The 2014 Conference offers a full day of unparalleled training and networking opportunities.  Attendees will learn from various seasoned professionals and receive training on business requirements specifically tailored to companies that are in all stages of business growth, who are trying to meet the needs of the government.  

AGENDA:

7:30 a.m: Agency exhibitor tables setup  

7:30–8:30 a.m: Conference Check-in/ Continental Breakfast

8:30 a.m: Welcome to 2014 Government Contracting Conference

• Color guard
• Overview & Remarks:
• Rick Evans, Program Manager, Government Contract Assistance Program (GCAP)
• Dave Hunt, Executive Director, Pacific Northwest Defense Coalition (PNDC)

9:00 a.m: Contracting Opportunities:  Charles Hill, Director of Acquisition Management, Pacific Northwest Headquarters, U.S.D.A. Forest Service 

9:20 a.m: VA Contracting Opportunities:  Nicholas Jenkins, VISN 20 Network Contract Manager, U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs

9:40 a.m: Oregon State Small Business Certifications:  Carrie Holtz, Business Oregon

10:00–10:50 a.m:

• Breakout Training Session A:  Small Business Innovation Research & Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Funding Opportunities for Inventive Companies – Kedma S. Ough, Executive Director, Micro-enterprise Inventors Program of Oregon (MIPO)
• Breakout Training Session B:  SBA Certifications & Opportunities – James Kidd, Business Opportunity Specialist, U.S. Small Business Administration
•  Breakout Training Session C:  Panel Discussion on Federal, State, and local resources available to help small businesses access capital including SBA, Business Oregon, USDA, and SBDC – Facilitator: David Weiss

 11:00–11:50 a.m:

• Breakout Training Session A:  How to get certified in the VA's Veterans First Contracting program; how to leverage the Small Business Formula for Success, and SBDC programs to help veterans-Carroll Bernard (GCAP) and Rob Campbell, Director, Clackamas Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
• Breakout Training Session B: U.S. Forest Service Contracting opportunities
• Breakout Training Session C: The State of Government Contracting: Trends, Changes, and Opportunities – A panel of GCAP Counselors will discuss a variety of issues facing government contractors and businesses seeking contracts as well as answer questions from the audience.

12:00 p.m: LUNCH

12:30 p.m: Representative Greg Matthews, Chair, Oregon House Veterans’ Services & Emergency Preparedness Committee; U.S. Army Veteran

1:00 p.m: Supporting Veteran-Owned Small Businesses:  Kenyon L. Taylor, Program Manager, Office of Small Business Utilization, U.S. General Services Administration, Northwest/Arctic Region

1:50 p.m: Major Travis Pond, Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA), Seattle

James Bradshaw, Portland Chapter Chair, National Contract Management Assn. (NCMA)

2:40 p.m: Senator Brian Boquist, Chair, Oregon Senate Veterans and Emergency Preparedness Committee; U.S. Army Special Operations Command Veteran

3:00-4:30 p.m: Networking Tables open for one-on-one discussions with agency representatives

4:30 p.m: Conclusion of 2014 Government Contracting Conference