Wisconsin Procurement Institute

DLA Strategic Materials Collaboration Forum
2025-08-21 10:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago)
Join DLA for the Strategic Materials Collaboration Forum, a new event marking the launch of the Strategic Materials Program of Record under DLA R&D!
August 21, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. (ET)
DLA Headquarters or attend virtually
**Registration closes August 20
As the United States Department of Defense is increasingly prioritizing investment in securing access to strategic materials, this program will have an important role to play in advancing R&D projects.
This forum features:
🔹 A keynote address on program objectives and strategy for securing strategic materials supply chains
🔹 A panel discussion on DLA’s role in a whole-of-government approach to building supply chain resiliency
🔹 Hands-on demonstrations and discussions of ongoing R&D efforts
Presented both in person and via livestream.
For more information, click here.

Office Hours: Madison - Preparing for Meetings with State and Local Buyers
2025-08-21 09:00 - 12:00 | Madison Area Technical College (MATC) Goodman South Campus, 2429 Perry Street, Madison, WI, 53713, United States
WPI will be holding an in-person session on Preparing for Meetings with State and Local Buyers at the Madison Area Technical College (MATC) Goodman South Campus in Madison, WI.
Schedule:
9-10 AM – Presentation on Preparing to Meet with State and Local Buyers
Tru Mwololo will give an hour-long presentation on preparing to meet with State and Local Government Buyers.

Prepare customized meeting materials to maximize your opportunity.

Capabilities Statement
Elevator Pitch
Differentiators
Calling Card

Please RSVP/register for the presentation hour at this LINK.

10AM-12 PM – One-on-One Meetings

Please select an individual meeting time with Tru at this LINK.

Presenter:

Truphosa Mwololo, Manager Small Business Programs, Wisconsin Procurement Institute – WI APEX Accelerator

To view the upcoming schedule for Madison – MATC Goodman South, please click here.
To view the full list of satellite locations and schedules, please click here.

Acquisition Hour: End of the Federal Fiscal Year Spending: Are You Ready?
2025-08-20 12:00 - 13:00
Speakers:

Marc Violante, Director, Federal Market Strategies – Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI) – WI APEX Accelerator
Mark Dennis, Government Contract Specialist – Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI) – WI APEX Accelerator

This webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit.
View a schedule of all upcoming Acquisition Hour webinars.

Federal Market Insights [FMI]: Record Retention - What's Required, What Mandates It, Why It Is Important.
2025-08-19 12:30 - 13:00
FEDERAL MARKET INSIGHTS is an informal podcast designed to provide valuable information about the government marketplace for businesses interested in government contracting. Each episode is a concise 30-minute session, scheduled during the noon hour on Tuesdays. We review noteworthy items published during the week, delve into key topics, and offer background information and perspectives relevant to the government contracting landscape. Stop by, settle in and take in the conversation.
Presented by Marc Violante, Director, Federal Market Strategies, Wisconsin Procurement Institute and Mark Dennis, Government Contract Specialist, Wisconsin Procurement Institute
For the list of Federal Market Insights webinar, please click here.

Satellite Office: Oshkosh – hosted by the Greater Oshkosh Economic Development Corporation
2025-08-19 09:00 - 16:00 | Greater Oshkosh Economic Development Corporation, 111 N. Main Street, Ste 204, Oshkosh, WI, 54901, United States
WPI will be holding office hours at our satellite location at the Greater Oshkosh Economic Development Corporation in Oshkosh, WI. Contact the counselor directly to schedule your meeting.
To view the upcoming schedule for Oshkosh, please click here.
To view the full list of satellite locations and schedules, please click here.

