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Holiday Networking Social

to benefit the AFCEA Educational Foundation

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

from 3 to 5 pm

Join us for this festive afternoon organized by

the AFCEA International Small Business Committee

As in the past, this event offers a great opportunity to network with our 2009 Small Business Committee speakers, as well as government & industry representatives from both large & small firms.

In addition this year, a portion of each registration fee will be earmarked to benefit a new initiative offered through the AFCEA Educational Foundation - the AFCEA Young Entrepreneur Scholarship.

Make plans now to join us for networking and to support a great cause!

Please Note - New Location this year:

Fairfax Marriott at Fair Oaks

11787 Lee Jackson Memorial Highway

Fairfax, Virginia 22033

(in the atrium)

Registration (through 12/3):

$25 (member)/$30 (non -member)

$15 (active government)

Late Registration (beginning 12/4):

$35 (member)/$40 (non-member)

$25 (active government)

Register online today!

Interested in Sponsoring?

Sponsorship opportunities are available for both this event and the AFCEA Young Entrepreneur Scholarship. Please contact Tammy Goehring via email or at 703-631-6119 for full details.

Questions?

For Attendee/Registration Information:

Contact Dawn Falsinotti or 703-631-6190

Please note: Deadline for refunds is December 3, 2009.

Substitutions are always welcome.

Cancellation requests must be received in writing.

November 2009 Small Business Committee Meeting:

Small Business Toolkit Series:

Subcontracting: How to Ensure a Teamed Approach

Guest Speaker: Diane Marsden, Booz Allen Hamilton

Small Business Program Manager

Tuesday, November 10, 2009 from 2:00 pm EST

AFCEA International Headquarters, Fairfax, VA

Presented by the AFCEA Small Business Committee

Join us for this informative presentation featuring Diane Marsden, Manager of Small Business Programs for Booz Allen Hamilton. Diane will address the topic of subcontracting and provide practical information on developing a teamed approach with a prime partner. She will also provide an overview of Booz Allen Hamilton including information on their mission, core focus areas and key markets served.

Diane Marsden is a Senior Associate with Booz Allen Hamilton and currently leads the firm's Small Business Office, which develops the small business policies and implements the overall Small Business Program. Under Diane's leadership, the Small Business Office is integral in the development of small business strategies for individual procurements and at the account level.

She serves as the firm's Small Business Liaison Officer, approving all small business subcontracting plans and overseeing the compliance reporting of each subcontracting plan upon contract award. She builds awareness of small business opportunities by conducting outreach activities, advertising, and building strong external industry relationships with the small business community.  Diane also has oversight of Booz Allen's award-winning participation in mentor-protégé programs. Booz Allen Hamilton is an industry leader in implementing a robust Small Business Program which is inclusive of Veteran-Owned (VOSB) and Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB).  Booz Allen has been recognized for its successes in partnering with VOSBs and SDVOSBs to include recent awards such as the U.S. Department of Defense Prime Contractor Subcontracting Award for excellence in subcontracting to SDVOSBs, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Corporate Champion Award, and the publication Vetrepreneur, 10 Best Corporations for Veteran-Owned Businesses for five years in a row.

For more information on their small business programs and doing business with Booz Allen Hamilton, visit their website: http://www.boozallen.com/doingbusiness

Space is limited. Reservations are required.

Please contact Dawn Falsinotti via email or at 703-631-6190

to reserve your spot.

October 2009 Small Business Committee Meeting:

Small Business Toolkit Series:

IT Schedule 70 Solicitation Training

Guest Speaker: Thomas Corcoran, Business Management Specialist

GSA, Center for IT Schedule 70 Program

Tuesday, October 27, 2009 from 10:00 am EDT

AFCEA International Headquarters, Fairfax, VA

Presented by the AFCEA Small Business Committee

Join us for this informative presentation featuring Mr.Thomas Corcoran from the U.S. General Services Administration. He will cover the GSA Schedules program with an emphasis on GSA Schedule 70. Topics will include: schedule basics, solicitation preparation, E-tools, State and local outreach, helpful websites.

Mr. Corcoran is a Business Management Specialist for GSA’s Information Technology Acquisition Center’s Business Development and Marketing Division.  Mr. Corcoran's tenure with GSA spans more than twenty years. The last fouteen of which have been focused on GSA Schedule 70for IT products and services. He is a schedule 70 expert and currently promotes Schedule 70 at various IT events.

