Satellite Office: Superior – hosted by the Small Business Development Center at UW – Superior
2025-06-17 09:00 - 16:00, 2025-06-18 09:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Small Business Development Center at UW – Superior, 1401 Tower Avenue, Superior, WI, 54880, United States
WPI will be holding office hours at our satellite location in the Small Business Development Center at UW – Superior in Superior, WI. Contact the counselor directly to schedule your meeting.
To view the upcoming schedule for Superior, please click here.
To view the full list of satellite locations and schedules, please click here.

Federal Market Insights [FMI]: Competition for Government Work "Why Aren't You Picking Me?"
2025-06-17 12:30 - 13:00 | WI
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.

19th Annual Government Opportunities Business Conference (GOBC) - Volk Field, Camp Douglas WI
2025-06-18 08:00 - 12:00 | Volk Field Air National Guard Base, 100 Independence Drive, Building 475, Camp Douglas, WI, 54618, United States
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DLA Casting and Forging Program Webinar
2025-06-18 12:00 - 13:00 | WI
This webinar is a course that teaches vendors the castings and forgings process and method and discuss the common mistakes that cause material issues. This session is free.
For more information, click here.

Satellite Office: Green Bay – hosted by the Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Startup Hub
2025-06-24 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.

Federal Market Insights [FMI]: Manufacturing in Wisconsin: Insights on What's Good and What's Concerning Manufacturers in Our State
2025-06-24 12:30 - 13:00 | WI
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.
Speakers:

Buckley Brinkman, Executive Director/CEO, Wisconsin Center for Manufacturing & Productivity LINKEDIN
Marc Violante, Director, Federal Market Strategies, Wisconsin Procurement Institute
Mark Dennis, Government Contract Specialist, Wisconsin Procurement Institute

For the list of Federal Market Insights webinar, please click here.

Satellite Office: Manitowoc – hosted by Progress Lakeshore
2025-06-25 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.

Acquisition Hour: How to Analyze Federal Solicitations
2025-06-25 12:00 - 13:00 | WI
You’ve found a posted solicitation in SAM.gov that might be a good fit for your business. What should you do next? How should I read through all these documents? WPI will explore classic analysis techniques such as:

Forming a working team within your company to analyze requirements
Identifying mandatory requirements to match your capabilities
Breaking down the main solicitation document and its attachments
When and how to ask questions of the contracting office
Team member delegations and inputs for a decision to make an offer
When to walk away: the business case

Speakers:

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.

Finding the Right Resources to Get Your Business Ready for Procurement (virtual)
2025-06-25 15:00 - 17:00 | WI
Registration closes promptly at 2:45 PM, Central Time on the day of the event.
This session is part of a series of quarterly events that support Wisconsin businesses in accessing procurement opportunities and the resources needed to succeed.
Program collaborators include:

City of Madison – Department of Civil Rights
City of Madison – Office of Business Resources
Dane County
State of Wisconsin Department of Administration – Supplier Diversity Program
Wisconsin Procurement Institute
Latino Academy of Workforce Development
UW Madison School of Business – Small Business Development Center
Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation
Summit Credit Union
Forward Community Investments, Inc.

This event is designed for both emerging entrepreneurs and seasoned small business owners. It’s a chance to share best practices, connect with others doing great work in this space, and equip attendees with practical tools and insights.

Government Certification Workshop - Federal Certifications - Madison, WI
2025-06-26 09:00 - 12:00 | Madison Area Technical College (MATC) Goodman South Campus, 2429 Perry Street, Madison, WI, 53713, United States
Are you a 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 Types 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

Cyber Thursday: FAR 52.204-21: The Forgotten Baseline of Federal Cybersecurity
2025-06-26 11:00 - 12:00 | WI
Often overshadowed by more complex frameworks, FAR 52.204-21 remains the essential foundation for safeguarding federal contract information. We will be breaking down its 15 basic safeguarding requirements and explaining how it connects to broader compliance efforts like NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC. Attendees will gain practical insights into why FAR 52.204-21 matters, how to assess compliance, and what steps to take to align their organization with federal expectations. Whether you’re new to federal contracting or refining your cybersecurity posture, this session provides the clarity needed to strengthen your security baseline.
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.

Federal Market Insights [FMI]: DLA's Master Solicitation - Are You Reading It, and Why Not?
2025-07-01 12:30 - 13:00 | WI

DLA Training, Knowledge, and Opportunities (TKO) Seminar
2025-07-08 - 2025-07-09 | WI
The TKO seminar is a course that teaches vendors how to start doing business with DLA Land and Maritime. Vendors learn how to find open solicitations, how to submit a quote through the DLA Internet Bid Board System (DIBBS), the procedures for viewing/downloading drawings, and how to use Invoicing, Receipt, Acceptance and Property Transfer (iRAPT) to get paid. There are also many other relevant topics of discussion. This session is free.
For more information, click here.

