Small Business Expo Names AFCEA International Best Nonprofit

AFCEA International has received two awards from the 2025 Best of Small Business Awards for its dedication to supporting small businesses in the defense industry through networking opportunities, events and its mentorship program.

Small Business Expo’s The Best of Small Business Awards recognizes mid-sized to small businesses in more than 30 different categories, and it is one of the largest annual business recognition programs in the United States.

AFCEA International won the Best Non-Profit Award, which honors nonprofit organizations that support small businesses, and an SB100 Award, which honors the top 100 small businesses in the United States. AFCEA won the same categories in 2022 as well.

“AFCEA International is honored to be named again as Best Non-Profit and an SB100 Award recipient,” said Bo Inscho, manager of small business programs at AFCEA. “These awards reaffirm our commitment to empowering small businesses, fostering innovation and creating meaningful connections between industry and government in support of our national security mission. This recognition from the Small Business Expo reflects the strength of AFCEA International’s small business community. The Best Non-Profit and SB100 awards underscore the association's dedication to advocacy, education and collaboration that helps small businesses thrive.”

Through its small business initiatives and help from committees and local chapters, AFCEA offers members access to government agencies, chapter networking events, advertising opportunities, AFCEA small business awards and the AFCEA Small Business Center of Excellence Mentor-Protégé Program (SBCOE MPP).

Since 2018, the SBCOE MPP has connected more than 100 small business owners with seasoned mentors who shared advice and offered guidance. The SBCOE MPP is an informal professional development program for AFCEA corporate members.

AFCEA’s Small Business Committee also enhances the nonprofit’s outreach to the small business community, cultivating partnerships between industry and government and providing opportunities for businesses to network and collaborate.

“AFCEA small businesses are grateful for the impact AFCEA has had bringing the defense industry and small business together through information and innovation,” said Will Swann, co-chair of AFCEA’s Small Business Committee. “AFCEA has built a world-class ecosystem where small businesses don't just participate, they thrive. We are extremely grateful for their dedication to creating a conduit of information and collaboration to the defense market, allowing us to deliver rapid innovation directly to our warfighters. These awards reaffirm what we see every day: AFCEA is the premier advocate for small business ingenuity in national security.”

The Small Business Committee reflects AFCEA’s commitment to collaboration and community. The committee is a volunteer group of AFCEA industry members and government representatives passionate about helping small businesses make meaningful connections in the government, military and defense technology industries.

“Small businesses are the engine of innovation,” Swann said. “We are proud to be part of a community that prioritizes collaboration, education, national security and the mission.”