63rd Annual National Seminar on Government Contracts
2024-09-25 | WI
The Annual National Seminar on Government Contracts is an educational activity for students and professionals in the acquisition, government contracting, and government property communities. The Seminar is co-sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts, University of Minnesota in cooperation with the Twin Cities Chapter, National Contract Management Association (“NCMA”), and the North Star Chapter, National Property Management Association (“NPMA”). The Seminar features nationally prominent speakers addressing timely and important issues in Government Contracting and Government Property management.
Confirmed speakers:

Professor Christopher R. Yukins – Lynn David Research Professor in Government Procurement Law, The George Washington University Law School, Washington, D.C.
Professor Kathryn L. Pearson – Associate Professor of Political Science, Department of Political Science, College of Liberal Arts, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Dr. Douglas N. Goetz – CPPM, CF, MIAM – President of GP Consultants, LLC

For more information, click here.

Superior Business Opportunity and Information Session - Blatnik Bridge Project - Superior, WI
2024-09-25 08:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | Superior Entrepreneurship Center, 1401 Tower Ave, Superior, WI, 54880
Special guest speaker: Geri Sanchez Aglipay, Region V Administrator, US SBA
This information session will provide potential businesses opportunities associated with the Blatnik Bridge replacement project and provide updates on its status and timeline. This major infrastructure project will bring procurement opportunities to Wisconsin and Minnesota businesses.
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Agenda
8:00 am – Registration Opens and Morning Refreshments
9:00 am – Welcome – Eugene Manzanet, PhD., Senior Director of Diverse Business Development, WEDC
9:15 am Geri Sanchez Aglipay, Region V Administrator, US SBA

Brain McDonald, Minnesota District Director – U.S. Small Business Administration
Eric Ness, Wisconsin District Director – U.S. Small Business Administration

9:35 am – Introduction of attending resources
9:45 am – Blatnik Bridge Project Briefing

Paul Conlin, Project Manager for Wisconsin, WisDOT
Peter Davich, Design-Build Program Manager, MnDOT

10:45 am – BREAK (15 min)
11:00 am – WisDOT/MnDOT DBE Certification Briefing

Adrienne Bond, Interim Operation/ Civil Rights, MnDOT
Melyssa Mdumuka, Small Business Contracting Supervisor MnDOT

11:45 am – Working Lunch
NOON Prime Contractor Panel – moderated Aina Vilumsons, President – ED, Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI)

John Tompkins, Associate Vice President, National Practice Consultant, HNTB Corporation
Mark Olsen, Vice President – Alternative Delivery, Lunda Construction Company
Benjamin Lovin, Senior Vice President, Ames Construction
Stephen Kaldenbach, Vice President/Area Manager & Sponsor, Kraemer North America

1:00 pm – Financing Options Briefing

Tammie Clendenning, Lead Economic Development Specialist, US SBA
Shane Mahaffy, Lead Opportunity Specialist, US SBA
Tom Clark, Business Loan Officer, Entrepreneur Fund

2:00 pm – Networking/ Close Event
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Confirmed Speakers:

Dr. Eugene Manzanet, Senior Director Diverse Business Development – Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC)
Paul Conlin, Northwest Region Project Development Manager – Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT)
Peter Davich, Design-Build Program Manager – Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT)
Adrienne Bond, Business and Program Development Manager – Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT)
Melyssa Mdumuka, Small Business Contracting Supervisor – Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT)
Eric Ness, Wisconsin District Director – U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
Brian McDonald, Minnesota District Director – U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
Shane Mahaffy, Lead Business Opportunity Specialist – U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
Tammie Clendenning, Lead Economic Development Specialist – U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
Tom Clark, Business Loan Officer – Entrepreneur Fund
Mark Olsen, Vice President – Alternative Delivery – Lunda Construction Company
John Tompkins, Associate Vice President, National Practice Consultant – HNTB Corporation
Benjamin Lovin, Senior Vice President – Ames Construction
Stephen Kaldenbach, Vice President/Area Manager & Sponsor – Kraemer North America

_____________________________________________________________________________________
Presented in partnership with:

Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT)
Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT)
US Small Business Administration (SBA)
Duluth Seaway Port Authority
Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI) – WI APEX Accelerator
U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration
Wisconsin Department of Administration
Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
Northwest Regional Planning Commission (NWRPC)
SCORE
WWBIC
City of Superior
Superior Chamber of Commerce
Superior Business Improvement District
The Development Association
First American Capital Corporation (FACC)

For more information: Blatnik Bridge Information Session.
Click here to register.

