Wisconsin Procurement Institute

Satellite Office: Oshkosh – hosted by the Greater Oshkosh Economic Development Corporation
2025-01-14 09:00 - 16:00, 2024-12-17 09:00 - 16:00, 2024-11-19 09:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | 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.

Satellite Office: Madison (MATC Goodman South Campus)
2025-01-09 09:00 - 16:00, 2024-12-05 09:00 - 16:00 | 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.
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.

Satellite Office: Fond Du Lac – hosted by Envision Greater Fond du Lac
2025-01-09 09:00 - 16:00, 2024-11-14 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.

Satellite Office: Madison (FEED Kitchens)
2025-01-06 09:00 - 16:00 | FEED Kitchens, 1219 N. Sherman Avenue, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
WPI will be holding office hours at our satellite location in the FEED Kitchens in Madison, WI. Contact the counselor directly to schedule your meeting.
To view the upcoming schedule for Madison FEED Kitchens, please click here.
To view the full list of satellite locations and schedules, please click here.

Acquisition Hour: CMMC Update – December 2024
2024-12-20 13:00 - 13:30 | WI
Join us for an essential monthly update designed to provide manufacturers with the latest information on the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). As cybersecurity becomes an increasingly critical requirement for Federal and Defense contracting, staying current and compliant is vital for manufacturers looking to secure and maintain federal contracts and subcontracts. This webinar will break down the most recent changes to CMMC, what they mean for your business, and how to ensure your operations are aligned with the latest cybersecurity standards. Don’t miss this opportunity to protect your business and stay ahead of evolving regulations.
Speaker: Matt Frost, Government Contract Specialist, Wisconsin Procurement Institute
This webinar is eligible for .5 CPE credit.
View a schedule of all upcoming Acquisition Hour webinars.

Satellite Office: Manitowoc – hosted by Progress Lakeshore
2024-12-19 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.

Government Certification Workshop - Federal Certifications - Madison, WI
2024-12-19 09:00 - 12:00 | Madison Area Technical College (MATC) Goodman South Campus, 2429 Perry Street, Madison, WI, 53713, United States
Are you a Minority, Disadvantaged, Small, Women, or Veteran owned or HUBZone located business? Join the Wisconsin Procurement Institute’s Tru Mwololo, the Wisconsin Procurement Institute’s Manager of Small Business Programs, for a once a month Government Certifications Workshop where you will learn about what local, state, or federal certifications your business may qualify for and how these certifications could help you gain a competitive edge in the government marketplace.
The topic of this workshop is federal certifications. Federal certifications include:

Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB)
Women Owned Small Business (WOSB)
Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB) and Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB)
8(a)
SBA Mentor-Protege
HUBZone

Agenda:

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM – Overview of Certification Kinds and Benefits
15 minute break
10:15 AM – 11:15 AM Certification Application Overview
15 minute break
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM – Q&A

Schedule of Topics: click here to view the full schedule and topics for the Government Certification Workshops

Marketplace Wisconsin: Governor’s Conference on Diverse Business Development
2024-12-11 - 2024-12-12 | The Baird Center, 400 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI, 53203
Presented by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, MARKETPLACE is the Governor’s Annual Conference on Diverse Business Development. This event connects business owners from across Wisconsin seeking to do business with state, federal and local governments as well as the private sector. The conference provides the opportunity for established minority-, woman-, veteran- and LGBTQ+-owned businesses and small businesses to learn from and connect with resource providers, government representatives, corporate buyers and business professionals to lay a foundation for new partnerships and business opportunities.
For more information, click here.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Confirmed Buyers for Buyer Meetings
Colleges/Universities

Marquette University
Universities of Wisconsin Administration
University of Wisconsin-Madison
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Corporate/Government Prime Contractors

CG Schmidt, Inc.
Enbridge
Findorff
Fluor
Gilbane Building Company
Great Impressions
HGA
JCP Construction, LLC
JP Cullen
Kiewit Power Constructors Co. has been selected to oversee construction and professional services to construct a datacenter for a confidential client near Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin.
Leonardo DRS
Michels Corporation
Oshkosh Defense, LLC
PNC Bank
Snap-on Incorporated
U.S. Bank
Wipfli LLP
WPS Health Solutions