2025 Dept of the Navy Gold Coast - Premier Navy Procurement Expo (San Diego, CA)
2025-08-18 - 2025-08-21 | San Diego Convention Center, 111 W Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA, 92101, United States
The NDIA Department of the Navy Gold Coast Event is the premier Navy procurement expo in the country. Gold Coast provides a forum to educate, guide, and assist businesses, large and small, in support of the warfighter mission within The Department of the Navy and throughout the Department of Defense (DoD). Gold Coast hosted in partnership with Department of the Navy (DON) Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP), provides a forum to educate, guide, and assist businesses, large and small, in support of the warfighter mission within the Department of the Navy and throughout the DoD. The event provides exciting and relevant topics delivered by government and industry experts – and boasts insightful panels, workshops and networking events.
For more information, click here.

Satellite Office: Fond Du Lac – hosted by Envision Greater Fond du Lac
2025-08-14 09:00 - 16:00 | Envision Greater Fond du Lac, 23 S Main St Ste 101, Fond du Lac, WI, 54935, United States
WPI will be holding office hours at our satellite location in Envision in Fond du Lac, WI. Contact the counselor directly to schedule your meeting.
To view the upcoming schedule for Fond du Lac, please click here.
To view the full list of satellite locations and schedules, please click here.

SAME Rock Island Post 2025 Commanders' Briefing Webinar
2025-08-14 09:00 - 12:30
Join us on Thursday, August 14th from 0900-1230 CST for the Rock Island Post’s annual Upper Midwest USACE Districts Program Briefings. This an opportunity to hear directly from each District Commander about their current and upcoming program as well as construction and A/E opportunities.
The webinar is available without charge. A recording and slides will be provided to all who contribute to the Scholarship fund ($50 suggested).
This year we will have District Commanders (or their representatives) from:

Chicago District
Detroit District
Kansas City District
Louisville District
Omaha District
Rock Island District
St. Louis District
St. Paul District

For more information, click here.

Federal Market Insights [FMI]: DLA's QPLs, QMLs, and QBLs AND DLA Warehouse Logistics - What They Are and How They Apply to Your Work With DLA
2025-08-12 12:30 - 13:00
FEDERAL MARKET INSIGHTS is an informal podcast designed to provide valuable information about the government marketplace for businesses interested in government contracting. Each episode is a concise 30-minute session, scheduled at the end of the week. We review noteworthy items published during the week, delve into key topics, and offer background information and perspectives relevant to the government contracting landscape. Stop by, settle in and take-in the conversation.
Presented by Marc Violante, Director, Federal Market Strategies, Wisconsin Procurement Institute and Mark Dennis, Government Contract Specialist, Wisconsin Procurement Institute
For the list of Federal Market Insights webinar, please click here.

Session 2: Understanding How the Government Marketplace Works
2025-08-12 07:30 - 10:00 | Technology Innovation Center, Room 121, 10437 W Innovation Dr. Room 121, Wauwatosa, WI, 53226, United States
The Milwaukee Small Business Development Center – Small Business Development Lab and the Wisconsin Procurement Institute will be presenting a 2 session event to prepare established businesses for corporate and government contracting. In this session, attendees will hear about:

How to locate and identify supplier opportunities with large corporations (led by MAC)
How to make the right connections with government buyers (led by WPI)

This session builds on the foundation of Session 1, but you’re welcome to attend either or both. If you’re looking to grow your business through contracting, this is where to start.
Who should attend:

Small businesses with at least 1 year in business and $50K+ in sales
Business owners interested in becoming corporate or government suppliers
Anyone ready to explore contracting opportunities with real support

NDIA 17th Annual Ground Vehicle Systems Engineering & Technology Symposium (GVSETS) & Modernization Update - Novi, MI
2025-08-12 - 2025-08-14 | Novi Suburban Collection Showplace, 46100 Grand River Ave., Novi, MI, 48374, United States
The NDIA Michigan Chapter presents the 17th Annual Ground Vehicle Systems Engineering & Technology Symposium (GVSETS) & Modernization Update. GVSETS provides the opportunity for the Ground Systems community to network and share technical research and innovations while discussing capability gaps and modernization needs. With global threats becoming more aggressive and complex, our nation must implement solutions to ensure our Warfighters have the tools and solutions for current and future conflicts.
To start, scientists and engineers from government, academia and industry are invited to submit papers for the GVSETS Technical Sessions. The Technical Sessions are executed in conjunction with the Engineering Society of Detroit (ESD), with paper publication support delivered by SAE Government Technologies.
For more information, click here.