Federal Market Insights [FMI]: Cracking the Code of the Procurement Instrument Identification (PIID) - How Understanding These Codes Can Help You Identify Customers
2025-07-08 12:30 - 13:00 | WI

19th Annual Government Opportunities Business Conference (GOBC) - Truax Field, Madison WI
2025-07-09 08:00 - 12:30 | Truax Field Air National Guard Base, 3200 Pierstorff St, Building 500, Madison, 53704, United States

Acquisition Hour: Writing a Winning Government Proposal
2025-07-09 12:00 - 13:00 | WI
Decided to bid on a solicitation? What should this proposal package include?
Join us to look at pieces of the proposal puzzle, including:

The proposal writing team at your company, and who should have input?
Writing to the solicitation: action plans vs. promises
The Cost Estimate: what’s realistic and forward pricing proposals
Cover Letter purpose, contents and contacts, and Capabilities Statement

Speakers:

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.

Office Hours: Madison - Selling to the State of Wisconsin
2025-07-10 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.

Satellite Office: Fond Du Lac – hosted by Envision Greater Fond du Lac
2025-07-10 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.

NCMA World Congress 2025 - Grapevine, TX
2025-07-13 - 2025-07-16 | Grapevine, TX, Grapevine, TX
Don’t miss this opportunity to contribute to the world’s largest gathering of contract management professionals.
A powerhouse is a source of influence or inspiration from one having great drive, energy, and ability. This year’s World Congress theme recognizes the crucial impact our profession has on agencies, organizations and missions. Are we focused on innovation and what’s next? Yes. Are we continually leveraging the wisdom of the past? Yes. Amid a demanding environment that never seems to slow its pace, we feel that it is important to pause together to reflect on and celebrate our successes. Learning and networking side by side, this is our chance to convene as a mighty profession – driving the deals that make our nation run and succeed.

For more information, click here.

Satellite Office: Madison (FEED Kitchens)
2025-07-14 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.

Satellite Office: Oshkosh – hosted by the Greater Oshkosh Economic Development Corporation
2025-07-15 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.

Federal Market Insights [FMI]: Where's the Market Research Data? Proxity, SAM, FPDS, and Other Sources
2025-07-15 12:30 - 13:00 | WI

Navy Week - Doing Business with the Navy and Marine Corps
2025-07-16 08:00 - 12:00 | Industries for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 445 S. Curtis Road, West Allis, WI, 53214
Register Here
Join the Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI) – Wisconsin APEX Accelerator for an
insightful training session with the Department of the Navy (DON) Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) in Milwaukee, WI. This event will provide valuable information for small businesses, covering DON OSBP achievements and goals, the Mentor-Protégé Program, preparation for the DON procurement process, available resources, and more.
Representatives from the DON OSBP, Navy SBIR/STTR, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), WPI – Wisconsin APEX Accelerator, Industries for the Blind and Visually Impaired, NDIA – Great Lakes Chapter, and U.S. Small Business
Administration (SBA) will participate in a networking session, providing opportunities to connect and learn about their programs, services, and subcontracting opportunities.
Click here to view the event flyer.
Agenda
8:00 – 8:10 AM: Welcome presented by Industries for the Blind & Visually Impaired
8:10 – 8:25 AM: Partner & Audience Introductions
8:25 – 8:30 AM: Wisconsin Procurement Institute– Wisconsin APEX Accelerator Overview
8:30 – 9:00 AM: U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
9:00 – 9:15 AM: Break
9:15 – 9:45 AM: Navy SBIR/STTR Overview
9:45 – 11:00 AM: How to Do Business with the Navy & Marine Corps
11:00 – 12:00 PM: Networking Session

Acquisition Hour: The 8(a) Business Development Program
2025-07-17 11:00 - 12:00 | WI
Sections 7(j)(10) and 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. §§ 636(j)(10) and 637(a)) authorizes the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish a business development program, which is known as the 8(a) Business Development program.
Businesses that participate in the program receive training and technical assistance designed to strengthen their ability to compete effectively in the American economy. Also eligible to participate in the 8(a) program are small businesses owned by Alaska Native corporations, Community Development Corporations, Indian tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations. Small business development is accomplished by providing various forms of management, technical, financial, and procurement assistance.
SBA partners with federal agencies to promote maximum utilization of 8(a) program participants to ensure access to contracting opportunities in the federal marketplace. Once certified, 8(a) program participants are eligible to receive federal contracting and receive training and technical assistance designed to strengthen their ability to compete effectively in the American economy.
Businesses certified under the 8(a) program can also:

Receive sole source contracts
Compete for set-aside contracts
Receive assistance from a Business Opportunity Specialist to help navigate federal contracting
Form joint ventures with established businesses through the SBA’s Mentor-Protégé Program
Receive management and technical assistance, including business training, counseling, marketing assistance and high-level executive development

During the presentation we will discuss:

Eligibility Criteria
The Application Process
Program Benefits
What is expected from an 8(a) participant
Locating 8(a) set aside opportunities
Marketing your 8(a) certified business

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.

