CLICK HERE to register for
The Contracting Academy (TCA)
(December 7)

TCA sessions will take place virtually on December 7, 2022 between 9 AM and 12 NOON Central Time . Sessions will focus on federal and federal prime contractor opportunities for diverse and small businesses.

This year’s sessions:

9:00 AM Central Time – FEDERAL AGENCY PANEL – The Federal Government spends over $600 billion annually on a wide range of goods and services. In the federal market, small and diverse firms have a competitive advantage – contracting goals are in place for small, disadvantaged (includes minority), woman, service-disabled veteran and HUBZone certified firms. During this session you will hear from federal agency representatives on what they buy, what they look for in a contractor, what opportunities are available and what they expect from their contractors.

  • Lisa Burns, USPFO, Wisconsin National Guard
  • Steven Maier, Small Business Liaison, Great Lakes Health Care System, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Michael Chiodi, MRP Small Business Coordinator – MRP AbilityOne Liaison/Contracting Officer, U.S. Department of Agriculture
  • Elizabeth White, Procurement Analyst, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
  • Moderated by Aina Vilumsons, President and Executive Director, Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI)

10:00 AM Central Time – FEDERAL PRIME CONTRACTOR PANEL – Large federal prime contractors with large federal contracts are obligated to work with small and diverse businesses. These contractors have what is known as a “small business subcontracting plan” which outlines their subcontracting plans and small business goals. During this session, federal prime contractors will share information about their firms and about their contracts, and how a small / diverse business could become their subcontractor.

  • Bill Deringer, Global Business Development Manager, Electric Power Generation (EPG) Caterpillar Defense – BIO
  • Sara Redford, Vice President of Procurement, WPS Health Solutions – BIO
  • Kevin Lovell, Director and Senior Program Manager, Xator Corporation – BIO
  • Michael Bond, Supplier Diversity, Snap-on Incorporated
  • Moderated by Aina Vilumsons, President and Executive Director, Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI)

11:00 AM Central Time – UNDERSTANDING TEAMING – PARTNERING – MENTORING – JOINT VENTURES – In Federal Government contracting, your competitor on today’s opportunity may be your partner on the next project. Successful federal contractors understand and leverage the competitive advantage that the various TEAMING methods and programs can bring. During this session you will learn about some of these federal programs, and how to bring teaming into your Federal Government market development and growth strategy.

  • Jean Marie Thiel, President, Belonger Corporation, Inc – BIO
  • Tim Connelly, Principal, Tim Connelly Law PLLC – BIO
  • Darryl “Shane” Mahaffy,  Lead Business Opportunity Specialist, Wisconsin District Office, US SBA – BIO
  • Moderated by Aina Vilumsons, President and Executive Director, Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI)

The Contracting Academy (TCA) is an opportunity for businesses to grow their technical knowledge of contracting with Federal Government, State/Local Government, and Government Prime Contractors. The series of workshops will benefit established businesses looking to grow and develop their government sales.