Happy Monday all. Hoping you Dad's had a great Father's Day yesterday. Hoping also that you and yours are in the best of health.
For Today: “If you let fear of consequence prevent you from following your deepest instinct, then your life will be safe, expedient and thin.” Katharine Butler Hathaway
The National Resource Directory provides online support and access to over 10,000 services and resources. Please visit:www.NationalResourceDirectory.gov. Also Please be sure to check your particular state for any additional benefits that may be offered.
June 26, 2012, VETworking Event at Tysons Corner, Virginia - From our good friend Lee Dougherty, SDV, Army Ranger, and Attorney. Dear Veterans and Friends of Veterans: Only one week till June VETworking breakfast. If you have not done so already, plan on coming out and enjoying a great morning of networking with Veterans committed to success in business. There are few opportunities to be exposed to the quality Veteran business owners and manager. VETworking will give you that opportunity. Whether you are an owner, senior manager or just considering starting a business, you will find valuable relationships at VETworking. Although the focus is on networking, we do have a speaker while we eat. This month we are proud to host Karen Kouagou who will speak on the value of networking and give us some tools to be better networkers. Even if you believe you know all you need to about networking and you don’t need to network to grow your business, come out and enjoy a morning of fellowship with other Veterans who are as committed as you. Find a young Veteran who could use the exposure and experience of networking in a safe environment of fellow Veterans and bring them. If you are not a Veteran, but you are looking for Veteran owned businesses to team with then I especially encourage you to come out and meet our attendees. Plan on coming and get registered early! RLTW! …..Lee
Please go to following Link for detailed information and to register: June VETworking
Honoring Fathers Who Serve. Millions of dads have served the country in uniform, and for Father’s Day, we honor and thank them for their service by listening to their stories. Read our Father’s Day essay collection onVAntage Point.
Prayers and blessings for you and your loved ones and for our dear Troops and their loved ones everywhere.
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Important Message from Executive Director of Veteran Business Programs at VA about Business Development
Dear Veteran business owner;
I would like to take a moment to address a major business development opportunity that you are missing. Please read this so that you do not regret missing a real opportunity to build business with the federal government.
Fifteen months ago I was a senior business development executive in a small business. I know the challenges of developing business for a small business. We had a rule in my business, if a RFP hit the street and we had not already connected to the program manager or contracts officer, we did not bid because we did not feel competitive. The toughest task I faced was to directly connect to the people who set the requirements and developed the PWS/SOW. Can you relate to that challenge? If so, I have an important message for you.
I used to go to big conferences and be frustrated when I could not connect to the procurement decision makers that had requirements my firm could fill. Many times the people I wanted to see were nowhere to be found or came and left quickly. I wasted money and time. Have you had that experience? If so, I have an important message for you.
I was very fortunate. I was able to join the VA and build the kind of conference I was desperate to go to when I was a small business executive. I know you may have seen messages about the National Veterans Small Business Conference (NVC) and disregarded them because you know all about conferences, and you feel they will not be a good return on investment. If that is you, we have failed to communicate how different this event will be and the size of the opportunity you are missing by not coming to NVC.
The VA is bringing more than 500 staff to the NVC in Detroit, 26-29 June, 2012, to include more than 400 hard to meet procurement makers! DoD is sending more than 100 staff with 40 PDM from the Army Corps of Engineers alone (as well as 20 from U.s. Army TACOM) and there will be an additional 100 from other federal agencies. There will be 352 representatives from Prime contractors and even 18 representatives from 12 states looking to do business with Veterans.
Do you want to build a commercial sector dimension into your firm? VA has partnered with SBA and the “Big Three” auto makers for an Auto Industry Event with their buyers and first tier subs that are looking for Veteran business partners on June 26. Did you know that Ford just announced a commitment to procure 3% of their buys from veteran businesses?
I have never seen such a large concentration of procurement decision makers in one place at one time. How many were at the last conference you attended?
Do you think the conference is too expensive? Did you know that more than 23% of the Vet biz surveyed after last year’s conference in New Orleans reported that they won a contract that grew out of connections they made at the NVC? What is that worth?
