This session will provide prospective contractors and offerors with a fundamental understanding of the federal procurement process. The information provided will help to remove the intimidation factor, confusion and complexity and show you how to succeed in government contracting. Topics covered include small business certifications, an overview of the federal procurement process, types of contracts, and the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).

Moderator:
Mr. Daniel Sturdivant, Assistant to Director for Outreach / Veteran-Owned Small Business Advocate, U.S. Department of Homeland Security [Presentation]

Speaker:
Mr. Andy Alexander, Procurement Technical Assistance Counselor (PTAC), Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) [Presentation]
Ms. Jacqueline Buky, Base Operations Support Flight, Air Combat Command, U.S. Department of the Air Force

This session will take you beyond the basics of the federal procurement process. Speakers will delve further in to the federal procurement process, covering such topics as capture planning, responding to requests for proposal and requests for quotes, and sources sought, navigating the various federal agencies and successful networking within these agencies.

Moderator:
Mr. James Ghiloni, Director, Goverment-Wide Acquisition Contract Programs, Integrated Technology Services, U.S. General Services Administration

Speakers:
Ms. Ruth Brado, Contracting Officer, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Mr. Todd Tekesky, Contracting Officer, U.S. General Services Administration
Mr. Matthew Verhulst, Director of Contracting, U.S. General Services Administration

Introduction and Welcome Remarks

Video Welcome from ADM Michael G. Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Tribute by singer/songwriter Mr. Barry Michaels

Introduction and Welcome Remarks:
Mr. James Lloyd, Program Manager, SDVOSB, Office of Small Business Programs, U.S. Department of the Army
Ms. Tracey L. Pinson, Director, Office of Small Business Programs, U.S. Department of the Army
Ms. Gail Wegner, Acting Director, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Center for Veterans Enterprise
Mr. Larry Stubblefield, Deputy Administrative Assistant, Secretary of the Army

Speaker:
Mr. Joseph Jordan, Associate Administrator of Government Contracting and Business Development, U.S. Small Business Administration

During times like these it is easy to forget that the U.S. economy has a strong foundation – a flexible workforce, deep capital markets, accessible raw materials, and high quality infrastructure. While this has served the country ably, recent events have called into question the structure of our market-based economy. To generate a recovery, there must be a renewed commitment to entrepreneurialism and the innovative spirit that is so engrained in the U.S. Doing so will yield growth and a promising economic future.

The new administration has laid out an ambitious economic recovery plan, which recognizes the critical role our nation’s small businesses will play in putting our country back on a path to prosperity. This session will cover the legislative outlook for small businesses and how current and upcoming changes can benefit veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses.

Moderator:
Mr. William Elmore, Associate Administrator, Office of Veterans Business Development, U.S. Small Business Administration

Speakers:
Mr. Juan Lara, Majority Staff Director, Subcommittee on Economic Opportunities, U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Veterans Affairs
Mr. Michael Brinck, Minority Staff Director, Subcommittee on Economic Opportunities, U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Veterans Affairs
Mr. Gregory Willis, Staff Counsel, U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneuship

In this session, you will hear from GSA and industry on the pros and cons of being on a GSA Schedule, when the best time is to go after this contract vehicle, lessons learned and responsibilities once you have one.

Moderator:
Mr. Thomas F. Brown, Regional Marketing Manager, Government-Wide Acquisition Contract (GWAC) Center, U.S. General Services Administration

Speakers:
Ms. Christy Jackiewicz, Procurement Analyst, Small Business Center, U.S. General Services Administration
Mr. Dennis DeMolet, President/CEO, DeMolet Government Consulting

The ability to effectively manage your government contracts to ensure on-time, on-budget, and on-spec delivery is a crucial component of your contract performance rating. With past performance counting for up to 50 percent of your evaluation on future contracts, now is the time to strengthen your contract management knowledge and practices. This session will cover the following topic areas:

