Past SECAF Events

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Tuesday, November 5, 2019​
Executive Briefing: Small Business Program at NOAA
The Tower Club, Vienna, VA 22182
7:30-10:00am 

The Small and Emerging Contractor Advisory Forum (SECAF) is pleased to present a breakfast program for members and the public on the Small Business Program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).  The program will feature speakers from NOAA and Industry.  

Moderator: Mitchell J. Ross, President, Puyenpa Services, LLC, and former Director NOAA Acquisition and Grants Office

Speakers:

• Jeffrey D. Hale, NOAA Small Business Officer
• Marcelle L. Loveday, NOAA Director, Strategic Sourcing Acquisition Division
• Wallace T. (Tom) Bucher, CEO and Founder, Integrated Systems Solutions (ISS)
   

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Tuesday, October 8, 2019 
Executive Briefing: Evolving Your Company’s View of Capture to Secure and Execute Effective Customer Meetings
The Tower Club, Vienna, VA 22182
7:30-10:00am 

Join SECAF and learn the nuances of capture as a function, the capture process, activities, and best practices that are propelling companies to exponential growth; identify how to incrementally add to your capture capability to secure and execute an effective customer meeting.  Don’t be reluctant to engage in the topic of capture, a successful capture strategy is key to long-term customer success.  

Moderator:  Mike Mullen - Partner, Deep Water Point

Speakers:

• Ronald Bouchard - Brigadier General (Retired) and Partner, Deep Water Point, LLC
• Mariela Cardona - Chief, Office of Citizenship and Applicant Information Services External Affairs Directorate, USCIS/DHS (Retired)
• Kim Hayes - Owner, The Ambit Group 
• Naveen Krishnamurthy - Founder & CEO, RIVA Solutions, Inc.
   

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Thursday, October 3, 2019
SECAF Panel at the GMU 2019 Government Contracting - Confronting the Challenges Facing Today's Government Contracting Community and the Government: What’s Next?
Washington Marriott at Metro Center, Washington, DC 20005
2:00-3:15pm

For over 65 years, beginning with the Small Business Act of 1953, the Federal government has embraced legislation and policies having the goal of aiding, counseling, assisting and protecting the interests of small business concerns. Contracting preferences have been extended to small business participants in the 8(a) Business Development program, the HUBZone program, the Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business program, and the Woman-Owned Small Business Program to diversify the industrial base, create jobs, and increase competition. The experience and expertise of the panelists afford a much-needed discussion on how the policy affects both sides of the GovCon Industry, government and business: from socio-economic policy goals, to business creation and growth, and how both government and industry can best adopt and adapt these policies for efficiency and innovation. We will talk with senior executives and officials who have lived or studied effects of small business policy on the shape of the government contracting industry.

Moderator: Sumeet Shrivastava- President and Chief Executive Officer, ARRAY and Board Member, Center for Government Contracting 

Speakers:

• Craig Reed- Chief Growth Officer, Serco NA & Senior Fellow and Board Member, Center for Government Contracting
• Bed Edson- Founder and Chief Executive Officer, VariQ
• Soraya Correa- Chief Procurement Officer, Department of Homeland Security
   

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Thursday, September 26
Webinar Presented by SECAF and Citrin Cooperman: Pitfalls and Best Practices for Government Contractors: Fundamentals of Accounting, Financial Reporting, and Tax Strategies  Government Contracting organizations encounter complex and sensitive issues daily, all of which require proactivity, business transparency, and accurate reporting. In addition to remaining compliant, precise financial and tax reporting is crucial to management decisions and the ultimate success of any government contractor. Join Citrin Cooperman’s Government Contracting team as they take us through the best practices (and worst pitfalls) of financial reporting and accounting for government contractors.

Expand your knowledge on:

• Important aspects of an accounting system
  • Cost accounting
  • Indirect rates
• Financial reporting uses
  • Internal – what information is useful as an owner or C-level person to manage the company
  • External  - information critical to bankers and other external users
• Tax Tips From Start-Up to Exit
  • Choice of Entity
  • Filing Requirements
  • Exit Strategies
    • Stock Sale
    • Asset Sale
    • Stock Sales Treated as Asset Sales for Tax Purposes 

Presented By:  Citrin Cooperman - Sirena Johnson, Michael Cannon, Kevin Jones and Ryan Ham

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Tuesday, September 10, 2019
Executive Briefing: Small Business Landscape - Trends and Opportunities in FY2020
The Tower Club,  Vienna, VA 22182
7:30-10:00am

• How to operationalize budget data with agency plans to win more business 
• Small business acquisition trends shaping federal spending 
• The opportunities and markets to target for growth in fiscal 2020 and beyond

Build out your organizations’ strategic plans with tips and actionable information from one of the leading experts in federal contracting.  Bring your questions for a lively Q&A.

Speaker:  Dan Snyder - Bloomberg Government

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July 30, 2019 12:00 - 1:00pm EDT

Webinar Presented by SECAF and DHG:  Understanding Government Contract Cost Accounting and Pricing

Overheads, loads, add-ons, burdens, indirect costs, allocations, wraps... What do they all mean? Successful government contractors are able to navigate the sea of indirect rate complexities while complying with regulations, maintaining cost and delivering for their customer.

• Understanding Indirect Costs 
• Typical Indirect-Cost Pools
• Allocation of Indirect Costs
• Contractor Management of Indirect Costs
• Impact of Government Contracting Requirements
• Implications of Contract Type
• Cost Accounting Standards Requirements
• How the Government Monitors Indirect Costs

Presented by SECAF and Hosted by DHG 

Speaker:  Mike Mardesich, CPA, PMP - DHG, Senior Manager

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Tuesday, June 11, 2019
Executive Briefing: Emerging Technologies and the Government: What’s Next?
Valo Park Mclean, VA
7:30-10:00am

Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Blockchain, Gaming… it seems like these buzzwords are everywhere and it can be difficult to cut through the noise. But what does government actually need? Join SECAF and a panel of government and small businesses leaders on June 11, as we discuss Federal priorities in emerging technology, what is next, and how small businesses can help. 

Moderator:  Richard Pineda - CALIBRE Systems, Inc., President &CEO

Speakers:

• Michael McFarland - Director of the Office of Acquisition Business Systems in the Office of Grants and Acquisition Policy and Accountability, Division of Acquisition in the Department of Health and Human Services
• Kevin McGuire - SysNet Technologies
• Anne Neumann - SBPO, Program Manager (SETA) at DARPA SBIR/STTR Program

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Thursday, May 30, 2019
Networking Reception for Government Contractor Members Only
Cocktails with Hors D'oeuvres 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Maggiano's Little Italy, Tysons

You are invited to come get to know your fellow
SECAF Government Contractor members!

• What do they do?
• Might there be teaming opportunities?
• Can they help you?  Can you help them?
• Enjoy the opportunity to network with your peers.
• Bring your capabilities statement.

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Thursday, May 2, 2019
11th Annual Government Contractor Awards Gala
Hilton McLean  6:00pm

SECAF announced the winners of its 11^th Annual Government Contractor Awards. More than 500 people representing government contracting firms and leading industry professionals gathered to recognize and celebrate excellence. For more than a decade, SECAF’s flagship event has honored small and emerging government contractors by recognizing the key role these firms have in creating innovation and advancement within their industry.
  
The Government Contractor of the Year awards recognize companies in four revenue categories (Under $7.5M, $7.5-15M, $15-27.5M, and $27.5-50M) that have shown a compelling and profound commitment to excellence in growth and financial performance. The Award of Excellence highlights an organization that represents excellence within their community, the government contracting industry, and towards employees. The Government Project of the Year is given to a company that has delivered a stellar program with significant value to the federal government. The Mentor-Protégé Program of the Year honors companies that have shown a compelling and profound commitment to excellence through its efforts as a prime contractor. The Special Recognition Award is presented to a small business that – in the judges' view – exemplifies many of the core qualities of the other SECAF awards and has a strong focus on providing class-leading services and solutions. The Government Advocate of the Year commends an organization or a person within the federal government who has provided leadership, commitment, and direction and had a profound and positive impact on the small and emerging contracting community. Finally, the SECAF Advocate of the Year is bestowed upon a member who tirelessly championed the organization’s mission.
 
Click here for a list of the 2019 winners!
 