Satellite Office: Manitowoc – hosted by Progress Lakeshore
2024-09-25 09:00 - 16:00, 2024-10-30 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.

SAME LMP Luncheon: Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers – Managing the World’s Largest Freshwater Resource [Lake Forest, IL]
2024-09-25 11:00 - 13:00 | Hilton Garden Inn Lake Forest Mettawa, 26225 North Riverwoods Boulevard, Lake Forest, IL, 60045, United States
SAME members and non-members are welcome.
The Conference of Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers unites the chief executives from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Québec and Wisconsin. The Governors and Premiers work as equal partners to grow the region’s nearly $8 trillion economy and protect the world’s largest system of surface fresh water. The Conference builds upon over 40 years of work by the Council of Great Lakes Governors to encourage and facilitate environmentally responsible economic development.
David Naftzger, Executive Director, Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers, will present a general overview of the organization and current focus on projects related to Water Management and Protection and Restoration of the natural resources.
AGENDA
11:00 AM – Registration and Networking
11:30 AM – Lunch
12:00 PM – Guest Speaker
1:00 PM – Close of Program

SPEAKER

David Naftzger, Executive Director, GSGP
As Executive Director, Dave oversees all projects and programs managed by the GSGP on behalf of the member Governors and Premiers.

Additional information on the GSGP can be found on their website here: http://www.gsgp.org/.

Contact SAMELMP100@gmail.com for more information.

Government Certification Workshop - Federal Certifications - Madison, WI
2024-09-26 09:00 - 12:00 | Madison Area Technical College (MATC) Goodman South Campus, 2429 Perry Street, Room 103, 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

Satellite Office: Madison – hosted by the Madison Area Technical College (MATC) Commercial Avenue Campus
2024-10-07 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.

DLA Doing Business with DLA
2024-10-08 14:00 - 15:00 | WI
An overview on the DLA Enterprise and respective Major Subordinate Commands.
For more information, click here.

WVCC Wisconsin Veterans Business Conference (Madison, WI)
2024-10-09 | Sheraton Madison Hotel, 706 John Nolen Drive, Madison, WI, 53713
This year’s conference features:
• Four dynamic breakout sessions, tailored to enhance your business strategies and foster innovation
• A lunch catered by veteran business owners
• An expo showcasing the expertise and offerings of chamber members and partners
This is an opportunity to network with the WVCC community, gain insights, and explore avenues for success in your business endeavors.
For more information, click here.

DLA Energy Virtual Lunch and Learn with Industry
2024-10-09 10:00 | WI
Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Energy will be hosting a quarterly virtual Lunch & Learn events consisting of a variety of supplier/industry focused topics. The audience will be current and potential suppliers interested in doing business with DLA Energy and/or looking to learn more about DLA Energy’s business and processes. This event will provide a comprehensive overview of the DLA and DLA Energy, offering valuable insights into our operations and opportunities for collaboration.
Agenda:

Overview of DLA and its Mission
Introduction to DLA Energy
Discussion of Key Opportunities
How to Engage with DLA

For more information, click here.

Acquisition Hour: Flow-Down Clauses: Management and Responsibilities for Federal Contractors
2024-10-09 12:00 - 13:00 | WI
A Federal prime contractor flows down to the subcontractor mandatory terms and conditions. The subcontractor must comply with these obligations under their contract with the prime. The level of risk and associated costs, for both prime and subcontractors, can be significantly impacted by these flow-down clauses. A contractor must be aware and have a thorough understanding of these clauses and the impact they will have your contract performance prior to signing the contract.
This webinar will cover:

What are flow-down clauses
How to determine if a clause flows down
Method to track clauses
Commercial item requirements
Sample subcontract language

Speaker: Carol Murphy, Government Contract Specialist, Wisconsin Procurement Institute
This webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit.
View a schedule of all upcoming Acquisition Hour webinars.

WI Rural Partners: 2024 Small Community Forum - Adams County
2024-10-10 07:30 - 13:00 | Adams Community Center, 569 N Cedar St, Adams, WI, 53910
This year’s forum will bring together residents, community leaders, elected officials, business leaders, and civic-minded individuals to share best practices and discuss strategies to address the communities’ opportunities and challenges.
For more information, click here.