WEDC Small Business Technical Assistance Grant - Informational Webinar
2025-08-11 11:00 - 12:00
Join us for an informative webinar on the Small Business Technical Assistance Grant! This session is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the program, guiding potential applicants through the application process, key dates, and essential information. Whether you’re a first-time applicant or seeking to refine your submission, this webinar is the perfect opportunity to get all your questions answered.
Program Overview: Understand the purpose, benefits, and opportunities offered by the Small Business Technical Assistance grant.
Application Process: Step-by-step guidance on how to apply, including eligibility criteria, required documentation, and submission tips.
Important Dates: Key deadlines and milestones you need to know to stay on track.
Q&A Session: A live Q&A session where our experts will answer your questions and provide additional insights.
Don’t miss this chance to learn more about how the Small Business Technical Assistance Grant can support your small business ecosystem. Register now and secure your spot!
For more information, click here.

Office Hours: Madison - Selling to the City of Madison & Dane County
2025-08-07 09:00 - 12:00 | Madison Area Technical College (MATC) Goodman South Campus, 2429 Perry Street, Madison, WI, 53713, United States
WPI will be holding office hours at our satellite location in the Madison Area Technical College (MATC) Goodman South Campus in Madison, WI. Contact the counselor directly to schedule your meeting.
Presenter:

Truphosa Mwololo, Manager Small Business Programs, Wisconsin Procurement Institute – WI APEX Accelerator

To view the upcoming schedule for Madison – MATC Goodman South, please click here.
To view the full list of satellite locations and schedules, please click here.

Acquisition Hour: Writing an Effective Capabilities Statement
2025-08-06 12:00 - 13:00
Like resumes, capabilities statements play an important role in effectively selling your company to potential government and corporate customers. Capabilities statements also follow similar rules to resumes – keep them to one page, don’t leave out important sections, and make sure each section is filled with relevant, up-to-date information.
This session will detail what makes a capabilities statement effective. In addition, by learning how to conceptualize more clearly their own long-term goals and competitive advantages, attendees will gain the tools to improve all their marketing assets’ messaging.
Speakers:

Jack Laufenberg, Small Business Advisor – Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI) – WI APEX Accelerator

This webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit.
View a schedule of all upcoming Acquisition Hour webinars.

Federal Market Insights [FMI]: Innovation - Artificial Intelligence and Its Role in DLA Contracting: What Contractors Need to Know
2025-08-05 12:30 - 13:00

Session 1: Understanding How the Government Marketplace Works
2025-08-05 08:00 - 10:00 | Technology Innovation Center, Room 121, 10437 W Innovation Dr. Room 121, Wauwatosa, WI, 53226, United States
The Milwaukee Small Business Development Center – Small Business Development Lab and the Wisconsin Procurement Institute will be presenting a 2 session event to prepare established businesses for corporate and government contracting. In this session, attendees will hear about:

How to get your internal operations and back end in order (led by SBDC)
What the government marketplace actually looks like and how to approach it (led by WPI)

Whether you’re brand new to the world of government contracts or actively researching bids, this session will give you the foundational knowledge you need to move forward.
Who should attend:

Small business owners with 1+ year in business
Entrepreneurs preparing to scale through contract work
Anyone curious about entering the government contracting space

This workshop is free to attend, but space is limited. Save your seat now and take the first step toward contract readiness.
To register for session 2, click here.