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Tuesday, April 9, 2019
Member Forum: Recruiting, Hiring, and Retaining Cleared Professionals
Valo Park McLean, VA
7:30-10:00am

Recruiting cleared talent can take time, perseverance and some creativity for small businesses today.  The increasing number of positions requiring security clearances, the massive clearance processing backlog, and increased competition for the limited pool of available resources demand an organizational focus on unique programs and processes to build and sustain a talent pipeline.  Join SECAF and a panel of small businesses on April  9th for an inside view on successful programs, approaches and tips to finding and retaining cleared resources.  

Moderator:  Devon Hewitt - Partner, Protorae Law

Speakers:

• Steve Bailey - Dark Wolf, COO
• David Reid - Axiologic Solutions LLC, Chief Strategy Officer
• Michael Waddell - INTEGRITYOne, Managing Partner/Co-Founder

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Thursday, March 28, 2019

CXO Forum:  Navigating Cybersecurity Compliance - How to Get Your Company DFARS / NIST 800-171 Compliant in 3 Easy Steps
Presented by:  SysArc, Inc.
Maggiano's Tysons McLean, VA 
11:30am - 1:00pm
Speakers:

• Asya Smith – COO, SysArc
• Bernhard Bock – CISO, SysArc

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Wednesday, March 20, 2019

CXO Forum:  Indirect Rates Discussion
Presented by:  Unanet
Unanet  Dulles, VA 
11:30am - 1:00pm
 

• Managing Projects with Ever Changing Rates:  Government Contractors struggle to forecast the impact costs will have when you bid a multi-year project. We will discuss how to carefully manage the ebbs and flows of the costs in the organization and stay vigilant and be ready for unexpected expenses during the execution of your project. 
• What should be included in the Fringe pool?  FAR 31.205-6(m) outlines what should be in a fringe pool. The question is should you have a separate fringe and overhead pool or just put fringe in overhead? In the session we will discuss the pros and cons of each methodology. What are the effects of rates on winning new business and executing projects? 
• Have you selected the right General and Administrative (G&A) base for your company?  You may be struggling with how to pick the right G&A base for your organization or considering making a change. The discussion will be around the finer points of Total Cost Base, Value Added Base and Single Element Base. You will learn about the components of G&A and the base, the rules and where to locate them, and the pros and cons of base selection. In addition, topics related to the FAR, CAS, and DCAA will be discussed. 
• Other Topics:  Other discussion topics will be Actual vs Provisional vs Target/Planning rates, calculating rates from GL budgets, and even for an organization with no cost plus work, why they should look at using indirect rates to understand profitability on T&M and FP projects. 

Speaker:

• Rich Wilkinson - Solutions Engineering Group, Unanet

***SECAF Members*** - For the slide presentation/recorded webinar, login and click on Members Only tab (top), followed by Past Event Presentations​

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Thursday, March 14, 2019

For SECAF Gov Con Members!

CXO Forum:  Managing Federal Sector Growth - Business Infrastructure and Compliance Tips
American Center Conference Center
Vienna, VA 

7:30am -  9:00am

Business owners crave direction on their growth trajectory, and having the right information at the right time will help them capture growth opportunities.  Building a sound business infrastructure is critical to successful and scalable growth. This is a must see presentation to prepare you for what lies ahead for businesses experiencing much sought after growth in the government contracting industry. You will obtain valuable information about right sizing your accounting system, employing risk management techniques, developing your strategy and budget, transitioning to a prime contractor, and strengthening your overall compliance.

Who Should attend?   CEO, CFO, COO, Controller

Speakers:  

• Brigitta Scott, CPA - Cordia Partners, Principal
• Traci Shepps, CPA - Cordia Partners, Partner

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Tuesday, March 12, 2019

Executive Briefing: Doing Business with the Intelligence Community 

Valo Park
7950 Jones Branch Drive
McLean, VA 22101
7:30-10:00am

The agencies which form the “intelligence community” (IC) provide fruitful contracting opportunities for small government contractors.  These opportunities will only continue to grow as the intelligence community’s mission expands to deal with today’s complex security environment.  However, the secretive nature of the work these agencies perform means that often there are barriers to entry which are difficult for an emerging government contractor to navigate.  The panel, including representatives of intelligence agencies as well as large and small contractors that have had success contracting with the intelligence community, will provide tips and guidance to how to prepare your company to compete for and win contracts with intelligence agencies.   

Moderator: Tom Stauber - Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Axiologic Solutions
Speakers: 

• Michael Chavira - Managing Partner, Axiologic Solutions, SECAF Member
• Scott Jackson - Director of the Office of Small Business Programs, National Security Agency (NSA)
• Anna Kurtz - Federal Bureau of Investigation, Office of General Counsel 
• Karen Mumford - Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) Small Business Programs Office Director

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March 6, 2019 12:00 - 1:30pm EDT

Webinar Presented by SECAF and Unanet:  Recent Legislative and Regulatory Developments Affecting Small Businesses
 
Several legislative and regulatory developments occurred last Fall which affect all small businesses and particularly SDVOSBs and HUBZone companies.  Sponsored jointly by Unanet and SECAF, the webinar will be presented by Devon Hewitt, Chair of SECAF’s Legislative and Regulatory Committee. Ms. Hewitt will summarize these developments and their impact on your business, including:

• The Small Business Runway Extension Act 
• Consolidation of VA’s SDVOSB eligibility rules with SBA’s SDVOSB eligibility rules
• SBA’s proposed revamping of the HUBZone program
• Proposed Rule amending FAR provisions on Limitations on Subcontracting

This webinar will also be the launch of SECAF’s new GovCon institute. The institute will offer SECAF members the opportunity to learn and discuss topics directly relevant to starting, managing, and growing a small business. Topics will include creating a robust capture process; engagement and use of outside professionals such as accountants, lawyers, and others; securing a Facility Clearance; understanding pricing and the development of loaded labor rates; best practices for recruiting; and options for marketing your company effectively and efficiently. SECAF also welcomes your suggestions on topics that you think are necessary building blocks for a small business competing in the federal market. Each topic will be discussed in a webinar, to be hosted by an expert in that respective area.

Presented by SECAF and Hosted by Unanet 

Devon Hewitt 
Protorae Law, Partner
 

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Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Networking Reception for Government Contractor Members Only
Cocktails with Hors D'oeuvres
6:00 - 8:00 pm
Maggiano's Little Italy

You are invited to come get to know your fellow
SECAF Government Contractor members!

• What do they do?
• Might there be teaming opportunities?
• Can they help you?  Can you help them?
• Enjoy the opportunity to network with your peers.
• Bring your capabilities statement.

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Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Member Forum: Cybersecurity Compliance Requirements-Practical Guidance on DFARS-NIST 800-171
Valo Park McLean, VA
7:30-10:00am

Addressing cyber threats has become an enormous priority for the federal government. 

• Under DFARS 252.204-7012, the cybersecurity regulations set out in NIST 800-171 became mandatory for contractors and subcontractors in the Department of Defense supply chain at the end of 2017.
• GSAR – GSA’s own cybersecurity regulations covering all government contractors - are due out in 2019.
• The EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) became effective in May 2018, regulating the processing of personal information originating from the European Union.
• California even rushed through its own data protection law affecting companies that do business in California.

The government’s oversight on how contractors store and use information is expanding and compliance is becoming more and more complex.   

Join us for this informative panel to hear from one of the authors of the NIST regulations and industry colleagues who have implemented their own cybersecurity programs and required subcontractors to do the same.  

Moderator:  Tim Brennan - CEO and Founder, SysArc

Speakers:

• Mark Birch - President and CEO, Automation Technologies Inc. (ATI)
• Kristin Grimes - Corporate Counsel, Leidos 
• Ron Ross - Fellow, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

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Thursday, January 17, 2019
For SECAF Gov Con Members!
CXO Forum: Growing Your Business - Navigating Varying State Employment Laws
Presented by C2 Essentials
7:45am - 9:15am 

Small contractors often grow their business by taking on contracts wherever they happen to be located.  But in today’s legal landscape, setting up operations in a different state can be far more complex than finding office space and registering your business.  Increasingly, states are enacting employments laws that differ from federal requirements and, more confusingly, differ from state-to-state. There are several areas where multi-state contractors routinely encounter problems, but which can be avoided through careful, early planning.
 