Not only have we brought an unprecedented number of procurement decision makers to Detroit, we have made it easy for you to connect with them and begin to build the relationships so necessary to succeed. Having a lot of government buyers at an event is not helpful if you cannot connect with them.
NVC is designed so you can connect. Procurement Decision Makers have been asked to do the following:
- Lead Business Requirements Sessions
- Host table atVetGovPartner Networking Sessions
- Host “Dine with Decision Makers” table at plenary luncheons
- AttendNVC Receptions
- Engage SB in Exhibition Hall
- Participate in Networking Breakfast at Designated Tables
- Complete Requirements Profile onVetGovPartner Platform
Result: You will know where they are and how to meet them. You will know what table they are sitting at for breakfast and luncheons for Dining with Decision Makers. You will be able to listen to them lay out their requirements and sit with them at small roundtables to discuss your capabilities to help them address their needs. VA participants will be there for three + days to engage Veteran businesses.
I have heard lots of excuses but one constant excuse is, “I don’t like Detroit…” First, Detroit will surprise you with how nice it is down- town. Second, are you going to sightsee or to do business? Our PDM will not be sight-seeing; they will be in COBO Center all day engaging with you!
I hope that you will attend the Conference. You can register at http://www.nationalveteransconference.com/
For more info contact: info@nationalveteransconference.com
Conference website: www.nationalveteransconference.com
There’s no better place to experience a real city than in the Motor City.
Hear more about Detroit from Tim Allen.
Plan your trip! Please view the customized webpage just for Conference attendees to make your visit to Detroit a memorable one. Check out dining, attractions, and discounts, including a printable coupon book here: www.meetdetroit.com/veterans2012
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Announcing the Detroit Veterans Small Business Conference Agenda!
Learn from over 300 procurement decision makers who will be discussing requirements needed to win federal contracts and providing acquisition forecasting in business requirement sessions that have now been published with the full agenda.
View the Agenda Here
The agenda for the conference is your agenda. We listened to your feedback and packed the schedule with the types of activities and information you requested:
Training Breakout Sessions: These sessions are focused on building the general knowledge required to enhance business capacity and capability. They are perfect for newer and growing businesses and include topics such as marketing, legal, and contracting issues.
Business Requirement Breakout Sessions: These sessions are focused on helping businesses win contracts in the near term. Procurement decision makers will discuss requirements needed to compete for contracts and provide acquisition forecasting.
Dining with Decision Makers: During the plenaries, as well as breakfast on Thursday and Friday, conference attendees will have the opportunity to network over a meal with procurement decision makers.
VetGovPartner Networking Roundtables: Sometimes called “matchmaking,” these roundtables give attendees an opportunity for face time with procurement decision
makers alongside other companies in a small group setting.
Build Your Customized Agenda
This year’s conference is bursting with need-to-know content. Take advantage of the over 400 breakout sessions being offered by planning your customized schedule using VetGovPartner. The content is broken out into three tracks:
Track 1: Includes training breakout sessions for individuals interested in starting a Veteran-Owned Small Business and new businesses that need additional start up information.
Track 2: Includes training breakout sessions for existing and growing businesses who wish to learn more about being competitive in doing business with the federal government.
Track 3: Includes business requirement breakout sessions for established businesses and provides requirements needed to compete for contracts and acquisition forecasting.
The tracks are not meant to discourage or prohibit attendance of any session by attendees, but rather to provide a guide for the type of information that will be presented.
Need help understanding terms on the agenda? Read our conference definitions.
General Motors Test Drive
Sign up now to take a GMC, Buick, Chevy or Cadillac vehicle of your choice for a spin on Tuesday, June 26th at the National Veteran Small Business Conference! The test drive will run from 1-4:30 pm right outside the Macomb Lobby at Cobo Center. Receive a free limited portfolio for just taking a test drive! You must bring a valid driver’s license and be at least 21 years of age. Walk-ups welcome, or visit www.GMCVeteransConference.com before midnight on June 24th to secure your spot!
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A welcoming home for our Troops.