For more information on GSA'sCenter for IT Schedule Programs, visit their website .

Space is limited. Reservations are required.

Please contact Dawn Falsinotti via email or at 703-631-6190

to reserve your spot.

September 2009 Small Business Committee Meeting:

Small Business Toolkit Series:

Leveraging Your Local PTAP-

Tips and Opportunities for Small Business

Featured Speaker: Jim Regan,

Director, Virginia Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP)

Tuesday, September 15, 2009 from 2:00 pm EDT

AFCEA International Headquarters, Fairfax, VA

Although you have all probably managed to fill the Committee’s summer hiatus with many enjoyable pursuits, it’s time to re-engage for a wonderful slate of events and opportunities this fall. We kick-off in September with an informative presentation featuring Jim Regan, Director of the Virginia Procurement Technical Program. If you haven't attended one of our meetings before, this informal gathering is a great opportunity to learn more about AFCEA Small Business. Jim will cover the Procurement Technical Assistance Program, the process for getting started with the program, resources available, small business programs, market research, networking, associations and areas for focus in order to optimize return to the business.

Whether you are just getting started or have been working with the government for years, GMU PTAP offers a number of services to assist your business in all aspects of government contracting. PTAP and its cadre of highly experienced consultants can lead your business step-by-step through the contracting process or assist you in any single aspect of it. For more information on the GMU PTAP, visit their website .

Did you miss this event? Did you miss this event?

Presentation slides are available.

Please visit the SB File Repository and choose the "Committee Meetings" folder to view materials from all our prior meetings.

June 2009 Small Business Intelligence Forum

Breaking the Code:

Doing Business with the U.S. Intelligence Community

A special half-day forum presented by the

AFCEA Intelligence and Small Business Committees.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009 from 8:00 am - 12:30 pm EDT

AFCEA International Headquarters, Fairfax, VA

Cost:  AFCEA members -- $35

                                                         Non- members -- $50

An agenda designed to provide practical insights for small businesses wanting to enter the Intelligence market, including:

• Defining the Intelligence market
• Accessing that market
• Benefiting from Small Business Advocates
• Working with prime contractors
• Protecting intellectual property
• Understanding security clearances

Did you miss this event?

Follow this link to view the agenda, presentations, and video .

Save the Date...

4th Annual Navy Blue Coast Conference

May 11-13, 2010

Looking for Navy Blue Coast 2009 Conference Presentations?

Navy Blue Coast 2009 Presentations

3rd Annual Navy Blue Coast Conference

A special three day conference presented by the

Department of the Navy Office of Small Business Programs

and AFCEA International.

May 12-14, 2009

Virginia Beach Convention Center

Virginia Beach, VA

Join us for three full days of this "conference within a conference" conveniently co-located with AFCEA's Joint Warfighting 2009 at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. This unique, inclusive format allows small businesses the opportunity to maximize their time by attending small business training sessions and participating in a larger conference and exhibition as well.

The purpose of this conference is to provide a forum to educate, guide and assist small businesses in working with the federal government on the East Coast. It is geared not only to those who currently do business directly with the government, but to all relevant businesses, including those interested in working with the Navy. Speakers and topics are specifically geared to be pertinent to companies interested in doing business with the government. Offerings are included for all experience levels, from novice to intermediate, and seasoned small businesses. Informative plenary sessions with guest speakers will be mixed with a number of break-out sessions addressing an assortment of related topics. In addition, there will be plenty of opportunities for networking including a roundtable style matchmaking event.

usiness Workshop

Small Business Toolkit Series Workshop:

Proposal and Orals Development

Guest Speaker: Ms. Tania Lester

EDS, an HP Company

Tuesday, April 14, 2009 from 1 - 5 pm EDT

AFCEA International Headquarters, Fairfax, VA

Mark your calendars now and make plans to join us for this half day workshop! Ms. Lester last joined us in April 2007 for an hour-long proposal writing presentation. She was a big hit and many of you thought an hour was just not enough!  This time Tania will give us a full four hours (3 hours of training and 1 hour of Q & A). She will include some material on orals development as well.

Did you miss this event? Did you miss this event?

Presentation slides are available.

Please visit the SB File Repository and choose the "Committee Meetings" folder to view materials from all our prior meetings.

