2024 Past SECAF Events
November 21, 2024
SECAF Gov Con Member Networking Reception (Government Contractor Members Only)
You are invited to join us to get to know your fellow SECAF members!
Networking is an essential part of any successful career in the government contracting industry. It can help you find new opportunities and make connections that can lead to future business partnerships.
At this networking event, you will have the opportunity to learn more about what your fellow SECAF members do and whether there might be teaming opportunities. You can also find out how you can help them and vice versa. So bring your capabilities statement and enjoy the chance to chat with your peers over cocktails and hors d'oeuvres!
Patsy's American
8051 Leesburg Pike
Vienna VA 22182
(Plenty of free surface parking.)
Sponsored By: Citrin Cooperman & JLL
November 1, 2024
Executive Briefing: DoD FY25 Trends in Acquisition
This Executive Briefing will explore evolving acquisition strategies within the Department of Defense (DoD). In response to increasing demands for more efficient and effective solutions amidst constrained resources, DoD leaders are actively transforming acquisition processes to ensure the rapid deployment of capabilities that address emerging threats.
This discussion will spotlight current challenges that surround the DoD mission space and innovative approaches to acquisition, including collaboration with non-traditional commercial partners, non-traditional methods, waivers, Technical Direction Letters, and initiatives to stimulate the small business community participation in solving defense challenges. Attendees will gain valuable insights into how the DoD is adapting to meet critical mission needs in a dynamic security environment.
DoD wants to hear from you, too! Come with your questions and feedback.
Speakers:
- Ken Evans – DoD Sector Director within Assisted Acquisition Service (AAS Defense)
- Clayton Ahrens – Contracting Functional Career Manger at the Missile Defense Agency (MDA)
Moderated by Will Fortier - Founder, Hive Group
October 23, 2024
Swing into Action. Tee it High. Let it Fly.
Join Us for our 1st Annual Golf Tournament!
Proceeds from this event will support TAPS, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, Inc., which provides compassionate care and comprehensive resources for all those grieving the death of a military or veteran loved one.
Schedule:
7:30-9:00am Registration and Networking Breakfast
9:00am Shotgun Start
1:30-3:00pm Luncheon and Awards Reception
September 19, 2024
SECAF Gov Con Member Networking Reception (Government Contractor Members Only)
You are invited to join us to get to know your fellow SECAF members!
Networking is an essential part of any successful career in the government contracting industry. It can help you find new opportunities and make connections that can lead to future business partnerships.
At this networking event, you will have the opportunity to learn more about what your fellow SECAF members do and whether there might be teaming opportunities. You can also find out how you can help them and vice versa. So bring your capabilities statement and enjoy the chance to chat with your peers over cocktails and hors d'oeuvres!
Patsy's American
8051 Leesburg Pike
Vienna VA 22182
(Plenty of free surface parking.)
Sponsored By: Unanet
September 10, 2024
Small Business Summit 2024
Hosted by SECAF and Costello College of Business Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting.
Small businesses are the foundation of our industrial base, but they face unique challenges. Each year, the Baroni Center for Government Contracting and the Small and Emerging Contractors Advisory Forum come together for our Small Business Summit. This Summit is an opportunity to learn more about the policies and practices creating challenges and opportunities for small firms, their teammates, and the agencies trying to do business with them.
This year, we will be focusing on innovations in both civilian and defense contracting intended to support small businesses while meeting emerging needs. We'll hear from Doug Bush, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology and from Corey Nickens, Client Executive and Acquisition Innovation Advocate within the General Services Administration's Assist Acquisition Services. We'll also look at how use of the procurement thresholds affects small business innovation, and how access to capital challenges emerging small government contractors.
Please join us, other small businesses, and representatives from government, academia, and industry for what promises to be an insightful and useful morning.
Registration includes a breakfast buffet, coffee and tea stations, and networking opportunities.
Hosts:
- Jerry McGinn, Executive Director, Baroni Center for Government Contracting
- Frank Sturek, CEO of CrestPeak, Compendium Federal Technology &
Member of the SECAF Board of Directors
Featured Speakers:
- Douglas Bush, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology
- Corey Nickens, Client Executive for Innovation, Assisted Acquisition Services
GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service
Panelists:
- Joe Burkhart, Partner, Boathouse Capital
- Joseph Humphries, Market Executive, Specialized Lending, Atlantic Union Bank
- Sam Le, Director of Policy Planning and Liaison, U.S. Small Business Administration
- Emily Murphy, Senior Fellow, Baroni Center for Government Contracting
- Brett Palmer, President, Small Business Investor Alliance
- Manjit Singh, Founder and President, Agilious
Wednesday, July 24, 2024
Webinar Series - Small Business Government Contracting Insights & Trends from the 2024 Clarity Study
The 2024 Deltek Clarity Government Contracting Industry Report is the most comprehensive resource to advance competitive positioning for government contractors. Celebrating its 15th year, the results of the Clarity Study are informed by more than 600 government contractors who shared their insights on the overall state of the market and how they are overcoming current challenges.