Government Contracting — The Basics

Managing Successful Government Contracts

Managing Government IDIQ (Task Order) Contracts

Performance-Based Service Contracting: New Government Metrics

Teaming and Subcontracting

Business Ethics: Avoiding Even the Appearance of Impropriety

Moderator:
Ms. Mary Seabolt, Deputy Director, Office of Small Business Programs, Defense Contract Management Agency

Speakers:
Mr. Rodney DeaVault, Small Business Specialist, Office of Small Business Programs, Defense Information Systems Agency
Mr. Daniel M. Jacobs, CEO/President, The Federal Market Group (FMG)
Mr. John Pastino, Program Manager, HRsolutions Program Office

This session will provide you with key tips and best practices for effectively managing proposals to improve your organization's probability of winning a contract. After this session, you will:

Know regulatory aspects and structure of federal RFPs

Understand federal source selection processes

Translate capture strategy into proposal strategy

Plan compliant, responsive proposals

Use best practices for proposal management

Moderator:
Ms. Pamela Monroe, Associate Director, Army Contracting Command, U.S. Department of the Army [Presentation]

Speaker:
Mr. Robert Gahagan, Small Business Counselor, Virginia Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) [Presentation]
Ms. Jackie Robinson-Burnette, Deputy Associate Director, Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) HQ, U.S. Army Contracting Command [Presentation]

This session will provide practical costing and pricing strategies for your products and services through an in-depth study of indirect cost allocation structures and the resulting pricing scenarios. Speakers will provide guidance in ensuring that your indirect rates accurately determine the true cost of your products or services, maximize cost recovery, establish competitive pricing and provide management with accurate and timely information to facilitate day-to-day decision making process. Specific topics covered include:

Defining and establishing primary and secondary cost pools

Determining your direct labor cost per hour

Addressing uncompensated overtime

Determining what is included in your fringe benefit pool

Determining what is included in your operating cost or general overhead pool

Establishing your pool of general and administrative expenses

Establishing the bases for cost allocation

Defining cost versus price

Profit guidelines

Discussion of allowable and unallowable costs

Establishing a major subcontract rate

Establishing a material handling rate

Handling ODC's (Other Direct Costs)

Forward pricing rate determination

Moderator:
Mr. H. Clyde Wray, Senior Procurement Analyst, Office of Cost, Pricing and Finance, Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy [Presentation]

Speakers:
Mr. Samuel Davidson, Director, Government Contractor Services Group, Cherry, Bekaert & Holland, LLP
Mr. James Emery, Chief Financial Officer, J.M. Waller Associates, Inc.

GSA's Government-Wide Acquisition Contract (GWAC) for service-disabled veteran owned small businesses has seen exponential growth since its award in December 2007 and enjoyed successful partnerships with many federal agencies. Likewise, it has had to adapt and overcome challenges such as agency policies toward interagency contracting, a changing acquisition environment, as well as regulatory changes. Along with Veterans Technology Services (VETS) successes, this session will showcase best practices for using the VETS GWAC that include mitigating risk, feedback from federal customers and industry and ways to develop successful acquisition strategies.

Moderator:
Ms. Mary Parks, Acting Associate Administrator, U.S. General Services Administration [Presentation]

Speakers:
Ms. Janna Babcock, Procuring Contracting Officer, U.S. Small Business Administration
Mr. Michael Hardy, Manager, Federal Program Development, Penobscot Bay Media
Ms. Jihyun Huyck, Business Development Specialist, U.S. General Services Administration
Mr. Michael Metz, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Innovative Management Concepts

Whether you are just starting out or looking to expand, financing is an essential part of any small business. Proper financing can mean the difference between success and failure. Subject matter experts will address issues related to small business financing including, local bank support, cash flow, advances for start-ups, factoring, and the SBA loan program. In addition, Venture Capital opportunities for Veterans will be presented.