NAMC-WI Construction Industry Business-to-Business Forum (Milwaukee, WI)
2024-10-10 07:30 - 17:00 | Potawatomi Hotel & Event Center, 1721 W Canal St, Milwaukee, WI, 53233, United States
This year’s Forum will feature panel discussions on the largest regional construction projects, education, and one-on-one business matchmaker meetings between corporate leaders in the construction space and the region’s top general contractors and developers with the region’s top minority-owned firms in the construction industry. It will feature the region’s leading Utilities, Utility Contractors and industry organizations providing Utility Industry Updates, Major Project Presentation, Business Opportunities, and conducting Strategic Business Matchmaking sessions.
For more information, click here.

Satellite Office: Fond du Lac – hosted by Envision Greater Fond du Lac
2024-10-10 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 (MATC Goodman South Campus)
2024-10-10 09:00 - 16:00 | Madison Area Technical College (MATC) Goodman South Campus, 2429 Perry Street, Room 103, 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.

Indigenous Business Group - Indigenous Business Con 2024 (Milwaukee, WI)
2024-10-14 - 2024-10-15 | Potawatomi Hotel & Event Center, 1721 W Canal St, Milwaukee, WI, 53233, United States
“Revitalizing traditions, Driving innovation” – Indigenous Biz Con provides an opportunity for attendees to learn, network, and collaborate to build partnerships that result in business, all while breaking down barriers to economic development, building community, and elevating the voices of Native entrepreneurs. The event features business operators at the forefront, engaging discussions, a Native vendors marketplace, and much more.
For more information, click here.

Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Summit (La Crosse, WI)
2024-10-15 - 2024-10-16 | La Crosse Center, 300 Harborview Plaza, La Crosse, WI, 54601, United States
This year will explore the latest trends in innovation and artificial intelligence (AI) and how they are shaping the future of our economy.
The first day of the summit will focus on the immediate and practical applications of innovation that are already transforming industries and driving economic growth in Wisconsin.
The second day shifts the focus to the future, examining how emerging innovations, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI), are set to shape and drive tomorrow’s economy.
For more information, click here.

Satellite Office: Oshkosh – hosted by the Greater Oshkosh Economic Development Corporation
2024-10-15 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.

Acquisition Hour: Preparing for One-on-One Buyer Meetings
2024-10-15 12:00 - 13:00 | WI
Opportunities are coming up for small businesses to meet with Government Agencies and their Prime Contractors. To take full advantage of these opportunities, you must do your homework and be prepared. In preparation, a business must have done their market research on the buyers / primes, determine the value or solution that their business can provide to the buyers / primes, have a business card, a well prepared and focused capabilities statement, and a prepared elevator pitch.
Join Jack Laufenberg from WPI for a discussion on how to prepare for one-on-one buyer meetings. If you are planning to attend In-person / Virtual local buyer meetings and/or Marketplace Wisconsin and would like assistance in preparing for your meetings, contact WPI at 414-270-3600 or info@WisPro.org.
Speaker: Jack Laufenberg, Special Projects Coordinator and Small Business Advisor, Wisconsin Procurement Institute
This webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit.
View a schedule of all upcoming Acquisition Hour webinars.

Sales Opportunities with Local Government Agencies – Milwaukee, WI
2024-10-16 13:00 - 15:00 | WI
Significant opportunities exist for small businesses to sell to local government agencies in and around Southeastern Wisconsin. Please join us and learn about how to do business with government agencies in the area.
Presentations will be followed by the opportunity for limited one-on-one meetings with Buyers. Meetings between Buyers and Registrants will be coordinated by WPI. Please indicate interest in meetings when registering for this event.
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.
Speakers will discuss:

What & how they buy
How they announce opportunities
First Steps – registrations, certifications, other requirements
Provisions for non-performance /Force Majeure

Presenters:

Regina Flores, Procurement Director, Milwaukee County Department of Administrative Services
Rhonda Kelsey, Purchasing Director, City of Milwaukee
Michael Steger, Small Business Advisor, Asst. to the Program Manager, Wisconsin Procurement Institute

Cyber Friday: Building a CMMC Model: 3.1.7 System Maintenance Policy
2024-10-18 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.