Local Government Agencies

City of Madison
City of Milwaukee
City of Wauwatosa
Kenosha County Dept. of Human Services
Milwaukee County
Milwaukee County AE & ES
Milwaukee County Community Reintegration Center
Milwaukee County Transit System
Milwaukee County Zoo
Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District
WE Energies

State Government Agencies

State of WI Department of Administration
State of WI Department of Financial Institutions
State of WI – Department of Health Services (DHS)
State of WI Department of Health Services (DHS), Lead-Safe Homes Program
State of WI Department of Public Instruction
State of WI Department of Transportation
State of WI Dept. of Health, Bureau of Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery
State of WI Dept. of Public Instruction School Nutrition Team

Federal Government Agencies

Amtrak
Federal Aviation Administration
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago District
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District
U.S. Department of Veterans – Great Lakes Acquisition Center – Construction
U.S. Department of Veterans – Great Lakes Acquisition Center – Equipment/Supplies
U.S. General Services Administration, Public Buildings Service, Great Lakes Region (5)

Click a buyer name to view their buyer profile.
If you have questions about preparing for the One-on-One Buyer meetings, the Wisconsin Procurement Institute will be hosting two webinars on “Preparing for One-on-One Buyer Meetings.” These were on October 15 and November 12. Please visit the Client Dashboard to view a copy of the presentation’s PowerPoint and the webinar recording.
Additionally, contact us to schedule a one-on-one counseling meeting by calling 414-270-3600.

The Contracting Academy (TCA) - Virtual
2024-12-10 09:00 - 16:00 | WI
The Contracting Academy (TCA) is an opportunity for businesses to grow their technical knowledge of contracting with Federal Government, State and Local Government, and Government Prime Contractors. The series of workshops will benefit established businesses looking to grow and develop their government sales.

AGENDA

9:00 AM — Doing Business with the State of Wisconsin – Products and Services

Jessica Potter, Section Chief, State of Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA)

10:00 AM — Doing Business with the State of Wisconsin – Construction, A/E & Related Services

Matt Klaila, Program and Policy Analyst (DFD), State of Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA)
Audra Jervey, Enterprise Contract Officer, State of Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) — LinkedIn

11:00 AM — Selling to Local Governments

Diana Herrejon, Procurement Specialist, City of Milwaukee Purchasing Division
Regina Flores, Procurement Director, Milwaukee County Department of Administrative Services – LinkedIn
Pete Patten, Purchasing Manager, Dane County
Michelle Kaczmarowski, Procurement & Supplier Diversity Manager, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD)

12:15 PM – 1:00 PM — Break
1:00 PM — CMMC Strategies and Solutions

Derrick T. Davis, Director-Industrial Cyber Security, U.S. Department of Defense Office of Small Business Programs – BIO
Matt Frost, Government Contract Specialist, Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI) – WI APEX Accelerator — LinkedIn
Jerome Miastkowski, CEO & Founder, Aeroplicity — LinkedIn
Scott Singer, Chief Executive Officer, CyberNINES — LinkedIn

2:00 PM — Flowdown Showdown: Prime Contractor–Subcontractor Negotiations

Samuel W. Jack, Of Counsel, Dempsey Law — LinkedIn
David Zvenyach, Principal, TandemGov — LinkedIn

3:00 PM — The AI Outlook for Government Contracts in 2025

James Pitcher, Lead Contract Manager – Federal Programs, Scale AI — LinkedIn
David Zvenyach, Principal, TandemGov — LinkedIn

ALSO, join us in person on December 11th and 12th, downtown in Milwaukee at Marketplace Wisconsin, the Governor’s Conference on Diverse Business Development. For more information, click here.

Questions? Contact Michael Steger at Michaels@wispro.org or at (414) 270-3600.

Satellite Office: Madison – hosted by the Madison Area Technical College (MATC) Commercial Avenue Campus
2024-12-09 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.