• Pre-employment Procedures:  “Ban the box,” drug testing, and background check differences among the states
• Paying Your Employees:  Differing state minimum wage, overtime, wage notice, and pay equity requirements
• Managing Employee Leave:  Navigating the growing patchwork of state paid leave laws
• Internal Policies/Handbooks:  Be mindful of differences in state and local anti-discrimination laws

Speaker:  Kevin McCoy, General Counsel, C2 Essentials, Inc 

Who Should Attend?  CEO, CFO, COO

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Wednesday, December 12, 2018
SECAF Holiday Party 
For SECAF Members
Valo Park 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Please join us to celebrate a wonderful season! 

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November 14, 2018 at 12 noon EDT
Webinar:  The Professional Services Category Introduces Its Supplier Marketing Initiative 
 
The supplier relationship management specialist for the government-wide Professional Services Category is seeking to help suppliers better understand and operate within the category management framework. He will discuss and seek feedback on content and prospective data sources that will support the initiative.

Webinar Presented By:  Zachary Lerner - GSA, Federal Acquisition Service
 

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Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Member Forum: Bid Protests - Practical Advice - When, Why and How
Valo Park - McLean, VA 
7:30-10:00am

Following the loss of a contract competition, small and emerging contractors may be eager to protest the loss but may not fully understand the protest process.  Protesting the government’s procurement decision is an important right that can be part of a larger business development strategy.  However, contractors should use the right sparingly and only when conditions warrant.  Our panelists, including a government procurement official, a GAO attorney, and representatives from industry will discuss the important considerations for a contractor facing a protest or no-protest decision, recent trends in the protest world and the success that contractors are seeing from filing protests.  The program will also include a brief overview of recent changes in protest rules.

Moderator:  Ryan Bradel, Partner, Ward & Berry, PLLC
Speakers:  

• Devon Hewitt, Partner, Protorae Law
• Ed Rinkavage, President, Sehlke Consulting, LLC
• Kathryn Szymanski, former senior government acquisition official and current consultant to government contractors
• Evan Wesser, GAO senior attorney

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Thursday, November 8, 2018
For SECAF Gov Con Members!
CXO Forum: Preparing for a Successful Exit
Presented by Citrin Cooperman
Valo Park - McLean, VA 

Join us to learn how to prepare for a successfull exit!

• Accounting and Financial issues related to transactions
• Tax issues and structuring surrounding the transaction
• How do the new tax regulations impact M&A deals?
• State and Local tax issues specific to government contractors 

Who should attend:  CEO, CFO, COO, CTO

Moderator:  Cynthia Barreda - CEO, Netcentrics

Speakers:

• Sirena Johnson - Partner, Co-Practice Leader Government Contracting, Citrin Cooperman
• Shawn Howard - Partner, Co-Practice Leader Government Contracting, Citrin Cooperman
• Sylvie Gadant - Partner, Practice Leader Transaction Advisory Services, Citrin Cooperman, New Jersey Office

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Wednesday, October 31, 2018
For SECAF Gov Con Members!
CXO Forum: Interpreting, Enforcing and Complying with Non-Solicitation and Non-Compete Provisions
Presented by Protorae Law
Tysons International Plaza Vienna, VA 22182

“Non-solicitation” and “Non-Compete” provisions are part and parcel of the business of government contracts.  These provisions can appear in non-disclosure agreements, employment agreements, teaming agreements, subcontracts and joint venture agreements, among others.  These agreements also can include provisions which are not explicitly called “non-compete” or “non-solicitation” provisions but, in effect, operate as such.  To further confuse matters, state law governs the interpretation and enforceability of these provisions and the law in this regard across different states is not always uniform.  Come hear attorneys from Protorae Law explain the nuances of these provisions and how they may impact your business.

Who Should Attend?  CEO, CFO, COO, CIO

Speakers:

• Devon E. Hewitt - Partner, Protorae Law, Government Contracts Practice  
• Brian F. Chandler - Managing Partner, Protorae Law, Employment Law Practice

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Tuesday, October 23, 2018
Executive Briefing: Becoming a Small Business Partner of Choice - Views from SBA and Industry
Valo Park, McLean, 7:30-10:00am

Join us for this two part program as we learn how to make the budget work for you as a small business. First, the SBA will discuss acquisition trends in the small business community, changing rules and regulations, and tools available to you to access SBA customer funding. Then, we will hear from a panel of large and medium-sized systems integrators as they discuss how they build relationships with the small business community and meet SBA goals. They will also highlight key capabilities and expertise they look for in small business partners. At the conclusion of the event, attendees will have the opportunity to network and make connections.

Moderator:  Robert Burton - Crowell and Moring, Partner in the Government Contracts Group
Speakers:

• Robert Wong - SBA, Associate Administrator of Government Contracting & Business Development
• Cameron Hogan - E3 Federal Solutions, Chief Strategy Officer 
• Asad Jabbar - LMI, Director of Capture Management
• Robyn Snyder - Lockheed Martin, Rotary & Mission Systems (RMS), Supplier Diversity Program Manager

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Tuesday, October 2, 2018
Networking Event for Government Contractor Members Only
Maggiano's Little Italy - Tysons  5:30 - 7:30 pm

You are invited to come get to know your fellow SECAF Government Contractor members!

• What do they do?
• Might there be teaming opportunities?
• Can they help you?  Can you help them?
• Enjoy the opportunity to network with your peers.
• Bring your capabilities statement.

Special Guest:  Dwight D. Deneal - Director, Small Business & Industry Liaison Programs, U.S. Coast Guard (CG-913), U.S. Department of Homeland Security

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Tuesday, September 18, 2018
New Member Breakfast, By Invitation Only
7:30-9:00am

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Tuesday, September 11, 2018
Executive Briefing - FY2019 Federal Budget:  What You Need To Know as a Small Business
Valo Park  McLean, VA 7:30-10:00am

Join us as we hear from Bloomberg about the funding sources, acquisition trends, and major opportunities shaping the next fiscal year. After the presentation, learn what the forecast means for your small business. Kevin Brancato will be joined by procurement and small business experts to discuss:

• How to operationalize budget data for your strategic plan 
• The acquisition trends shaping federal spending and how to leverage them to access funding dollars
• The resources available to small businesses at government agencies

• Kevin Brancato, Director of Government Contracts Research at Bloomberg Government
• Jim Ghiloni, Director, Wolf Den Associates
• George Price, Director of the Office of Small Disadvantaged Business Utilization for the U.S. Department of State

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August 30, 2018 at 12 noon EDT
Webinar:  Category Management - What does it mean for your small business?
 
Join us as we learn about Category Management.

• What is Category Management
  • Why is GSA focused on it?
  • How does it differ from how things were managed/procured in the past?
• What are the initiatives' strategic goals?
• What does Category Management mean strategically/tactically for small businesses?
  • Best in class contracts and onboarding opportunities
  • Leveraging schedules
  • Overview of agency customer contracting trends and additional resources for small businesses to access funding 

Webinar Presented By:  Geri Haworth,  Professional Services Category Management Division, Director

Ms. Geri Haworth was appointed the Professional Services Category Manager in June of 2013. In this role she manages a team of employees working in the Professional Services and Human Capital Portfolio of the Federal Acquisition Service.

Specifically, she is responsible for the oversight and management of the strategic initiatives related to category management. These initiatives focus on customer and industry engagement, the Acquisition Gateway category hallway, and improving the contract offerings that provide the services represented in the category. Ms. Haworth has more than 26 years of experience working in FAS helping federal agencies meet their mission requirements.

In previous roles, Ms. Haworth served as the Business Management Director for the FAS Management Services Center, the Deputy Director for the Regional Customer Accounts and Research Division, and the Regional Retail Services Manager overseeing the management of the Auburn and Alaska Customer Supply Centers. She began her federal career at the Social Security Administration and joined GSA in 1990 as a Management Intern.

Ms. Haworth earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Eastern Washington University and is a graduate of The Management Program at the University of Washington.

***SECAF Members*** - For the slide presentation/recorded webinar, login and click on Members Only tab (top), followed by Past Event Presentations​

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Wednesday, June 13, 2018
CXO Forum: Preparing for a Successful Exit
Presented by Citrin Cooperman 
The Tower Club Vienna, VA  7:30-9:00am

Highlights will include:

• Accounting and Financial issues related to transactions
• Tax issues and structuring surrounding the transaction
• How do the new tax regulations impact M&A deals?
• State and Local tax issues specific to government contractors

Who Should attend?   CEOs, CFOs, COOs, Controllers

Moderated by:  Cynthia Barreda - CEO of NetCentrics Corporation

Speakers:  

• Sirena Johnson - Partner and Co-Practice Leader Government Contracting, Citrin Cooperman
• Shawn Howard - Partner and Co-Practice Leader Government Contracting, Citrin Cooperman
• David Seiden - Partner and Practice Leader of the State and Local Tax, Citrin Cooperman

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Tuesday, June 12, 2018
Executive Briefing on OTAs - Other Transaction Agreements: Growth Opportunities for Small and Emerging Businesses   

• Devin Edwards, COO Phoenix Operations Group
• Will Graves, Chief Engineer for PM DoD Biometrics within the Program Executive Office for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare & Sensors (IEW&S)
• Bob Tuohy, COO Advanced Technology International (ATI)

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Thursday, June 7, 2018
Networking Event for Government Contractor Members Only
Maggiano's Little Italy -Tysons  5:30 - 7:30 pm

You are invited to come get to know your fellow
SECAF Government Contractor members!