Moderator:
Ms. Sue Malone, Founder, Strategies for Small Business

Speakers:
Mr. John Carpenter, Principal, Cherry, Bekaert & Holland, L.L.P. [Presentation]
Mr. Richard Fink, Managing Partner, Miramar Venture Partners
Mr. David Marrin, Senior Vice President, Wells Fargo Business Credit
Mr. John Scott, District Director - Nevada, U.S. Small Business Administration

This session will highlight the various obligations and requirements incorporated by law into government contracts; ground rules for competing for government work; what government contractors should know about bid protests; disputes relating to contract performance; and terminations of government contracts for convenience or default. In addition, intellectual property rights, and teaming issues such as affiliation and joint venture will be addressed.

Moderator:
Mr. Mark R. Thomas, Esq., Senior Counsel, Reid Law Group, LLC

Speakers:
Mr. John C. Buckley III, Esq., Managing Shareholder, Buckley Law, P.C.
Ms. Amy Walborn, Associate, Brown Rudnick, LLP
Mr. Antonio R. Franco, Partner, PilieroMazza PLLC.
Mr. Ronald Thomas, Special Counsel, LeClairRyan

Your organization depends on reliable, resilient human capital. Veterans of America's armed forces have the skills, training, and character to meet your toughest challenges for today and tomorrow. That's why hiring Veterans is not just goodwill, it's good business.

Whether you're a manager, human resources specialist, or Veteran, you'll find the resources you need in this session for matching employment opportunities with Veterans. The session will also cover best practices and lessons learned when implementing a reintegration program in to your workplace.

Moderator:
Mr. Rick Weidman, Executive Director for Policy and Government Affairs, National Staff, Vietnam Veterans of America

Speakers:
Mr. Theodore Daywalt, President, Vet Jobs [Presentation]
Mr. Ronald Drach, President, Board of Directors, Wounded Warrior Project
Mr. William Picard, President, AICP Advanced Environmental Solutions, Inc
Mr. Joseph Sharpe, Director of Economics, American Legion
Mr. Joseph Wynn, President, Veterans Enterprise Training and Services Group, Inc.

This session will cover the lessons learned and best practices involved with establishing successful teaming arrangements/partnerships with foreign industries. The speakers will specifically cover the advantages and disadvantages of doing business in another country, legal issues, rules and regulations, as well as applicable trade agreements.

Moderator:
Mr. William Taylor, Acting Operations Director, Office of Small Disadvantaged Business Utilization, U.S. Department of State

Speakers:
Mr. Aurelio Azpiazu, Defence Industry Advisor, Embassy of Australia
Mr. Scott Golden, President/CEO, Veterans Construction Inc.
Mr. Augustine A. Grace, Senior Business Development Officer, Export-Import Bank of the U.S. [Presentation]
Mr. David Marshall, Counsellor, Defence Materiel, Embassy of Australia
Mr. Rez Nia, Senior Vice President, Veterans Construction, Inc.
LtCol Per Lyse Rasmussen, Assistant Defense, Military, Naval and Air Attaché, Defense Industrial Cooperation, Royal Danish Embassy [Presentation]

The Department of Veterans Affairs has unique buying authority (P.L. 109-461) that enables VA Contracting Activities to set-aside requirements for veteran-owned small businesses. In addition, VA's large prime contractors are required to use veteran-owned small businesses that have been officially verified for ownership and control. This session will educate attendees on the requirements for a small business to become verified. This session will also discuss how New Mexico developed a State supported Veteran Business Resource Office which is a model program to assist the Veteran and service-disabled Veteran business owners with the business process and best practices in developing their companies and securing Federal contracts.

Moderator:
Ms. Gail Wegner, Acting Director, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Center for Veterans Enterprise

Speakers:
Mr. John M. Garcia, Cabinet Secretary, New Mexico Department of Veteran Services [Presentation]
Ms. Karen Zhussanbay, Verification Program Manager, Examination, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Center for Veterans Enterprise

A panel of OSDBU Directors will share "real workplace" examples of what they see on a daily basis from the vendor community. Which vendor techniques work, which methods fail and which approaches "crash and burn" before you get through the door. This panel is designed to help you improve your ability to win contracts with the Federal Government.