Manufacturing Competitiveness in the 21st Century Series: Training Within Industry (TWI) - Chippewa Falls, WI
2024-12-06 09:00 - 12:00 | Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) – Chippewa Falls Campus, 770 Scheidler Road Rm 108, Chippewa Falls, WI, 54729, United States
ANNOUNCING A NEW 3-PART SERIES: Manufacturing Competitiveness in the 21st Century
1. Training Within Industry (TWI)
2. Vision Inspection with AI Deep Learning
3. Cyber Culture for Compliance and Competition
The first in this series: Training Within Industry (TWI)
Frontline Leader Skill Development – Training Within Industry (TWI) was developed in the ‘40s to help drive the war effort. This program is still relevant as we focus on domestic manufacturing.
More than 1 million people were trained in TWI methods during WWII, working in about 600 companies. The following benefits were realized:

86% increased production by at least 25%
100% reduced training time by 25% or more
88% Reduced labor hours by over 25%
55% reduced scrap by at least 25%
100% reduced grievances by more than 25%

Today, we compete globally and it’s more important than ever to implement and sustain LEAN.
TWI leverages the role of front-line leaders by providing the skills needed to succeed.

Standardizes Work
Reduces Training Time
Increases Productivity & Quality
Improves Morale
Ensures Worker Safety
Solves Problems

Featured Speakers:

Nick Ford, Management Engineer – UW-Stout Manufacturing Outreach Center (MOC)
Matthew Wakefield, Management Engineer – UW-Stout Manufacturing Outreach Center (MOC)
Matthew Frost, Government Contract Specialist – Wisconsin Procurement Institute – WI APEX Accelerator (WPI)
Ken Pearson, Business Development & Campus Manager – Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) – Chippewa Falls

Learn more about the 3 sessions:

Training Within Industry (TWI)
Vision Inspection with AI Deep Learning
Cyber Culture for Compliance and Competition

To Register: click here.

Satellite Office: Green Bay – hosted by the Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Startup Hub
2024-12-05 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.

Satellite Office: Eau Claire - hosted by the Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council
2024-12-04 09:00 - 16:00, 2024-12-03 09:00 - 16:00 | Western Dairyland EOC, 418 Wisconsin St, Eau Claire, WI, 54703, United States
WPI will be holding office hours at our satellite location in the Western Dairyland EOC’s offices located in Eau Claire, WI. Contact the counselor directly to schedule your meeting with them.
To view the upcoming schedule for Eau Claire, please click here.
To view the full list of satellite locations and schedules, please click here.

Acquisition Hour: CMMC Update – November 2024
2024-11-22 13:00 - 14:00 | WI
Join us for an essential monthly update designed to provide manufacturers with the latest information on the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). As cybersecurity becomes an increasingly critical requirement for Federal and Defense contracting, staying current and compliant is vital for manufacturers looking to secure and maintain federal contracts and subcontracts. This webinar will break down the most recent changes to CMMC, what they mean for your business, and how to ensure your operations are aligned with the latest cybersecurity standards. Don’t miss this opportunity to protect your business and stay ahead of evolving regulations.
Speaker: Matt Frost, Government Contract Specialist, Wisconsin Procurement Institute
This webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit.
View a schedule of all upcoming Acquisition Hour webinars.

Cyber Friday: 3.1.8 Media Control Policy, Media Destruction Policy and Personnel Security
2024-11-22 11:00 - 12:00 | WI
To address the pressing need for cybersecurity compliance within the defense industry, the Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI) is proud to offer a series of no-cost webinars dedicated to assisting companies in navigating the complexities of the Department of Defense’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Model. Recognizing the challenges businesses face in understanding and implementing the requisite standards for CMMC compliance, these webinars are meticulously designed to guide companies through the creation of essential supporting documentation for CMMC-required processes and how to tie it efficiently into the System Security Plan. With a focus on empowering organizations to meet defense contracting requirements efficiently and securely this series is designed for the manufacturer who does not have a compliance specialist on staff and those within the organization who are taking on the challenge of CMMC Compliance.
Speaker: Matt Frost, Government Contract Specialist, Wisconsin Procurement Institute
This webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit.
For the full schedule of the Cyber Friday webinars, please click here.