Some common themes that emerged this year include: prioritizing investment in AI & machine learning technology, a shift towards more diversified sets of products and services, and continued concerns over the impact of labor costs on the bottom line.
Join us for a look at key takeaways from the 2024 GovCon Clarity report that specifically impacts small business contractors in 2024, including what strategies they are deploying to tackle the challenges and opportunities uncovered.
Thursday, June 25, 2024
SECAF Gov Con Member Networking Reception (Government Contractor Members Only)
You are invited to join us to get to know your fellow SECAF members!
Networking is an essential part of any successful career in the government contracting industry. It can help you find new opportunities and make connections that can lead to future business partnerships.
At this networking event, you will have the opportunity to learn more about what your fellow SECAF members do and whether there might be teaming opportunities. You can also find out how you can help them and vice versa. So bring your capabilities statement and enjoy the chance to chat with your peers over cocktails and hors d'oeuvres!
Nostos Restaurant
8100 Boone Blvd
Vienna VA 22182
(The entrance is on the northeast corner of the building, Leesburg and Aline. You may access the restaurant from the lobby of the building as well as the outside entrance. Plenty of surface parking all around the building.)
Sponsored By: Flexwind and Pillsbury
Tuesday, June 4, 2024
Monthly Briefing: Navigating Obstacles To Optimize and Sustain Growth - A CEO's Perspective
Ms. Carissa Christensen and Mr. Gabe Patricio will reflect on their approach, experience, and lessons learned driving and sustaining growth for their Gov Con start-ups as they became well-established mid-sized businesses ($50-$100M). The discussion will cover:
- resource allocation
- business development
- customer relations
- teaming
- organizational structure and
- timely decision making
Don't miss this opportunity to hear about their business decisions - what worked, what did not work and the lessons learned. These experienced CEOs have led four companies as they emerged from small to mid-sized successful businesses.
Speakers:
- Carissa Christensen, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, BryceTech
- Gabe Patricio, Founder, Patricio Enterprises (PE)
Moderated by Jeff Mujsce, Chief Growth Officer, BryceTech and SECAF Board Member
Thursday, May 30, 2024
SECAF Gov Con Member Networking Reception (Government Contractor Members Only)
You are invited to join us to get to know your fellow SECAF members!
Networking is an essential part of any successful career in the government contracting industry. It can help you find new opportunities and make connections that can lead to future business partnerships.
At this networking event, you will have the opportunity to learn more about what your fellow SECAF members do and whether there might be teaming opportunities. You can also find out how you can help them and vice versa. So bring your capabilities statement and enjoy the chance to chat with your peers over cocktails and hors d'oeuvres!
Nostos Restaurant
8100 Boone Blvd
Vienna VA 22182
(The entrance is on the northeast corner of the building, Leesburg and Aline. You may access the restaurant from the lobby of the building as well as the outside entrance. Plenty of surface parking all around the building.)
Sponsored By: JLL and Sandy Spring Bank
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Gov Con Member Networking Reception with Special Guets from the FBI! (Government Contractor Members Only)
You are invited to join us to get to know your fellow SECAF members and meet special guests Barbara Clouser, Small Business Specialist/Industry Outreach Liaison, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Melissa Golicz, Contracting Officer, Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Networking is an essential part of any successful career in the government contracting industry. It can help you find new opportunities and make connections that can lead to future business partnerships.
At this networking event, you will have the opportunity to learn more about what your fellow SECAF members do and whether there might be teaming opportunities. You can also find out how you can help them and vice versa. So bring your capabilities statement and enjoy the chance to chat with your peers over cocktails and hors d'oeuvres!
Nostos Restaurant
8100 Boone Blvd
Vienna VA 22182
(The entrance is on the northeast corner of the building, Leesburg and Aline. You may access the restaurant from the lobby of the building as well as the outside entrance. Plenty of surface parking all around the building.)
Sponsored By: JAMIS and sbLiftOff
Thursday, April 18, 2024
Webinar Series - Transforming your Business for Long-Term Success: Lessons Learned from Evans Consulting’s Growth Journey
As a small business leader, your top priority is likely growth. As your business grows, you need to tackle new challenges that, more likely than not, other business leaders have faced as well. These include, for example, how to make the right strategic choices to guide decisions, establish an operation that scales, and have the right leadership team in place. In other words, the challenge most companies face is how to transition the small business to a mature, large business that’s able to compete for and win full and open contracts.