• What do they do?
• Might there be teaming opportunities?
• Can they help you?  Can you help them?
• Enjoy the opportunity to network with your peers.
• Bring your capabilities statement

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Thursday, May 31
New Member Breakfast, By Invitation Only
7:30-9:00am

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Thursday, May 10, 2018
10th Annual Government Contractor Awards Gala
Hilton McLean  6:00 - 9:00 pm
Attire:  Business, Festive

The Government Contractor of the Year recognizes companies that have shown a compelling and profound commitment to excellence in financial performance. The SECAF Award of Excellence highlights organizations that represent excellence within their respective communities, the government contracting industry, and towards employees.  The Government Project of the Year is given to a company that has delivered an exemplary program with significant value to the federal government.  Finally, the Small Business Mentor/Partner of the Year is awarded to a company that has shown a compelling and profound commitment to excellence through its efforts as a prime contractor by providing tangible benefits to small businesses and/or subcontractors during the previous year. Note: All applications must be submitted by a small business.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  REVENUE CATEGORIES CHANGED EFFECTIVE 2018 AWARDS.
Award winners will be selected from a group of finalists in six categories as follows:

• SECAF Government Contractor of the Year (under $7.5 million in revenue)
• SECAF Government Contractor of the Year ($7.5 to $15 million in revenue)
• SECAF Government Contractor of the Year ($15 to $27.5 million in revenue)
• SECAF Award of Excellence (under $25 million in revenue, SECAF Members Only)
• SECAF Government Project of the Year (SECAF Members Only)
• SECAF Small Business Mentor/Partner of the Year

For more information, contact us info@secaf.org

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Tuesday, April 17, 2018
Executive Briefing:  360° Modernization at DoD - How Small Businesses can Shape our Vehicles, Systems, and Technology  

• Discussion of key modernization trends and initiatives for combat vehicles, aviation systems, and application migration
• Emerging capabilities of tactical wheeled vehicles providing greater battlefield situational awareness, force protection, and freedom of maneuver
• Future Vertical Life capabilities and developments 
• Future Unmanned Aerial Systems 
• Overview of Cloud Computing and migrating Army Applications
• Enterprise System Management and preparing applications for migration
• How small businesses can be a part of the modernization program

Speakers:  

• Colonel Jason Craft, Director Army Aviation Programs, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisitions, Logistics, and Technology (ASA(ALT))
• Timothy Hale, Product Director, Acquisition, Logistics and Technology Enterprise Systems and Services (ALTESS)  

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Tuesday, April 10, 2018
For SECAF Gov Con Members!
CXO Forum:  Keys to Building an Accounting Infrastructure that Scales with Your Growth
Presented by Cordia Partners 7:30am -  9:00am

Having the right information at the right time will help you capture growth opportunities.  Building a sound accounting infrastructure is critical to successful and scalable growth.  This event will provide you with information surrounding:

• The government’s perspective and rules on an acceptable accounting system
• Accounting system options – pros and cons
• Key accounting and financial reports for timely decision making
• Risk management and sound internal controls

Who Should attend?   Business owners, CEOs, Presidents, COOs, CFOs, and Controllers

Speakers:  

• Brigitta Scott, CPA - Cordia Partners, Principal
• Traci Shepps, CPA - Cordia Partners, Partner

Wednesday, March 28, 2018 
For SECAF Gov Con Members!
CXO Forum: Talent Acquisition Strategies
Presented By: Helios HR 7:30am -  9:00am

Are you experiencing issues with attracting and/or retaining people with targeted and highly sought-after skill sets?  Come participate in a discussion of emerging pay strategies in the government contracting market. 
 
Pay trends for different factions (i.e., operations vs. client services) are shifting. To remain relevant in talent acquisition strategies, leaders find themselves with a need to respond to market compensation demands in ways they’ve never had to before.  Join us in this interactive conversation with Helios HR Compensation experts and discover innovative strategies that will help your business achieve success.

Speaker:  Cicely C. Clayton, Principal Consultant

Who should attend?  CEOs, CFOs, and CHROs
 

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Tuesday, March 13, 2018
Member Forum: Is Your Insider Threat Program Up to Speed? 
Valo Park (formerly known as TEGNA/Gannett)  7:30 - 10:00am

On May 18, 2016, the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence issued NISPOM Change 2, which requires cleared contractors to establish and implement insider threat programs.  These programs must be consistent with Executive Order 13587 and the National Insider Threat Policy and Minimum Standards for Executive Branch Insider Threat Programs.  
 
Led by key figures in government Insider Threat policy and program offices, this panel will discuss the evolving development of insider threat programs within both government and contractor entities.  Panelists will explore the current framework of requirements, technologies, and processes being employed, as well as opportunities for small businesses to support innovations in this growing industry in the public sector.  
 
Moderator:  Rear Admiral (retired) David Simpson - Principal, Deep Water Point, FCC, DISA

Speakers:

• Jacqueline Atiles - Department of State, Insider Threat Program Director
• Michael Seage - Director, DoD Insider Threat Management Analysis Center (DITMAC)
• Randy Trzeciak - currently holds a dual appointment between Heinz College and the CERT Program of the Software Engineering Institute at Carnegie Mellon University

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Thursday, March 8, 2018
For SECAF Gov Con Members!
CXO Forum:  Understanding Project KPIs to Drive Financial Performance for Gov Cons
Presented By: Unanet 11:30am - 1:30pm

Join us!  Emerging contractors face significant challenges when competing with each other and the largest Primes! The most successful emerging contractors rely on a set of key performance indicators (KPls) to track financial and project performance. These KPIs are utilized by various stakeholders that need real time information to ensure success and profitability. Establishing the right KPls needed to support business goals can be tricky, and in this session we will discuss best practices to establish metrics, how to avoid common mist akes, and see how a single source of truth can help your company get the actionable information needed to drive project success!

Highlights will include:

• Best practices for establishing KPls for your organization
• Aligning KPls to corporate goals
• Common financial and project metrics
• Real-time metrics for reliable decision making

Speakers:

• Fran Craig, Unanet, Chair and CEO
• Kim Koster, Unanet, Director of Product Marketing

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Thursday, February 15, 2018
For SECAF Gov Con Members!
CXO Forum:  The Keys to Growing a Small Business in the Federal Market
Presented by: Deltek at Maggiano’s Little Italy Tysons  11:30am - 1:30pm

Growing a small business in the federal market is never easy. But, by executing in four key areas, companies can build a foundation for growth for years to come. 

Set aside a lunch hour to learn how thousands of small businesses have found success in federal contracting despite the market headwinds. Over lunch, Kevin Plexico, Deltek’s Vice President of Information Solutions, will discuss the landscape of federal small business contracting and share the four key areas successful small businesses must address in laying a solid foundation for growth.

Who Should attend?  CEOs, CFOs, CIOs, COOs

Speaker:  

• Kevin Plexico, Deltek, Vice President, Information Solutions

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Tuesday, February 13
New Member Breakfast, By Invitation Only
7:30-9:00am

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Thursday, February 1, 2018
For SECAF Gov Con Members!
CXO Forum:  Selling My Company - What I Learned and What I Wish I Had Known
Presented By: The McLean Group 11:30am - 1:30pm

Join us for lunch with an owner who has sold her businesses to discuss:

• How she prepared their business for the sale
• What did she learn from the process and what she wished she had know BEFORE she started the process
• What advice she would give to someone who is thinking about selling

Who should attend? CEOs  

Speaker:  Nicole Geller – CEO, Founder, Entrepreneur

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Thursday, January 25, 2018
Networking Event for Government Contractor Members Only
Tysons International Plaza 5:30 - 7:30 pm

You are invited to come get to know your fellow
SECAF Government Contractor members!

