T.J. Merlo

Leadership-level conference for decision-makers across government and industry, convening industry, government, and Native experts around federal, state, city, and tribal procurement; business development; financing and investment; regulatory compliance; workforce; cybersecurity; artificial intelligence; and economic development. Session topics include 8(a) and Federal Contracting at a Crossroads: Challenges, Opportunities & the Road Ahead; From Policy to Progress: The Power of Industry Groups; CMMC compliance updates and recommendations; How to Contract with the Tribal and State Governments; Scale Smart: AI, Growth & Compliance; Contracting With Battelle; How to Work with Sandia National Labs; The Small Business Dealbook: M&A Strategies for Growth; and Compliance in Focus: Updates, Training and What Businesses Need to Know. Additional themes include marketing to government and teaming partners, proposal workshops, capture management, pricing, FAR 2.0, federal compliance, subcontracting, veteran hiring, corporate governance, tribal nation development and procurement, Native American preference, succession planning, recruiting, and HR practices. Confirmed speakers and guests include Ryan Lambert of the U.S. Small Business Administration, Brandon Beach and James Colombe of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Pamela D. Callicutt of the Army Office of Small Business Programs, Julie Ramey of GSA, John Klein of the U.S. Small Business Administration, Lynn Livengood of Battelle, Leonardo Valencia of Sandia National Laboratories, and Marisol Herrera of CT APEX Accelerator. The program includes a Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center tour.