March 2009 Small Business Committee Meeting:

Small Business Toolkit Series -

Using the Small Business Innovation Research  (SBIR)

Program to obtain Federal Business

Tuesday, March 10, 2009 at 3:00 pm EST

AFCEA International Headquarters, Fairfax, VA

The SBIR Program can be the best point of entry for federal business, particularly in the Department of Defense (DoD). Make plans to join us for this timely offering to learn more before the next DoD SBIR solicitation scheduled to open for comment on April 20, 2009.

Did you miss this event?

Presentation slides are available.

Please visit the SB File Repository and choose the "Committee Meetings" folder to view materials from all our prior meetings.

Looking for TechNet Tampa 2009

Small Business Workshop Presentations?

You can find them here: TechNet Tampa 2009

February 2009 Small Business Committee Meeting:

"Leveraging Your AFCEA Corporate Membership

as a Small Business"

Thursday, February 19, 2009 at 3:00 pm EST

AFCEA International Headquarters, Fairfax, VA

Join us for this informative "how to" designed to help you get the most out of your company's AFCEA corporate membership. Although content will be tailored for small businesses, this session will be helpful to all levels of AFCEA corporate members and those considering membership. All are welcome to attend.

More information about AFCEA Membership is available at www.afcea.org/membership.

Did you miss this event?

Presentation slides are available.

Please visit the SB File Repository and choose the "Committee Meetings" folder to view materials from all our prior meetings.

January 2009 Small Business Committee Meeting:

"Doing Business with BAE Systems "
Guest Speaker: Ms. Diane Dempsey

Director, Small Business Relations

BAE Systems

Thursday, January 15, 2009 at 3:00 pm EST

AFCEA International Headquarters, Fairfax, VA

Join us for this informative presentation which will

offer advice for developing business with BAE Systems

and other large primes.

About our Guest Speaker:

Ms. Dempsey’s career spans over twenty five years in the field of procurement, subcontracts and supplier diversity. Ms Dempsey has been a small business advocate for the Hughes Corporation, Northrop Grumman, DynCorp, CSC and currently, Director – Small Business Relations, BAE Systems. She is active in the small business community serving on several boards of directors and committees for organizations that advocate for small business. She has also received several awards for her advocacy of small business. Ms Dempsey was recently named the Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council’s, 2007 MBE Advocate of the Year, Community Business Partnership – Outstanding Contribution Award – 2008 Veterans in Business Conference and 2008 Parren J. Mitchell Foundation’s Founder Award. Ms Dempsey is an adjunct professor teaching a variety of business and acquisition classes at Northern VA Community College and Stratford University. She received her B.S. from Mary Washington College, Certificate in Contracts & Procurement from UVA and MBA from the University of Maryland. More information about BAE Systems is available at www.baesystems.com. 

Did you miss this event?

Presentation slides are available.

Please visit the SB File Repository and choose the "Committee Meetings" folder to view materials from all our prior meetings.

2008 Holiday Networking Reception:

General Dynamics Information Technology Headquarters

3211 Jermantown Road, Fairfax, VA

December 9, 2008- 3:00 -5:00 pm

An annual Small Business Committee tradition!

Thanks for all who joined us for this "simply networking" gathering! It was a great opportunity to interact with our speakers (from both government and industry), our committee members, AFCEA members and guests as well! We look forward to working will you all throughout 2009. Happy holidays!

Many Thanks to Our Sponsors!

November 2008 Small Business Committee Meeting:

Small Business Toolkit Series -

Partnering & Teaming for Success

Guest Speaker: Ms. Ludmilla Parnell

Director, Small Business Partnerships

General Dynamics Information Technology

Tuesday, November 4, 2008 at 3:00 pm EST

AFCEA International Headquarters, Fairfax, VA

Ludmilla Parnell, from General Dynamics Information Technology, will share her knowledge in helping small businesses to be successful in teaming efforts with large prime contractors. In her role as Director of Small Business Partnerships at General Dynamics IT, Ludmilla leads the development of teaming relationships with small business in a variety of technical and customer-focused areas that support business development initiatives. Ludmilla has over twenty years of experience working with small business. She frequently addresses small business audiences about teaming and working with prime contractors. Her candid, relatable manner make her presentations extremely valuable. She always includes practical tips and strategies garnered from her years of experience working with small business and government partners.

Ms. Parnell has been with General Dynamic Information Technology (previously Anteon) since 1997.

During her tenure, the company has received recognition for its efforts with small business, to include a DOD Nunn-Perry Award in 2001 for excellence in the Mentor-Protégé program, the first two Corporate Champion Awards in 2005 and 2006 from the Veterans Administration for work with Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned small businesses, as well as others. More information about General Dynamics Information Technology is available at www.gdit.com.

