Name
Getting Beyond the Basics: How to be Successful as a New Small Business
Date & Time
Friday, March 13, 2020, 9:10 AM - 10:00 AM
Description

 

There are many great opportunities to grow your small business in the DC Metropolitan area, with more than $500B in 2019 government spending on contractor services and even more growth on the way. However, with hundreds of government agencies purchasing goods and services through thousands of contracting mechanisms, and a competitive landscape of millions of firms, it can feel overwhelming- where do you start? How do you go beyond surviving as a small business and start thriving?

Increasing your odds for long-term success requires insights into agencies’ needs and how they work with industry to satisfy their missions. “Getting Beyond the Basics” will feature a panel of government leaders in  contracting and procurement, small business advocacy, and program delivery who will share their insights and best practices in small-business government contracting. Topics include how to gain familiarity with agency needs and missions, developing relationships effectively, common pitfalls and mistakes, and pathways to success for small business vendors.

Session objectives:

  1. Learn ways to get in front of the right government officials and leave a positive impression for why they need to do business with YOU.
  2. Understand acquisition topics like category management, vehicle consolidation, and how to navigate them to win as a small business prime, joint venture, or contracting team.
  3. Hear the common mistakes prospective vendors make and ways to avoid them to stand out from the competition.

Panelists:

  • Phillip Juengst, OSDBU Acting Director, U.S. Department of Education
  • Roderick JohnsonProject Officer, Small Business Development Center, SBA

  • Vincent Sanchez, Director of Business Operations, Office of Acquisition Management, U.S. Department of State

 

Session Type
Panel