• What do they do?
• Might there be teaming opportunities?
• Can they help you?  Can you help them?
• Enjoy the opportunity to network with your peers.
• Bring your capabilities statement.

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Tuesday, January 9, 2018
Executive Briefing:  GSA – Raising the Bar for Professional Services Join SECAF on January 9th as we hear directly from GSA's Professional Services Program Management team on new initiatives at GSA and how to navigate the Professional Services category as a small and emerging business. Key topics include:

• OMB directives and the impact of Category Management on your business
• “Best in Breed” contracts: who is using them, and how do they impact your strategic plan?
• Updates to the schedule program to streamline the process and make it easier for contractors to get on schedule and refresh their offerings
• The future of OASIS and potential on-ramp opportunities

Speakers:

• Geri Haworth - Division Director Professional Services Category Management Office of Professional Services & Human Capital Categories Federal Acquisition Service U.S. General Services Administration
• Alexandra Rouse - Professional Services Program Executive Office of Professional Services & Human Capital Categories Federal Acquisition Service U.S. General Services Administration

After the event, Government Contractor members are invited to stick around for the opportunity to provide feedback on the RFI process directly to GSA, in the first Information Exchange Forum (IEF) of the year. The IEF is a quarterly gathering of industry partners and representatives from the Professional Services Category, aimed at facilitating dialogue, sharing information, and eliciting feedback. The conversation will shape the PSC’s efforts to enhance small and emerging contractor’s positions within the Category. Attendees should have an active Professional Services Schedule (PSS) or OASIS contract.  

Speaker:   Zachary Lerner – Supplier Relationship Management Specialist, Professional Services Category

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Wednesday, December 13, 2017
SECAF Holiday Party
Convene 6:00 - 8:00 pm  McLean, VA 

Please join us to celebrate a wonderful season! 
 

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Wednesday, November 29, 2017
CXO Forum: Debt & Equity to Accelerate Growth in Government Service
Presented by: Access National Bank  7:30-9:00am

This dynamic panel of distinguished speakers will focus on a variety of sources of capital available to help accelerate growth for emerging and middle market government contractors.  We'll discuss the differences and benefits of bank debt, mezzanine debt and venture capital and how they can often be utilized together, for both organic growth as well as M&A opportunities.

Who should attend? CEOs and CFOs of growing government contractors looking for additional sources of capital to fuel current growth or to help accelerate growth. 

Speakers:

• Javier Aguirre, Farragut Capital Partners, Managing Partner
• Mark Frantz, Blue Delta Capital Partners, Co-Founder
• Adam Nalls, Access National Bank, Senior Vice President

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Tuesday, November 7, 2017
Executive Briefing:  DHS – The Future of Procurement is Now!!!
Come join SECAF for an informative discussion directly from Department of Homeland Security’s leaders on the Department’s overall goals, acquisition directions and strategic sourcing considerations.  Learn how current mission priorities, speed to force, and congressional and presidential mandates, might be changing or not changing these considerations.  Listen to thought leaders Soraya Correa and Jaclyn Smyth provide their insight and intel obtained from within the DHS walls to our SECAF membership and supporters.

The discussion will include:

• What is the current update on the Enterprise Acquisition Gateway for Leading Edge Solutions, EAGLE, the Acquisition Innovation Act and other acquisition considerations for the next several years
• What are Procurement Innovation Lab programs?  What is Flexible Agile Support for the Homeland (FLASH) and how does provide support for future Procurement Innovation Lab programs?  
• Will DHS consider OTA’s or Other Transaction Authorities in the future?  Science & Technology Directorate has initial feedback and have obtained speed to the organization on contracting.  Less than 2 months in some minor cases
• Effect of political situation and back-to-back-to back natural disasters on Mission

Speakers:

• Soraya Correa, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Chief Procurement Officer
• Polly Hall, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Procurement Innovation Lab (PIL), Strategy & Planning Lead
• Jaclyn Smyth, Director of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Strategic Sourcing Program Office within the Office of the Chief Procurement Officer

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Wednesday, October 25, 2017
CXO Forum: ABC's of JVs in the Federal Marketplace
Presented by Protorae Law  Vienna, VA  7:30 - 9:00am

The use of joint ventures in federal procurement has increased dramatically in the last few years.  Procurements have become increasingly complex—primarily those set aside for small businesses.  As a result, small businesses frequently must combine resources in order to be competitive.  Joint ventures also are on the rise due to the expansion of the Small Business Administration’s Mentor-Protégé Program to include not only Section 8(a) business concerns but also all other types of small business concerns.  The expansion of the Mentor-Protégé Program to include all types of small businesses has made joint venturing a very popular option because joint ventures formed by small and large businesses in the program are eligible to participate in procurements set-aside for small businesses. 

• What is a Joint Venture?
• Why do contractors form Joint Ventures? 
• How do Joint Ventures help small and emerging businesses grow?
• What are the typical issues that arise with the formation, drafting and negotiation of Joint Venture and Operating Agreements?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of using Joint Ventures in federal procurements?

• Devon Hewitt, Partner, Protorae Law
• Kathleen Kelley, Partner, Protorae Law

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Wednesday, October 18, 2017
Networking Event for Government Contractor Members Only
Maggiano's Little Italy Tysons  5:30 - 7:30 pm

You are invited to come get to know your fellow
SECAF Government Contractor members!

• What do they do?
• Might there be teaming opportunities?
• Can they help you?  Can you help them?
• Enjoy the opportunity to network with your peers.
• Bring your capabilities statement.

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Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Member Forum: Myth-Busting Strategic Planning
The Tower Club Vienna, VA  7:30 - 10:00am

In today's market, volatility and uncertainty cloud the lens of traditional long-term strategic planning. Market shifts and opportunistic necessities can quickly render five-year plans obsolete, and companies don't have the time to launch resource-draining six-month planning campaigns. However, for small and emerging contractors, focus and discipline is still essential to building enduring enterprise value. 
 
Join us for a panel with experienced small business CXOs and GovCon strategic planning experts as we discuss how best to execute agile planning, deploy limited resources, and avoid the "Me Too" trend chasing trap. Discussion themes include:

• Real-time situational awareness and competitive intelligence
• A nuanced understanding of ROI tradeoffs and the virtues of uneven resource allocation
• Strategic direction that preserves tactical flexibility
• How to connect the strategy to operational and budget plans to make the plan actionable

Moderator:  Greg Nossaman, Managing Director, The McLean Group
Speakers:

• Michele Bolos, CEO and Founder , Next Tier Concepts (NT Concepts)
• Deepak Hathiramani, Founder, Vistronix

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Tuesday, September 12, 2017
Executive Briefing:  FY ’18 – Is it a Boom for GovCon Small Businesses?
Join SECAF, news giant Bloomberg, and GovCon consulting firm Wolf Den, to explore the upcoming issues, legislation, trends, and forecasts for government contractors!  We’ll explore issues like:

• How will the President’s Budget affect my small business?  What agencies are gaining?
• Contracting legislation pending and near-term impact on small businesses
• What are the top 5 opportunities that small business SHOULD take advantage of in the coming next 2 fiscal years
• Potential for a Continuing Resolution and Gov’t Shutdown
• … and other topics!

 
We’ll focus on issues affecting small government businesses by asking questions like:

• What does this mean for my small business… how can I pivot to be positioned?
• Should I “follow the money” or is there a different direction that should be considered?
• Is incumbency on contracts growing and should I partner with mid and large businesses?
• Should I expect the competitive environment to change with changes in the political environment?
• Will my GSA contract and other contract vehicles be more or less important? 

 
This event will equip you with the best information and ideas you need to make informative strategic decisions and position your company for growth in FY18/19!
 
Speakers:

• Robert Levinson, Senior Defense Analyst at Bloomberg Government Division
• Kevin Robbins, Co-Founder of Wolf Den Associates

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Wednesday,  August 30, 2017
SECAF Member Barbeque
SECAF Board Chair Cameron Hamilton's Residence  5:30 - 7:30 pm

The SECAF Board of Directors warmly invites you to a Member Summer  Barbeque at the current Chairman’s residence. Come join us for networking in a relaxed setting as  our Board Chairman Cameron Hamilton passes the gavel to Kathy Albarado, incoming Chair.   Bring plenty of cards for connections as we launch our new program year.  
 