Did you miss this event?

Presentation slides are available.

Please visit the SB File Repository and choose the "Committee Meetings" folder to view materials from all our prior meetings.

AFCEA Small Business Conference:

"Doing Business with the Federal Government:

Find the Opportunity, Capture & Close the Sale,

Grow the Business "

Join us October 15 -16, 2008 for this full day "plus" education and outreach event conveniently located just outside the Washington area in southeastern Pennsylvania at the historic Union League of Philadelphia

Schedule:

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

                   (Pre-conference Networking Reception – 5-7 p.m.)

Thursday, October 16, 2008

                    (Full Day Conference – 7 a.m.-4 p.m. )

Co-Sponsored by:

AFCEA International Small Business Committee

& AFCEA Philadelphia Chapter

For more detail or to regiater visit the event website:

Philadelphia Small Business Conference

Questions? Please contact Tammy Goehring via email or (703) 631-6119.

2008 Navy Small Business Conference:

Second Annual Navy Blue Coast Conference

June 17-19, 2008

"Utilizing your Toolkit for Today's Navy"

Thank you to those of you who joined us for three full days of this "conference within a conference" conveniently co-located with AFCEA's Joint Warfighting 2008 at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. This unique, inclusive format allowed small businesses the opportunity to maximize their time by attending small business training sessions and participating in a larger conference and exhibition as well.

Registration Fees:

Advance Registration: Industry $150.00 / Government $90.00

Onsite Registration: $225 (on a space available basis)

The purpose of this conference was to provide a forum to educate, guide and assist small businesses in working with the federal government on the East Coast. It was geared not only to those who currently do business directly with the government, but to all relevant businesses, including those interested in working with the Navy. Speakers and topics were specifically geared to be pertinent to companies interested in doing business with the government. Offerings are included for all experience levels, from novice to intermediate, and seasoned small businesses. Informative plenary sessions with guest speakers were mixed with a number of break-out sessions addressing an assortment of related topics. In addition, there were plenty of opportunities for networking including a roundtable style matchmaking event.

View Further Information and a Working Agenda

Past conference presentations are available for viewing, please visit the following links:

Navy Blue Coast 08 Presentations & Podcasts

Navy Blue Coast 07 Presentations

Questions? Contact Tammy Goehring via email or (703) 631-6119.

June 2008 Small Business Committee Meeting:

Doing Business with the IRS & Treasury Department

Guest Speaker: Jodie Paustian, Small Business Specialist

Internal Revenue Service

AFCEA International Headquarters, Fairfax, VA

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at 3:00 pm EDT

Jodie Paustian, from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Small Business Program Office, graciously shared her knowledge in helping small businesses to be successful in marketing their company's services, products, and solutions to the IRS. She provided advice and information on doing business with the Department of the Treasury in general and the IRS specifically. Information included specifics about procurement and technical points of contact and advice about pursuing opportunities with the IRS, including the upcoming TIPSS 4 requirement. The IRS Small Business Program Office was established to assist small and disadvantaged small businesses to develop, grow, compete successfully for a fair share of IRS's procurements on their own merits, and help ensure their long-term success. The program also seeks to assist large businesses to increase subcontracting opportunities for small and disadvantaged small businesses. For more information on the IRS Small Business Program web site.

Ms. Paustian joined the Internal Revenue Service in 1993. In addition to her current position as the Small Business Specialist for the IRS, she has also served as a Contracting Officer buying complex Information Technology (IT) products and services, the Regional Chief Procurement Officer for the Midwest Region in Chicago, IL. In her current position at the IRS, Ms. Paustian has been recognized for her outreach efforts to the small business community and twice as Treasury’s Small Business Specialist of the Year.  In June of 2004, Jodie was named as a finalist for the Ida Ustad Award for Excellence in Acquisition.  Ms. Paustian is a 2007 Graduate of the first Acquisition Fellows Program sponsored by the Council for Excellence in Government. 

Did you miss this event?

Presentation slides are available.

Please visit the SB File Repository and choose the "Committee Meetings" folder to view materials from all our prior meetings.

May 2008 Small Business Committee Meeting:

Alternative Frameworks for Process Improvement:

Which make sense for a small business? For your business?

