or Adobe InDesign for layouts. Tools like https://t.co/QvCIvp56gX or Scrivener may also refine page layouts, ensuring activities align with themes.

HO TO USE
IN CAPTURE / PROPOSAL
Capture managers can leverage storyboards for proposal teams in the strategy phase. Teams visualize proposals, mapping client needs, win themes, and solutions, much like wireframes for bids.
EXAMPLE: storyboarding a government proposal:
- differentiators (innovative approaches)
- persuasive ideas
- themes
- designs

This aligns stakeholders early, reducing revisions. The result is a compelling, client-focused narrative.

UX / PRODUCT
UX and product management thrive on storyboards (see portfolio for samples).

Storyboards map user journeys, visualizing interactions. Storyboarding can identify friction points, ensuring intuitive navigation. Panels align teams on features, much like wireframes, to refine prototypes early. This drives user-centric products.

Tools: Figma, Sketch, aCo and Adobe

FOR LAWYERS
Lawyers could employ storyboards to distill complex cases. Visual timelines sequence evidence and arguments, clarifying narratives for judges or clients. Storyboarding a timeline for a corporate lawsuit organizes key events, like contract breaches, to build a persuasive case. This strategy can enhances courtroom storytelling to build trust.

ABOUT
Desarae V. 15+ years of expertise in IT, UX, WCAG and government contracts. 10+ years experience in product management, and business development.

Can you help? I am looking for introductions to hiring managers, recruiters, or networking events in these fields.