Emerging Issues: The critical role your accounting system plays in SBIR/STTR success
2024-11-21 11:00 - 12:00 | WI
This series, WPI’s Emerging Issues Series, is intended as an information tool and resource for contract managers and those with a compliance function. The topics selected for the initial group of Webinars are just some of the important topics. Some have not held the spotlight like others but nevertheless they are important. Others, such as Innovation and AI have recently emerged and have shown that they are not just a passing curiosity but truly topics of importance that will continue to impact DoD policy and provide procurement opportunities. These topics included in our first group, are current topics that need attention and need to be addressed. We expect that over time other issues – topics will emerge and come to the forefront. As these topics are identified we will add them to this series.
Success as a SBIR/STTR proposer depends on several factors beyond the submitted research idea. Of these factors, the company’s accounting system may determine whether or not an award is made. The accounting system and company policies and procedures must align with DCAA requirements. Ultimately, the accounting system must be determined to be adequate as defined by DCAA. This webinar will review solicitation requirements and provide an overview of DCAA’s Audit Process.
Presenter: Marc Violante, Director, Federal Market Strategies, Wisconsin Procurement Institute.
This webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit.
For the list of Emerging Issues webinar, please click here.

WPI is Wisconsin’s APEX Accelerator

Government Certification Workshop - DBE
2024-11-21 09:00 - 12:00 | Madison Area Technical College (MATC) Goodman South Campus, 2429 Perry Street, Madison, WI, 53713, United States
Are you a Minority, Disadvantaged, Small, Women, or Veteran owned or HUBZone located business? Join the Wisconsin Procurement Institute’s Tru Mwololo, the Wisconsin Procurement Institute’s Manager of Small Business Programs, for a Government Certifications Workshop where you will learn about what certifications your business may qualify for and how these certifications could help you gain a competitive edge in the government marketplace.

WEDC Webinar: Wisconsin’s Solar for All Program
2024-11-20 11:00 - 12:00 | WI
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) is hosting an informational webinar to inform the public about Wisconsin’s Solar for All program, including program background, expected impact, funding priorities, and timeline for program launch. Wisconsin’s upcoming Solar for All program will support deployment of solar systems for low- and moderate-income households across the state as WEDC works to build an economy for all. Thanks to an announced $62.4 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Solar for All will serve Wisconsin communities through:

Rooftop residential
Multifamily
Community solar projects

Read more here.
To register, click here.

Satellite Office: La Crosse – hosted by Veterans in Professions
2024-11-20 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.

SAME 2024 Federal Small Business Conference for the A/E/C Industry - New Orleans, LA
2024-11-20 - 2024-11-22 | Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, 900 Convention Center Blvd, New Orleans, LA, 70130, United States
Connect with a community of leading experts, decision-makers, solution providers, business partners, and federal contracting officers. There will be opportunities to connect with teaming partners, compete in federal acquisition, support the nation’s contracting goals. and engage in above-board networking between private companies and federal program managers and procurement/contracting officers
At SBC:
Small Businesses can…

Learn from experienced companies in education sessions
Hear from and meet with government contracting officers about projects to compete for
Meet with large companies that need subcontracting support

Large Businesses can…

Meet with small business as potential subcontractors
Mentor small businesses through protégé agreements
Position as thought leaders and advocates for small businesses through exhibiting and presenting

Government Agencies can…

Conduct market research of industry capacity to help set acquisition strategy
Discover innovations and trends from suppliers and providers
Connect with and learn from other agencies on how they do business and work to increase standardization of processes among government for the benefit of industry and competition

For more information, click here.

Acquisition Hour: Understanding the US SBA and Department of Defense (DOD) Mentor Protégé Programs (MPP) – What You Need to Know
2024-11-19 11:00 - 12:00 | WI
During this session, you will learn about the two primary Federal Mentor Protégé Programs.

The US SBA Mentor-Protégé Program (MPP) helps eligible small businesses (protégés) gain capacity and win government contracts through partnerships with more experienced companies (mentors). A mentor and its protégé can joint venture as a small business for any small business contract, provided the protégé individually qualifies as small. The joint venture may also pursue any type of set-aside contract for which the protégé qualifies, including contracts set aside for 8(a), service-disabled veteran-owned, women-owned, and HUBZone businesses.
DoD’s Mentor-Protégé Program is the oldest continuously operating federal mentor-protégé program in existence. Originally established in the midst of the First Gulf War, the MPP helps eligible small businesses expand their footprint in the defense industrial base. Under the MPP, small businesses are partnered with larger companies. In the past five years, DoD’s MPP has successfully helped more than 190 small businesses fill unique niches and become part of the military’s supply chain. Many mentors have made the MPP an integral part of their sourcing plans. Protégés have used their involvement in the MPP to develop technical capabilities. Successful mentor-protégé agreements provide a winning relationship for the protégé, the mentor and the DoD.