Guest Speaker: Dr. Jim Kane, CEO & President

Software & Systems Consortium (SSCI)

AFCEA International Headquarters, Fairfax, VA

Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at 3:00 pm EDT

What do CMMI and ISO 9000 mean for your business? What about ITIL and Six Sigma? Dr. Kane addresses alternative frameworks for process improvement and the characteristics of each. He approached the topic from the perspective of which certifications make sense for a small business. This offering was aimed at small businesses involved in federal contracting and there is no need to have a highly technical background to benefit from Dr. Kane's presentation. He focused his remarks more on the business aspects pertinent to evaluating which framework is right in different situations with less emphasis on the intricacies of each.

SSCI is a consortium focused on helping its members solve the complex challenges of large, software-intensive systems development. SSCI members include leading companies in the aerospace, defense, information technology, telecommunications, and financial industries, as well as key government agencies and universities. Dr. Kane oversees all activities of SSCI, including business operations and growth, the direction and development of technologies and solutions, financial management and, most importantly, the continuing satisfaction of members. Dr. Kane has held leadership roles in the IT industry for nearly 30 years, including executive positions at Internet pioneer Bolt, Beranek & Newman (BBN Technologies), GTE Information Systems, GTE Spacenet and Federal Sources, Inc. Widely recognized as a leading analyst of how diverse technical, policy, and competitive forces converge, Dr. Kane is a frequent speaker at industry forums and conferences and in corporate boardrooms. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh and his B.S. from Le Moyne College in Syracuse, N.Y. For more information on SSCI, visit their website at www.software.org .

Did you miss this event?

Presentation slides are available.

Please visit the SB File Repository and choose the "Committee Meetings" folder to view materials from all our prior meetings.

April 2008 Small Business Committee Meeting:

International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR)

from a Small Business Perspective

Guest Speaker: Paul Luther

AFCEA International Headquarters, Fairfax, VA

Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at 3:00 pm EDT

Keeping abreast of the relevant issues of export compliance under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) can be an intimidating task for small businesses working with the U. S. Department of Defense. In this afternoon session, Paul provided an overview of ITAR and the significance of these regulations to small business. He addressed how the regulations affect subcontracting, exporting and other issues related to going after international work.

Paul Luther's practice focuses on trade compliance and enforcement defense. He has extensive experience with respect to all aspects of export controls and economic sanctions, the U.S. Antiboycott Regulations, the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, Exon-Florio proceedings, and customs issues.Mr. Luther has successfully represented clients in the telecommunications, chemical, defense, petroleum, satellite, computer, and software industries in securing government authorization to export or re-export highly regulated products and technology to sensitive regions and countries, such as the former Soviet Union, the Middle East, and China. He also regularly advises clients as to whether specific transactions, business structures, and overseas ventures are consistent with applicable U.S. legal regimes. For more information on Paul and Baker Botts, LLP, visit their website at www.bakerbotts.com .

(Please note this presentation was not intended to present any legal advice,

but rather general information on the topic.)

Did you miss this event?

Presentation slides are available.

Please visit the SB File Repository and choose the "Committee Meetings" folder to view materials from all our prior meetings.

March 2008 Small Business Committee Meeting:

Title: Crouching Budget, Hidden Buyer - Turning Mystery to Mastery
Speaker: Ms. Judy Bradt

Today’s primes demand more than your capability – they want you to bring contracts and contacts, too.  Judy Bradt offered insight on how to find opportunities long before they get to FedBizOpps.

For over twenty years, Judy Bradt has been a champion for small businesses who want to win government contracts. Between 1988 and 2003, Judy Bradt was the top specialist in US government contracting at the Canadian Embassy in Washington DC, advising over 5000 clients to win contracts worth over $200 million. She loves de-bunking myths and revealing the insider secrets to finding opportunities, teaming, and succeeding in serving the world’s largest buyer. She’s now in her fifth year of running her own business, Summit Insight, here in Washington DC. As author, speaker and business strategist, she gives people the insight they need to win government contracts. She’s been covered by national media including ABC Radio, Fortune Small Business, CTV Television, the Financial Post, Canadian Business, and Entrepreneur Magazine. For more information on Summit Insight, visit their website at www.summitinsight.com

Did you miss this event?

A podcast and presentation slides are available.

Please visit the SB File Repository and choose the "Committee Meetings" folder to view materials from all our prior meetings.

2007 Holiday Networking Reception:

General Dynamics Information Technology Headquarters

December 11, 2007- 3:00 -5:00 pm

An annual Small Business Committee tradition!