Administrative Announcements:
Mr. James Lloyd, Program Manager, SDVOSB, Office of Small Business Programs, U.S. Department of the Army

Moderator:
Ms. Debbie Ridgely, Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [Presentation]

Speakers:
Mr. Ronald Poussard, Director, Office of Small Business Programs, U.S. Department of the Air Force
Ms. Kimberly Patrick, Deputy Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Mr. Glenn A. Delgado, Assistant Administrator, Office of Small Business Programs, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mr. Timothy Foreman, Director, Office of Small Business Programs, U.S. Department of the Navy
Ms. Teresa Lewis, Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, U.S. Department of Treasury
Ms. Donna Cancel, Deputy Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, Missile Defense Agency
Ms. Gail Wegner, Acting Director, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Center for Veterans Enterprise

For many Veteran-Owned businesses, the start-up years can be extremely challenging; especially when it comes to winning business with the Federal Government. Additionally, the growth phase can be an exciting but equally as challenging until the company reaches a mature infrastructure. Consider this panel an opportunity to hear from the most successful Veteran business owners who have been there and done that both in their service as Veterans and in business as CEOs and owners, and have a lot to say about what worked for their companies and what didn’t. Additionally, you will have an opportunity to pick up tips on business strategy, marketing, teaming and building an infrastructure, as well as ask questions that you can only be answered through the experience of winning Federal contracts. And then, in true entrepreneurial fashion, find your own way to reach your organization’s growth goals and infrastructure as this advice will provide practical information and insights that you can put to work right away. Topics of discussion will include organic growth, getting your foot in the door, effective marketing, profitability, and more.

Moderator:
Ms. Dawn Halfaker, CEO, Halfaker and Associates, LLC

Speakers:
Ms. Constance Blair, President and CEO, The Venture Companies [Presentation]
Mr. James Emery, Chief Financial Officer and CEO, J.M. Waller and Associates
Mr. Mark Gross, President and CEO, Oak Grove Technologies [Presentation]
Mr. Michael Melo, President, ITA International LLC [Presentation]
Dr. Raymond Jardine, Jr., President and CEO, Native Hawaiian Veterans, LLC

This session will provide a quick overview of the Department of Defense Mentor-Protégé Program and an introduction to NASA's New Mentor-Protégé Program. In addition, a successful SDVOSB Mentor-Protégé relationship - recipients of the 2009 DoD Nunn Perry Award - will present lessons learned.

Moderator:
Ms. Oreta Stinson, Deputy Director, Office of Small Business Programs, U.S. Department of the Navy

Speakers:
Ms. Peggy Butler, Mentor Protégé Program Manager, Office of Small Business Programs, U.S. Department of the Army
CAPT (Ret.) William G. Earnest, Director for Strategic Development Special Assistant to the President, Q.E.D. Systems, Inc. [Presentation]
Mr. David Grove, Mentor-Protégé Program Manager, Office of Small Business Programs, National Aeronautics and Space Administration [Presentation]
Mr. David Mugrage, President and CEO, Maintenance and Inspection Services, Inc.
Mr. Daniel Y. Chun, President and Founder, Occam Solutions [Presentation]

In this session, you will hear from GSA and Industry on the pros and cons of being on a GSA Schedule, when the best time is to go after this contract vehicle, lessons learned and responsibilities once you have one.

Moderator:
Mr. Thomas F. Brown, Regional Marketing Manager, Small Business GWAC Center, U.S. General Services Administration

Speakers:
Ms. Christy Jackiewicz, Procurement Analyst, Small Business Center, U.S. General Services Administration
Mr. Dennis DeMolet, President/CEO, DeMolet Government Consulting

Experts from various Federal Agencies will provide an overview of the Nation Security Agency's personnel clearance program as well as the facility clearance process. In addition, a veteran-owned small business will provide a "been-there-done-that" success story. Finally, participants will have the chance to ask questions of small and disadvantaged business utilization officers.