This session will be presented by:

Shane Mahaffy, Lead Business Opportunity Specialist – U.S Small Business Administration (SBA)
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: Camp Douglas
2024-11-19 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.

WI Federal Contractor Forum (Washington, D.C.)
2024-11-18 - 2024-11-20 | Washington, D.C., Washington, DC, United States
November 18 – 20, 2024

Hosted by the Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI) Board of Directors, in partnership with the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) Great Lakes Chapter
The annual Wisconsin Federal Contractor Forum (WFCF) presents a unique opportunity to build your government business network and gain insights into government priorities and future opportunities. The Forum’s briefings, discussions, and networking opportunities will facilitate your access to the industrial, political, federal, and Department of Defense experts and insiders necessary for developing a strong strategic position in the government marketplace.
The Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI) – WI APEX Accelerator Board of Directors invites you to join them at this special event.
Location: Washington, D.C.
CLICK HERE for registration
Accommodations
A room block for WFCF with special event rate has been reserved at the Hyatt Regency Washington Capitol Hill hotel. Those registering for the event should contact Michael Steger at MichaelS@wispro.org to request room block information. We encourage you to make reservations promptly to ensure availability.
Schedule [Eastern Time]

November 18, 2024
hosted by Husch Blackwell
1801 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC

1:30 PM
WPI Board meeting [closed to members only]

3:00 PM
Post-election briefing presented by Husch Blackwell and discussion followed by reception and networking

4:30 PM
Networking reception

6:00 PM
End of Day One

November 19, 2024
U.S. Capitol, SVC 203-02

8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Panels, speakers – industry and agency representatives

November 20, 2024
location TBD

8:00 AM – 12 NOON
Panels, Speakers – industry and agency representatives

1:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Hill Visits

Confirmed Speakers and Supporting Organizations

Joe Barto, Founder and President of TMG, Inc., Program Lead for the Defense Industrial Base Talent Pipeline Program — BIO
Shannon Jackson, Executive Director (SES), Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services — LinkedIn
Winston Chang, Global Public Sector CTO, Snowflake — LinkedIn
Angela Ambrose, Vice President of Government Operations, Oshkosh Corporation — BIO
Justin Fanelli, Acting CTO, Department of the Navy — LinkedIn— BIO
Brian Waagner, Partner, Husch Blackwell, Washington, DC — BIO
Kyle J. Gilster, Office Managing Partner, Husch Blackwell, Washington, DC — BIO
Cormac T. Connor, Partner, Husch Blackwell, Washington, DC — BIO
Cortney O’Toole Morgan, Partner, Husch Blackwell, Washington, DC — BIO
Jeff Shen, President, Red Team Consulting — LinkedIn
Daniel Chenok, Executive Director, IBM Center for The Business of Government — LinkedIn
Tony Ambegaoker, Chief Information Officer, Gunnison Consulting Group, Inc. — LinkedIn
Farooq A. Mitha, Director, Department of Defense (DOD) Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) — BIO
Khalil Mack, Deputy Director, Department of Defense (DOD) Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) and Director, APEX Accelerators — BIO
Katie Webb, Executive Vice President – Public Health, Tria Federal — LinkedIn
Andrew Tulli, Deputy Associate Administrator / Director, Compliance & Goaling Division, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization — LinkedIn
Ed Silva, Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), Gunnison Consulting Group, Inc. — LinkedIn
Sean Ketter, Vice President-Global Procurement & Supply Chain, Oshkosh Corporation — LinkedIn
Nathaniel Millsap, Director-Security & Cyber, Fincantieri Marinette Marine — LinkedIn
David Zvenyach, Principal, TandemGov — LinkedIn
Baly Ambegaoker, CEO, TIDL Federal — LinkedIn
Aina Vilumsons, President / Executive Director, Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI) – WI APEX Accelerator — LinkedIn
Liz DeBiase, Small Business Partner Advocate, ICF — LinkedIn
Tahir Awan, Principal, Tahir Awan Consulting — LinkedIn