Satellite Office: Madison – hosted by the Madison Area Technical College (MATC) Commercial Avenue Campus
2025-08-04 09:00 - 16:00 | Madison Area Technical College (MATC) Commercial Avenue Campus, 2125 Commercial Avenue, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
WPI will be holding office hours at our satellite location in Madison Area Technical College (MATC) Commercial Avenue campus in Madison, WI. Contact the counselor directly to schedule your meeting.
To view the upcoming schedule for Madison MATC Commerical Avenue, please click here.
To view the full list of satellite locations and schedules, please click here.

Cyber Thursday: CMMC 2.0: What Contractors Must Know in 2025
2025-07-31 11:00 - 12:00
As the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) 2.0 program moves closer to full implementation, contractors must stay informed and prepared. This webinar provides a clear and current overview of CMMC 2.0, including key updates, the projected timeline for rollout, and what organizations should expect in terms of oversight and assessment. Attendees will gain a solid understanding of each CMMC level, how the requirements align with NIST SP 800-171, and where to find official guidance and resources. Whether you’re new to CMMC or seeking to stay ahead of regulatory changes, this session offers essential information to help navigate the evolving cybersecurity landscape in 2025.
Speaker: Matt Frost, Government Contract Specialist, Wisconsin Procurement Institute – WI APEX Accelerator

This webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit.
For the full schedule of the Cyber Thursday webinars, please click here.

Satellite Office: Manitowoc – hosted by Progress Lakeshore
2025-07-30 09:00 - 16:00 | Progress Lakeshore, 202 N 8th St Ste 101, Manitowoc, WI, 54220, United States
WPI will be holding office hours at our satellite location in the Progress Lakeshore offices in Manitowoc, WI. Contact the counselor directly to schedule your meeting.
To view the upcoming schedule for Manitowoc, please click here.
To view the full list of satellite locations and schedules, please click here.

19th Annual Government Opportunities Business Conference (GOBC) - Fort McCoy, WI
2025-07-30 08:00 - 12:30 | Fort McCoy, 1654 S 11th Ave, Fort McCoy, WI, 54656, United States

Federal Market Insights [FMI]: Capabilities Statements - Informal Observations On What's Good, What's Bad, and How to Use Effectively Special Guest Jack Laufenberg
2025-07-29 12:30 - 13:00

Satellite Office: Green Bay – hosted by the Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Startup Hub
2025-07-29 09:00 - 16:00 | Northeast Wisconsin Technical College – Startup Hub, 2701 Larsen Road, Green Bay, WI, 54303, United States
WPI will be holding office hours at our satellite location in the Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Startup Hub in Green Bay, WI. Contact the counselor directly to schedule your meeting.
To view the upcoming schedule for Green Bay at NWTC’s Startup Hub, please click here.
To view the full list of satellite locations and schedules, please click here.

WLCC Green Bay Business Showcase 2025
2025-07-24 15:00 - 19:00 | Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, 2740 West Mason Street, Green Bay, Wisconsin, 54307
Join us for the Green Bay Business Showcase, a high-energy event where entrepreneurs, business owners, and community leaders unite to connect, share ideas, and open doors to new opportunities. This gathering celebrates the momentum in Wisconsin’s construction and hospitality (Food, Cleaning Services and lodging) industries.
What to expect:

Local resources and agencies that offer services, guidance, and opportunities for businesses.
Support current business owners in strengthening and expanding their operations.
Network with Industry Leaders Meet influential leaders in local economic development who can open doors to future collaborations.
Empower Your Future Gain insights and tools to start, expand, or strengthen your business with confidence.

This event is a valuable opportunity to build connections, learn from experts, and discover programs that can help businesses thrive in our community.
For more information, click here.