Government Certification Workshop - State and Local Certifications - Madison, WI
2024-10-24 09:00 - 12:00 | Madison Area Technical College (MATC) Goodman South Campus, 2429 Perry Street, Room 103, 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 State of Wisconsin certifications. State certifications include:

Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)
Woman Owned Business Enterprise (WBE)
Disabled Veteran Owned Business (DVB)

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

Emerging Issues: Innovation – What does innovation look like from DoD’s perspective?
2024-10-24 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.
Companies generally see DoD innovation through DARPA, SBIT/STTR topics and other DoD R&D focused opportunities. To an extent, innovation is a one-way conversation. Can companies interested in these opportunities become more successful if they have a better understanding of how DoD looks at innovation? Register for this webinar to gain a better understand of what innovation looks like from DoD’s perspective. Compare and contrast DoD’s perspective with your views to develop a more robust understanding and robust approach.
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

GSA & U.S. DOT OSDBU Navigating Bonding: Strategies for Small Business Success
2024-10-24 12:00 - 14:00 | WI
The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) and U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT), Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) are hosting the “Navigating Bonding: Strategies for Small Business Success” webinar. Are you a small business or industry partner interested in learning bonding strategies for business growth in federal contracting? If so, join this FREE virtual training course for a brief overview of the U.S. DOT Bonding Education Program (BEP), insightful industry perspectives from successful small businesses, and a panel discussion with GSA and U.S. DOT buyer representatives.
For more information, click here.

GSA & U.S. DOT OSDBU "Navigating Bonding: Strategies for Small Business Success" Virtual Webinar
2024-10-24 12:00 - 14:00 | WI
The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) and U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT), Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) are hosting the “Navigating Bonding: Strategies for Small Business Success” webinar. Are you a small business or industry partner interested in learning bonding strategies for business growth in federal contracting? If so, join this FREE virtual training course for a brief overview of the U.S. DOT Bonding Education Program (BEP), insightful industry perspectives from successful small businesses, and a panel discussion with GSA and U.S. DOT buyer representatives.
This 2-hour webinar is open to all businesses.
For more information, click here.

Business Expo & Regional Job Fair - Mauston, WI
2024-10-24 15:00 - 17:30 | Mauston High School Gymnasium, 800 Grayside Ave, Mauston, WI, 53948
Regional Public Job Fair 3 pm – 5:30 pm
To reserve a booth, please RSVP by October 18th to jdillin@maustonschools.org. Booth fee $20, make check to Mauston High School Business Expo.
Move-in to set up 10 am – 11 am
Student Career Fair 11 am – 3 pm
For more information, click here.

Acquisition Hour: CMMC Update – October 2024
2024-10-25 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.

2024 Wisconsin Governor's Cybersecurity Summit Agenda - Appleton, WI
2024-10-28 - 2024-10-30 | Fox Cities Exhibition Center, 213 S. Nicolet Road, Appleton, WI, 54914
The Wisconsin Governor’s Cybersecurity Summit is an opportunity for professionals to broaden their awareness of cybersecurity threats and learn how the industry continues to proactively meet challenges and protect the virtual world. The Summit provides opportunities for presenters to connect with attendees. There is availability for those who would like to speak on technical, organizational, and research-based topics that are critical to the cyber-threat landscape during hour long break-out sessions (Speaker selections will be confirmed no later than September 1, 2024). There will also be multiple 2024 Wisconsin Governor’s Cybersecurity Summit sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities offered.
For more information, click here.

First Business Bank Manufacturing First Expo & Conference - Ashwaubenon, WI
2024-10-30 | Resch Expo Center, 840 Armed Forces Drive, Ashwaubenon, WI, 54304
Manufacturing is a constantly evolving industry, facing new challenges and opportunities every day. From increasing demand for sustainability to the rise of automation, manufacturers need to stay informed about the latest trends and developments to remain competitive. Stay up-to-date and competitive in the manufacturing industry by attending Manufacturing First and discovering new business opportunities, strategies, and best practices.
For more information, click here.

WBC Women's Business Conference - Eau Claire, WI
2024-10-30 | Pablo Center at the Confluence, 128 Graham Avenue, Eau Claire, WI, 54701
Designed to inspire and connect you with other women, this event will provide resources when looking to start, improve, or expand your business. At this full-day conference, you’ll learn from established members of the business community in Western Wisconsin, talk to business assistance providers, and network with other women in business.
For more information, click here.