Attire:  Business Casual
 

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Tuesday, June 13, 2017
Executive Briefing:  The State of Federal Health IT - The Landscape, Challenges and Potential Directions for Small Businesses Considering Engaging this Market
Tower Club Vienna, VA   7:30 - 10:00 am

An informative, educational discussion on the dynamic environment of Federal Health IT and the 2017 initiatives on the minds and desks of government leaders.  The event will bring together accomplished leaders at the forefront of Health IT strategy at the VA, DHA, GSA, and CMS along with industry leaders in the Federal Health IT space. 

Moderator:  Ben Edson, Founder and CEO of VariQ

Speakers:

• Roya Konzman – Senior Information Technology Specialist, Office of IT Schedule Programs, U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)
• Thomas Leney - Executive Director for Small and Veteran Business Programs at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• Daniel Levenson - Digital Service Contracting Adviser and a Contracting Officer at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
• David Guillory - U.S. Defense Health Agency, CO-HIT, San Antonio as the onsite Small Business Specialist

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Tuesday, June 6, 2017
Networking Event for Government Contractor Members Only
Chef Geoff's Tysons  5:30 - 7:30 pm

You are invited to come get to know your fellow
SECAF Government Contractor members!

• What do they do?
• Might there be teaming opportunities?
• Can they help you?  Can you help them?
• Enjoy the opportunity to network with your peers.
• Bring your capabilities statement.

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Tuesday, May 23, 2017
Member Forum: Reprogramming Potential of Contracting Dollars in a Trump Administration
Tower Club Vienna, VA 4:00 - 6:30pm

President-Elect Trump ran on a platform of comprehensive Federal agency reform.   For the Trump administration to make good on its campaign pledges to radically reform the government, agencies will have to reprogram dollars from some current programs.  Reform is dependent on the ability of Federal agencies to redirect existing resources to fulfill new priorities. Govini’s newest Analytic Report - Trump’s Swamp:   The Reprogramming Potential for Agencies and Contractors in 2017 - reveals which agencies and contractors are best positioned for the disruption, and which are most at risk.  All registered participants will get a FREE copy of the report (a $5000 value).

Govini will also discuss its current Federal Scorecard.  Utilizing more than 6,000 data points, the Scorecard is a powerful market intelligence resource creating a provocative view into the Federal procurement landscape.  The Federal Scorecard highlights agency spending trends, including a contracting overview, product and service spend, contract vehicle usage and set-aside performance.  

Speaker:  Chris Taylor, CEO, Govini
 

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Tuesday May 9, 2017
9th Annual Government Contractor Awards Gala
McLean Hilton, 6:00 - 9:00pm

The Small and Emerging Contractors Advisory Forum’s (SECAF) 9th Annual Government Contractor Awards
honor small and emerging government contractors and the players in the industry that rely on small business.

Congratulations to the 2017 winners - click here for a list!
Congratulations to the 2017 Finalists - click here for a list!  
 

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Tuesday, April 11, 2017
Member Forum: The Continuously Emerging World of Cybersecurity – Are you compliant? 
SECAF Members Only, Tower Club, 7:30 - 10:00am

• What is Cyber Compliance?  What is needed to be a cyber compliant superstar?  What are the ultimate considerations when trying to be cyber compliant in this hacker rich environment? 
• What are the differences between maintaining compliance as a Prime versus a Subcontractor? 
• What must a company consider down the road to maintain its compliance?  What if they do not?  Is there a bigger legal issue here not being considered?  What is Congress thinking?
• Cybersecurity certifications – What are they and are they useful?  

Speakers:  

• Kaylee Cox, Associate, Holland & Knight LLP
• Camille Tuutti, Executive Editor, NextGov
• David M. Wennergren,  Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Professional Services Council (PSC)

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Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Webinar:  Changing Federal Acquisition Landscape Under the New Administration
Presented By:  Rob Levinson and Stan Soloway

With Congress and the Presidency under the Republican Party, what are the changes that could impact Small and Emerging Government Contractors? Come learn from GovCon Industry experts on what priorities and programs could change in Federal Contracting and how to prepare your Small Business to successfully adapt to those changes. Bob Levinson from Bloomberg will provide the media/research perspective on impending political and program changes and how they might impact Government contractors. Stan Soloway, CEO of Celero Strategies (and former CEO of the Professional Services Council and Deputy Under-Secretary of Defense) will provide the Government acquisition and GovCon industry perspective on what to expect and how to prepare your Small Business to not only survive but also succeed in a changing world.

SECAF Members - For the slide presentation and recorded webinar, login and click on Members Only tab (top), followed by Past Event Presentations
 

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Thursday, January 12, 2017
Executive Briefing: The Honorable Tom Davis Provides Post-Election Insight - Wake Up - The Election is Over!
TEGNA/Gannett  McLean, VA  7:30 - 10:00 am

•  How will the focus shift in the Executive branch policies, and the “behavior” or direction of the House and Senate?  Is continued gridlock inevitable?
• What does the election say about the prospects for small government contractors?  Will the push for LPTA continue?
• What funding changes are possible for Defense, National Security or Veterans programs?  Which Civilian agencies will see changes in their budgets? 
• What are the prospects for immigration reform?

 

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Thursday, December 1, 2016
SECAF Holiday Party
TEGNA/Gannett  McLean, VA  6:00 - 8:00 pm

Please join us to celebrate a wonderful season!

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Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Executive Briefing: GSA’s OASIS - Answers to Your Questions and Preparing for the Future!
TEGNA/Gannett  McLean, VA   7:30 - 10:00 am

Come learn more about OASIS including where it is and where it’s going, the ins and outs of on-ramping, partnerships and the strategic value for small and emerging businesses. Speakers:

• Satya Akula, President and Chief Executive Officer, Amyx, Inc.
• Prashant Gaur, President, Credence Management Solutions LLC
• Todd Richards, Program Manager for GSA OASIS

Join us for a discussion about OASIS including the overall contract, its successes, the organizations involved, the future directions of the contract, and the organizations that are considering its use of the contract in the future.  During this informative Q&A-driven session, the discussion will include the nuances, the benefits, the myths, and the overall status of the contract.  Organizations such as Air Force, Army, Navy Supply Command, and DHS are all taking advantage of this contract today and will continue to do so with many task orders already solicited and awarded!

Learn about the on-ramping considerations for OASIS and how and what YOUR company needs to consider to prepare and position itself to compete and become an effective partner on this contract with GSA.

OASIS and OASIS Small Business (SB) are multiple award, Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts that provide flexible and innovative solutions for complex professional services. OASIS is not a GSA Schedule contract such as the Professional Services Schedule (PSS), so there is no continuously open application process.
 

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• Limitations on subcontracting and “similarly situated entities”
• Affiliation rules
• Nonmanufacturer rule
• Joint Ventures
• Recertification
• Calculation of Annual Receipts

 

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Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Member Forum: Strategic Business Development
The Tower Club  Vienna, VA  7:30 - 10:00 am

What does it take to compete in today’s Federal procurement environment and what’s the best way to align your business development efforts? Most small businesses don’t have the luxury of large business development shops to search out opportunities, work capture, and write winning proposals.   Learn what are the best strategies that small and emerging businesses can deploy to compete in today’s procurement environment.

Our panel of business development experts will discuss:

• Approaches to making informed bid/no-bid decisions
• Strategies around organizing your business development function/team
• Trends in business development functions
• Aligning business development with your business goals and capabilities
• How to best navigate the federal marketplace and position your company
• Winning proposal and business development strategies

Moderator: Joseph Jordan, Chief Executive Officer, FedBid, Inc.

Speakers: The Tower Club  Vienna, VA  7:30 - 10:00am

New labor regulations have drastically changed the way every government contractor has to do business. The new Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces regulations require disclosure of labor violations during the bidding process and prohibit arbitration of certain employment disputes. The new minimum wage regulations require that contractors pay certain employees (whether they are working on a federal contract or not) higher wages. Other regulations require that contractors attempt to hire veterans and the disabled and that offers of employment be given to an existing workforce when a contractor takes over a new contract, and even change how overtime is treated. Importantly, none of these regulations exempt small businesses. 

Our distinguished panel will provide an overview of these new requirements and practical information to help small businesses navigate them successfully.