During this interactive webinar, Evans Consulting will share some of the lessons they learned and how they transformed their business on their journey through graduation and the changes they’re making to become a high performing, mature business.
Specifically, you will learn:
- The importance of assessing the external environment (competitors, customers, industry trends) in which your organization operates and how that impacts the growth strategy.
- How to establish a clear and compelling direction for your organization that informs every day decision making.
- The pathway to build a cohesive and aligned leadership team.
- How to identify those organizational cultural shifts that need to occur to achieve the overall direction.
- Join us to engage with members of the Evans leadership team and ask questions. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about their struggles, obstacles, and missed opportunities. Learn what helped them navigate, overcome, and continue down a successful growth path.
Speakers:
- Jack Moore, Managing Partner, Evans Consulting
- Ashley Tolub, VP of Growth, Evans Consulting
Moderator: Mercedes Sotomayor, Principal of Leadership and Team Effectiveness, Evans Consulting
Tuesday, April 9, 2024
Monthly Briefing: NOAA’s ProTech 2.0
NOAA’s ProTech 2.0 is one of the top10 small business opportunities in play this year. Join us to learn more about the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Professional, Scientific and Technical Services Program (ProTech 2.0). We are fortunate to have Jay Standring from NOAA 's Acquisition and Grants Office as this month's presenter. Jay, the NOAA ProTech Branch Chief and Supervisory Contracting Officer, will share his thoughts on this important NOAA initiative.
ProTech is a suite of Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) multiple award contracts, organized into four Domains that align with NOAA’s major mission areas: Satellite, Fisheries, Oceans, and Weather. ProTech is a mandatory-use vehicle for NOAA line and staff offices, and also available for U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) Bureaus when appropriate.
Don’t miss this opportunity. Register now to join us on April 9th.
Speaker:
- Jay Standring - Branch Chief/Supervisory Contracting Officer, NOAA Acquisition and Grants Office, Corporate Services Acquisition Division, Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (ProTech) Branch Head
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Webinar Series - Growth Strategies for 2024: Using M&A to Power into Full and Open
GovCon companies under $100 Million in revenue need to understand how to use INORGANIC strategies for growth. Pick up tips from an experienced group of service providers about how M&A can open up new business opportunities, drive revenue, increase margins and strengthen your company’s overall value. Top experts from Aprio, Eagle Bank, and sbLiftOff will present firsthand case studies of how smaller GovCon companies are using M&A/inorganic growth strategies to scale more rapidly. The event will cover:
- Current state of the M&A market in GovCon
- Availability of capital, and impact of inflation and interest rate increases
- The benefits and challenges of buying another GovCon company
- Reasons to buy and reasons not to buy
- How to value targets for purchase
- How to start the process
- What is the process
Speakers:
- Jim Fennel, Government Contracting Segment Lead Partner, Aprio
- Sharon Heaton, Founder, sbLiftOff
- Eric Miller, Relationship Manager, EagleBank
Presented by: sbLiftOff
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
Gov Con Member Networking Reception (Government Contractor Members Only)
You are invited to join us to get to know your fellow SECAF members!
Networking is an essential part of any successful career in the government contracting industry. It can help you find new opportunities and make connections that can lead to future business partnerships.
At this networking event, you will have the opportunity to learn more about what your fellow SECAF members do and whether there might be teaming opportunities. You can also find out how you can help them and vice versa. So bring your capabilities statement and enjoy the chance to chat with your peers over cocktails and hors d'oeuvres!
Nostos Restaurant
8100 Boone Blvd
Vienna VA 22182
(The entrance is on the northeast corner of the building, Leesburg and Aline. You may access the restaurant from the lobby of the building as well as the outside entrance. Plenty of surface parking all around the building.)
Sponsored By: Deltek and Withum
Tuesday, March 5. 2024
Monthly Briefing: Doing Business at USDA
Are you eager to explore opportunities for your business within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)? Look no further! Join us for an exclusive session where we delve into the intricacies of Doing Business at USDA.
Whether you're a seasoned contractor or new to federal procurement, this session promises to equip you with the knowledge and strategies necessary to navigate the USDA landscape and position your business for success.