Make plans now to join us for next year (scheduled for Tuesday, December 9, 2008). This gathering is always a great opportunity to network with our previous speakers (from both government and industry), our committee members and many guests as well!

Registration Fee: Members $15.00 / Non-members $25.00

This afternoon seminar will feature knowledgeable speakers
and a panel of experts who will:
•examine the essential components of successful capture
•share relevant lessons learned
•provide valuable insights into effective implementation of the process
•discuss the importance of capture planning to the growth of your business

Who should attend?
C-level Executives (CEO’s, COO’s, etc.) are highly encouraged to attend,
as well as others with an interest in:
•Focused opportunity development
•Resource Considerations, including price & cost factors
•Role of the Capture Manager in a Small Business

Ample opportunities for networking will be provided.

Questions? For Attendee/Program/Sponsorship Information
Contact Tammy Goehring via email or (703) 631-6119.

Did you miss this event?

Seminar presentations and audio recordings from this event are available. Please visit the SB File Repository and choose the "Capture Process" folder to view and/or listen.

For more, visit the event website: Capture Process 2007

Army Small Business Outreach Conference:

Achieving Success as a

Small Business with the Army

Women in Military Service For America Memorial

Wednesday, October 30, 2007

8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Registration Fee: Advance $180.00 / On-site $210.00

FEATURED KEYNOTE LUNCHEON SPEAKER: Mr. Bryon Young, Director, HQ Army Contracting Agency(confirmed)

WHO SHOULD ATTEND THE ARMY SMALL BUSINESS OUTREACH CONFERENCE: Small Business Owners, Business Development Professionals, Large Business Liaison Officers for Small Business.

WHY ATTEND THE ARMY SMALL BUSINESS OUTREACH CONFERENCE: Small Businesses have a number of challenges and unique requirements. Understanding defense customers, their organizations and requirements, and the issues surrounding federal contracts can be daunting.

LEARN MORE DURING THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM:
•The Army Opportunity – What’s available to businesses
•An Overview of the Army – how it’s organized and the money flows
•The Basics of Government Contracting – a Primer
•Bid Strategies – when to prime, when to sub, who should be on your team

DON’T MISS OUR EXCITING LINE UP OF SPEAKERS SHARING OPPORTUNITY INSIGHTS:
•Mr. Gregory Kee, Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategy & Concepts, Army Materiel Command
•Mr. Lee Harvey, Deputy Program Executive Officer, Enterprise Information Systems
•Ms. Michelina LaForgia, Project Director, Army Small Computer Program
•Mr. Lester Ingol, Lead Contract Specialist, Intelligence and Security Command

SIGN UP FOR ONE ON ONE DIRECT COUNSELING

AND ADVISEMENT SESSIONS

(An after event private chartered tour of Arlington National Cemetery including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier,changing of the guard, and Kennedy Family Gravesite is included for all attendees.)

Did you miss this event?

Conference presentations are available.

Please visit the SB File Repository and choose the "Army Conference " folder to view.

September 2007 Small Business Committee Meeting:

Topic:  Financial Management in Company Growth

Speaker: Mr. Scott Gessay from FGM

Topics included transition issues and decisions related to staffing, technology, process and future planning.

As a founder of FGM, Mr. Gessay offered insights on financial transition in a small business through the many stages of company growth. In his current role as Chief Executive Officer & President, Scott Gessay guides the long-term strategic direction of FGM’s business, develops business strategy, manages the organization, and leads the corporate management team. Mr. Gessay leads company-wide business operations and is responsible for business performance, including program management oversight, customer relations, resource allocation, and subcontractor management. He is also responsible for developing FGM’s long-term financial strategy while overseeing financial, contractual, legal, and procurement operations. Mr. Gessay has over 20 years of executive experience and his vision and energy have propelled FGM from a small business to an information technology leader. FGM has been recognized both locally and nationally for its work environment, technical achievements, and revenue growth. The company headquarters is located in Reston, Virginia. Visit their website at www.fgm.com for more information on the company and its services.

Did you miss this event?

A podcast and presentation slides are available.

Please visit the SB File Repository and choose the "Committee Meetings" folder to view materials from all our prior meetings.

June 2007 Small Business Committee Meeting:

Topic:  Teaming Agreements - A Means to Secure Business Opportunities

Speaker: Mr. Kenneth Brody,  from David, Brody & Dondershire, LLP

How will teaming help my business? What are the key aspects of a teaming agreement?