Moderator:  Devon Hewitt, Partner, Protorae Law PLLC
Speakers:

• Tim Helm, Former Chief, US Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division
• Roger Jordan, Professional Services Council (PSC), Vice President, Government Relations 

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Tuesday, March 8, 2016
Executive Briefing:  What You Should Know About Doing Business with the Department of Veterans Affairs!
Tegna/Gannett  McLean, VA  7:30 - 10:00am

Join SECAF and key leaders from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to gain insight on how the VA operates in today’s changing climate. Learn how your organization can get an extra edge in order to interact with the VA and procure future opportunities. This event will be an open discussion followed by a Q & A session to help you discover: 
 

• Why you, as a small business, should consider opportunities with the VA and how you can provide innovations, services and support for its incredible mission.
• The re-organization strategy the VA is currently undertaking to provide opportunities to small and emerging businesses in an effort to make it a better and more efficient operation.
• The Who, What and How the VA procures its vast array of services, including the intricacies of the buying organizations, their locations, and how to connect and communicate your capabilities and learn of new opportunities.

Moderator:  Curt Anderson, Director of Strategic Alliances, CSSI, Inc.

Speakers:

• Chanel Bankston-Carter:  Director of Strategic Outreach, OSDBU, Department of Veterans Affairs
• Regina McGlinn-McGregor:  Customer Liaison and Small Business Program Manager, Office of Acquisition Operations, Strategic Acquisition Center, Department of Veterans Affairs  

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Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Networking Event for Government Contractor Members Only
Bethesda, MD  5:30 - 7:30pm

You are invited to come get to know your fellow
SECAF Government Contractor members!

• What do they do?
• Might there be teaming opportunities?
• Can they help you?  Can you help them?
• Enjoy the opportunity to network with your peers.
• Bring your capabilities statement.

 

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Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Webinar:  Leveraging Outside Advisors for your Company's Strategic Growth and Development
Presented By:  Jack Hughes, Principal and Founder of PHOENIX Financial and Advisory Services, LLC and Principal Partner with Altus Associates

This SECAF webinar will explore the various tactics that small businesses can use to obtain expert advice necessary to build successful companies.  Often, small companies simply don't have the resources to hire the expertise that they need. Outside advisors can be invaluable in helping companies execute on their growth strategies. Join us for a discussion about how to utilize consultants for expert advice in specific areas such as business development, strategic planning, financing and merger/acquisition planning.  Find out how to assemble a formal Advisory Board that can provide routine and continuous advice on a variety of business issues and opportunities.  SECAF members can always take advantage of SECAF's Contractor Advice Forum (CAF) which has been established to provide SECAF members with the expert advice they need at no extra cost.  In addition, SECAF provides a forum called SECAF Chat, an online “list serve” for SECAF members.  Members may use SECAF Chat to connect with fellow SECAF members, ask a question or share an idea about anything related to your business or just take a look to see what SECAF members are talking about.
 

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Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Member Forum: Strategic Differentiation - Keys to Success in the Changing GovCon Environment
The Tower Club  Vienna, VA  7:30 - 10:00am

• Corporate certifications as differentiators
  • Government provided certifications (e.g., Facility security clearance, DCAA audit) – how to get things moving
  • Commercial certifications ( e.g., CMMI, ISO) – how to assess cost vs. value
• Resources/legislation for small businesses
  • FAR
  • National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) actions
• How to leverage small business status (socioeconomic designations, differentiators, etc.)
• Considerations for building relationships with both small and large companies
  • Asset-based Thinking (Lemons vs. Lemonade)

 

• Darryl Britt, President and Founder, Apprio
• Ben Edson, Founder and CEO of VariQ
• William Jaffe, Co-Founder and Executive Vice President/General Manager for TAPE

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Wednesday, January 28, 2015  SECAF Webinar

Webinar: Attracting and Retaining the Right Talent for Your Federal Contracting Workforce
Presented by:

• Kathy Albarado, SPHR, President & CEO, Helios HR
• Amy Stark, Practice Director, Talent Acquisition, Helios HR
• Amy Gulati, GPHR, SPHR & SPHR-CA, HR Business Partner, Helios HR

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Wednesday, January 21, 2015

SECAF Executive Briefing: Get Smart on GSA's Schedule Consolidation Plans
Gannett Building McLean, VA
7:30 -10:00am

• Do you hold a GSA contract?
• Will your contract be consolidated with other GSA contracts?
• How will that work?
• What will the impact be?
• When will this happen?

Moderator: Maureen Jamieson, Fed Nexus Law
Panelist: Geraldine Watson, GSA
Panelist: Hope Lane, Partner, Aronson LLC, Government Contract Services Group
 

Event Sponsor: Squire Patton Boggs

 

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Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Member Forum: Legal, Regulatory and Market Trends Affecting Gorwing Contractors - What You Don't Know CAN Hurt You!
The Tower Club Vienna, VA
7:30-10:00am
 

• Forecasting the 2015 Capital and Regulatory Climate and Trends - What Emerging Contractors Need to Know!
• Counterfeit Parts - The New Rules Every Prime and Sub Needs to Know
• Government Contractor Compliance - Current Issues and Trends
• Calculating the Limitation on Subcontracting - Status of the Small Business Administration's ("SBA") implementation of Section 1651 and 1652 of the Department of Defense's ("DoD") National Defense Authorization Act ("NDAA") for Fiscal Year ("FY") 2013
• Developments in Open Systems Architecture at DoD - Key Take-Aways from GAO Report GAO-14-617R, “Defense Acquisitions: Review of Private Industry and Department of Defense Open Systems Experiences,” June 26, 2014
• Recent Protest Decisions Every Contractor Should Appreciate

 

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Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Executive Briefing: Fiscal 2015 - Are You Looking at the Right Business Opportunities?
Gannett Building McLean, VA

Looking toward fiscal year 2015, SECAF will have an open discussion with suggestions where small and emerging businesses should consider putting their Business Development budget dollars (and what areas should they avoid) based on the hot trends of government spending. Come join us to hear from some visionary leaders knowledgeable about the government funding and spending trends for the coming year.  Some topic areas to be discussed will be:

• What are the top government opportunities in the under 25M dollar range?
• What are the top government organizations that have the largest IT budget for 2015?
• Who are the top small and emerging businesses in the federal marketplace?

Moderator: Christopher J. Dorobek - Founder, editor and publisher, GovLoop's DorobekINSIDER

Speakers:  

• Robert Levinson - Senior Defense Analyst with Bloomberg Government
• Nate Nash - Chief Executive Officer at GovTribe
• Carey Webster- Director, Federal Information Services at Deltek

 

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Thursday, July 24, 2014

Webinar: Legislative and Regulatory Developments Affecting Small Businesses
 

• Efforts to increase the government-wide small business contracting and subcontracting goals
• Extension of the 8(a) Mentor-Protégé program to all small businesses
• Changes in the Limitations on Subcontracting clause
• Transfer of SDVOSB verification from the Center for Veterans Enterprise (VA) to SBA
• SBA’s WOSB Program and Sole Source Contracts

Webinar Sponsor:  Protorae Law
 

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Thursday, June 12, 2014

Spring Social and Member Orientation
Gannett Building McLean, VA

5:30 - 6:15 pm Member Orientation
6:00 - 8:00 pm Social
 

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Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Webinar: Achiving Small Business Growth During Challenging Times

Presented by Greg Baroni, Chairman and CEO, Attain, LLC

• How do you grow your small business during challenging times?
• What works and what doesn't?
• How do you win your fair share of business by spending your precious little resources on the right oppportunities at the right time?

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Thursday, May 15, 2014

Gannett Building McLean, VA
Executve Briefing: DHS-ICE Update with Phil Letowt
7:30-10:00am

Speaker:  Philip J Letowt, Chief Technology Officer at the Department of Homeland Security - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Event Sponsor:  JAMIS Software Corporation
 

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Speakers:

Lockheed Martin Corporation - Deon Viergutz, Dorector of Operations
NSA, Office of Small Business Programs - Grant Gursky, Outreach Advocate
General Dynamics Information Technology, Intelligence Programs - Dave Dobbs, NSA Business Operations Director

The BASE Business Initiative (BBI) helps business to navigate the complex defense contracting environment.  The BBI team works with more than 2,500 partner companies through outreach and networking, to help position business to support critical defense missions, with a focus on Ft. Meade.  The BBI tenets are transparency – support – connect.