16th Annual NDIA Great Lakes Chapter Meeting - in person (Chicago, IL)
2025-07-17 12:30 - 18:30 | MxD Innovation Center, 1415 North Cherry Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60642
Join the 16th Annual NDIA Great Lakes Chapter Meeting at MxD Chicago!
Click HERE to view Speaker bios
Thursday, July 17

16th ANNUAL NDIA GREAT LAKES CHAPTER MEETING

Join our NDIA Chapter Members, MxD, and WPI along with a fantastic speaker line-up for this annual event.

Date and time

Thursday, July 17 · 1 – 6:30pm CDT

Location

MxD
1415 North Cherry Avenue Chicago, IL 60642

Agenda

12:30 PM – Registration Opens

1:00 PM – Program Begins

NDIA Welcome & Year in Review — Nick Cucci, President & MxD Welcome — Berardino Baratta, CEO, MxD

1:35 PM – Keynote

Michael A. Brown, Partner, Shield Capital

2:05 PM – Featured Speaker

Dr. Arun Seraphin, Executive Director at Emerging Technologies Institute

2:45 PM – MxD Factor Floor Tour

3:30 PM – Panel Discussion on Quantum & AI Driving the Future of Defense

MODERATOR — David Boulay – President, IMEC PANELISTS: — Kate Timmerman – CEO, Chicago Quantum Exchange — Harley Johnson, Director and CEO, Illinois Quantum & Microelectronics Park — Mark Sch…

4:10 PM – Featured Speaker

Jeremy Roehm, Chief of Technology & Partnerships – US, Rolls-Royce

4:40 PM – Networking Reception

6:30 PM – End of Program

About this event

Free venue parking

All are Welcome! Join our NDIA Chapter Members, MxD, and WPI along with a fantastic speaker line-up for this annual event. This in-person event will be held in Chicago, IL.

NDIA Great Lakes Chapter Annual Meeting – Overview
Join us on Thursday, July 17th for the 16th Annual NDIA Great Lakes Chapter Meeting, This year’s event – hosted by MxD in Chicago, IL – will provide opportunities for engagement, networking, and knowledge sharing, as well as an opportunity to tour MxD’s 22,000 square foot research facility that is used to test and demonstrate new manufacturing and workforce training technologies, as well as need for cybersecurity in manufacturing.
The NDIA Great Lakes Chapter Annual Meeting serves as a connector for the aerospace and defense communities across the Midwest, championing innovation, collaboration and regional growth. As part of the National Defense Industrial Association, the chapter plays a vital role in advancing national security through the integration and acceleration of emerging technologies.
We’re excited to announce that Michael A. Brown, former director, Defense Innovation Unit (DUI), U.S. Dept. of Defense, will be our keynote speaker at this year’s event. He’ll join other esteemed speakers and presenters associated with the defense industrial base to be announced once confirmed.
Agenda
CLICK to view the program agenda.
CLICK here to view speaker bios.
Why Attend?
Connect with Defense and Industry Leaders
Network with key stakeholders from the Department of Defense, prime contractors, suppliers, and innovators driving national security initiatives across the region.
Gain Insight into Emerging Defense Priorities
Hear directly from experts about evolving defense strategies, funding priorities, and how industry can align to support mission-critical needs.
Explore Cutting-Edge Technologies
Learn about the latest advancements in digital manufacturing, cybersecurity, clean energy, and more—discover opportunities to apply these innovations within the defense ecosystem.
Grow Your Business in the Defense Sector
Identify potential partnerships, business development opportunities, and procurement insights that can help you navigate and thrive in the defense marketplace.
Support Regional Innovation and Workforce Development
Be part of the conversation shaping the future of defense in the Great Lakes region—help strengthen the talent pipeline and technology base that supports our warfighters.

Presented By:

National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) Great Lakes Chapter
MxD – Host
Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI)

Event Dress Code: Uniform of the day / Business Casual

Notes from event host MxD:

Free parking is available to MxD guests.
Please note for this event, no citizens from US Sanctioned Countries will be allowed.

Area Lodging and Directions via Public Transportation
CLICK HERE

Thank You to our Chapter Sponsors!

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.

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.

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 | WI

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.