Moderator:
Ms. Pamela Porter, Director, Office of Small Business Programs, National Security Agency [Presentation]

Speakers:
Ms. Sherry Baldwin, Director, Office of Small Business Programs, Defense Intelligence Agency [Presentation]
Ms. Susan Larimer, Small Business Specialist, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
Ms. Angela Martin, Chief, Facility Clearance Branch, Defense Security Service [Presentation]
Ms. Emily Noreiga, Program Manager, Provisional Industrial Security Approval (PISA), National Security Agency [Presentation]
Ms. Lisa M. Wheeler, Vice President, Contracts, DigiFlight, Inc. [Presentation]

This session will be presented in the format of an educational game show, "Jeopardy" where questions will relate to Federal acquisition and small business programs and how to market for Federal contracts. Special features will include engagement of audience member into teams headed by Federal Small Business Program Directors for U.S. Department of the Treasury, U.S. Agency for International Development, and the Smithsonian along with recognized government marketing and business development industry experts. Everyone will leave the session with a useful fact sheet on "Marketing to the Federal Government for acquisition opportunities" as well as great prizes, knowledge and fun!

Moderator:
Ms. Diana Strong, Small Business Program Manager, Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Speakers:
Mr. Michael Bowlds, CEO, MountainTop Marketing
Ms. Elizabeth Goldstein, President, Marketing Edge Consulting Group
Ms. Gloria Berthold Larkin, President, TargetGov, Marketing Outsource Associates, Inc. [Presentation]
Ms. Teresa Lewis, Office of Small Disadvantaged Business Utilization, U.S. Department of the Treasury
Mr. Mauricio Vera, Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
Mr. Rudy Watley, Supplier Diversity Program Manager, Office of Equal Employment and Minority Affairs, Smithsonian Institution

The Department of Veterans Affairs has unique buying authority (P.L. 109-461) that enables VA Contracting Activities to set-aside requirements for veteran-owned small businesses. In addition, VA's large prime contractors are required to use veteran-owned small businesses that have been officially verified for ownership and control. This session will educate attendees on the requirements for a small business to become verified. This session will also discuss how New Mexico developed a State supported Veteran Business Resource Office which is a model program to assist the Veteran and service-disabled Veteran business owners with the business process and best practices in developing their companies and securing Federal contracts.

Moderator:
Ms. Gail Wegner, Acting Director, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Center for Veterans Enterprise

Speakers:
Mr. John M. Garcia, Cabinet Secretary, New Mexico Department of Veteran Services
Ms. Karen Zhussanbay, Verification Program Manager, Examination, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Center for Veterans Enterprise

Contractors seeking bonding must be prepared to prove to a surety that their company has the capacity, character and capital to perform the project(s) on which they are seeking to be bonded. Sureties want to be sure that entering into a bond relationship with a contractor is a good business decision. Prior to issuing a bond, a surety will analyze a contractor's capacity to perform (necessary equipment), financial strength (good credit history and line of credit), past performance in similar contracts and organizational structure.

This session will provide an overview of bonding basics for small businesses involved in construction projects with the federal government. It will cover the types of bonds, when they're required for federal contracts, and the bonding process.

Moderator:
Mr. Dennis DeMolet, President/CEO, DeMolet Government Consulting

Speakers:
Ms. Karen Barbour, President and Founder, The Barbour Group
Mr. Jack Beecher, Chief, Small Business Office, Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Mr. Frank Campanaro, President, TrillaCorpe Construction
Mr. Robert E. Little, Associate Counsel, Naval Facilities Engineering, U.S. Department of the Navy [Presentation]
Mr. Frank Lalumiere, Director, Office of Surety Bond Guarantees, U.S. Small Business Administration

This session will feature a large prime contractor and small business representatives that will share unique perspectives on subcontracting, including benefits and recommendations for successful subcontracting arrangements.