Mr. Brody addressed the goals and objectives of teaming, choosing teammates and the key provisions of a teaming agreement. His presentation also included information on how to secure business opportunities by preparing and successfully negotiating teaming agreements from the perspective of small businesses. He graciously shared his insights on the large business perspective as well. Ken is a partner in the law firm of David, Brody & Dondershine, LLP, located in Reston, Virginia. He has twenty-eight years of experience in government contracts law, commercial litigation, and employment law. He is a 1978 graduate of the Georgetown Law Center and is licensed to practice law in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, and New York. Ken's practice includes advising large and small national and local companies on all aspects of procurement law including issues relating to prime contract and subcontract award, performance and termination. In addition, he handles procurement protests before the Court of Federal Claims, GAO, SBA, and federal, state and local procurement agencies; and litigates claims before government agencies, arbitration panels, and state and federal courts. Visit their web site at www.dbd-law.com for more information on David, Brody & Dondershine, LLP.

Did you miss this event?

A podcast and presentation slides are available.

Please visit the SB File Repository and choose the "Committee Meetings" folder to view materials from all our prior meetings.

May 2007 Small Business Committee Meeting:

Topic:

Performance-Based Acquisition

It’s not in your rear-view mirror, it’s right in front of you!

Speaker:  Ms. Paula Franks from SAIC

Many organizations have embraced PBA, and others have been trying to stay clear of it…but, PBA has become a fact of life for almost every agency now. In order to help people understand PBA better, our guest speaker, Paula Franks, shared the definitions of PBA and the various terminologies used in the paradigm. She also talked about how PBA has evolved over time and what we we are seeing in actual practice today. Paula Franks has 27 years of experience in designing, developing, integrating, and deploying large systems. During her 15 years as a program manager, she led large systems development efforts in cost-plus and fixed-price environments. Ms. Franks has been with SAIC since 1995. During the last 6 years, she has served as SAIC’s corporate advocate on Performance-Based Acquisitions (PBA). In this position, she helps organizations transition their work to PBA, trains employees, conducts familiarization sessions for customers, and maintains the corporate PBA web site. In addition, she is the corporate lead trainer and maintains the content for proposal development classes. Ms. Franks has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Virginia. Visit their web site at www.saic.com for more information on SAIC.

April 2007 Small Business Committee Meeting:

Topic: Federal Government Proposals 101 - Plan & Prepare to Win

Speaker: Ms. Tania Lester from EDS

What do you do before you get the RFP? How do you develop a winning proposal?

Ms. Lester provided the answers to these and other questions as she shared insights on how to successfully navigate the proposal process. Tania Lester is a Sales Support Manager for Electronic Data Systems (EDS) in Herndon Virginia. She oversees the proposal/bid managers supporting EDS U.S. Government Solutions. Ms. Lester has 6 years supporting USGS sales as a proposal and bid manager herself. Prior to sales support, she supported contracts for building and managing LANs and WANs for the Department of State and for the US Navy. She has held certifications in application development, network engineering, and ITIL.

EDS is a leading global technology services company and a pioneer of the information technology outsourcing industry. EDS’ primary objective is to enable governments to focus on their core missions and become more agile. Frequently this goal is achieved in collaboration with small business. EDS engages small business, not only as a government contracting requirement, but also in the spirit of good citizenship and growing America's economy. The end result is a win-win situation for all involved, while adding value to government clients with innovative solutions. Visit their web site at www.eds.com for more information on EDS.

Did you miss this event?

Presentation slides are available.

Please visit the SB File Repository and choose the "Committee Meetings" folder to view materials from all our prior meetings.

March 2007 Small Business Committee Meeting:

Topic: Boosting Your Small Business with GovWorks

Speaker: Ms. Beth Owen of GovWorks

Where do agencies turn when their contracting office is over loaded? Is there competition even in government? Few realize that there are entrepreneurial organizations in the federal sector that provide administrative contracting services for a fee. GovWorks, established in 1996, is a Franchise Fund authorized by Congress and the Office of Management and Budget to offer acquisition services to Federal agencies. Beth Owen began her federal career at GovWorks nearly 6 years ago. Originally joining the organization as the lead 'branding agent' for an entrepreneurial business in the world of federal contracting, she now focuses almost exclusively on the contractor community. Beth has over 25 years experience working in both the public and private sectors, focused in the public affairs/communications field.

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