Local Government Sales Opportunities - Racine Unified School District
2025-07-24 13:00 - 14:00
Buyer Profile
Racine Unified School District

Significant opportunities exist for small businesses to sell to local government agencies in Wisconsin. Please join us and learn about how to do business with the Racine Unified School District (RUSD).
Presentations will be followed by the opportunity for limited one-on-one meetings with a RUSD representative.
WPI strongly recommends you have a current capabilities statement ready prior to your meetings. Attendees should be ready with a capabilities statement and prepared pitch to take advantage of the meeting time. Assistance to prepare is available with WPI.

Buyer Profile
Racine Unified School District

Office Hours: Madison - Selling to the Government
2025-07-24 09:00 - 12:00 | Madison Area Technical College (MATC) Goodman South Campus, 2429 Perry Street, Madison, WI, 53713, United States
WPI will be holding office hours at our satellite location in the Madison Area Technical College (MATC) Goodman South Campus in Madison, WI. Contact the counselor directly to schedule your meeting.
Presenter:

Tru Mwololo, Manager Small Business Programs, Wisconsin Procurement Institute – WI APEX Accelerator

To view the upcoming schedule for Madison – MATC Goodman South, please click here.
To view the full list of satellite locations and schedules, please click here.

Acquisition Hour: Federal Invoicing: PIEE / Wide Area Workflow
2025-07-23 12:00 - 13:00
The Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment (PIEE) is the primary enterprise procure-to-pay (P2P) application for the Department of Defense and its supporting agencies and is trusted by companies reporting over $7.1 billion in spending. The PIEE suite evolves continually, and DOD contractors must understand how new features support their contract administration process.

This webinar will focus on Wide Area Workflow (WAWF), provide an overview of several important PIEE applications, and explain how using the suite effectively can help you in the DOD contracting process.

Speakers:

Ben Blanc, Government Contract Specialist – Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI) – WI APEX Accelerator

This webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit.
View a schedule of all upcoming Acquisition Hour webinars.

Satellite Office: La Crosse – hosted by Veterans in Professions
2025-07-23 09:00 - 16:00 | Veterans in Professions, 1501 St. Andrews Street Ste C-100, La Crosse, WI, 54603, United States
WPI will be holding office hours at our satellite location in Veterans in Professions in La Crosse, WI. Contact the counselor directly to schedule your meeting.
To view the upcoming schedule for La Crosse, please click here.
To view the full list of satellite locations and schedules, please click here.

Federal Market Insights [FMI]: Joint Certification Program, U.S. and Canada - An Overview of the Military TDA and Governing Directives
2025-07-22 12:30 - 13:00

Satellite Office: Camp Douglas
2025-07-22 09:00 - 16:00 | Juneau County Economic Development Corporation, 122 Main Street, Camp Douglas, WI, 54618, United States
WPI will be holding office hours at our satellite location in the Juneau County Economic Development Corporation (JCEDC) offices in Camp Douglas, WI. Contact the counselor directly to schedule your meeting.
To view the upcoming schedule for Camp Douglas JCEDC, please click here.
To view the full list of satellite locations and schedules, please click here.

FusionX:GreatLakes Roadshow
2025-07-21 13:30 - 18:30 | Chicago Conference Center, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Chicago, IL, 60606, United States
Held in partnership with the 5 Lakes Institute, FusionX:GreatLakes Roadshow is designed to introduce institutional investors, strategic capital providers, and industry stakeholders to emerging opportunities in fusion energy and its growing supply chain.
Fusion energy is no longer a distant promise. The Great Lakes region is positioning itself at the heart of this transformation, with the Midwest’s deep pool of capital and strong industrial base paving the way for a thriving fusion energy sector.
At FusionXInvest:GreatLakes, participants will gain insights into:

Fusion’s commercialization roadmap—and why now is the perfect time to invest.
Case-studies with SHINE Technologies and Realta Fusion, showcasing real-world investment and scaling strategies.
Direct discussions between fusion leaders, supply chain innovators, and investors focused on partnership and capital deployment.
Practical strategies for structuring and de-risking investments in fusion and advanced manufacturing sectors.

For more information, click here.