Moderator:
Ms. Peggy Butler, Program Manager, Subcontracting and Mentor-Protégé Programs, Office of Small Business Programs, U.S. Department of the Army

Speakers:
Mr. Daniel Chun, President and Founder, Occam Solutions
Mr. Jerry Franco, Chief, Procurement Assistance Division, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, U.S. Department of Transportation
Ms. Diane Marsden, Manager, Small Business Programs, Booz Allen Hamilton

The accounting system you used before you got that new government contract may not be good enough now. This session will cover the basics of accounting for government contracts and explain how to avoid the painful pitfalls that many contractors have found out about the hard (and costly) way. Designed for aspiring government contractors, new government contractors, and contractors striving for that next growth level, this session will specifically cover:

Contract types and corresponding accounting requirements

Fundamentals of cost accounting

Why you need to know your indirect cost rate

Why federal cost principles matter

Cost and pricing data requirements

Costing vs. pricing

Avoiding compliance deficiencies

Federal acquisition and accounting jargon

Common problems areas - keeping out of trouble

Accounting nightmares

Auditing entanglements

Case study discussions

Moderator:
Mr. Kenneth Bricker, Senior Partner, Government Contracting Services, Goodman and Company

Speakers:
Ms. Susan Moser, Partner-in-Charge, Cherry, Bekaert & Holland, LLP
Mr. Paul Skurpski, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Pleasant Valley Business Solutions
Ms. Christine Williamson, Member, Watkins Meegan Drury & Company, LLC

The most important assets in any organization are its human resources. Appropriate human resources assure an organization that the right number and kind of people are available at the right time and place so that organizational needs can be met. This session will feature human resource subject-matter experts will provide strategic viewpoints on critical topics that impact your human resource needs and business priorities. Topic areas include:

Human capital management

• HR best practice and compliance audits
• Employee feedback surveys

Compensation studies and market analysis

• Pay for performance
• Compensation and benefits management
• Equity plan development

Performance management

• Career path and competency development
• Organizational development
• Leadership development and training

Affirmative action plans

• Applicant tracking systems

Moderator:
Ms. Heidi Gerding, President and CEO, HeiTech Services, Inc.

Speakers:
Ms. Kathy Albarado, President and CEO, Helios HR
Ms. Jackie Asencio, President and CEO, C2 Portfolio Essentials Inc [Presentation]
Mr. William Basnett, Vice President, Direct Placement, Bradley-Morris, Inc.

Back by popular demand, the Town Hall session is an open forum opportunity for conference attendees to provide feedback and ask questions to several top Federal officials on the VO/SDVO small business program. Panelists will engage in a candid discussion on how to improve opportunities for Veterans.

Administrative Announcements:
Mr. James Lloyd, Program Manager, SDVOSB, Office of Small Business Programs, U.S. Department of the Army

Moderator:
Ms. Tracey L. Pinson, Director, Office of Small Business Programs, U.S. Department of the Army

Panelists:
Mr. Ronald Poussard, Director, Office of Small Business Programs, U.S. Department of the Air Force
Ms. Kimberly Patrick, Deputy Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Mr. Glenn A. Delgado, Assistant Administrator, Office of Small Business Programs, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mr. Timothy Foreman, Director, Office of Small Business Programs, U.S. Department of the Navy
Ms. Sharon Jones, Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, Defense Information Systems Agency
Ms. Teresa Lewis, Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, U.S. Department of the Treasury
Ms. Peggy Meehan, Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, Defense Logistics Agency
Ms. Mary Parks, Acting Associate Administrator, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, U.S. General Services Administration
Mr. Daniel Sturdivant, Assistant to Director for Outreach/Veteran-Owned Small Business Advocate, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Mr. William Taylor, Acting Operations Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, U.S. Department of State
Ms. Gail Wegner, Acting Director, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs/Center for Veterans Enterprise
Ms. Donna Cancel, Deputy Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, Missile Defense Agency

Last year, these organizations were given the opportunity to discuss in detail their mission and benefits of joining their respective organizations. This year, the same independent and private veteran organizations will explain how they've helped move the Veteran program forward within the past year.