Our distinguished panel will be moderated by Ira Hobbs from Hobbs and Hobbs, LLC. Join us for invaluable insights from Ashley Thompson from Forest Service USDA, Milbert ”MAC” Crossland from Rural Development USDA and Frank Dominick from GPS Strategic Advisors. Ms. Thompson and Mr. Crossland will provide a comprehensive overview of their respective agency’s strategic goals and highlight specific initiatives geared towards empowering small businesses. Mr. Dominick, drawing upon his extensive experience in Business Development (BD) and Capture, will share his expertise in effectively marketing to USDA and targeting upcoming opportunities within the agency.
Don't miss out on this golden opportunity to expand your business horizons and forge meaningful connections within the USDA community. Reserve your spot today!
Let's embark on this exciting journey of growth and collaboration together. See you there!
Speakers:
- Ashley Thompson - Small Business Specialist, Forest Service, USDA
- Milbert ”MAC” Crossland - Procurement Analyst / Small Business Officer, Rural Development, USDA
- Frank Dominick - Vice President of Strategic Growth Advisory and Capture Services, GPS Strategic Advisors
- Ira Hobbs - Principal at Hobbs and Hobbs, LLC (previously USDA DCIO)
Wednesday, February 21, 2024
Webinar Series: Small Business Year In Review
- new regulations from the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”)
- notable decisions from
- SBA’s Office of Hearings and Appeals
- Government Accountability Office
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims
Speaker:
- Jon Williams – Partner, PilieroMazza
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
Gov Con Member Networking Reception (Government Contractor Members Only)
You are invited to join us to get to know your fellow SECAF members!
Networking is an essential part of any successful career in the government contracting industry. It can help you find new opportunities and make connections that can lead to future business partnerships.
At this networking event, you will have the opportunity to learn more about what your fellow SECAF members do and whether there might be teaming opportunities. You can also find out how you can help them and vice versa. So bring your capabilities statement and enjoy the chance to chat with your peers over cocktails and hors d'oeuvres!
Nostos Restaurant
8100 Boone Blvd
Vienna VA 22182
(The entrance is on the northeast corner of the building, Leesburg and Aline. You may access the restaurant from the lobby of the building as well as the outside entrance. Plenty of surface parking all around the building.)
Sponsored By: A-Tek and Unanet
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
Monthly Briefing: US Navy on IT/Cyber in the DoD - Challenges and Requirements, and Advice for the Defense Industrial Base
No government Department or Agency is immune from cybersecurity threats, ranging from rudimentary to sophisticated techniques, or from the problems resulting from successful attacks. This is especially true of the Department of Defense (DoD), given reliance on widely proliferated IT systems, digital communications, artificial intelligence, etc. It is an acute problem across the Defense Industrial Base (DIB), companies of all sizes and maturity, as they provide products and services to support the Department’s requirements.
Come join other business leaders as our US Navy leader panelists share unclassified insight into the challenges and concerns in this lane, and what the Navy and DoD are doing to combat the threats to protect sensitive national information and valuable trade secrets (your Intellectual Property). There are a number of relatively new requirements levied on GovCon businesses, and it is imperative that the DIB track these developments and prepare now. And the response plans are sure to generate tranches of contract opportunities for which the government needs industry support and expertise. The panel will discuss the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), and capstone documents such as the National Cybersecurity Strategy and the Navy’s Digital Roadmap. This will all feed a discussion of “how the DIB can help” and some recommendations for aligning your corporate capabilities with the US Government’s requirements.
Speakers:
- Rear Admiral Heidi Berg, USN - Navy Deputy for Operations, Plans, and Strategy (OPNAV N3/5B)
- Rear Admiral (ret) Brad Williamson, USN - CEO, Perrarus Solutions, Inc
- CAPT (ret) Peter DeMane, USN - Managing Director, Pitsword Group LLC
Tuesday, January 30, 2024
January Gov Con Member Networking with Special Guests
You are invited to join us to get to know your fellow SECAF members and meet special guests Shannon Jackson, Executive Director (SES) and Kevin Diaz, Management Analyst, from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services!
Networking is an essential part of any successful career in the government contracting industry. It can help you find new opportunities and make connections that can lead to future business partnerships. At this networking event, you will have the opportunity to hear a few words from our guests and learn more about what your fellow SECAF members do and whether there might be teaming opportunities. You can also find out how you can help them and vice versa.
Thursday, January 11, 2023
Monthly Briefing: DHS Technology and Acquisition Update
SECAF is planning a DHS small business update focused on technology and professional services. Join us to learn about:
- Key small business opportunities in 2024/2025
- Subcontracting opportunities on major F&O programs
- How to connect with DHS stakeholders and decision makers
- Next generation of EAGLE NEXGEN
- Darlene Bullock - Senior Executive Service, Executive Director Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization at U.S. DHS