Contact Aina Vilumsons, WPI President – Executive Director at ainav@wispro.org with questions.
– Presented in partnership with the Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI) and the NDIA Great Lakes Chapter

WPI Board of Directors

Sean Ketter, Oshkosh Corporation
Jean Marie Thiel, Belonger Corporation
Todd Bentley, Bentley World-Packaging
V. David Zvenyach, TandemGov
Nathaniel Millsap, Fincantieri Marinette Marine
Baly Ambegaoker, TIDL Federal
Barb LaMue, New North
James Schutt, Schutt Industries
Jim Segelstrom, McNally Industries
Paul C. Darley, WS Darley & Company
Michael Ward, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC)
Brian Waagner, Husch Blackwell
Sara Redford, WPS Health Solutions
Aina Vilumsons, Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI)

Expanding Business Opportunities in Rural Wisconsin - Black River Falls, WI
2024-11-14 08:00 - 12:00 | Ho-Chunk Gaming (Bingo Hall), W9010 Hwy 54E, Black River Falls, WI, 54615
The government can be a great customer for your business – especially if you are a small business. The challenge is to know WHAT they buy, HOW they buy it, and WHEN they buy it – AND THEN – how your business can take those first steps to SUCCESSFULLY SELL to the GOVERNMENT. Wisconsin is home to many opportunities from Ft. McCoy, US Army Corps of Engineers, National Park Service, US Forest Service and VA Hospitals and Clinics. It is also home to a number of large prime contractors including Oshkosh Defense, Wisconsin Physician Services and Michels.
During this session you will learn how to:

Determine if your small business qualifies for small business certifications.
Leverage your small business certifications targeting HUBZone [Jackson County recently became a Governor designated HUBZone AND the Federal government is not meeting their HUBZone goals], veteran, woman and disadvantaged businesses
Identify if the government is buying what you are selling
Identify and take the first steps in entering the market as a prime or subcontractor
Leverage regional resources that can assist your business

Be prepared to introduce your business at the start of the event and network once the formal program has concluded. Bring your business cards and capabilities statements.
AGENDA:
8:00 am – 8:30 am Registration and Networking Breakfast/Coffee
8:30 – 8:45 am Welcome and introductions
• Amanda Gunn, Executive Director for Black River Area Chamber of Commerce
• Brad Chown, Administrator, Black River Falls City
8:45 -10:00 am Government 101 – How to Successfully Sell to the Government – presented by Benjamin Blanc, Government Contract Specialist
10:00 – 10:15 am Break
10:15 – 10:45 am US SBA Small Business Certification Update – presented by Shane Mahaffy, Lead Business Opportunity Specialist, US SBA
10:45 – 11:00 am US SBA Certification Process – including the HUBZONE, WOMAN, DISADVANTAGED and VETERAN owned – presented by Benjamin Blanc, Government Contract Specialist
11:00 – 11:15 am US SBA Lending Programs – presented by Tammie Clendenning, Lead Economic Development Specialist, US SBA
11:15 – 11:45 am Briefings from area Partners and Resources
• Chris Hardie, CEO, 7 Rivers Alliance
• Heather Cloud, Executive Director, Ho Chunk Nation
• Mark Tallman, Regional Director, WEDC
• Beth Haskovec, Senior Director, Office of Rural Prosperity, WEDC
Networking to end of program
See agenda here: Agenda for Expanding Business Opportunities in Rural Wisconsin – Jackson County

DARPAConnect Albany Regional Pop-Up (Albany, NY)
2024-11-14 | NY CREATES’ Albany NanoTech Complex (ANC), 257 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY, 12203, United States
With the goal of breaking down barriers to entry, this event is designed to educate, motivate, and inspire new potential performers from small businesses, industry, and academia to engage with DARPA and contribute to growing the national security innovation ecosystem. This one-day event offers an opportunity to gain insights into DARPA through sessions led by DARPA office directors, program managers, and staff. Additionally, participants will have the chance to ask questions and receive answers directly from DARPA leadership.
*Only virtual option is available.
For more information, click here.