Moderator:
Ms. Gail Wegner, Acting Director, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Center for Veterans Enterprise

Panelists:
Mr. Christopher Hale, President, National Veteran-Owned Business Association (NaVOBA)
Mr. Robert Mulz, Chairman, The Elite SDVOB Network
Mr. Rick Weidman, Executive Director for Policy & Government Affairs, National Staff, Vietnam Veterans of America
Mr. Richard Ramirez, Founder and President, The United States Association for Veterans in Business

This session will offer suggestions and case studies for using Web 2.0 applications, both for internal company operation and services useful to government clients. Technologies related to Web 2.0 and Social Media offer significant advantages over traditional software including increased productivity, efficiency, and collaboration. This discussion will be accessible to non-technical attendees, explaining the relevant concepts and available.

Moderator:
Mr. Randy J. Slager, Chairman and CEO, Catapult Technology, Ltd.

Speakers:
Mr. Mark Drapeau, Associate Research Fellow, Center for Technology and National Security Policy, National Defense University, U.S. Department of Defense [Presentation]
Mr. Andrew Glover, Partner, Beacon50 [Presentation]
Mr. Jason Hull, Principal, OpenSource Connections, LLC [Presentation]

As a Veteran-owned business in today’s competitive economic times, what does it take to prepare you and your company leadership to approach a large prime contractor or Fortune 500 corporation? What do they really want to hear from you as an "elevator pitch" or capability statement? What happens once the expo is over? What can you do to maximize your chance of success?

In this session, led by managers of these small business and supplier diversity programs, you’ll be a part of the first-hand discussion to market your small business to large prime contractors.

Moderator:
Ms. Marcea Weiss, Veteran Business Advocate, NaVOBA

Speakers:
Mr. Fernando Hernandez, Supplier Diversity Director, Microsoft Corporation
Ms. Julia Hubbel, President, The Hubbel Group Inc.
Mr. Stephen Humphrey, Supplier Diversity Manager, Volvo Trucks North America / Mack Trucks, Inc.
Ms. Jackie La Joie, Supplier Diversity Manager, Merck
Mr. Maurice Webb, Supplier Diversity Manager, Apple Inc.

This session will provide attendees with a detailed understanding of Veteran-Owened Small Business (VOSB) joint venturing and the FAR and CFR authorities that are most overlooked by VOSBs. It will also provide an introduction to the new $30 billion VOSB contracting opportunity, as well as an overview of the 'VOSB Model' of the future (competition), and access to a strategy that allows VOSBs to compete for and win consolidated or bundled contracts.

Moderator:
Mr. William Jenkins, Veterans Procurement Liaison, U.S. Small Business Administration

Speakers:
Mr. Walter Cotton III, Managing Partner, MR~IT [Presentation]
Mr. Ralph Thomas, Partner, Barton, Baker, Thomas & Tolle, LLP [Presentation]

Representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency, the General Services Administration, and Department of State, along with Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Owners will discuss green initiatives in the Federal Government as well as "green" initiatives in the private industry.

Moderator:
Mr. Lamont Norwood, Direct Procurement Team Leader, Office of Small Business Programs, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Speakers:
Mr. Donald Horn, Sustainable Design Program Expert, U.S. General Services Administration
Mr. Brian K. Long, Procurement Analyst/Team Leader, Green Acquisition Team, Office of Acquisition Management, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [Presentation]
Mr. William G. Miner, Director, OBO/PE/Design and Engineering, U.S. Department of State
Mr. David I. Rosenberg, Project Executive, Iron Eagle Environmental Services, Inc.
Mr. Steven E. Sullivan, CEO, Sullivan International Group, Inc. [Presentation]