Event Sponsors:  The McLean Group and John Marshall Bank
 

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Thursday, April 10, 2014

Educational Forum: Strategic Cost Estimating – Understanding Your Costs to be More Realistic and Competitive in Today’s Market
The Tower Club Vienna, VA
7:30-10:00am

Speaker:  Bill Walter, Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP

Event Sponsor:    Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP

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Thursday, March 13, 2014

Executive Briefing: Insights and Opportunity – The CIO Transformation at HUD
Gannett Building McLean, VA
7:30-10:00am

Speaker:  Tarrazzia Martin, Senior Technical Advisor to the CIO Transformation, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Department of Housing and Urban Development

Insights for small and emerging businesses wishing to pursue business with HUD and also strategic directions the organization is heading in light of budget challenges, sequestration, debt ceiling and other factors affecting business opportunities at the Department.

Event Sponsor:  C2 Essentials

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Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Webinar:  The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Small and Emerging Government Contractors
Presented by Cindy Castillo, CEO of CSS I Inc.
•    What makes contractors successful in challenging times.
•    How government contractors can overcome obstacles in today's market.
•    How independence, interdependence and continuous improvement are vital to your business' health.

Webinar Sponsor: INDUS

Webinar Host: Unanet
 

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Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Educational Forum: Government Contracts: Opportunities and Obstacles -  Presentation by Jones Day partners Grant Willis and Andrew Sherman addressing the rewards and risks associated with federal government contracting, practical considerations in dealing with federal agency customers, and current trends and issues.

Event Sponsor:    Jones Day
 

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Thursday, January 16, 2014

Gannett Building
Executive Briefing: Creative Insights for Success from Former Federal CIOs - A Conversation with Small and Emerging Businesses

Speakers:

Nitin Pradhan - GOVonomy, former CIO at DOT
Vance Hitch -  Deloitte, Former CIO at DOJ
Chris Niedermayer - BRMi, Former Deputy CIO at HUD
Moderator - Roger Jordan of PSC Group

The role of the government contractor is changing as is the target of engaging our federal counterparts in pursuit of opportunity.  On January 16th, SECAF will host 3 former CIO level leaders joining us to discuss how small and emerging businesses can learn potential new strategies to pursue business with the federal government.  Coming from the other side of the table into industry, these individuals bring years of federal service experience and are coming to SECAF to share their wisdom, experience, and some new insight on how our membership can achieve success in this challenging, lowest price, highly competitive marketplace.

Event Sponsor - Fairfax County Economic Development Authority
 

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December 15, 2011

SECAF Holiday Party (Members Only)

Please join us again this year to celebrate our successes and look forward to a new year of progress and opportunity.
 

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December 6, 2011

SECAF Education Forum: Indirect Rates for Government Contractors

At this session Paul Roche will discuss his experience in designing indirect pool structures for success in the marketplace and with comforting Government auditors.  Specifically, Paul will answer from his experience questions such as:
 

• How does the rate process/cycle work?
• How many overhead pools should I have?
• What should my indirect rates be?
• What is a “wrap” rate and what should it be? 
• When, how, and why should I implement a Subcontractor & Material Handling rate?
• How do I set rates for more than one year?
• When would I set up forward pricing rates?
   

Please come prepared with questions.
 

November 10, 2011

Executive Briefing: Programs and Resources at OPM and DOC

Participants will hear from the Office of Personnel Management and the Department of Commerce's CommerceConnect.
 

Who should attend: Business owners who want to learn about resources for advancing their business.
 

Featuring: Matthew Falls, Department of Commerce's CommerceConnect and Dana Taylor, Deputy Director, Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization & Policy, Office of Personnel Management
 

Event Sponsor: Argy
 

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October 4, 2011

Executive Briefing: On & Off Ramps in Government Contracting

With more and more agencies looking to use in-place contracts for IT project tasking, getting the opportunity to do business can be a daunting process. Bill Walter, Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP, will present the process and identify key contracts small businesses should be tracking. IDIQs, BPAs and to-be-awarded contracts will be discussed at this must attend session.
 

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September 8, 2011

Executive Briefing: Opportunity Landscape for Government

SECAF presents a powerful panel discussion for the government contracting community. Participants will learn from the region's top analysts about what they think the coming year holds for government contractors.
 

Who should attend: Business owners who want to learn where the opportunities are and how to engage them.
 

Featuring: Paul Murphy, Bloomberg and Kevin Plexico, Deltek Input
Moderator: Fran Craig, CEO, Unanet Technologies
 

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June 8, 2011

Optimizing SECAF Membership  & Member Appreciation Social (Members Only)
 

Topics include:

• Connect with SECAF Board members in a more intimate setting.
• Learn which committee may best address your needs.
• Hear how other members have grown their business as a direct result of their SECAF membership.
   

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June 7, 2011

Member Forum:  Business Systems Made Easy (Members Only)

The session will discuss the ever-increasing importance of business systems in the Federal marketplace.  Formerly only cost reimbursement contracts and large contractors needed to ensure business systems that satisfy the requirements of the DCAA audit.  Today, the smallest contractor can be easily omitted from the competitive range or face a tremendous squeeze on cash flow if they fail to understand and ensure that their business systems are adequate for Government contracting.
 

The expert panel will discuss:

• Contract type risks and how they impact business system requirements
• What a business system is – and what a business system is not supposed to be
• The current status of the draft DoD business system rule and how this may impact future contract awards and subsequent performance
• Recent activities of DCAA and DCMA regarding responsibility for adequacy determinations
• How to use your business system as an effective tool to help you run your business rather than simply letting Federal oversight “run your business”
   

The session will provide an opportunity for Q&A with the audience.
 

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May 23, 2011

Member Forum:  Key Legal and Strategic Issues for Growing Contractors (Members Only)

The panel will cover several key growth challenges facing today's growing contractor, including formulating effective growth strategy and current trends in government contracts law and a special opening “state of the market” introduction. This program will be led by Jones Day partners Andrew J. Sherman (SECAF co-founder and Board member) and Grant Willis.
 

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May 12, 2011

Executive Briefing: Counterintelligence for American Business

This panel features Laurie A. Schive, Director, Office of Strategic Partnerships, Office of the National Counterintelligence Executive (ONCIX) and Mischel Kwon, President, Mischel Kwon Associates.
 

In today's wired and global world, foreign intelligence services, criminals and private sector spies are increasingly focused on American companies.  Their efforts compromise intellectual property, trade secrets and technological developments that are the key to both our national security and long-term economic prosperity.
 

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April 12, 2011

Demystifying Earned Value for Government Contractors (Members Only)

The session will discuss the increasing importance of Earned Value Management Systems (EVMS) to government contractors. Formerly the realm or the largest DoD projects, EVMS is becoming a common requirement on smaller contracts for both Civilian and Defense Agencies.
 

The expert panel will discuss:

• What contractors need to know about EVMS, how to respond to RFPs, and how to comply with contract requirements
• When EVMS is appropriate to service type contracts
• Earned Value – not just as a Federal contract requirement, but as a capability for your organization
• New directions in Civilian Agencies such as Agile Development and EVM
   

The session will provide an opportunity for Q&A with the audience.
 

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March 24, 2011

Executive Briefing: New from the SBA

This is a dynamic and informative SECAF event featuring a panel discussion by experts from the Small Business Administration (SBA).

 
Presenters include:  Bridget Bean, District Director, Washington Metropolitan Area District Office and David Loines, Area Director, Office of Government Contracting
 

What you will learn:

• Update on the Women-Owned Small Business Contract Program
• Update on the Small Business Jobs Act
• Resources available to the small business owner through SBA
   

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March 8, 2011

Educational Forum: Secrets of Success - Understanding Value Drivers in a Government Contractor

You will learn to focus on the metrics and value drivers that are important to be thinking about and tracking as you grow and plan long-term.
 

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February 10, 2011

Doing Business with the Intelligence Community: What You Need to Know for 2011

Who should attend: Business owners who want to learn about doing business in the Intelligence Community.
 

What you will learn:

• How to utilize outreach programs
• How to receive the necessary clearances to engage in classified discussions
• How to market your business to agencies
   

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January 13, 2011

Executive Briefing: SBIR - What You Need to Know from the Experts

At this panel presentation you will hear from experts from DARPA, USDA and the CIT.
 

Who should attend: Business owners who want to learn about the SBIR programs and how they can position their business to participate.
 

Presenters include:  Robert Brooke, Director of Federal Funding Programs at the Center for Innovative Technology, who will provide an overview of the program and describe the assistance CIT provides to Virginia based firms; Susan Nichols, SBIR/STTR Program Manager at DARPA, who will discuss DARPA’s programs and specific opportunities available; and Charles Cleland, PhD, National Program Leader, Division of Environmental Systems, USDA, who will talk about the portfolio of applied research and development projects supported by the SBIR program.