Chapter Kicks Off Small Business Program

The largest portion of AFCEA's largest chapter is "small": Seventy percent of chapter members are with small businesses. Accordingly, the chapter places a premium on its support to small business members. It kicked off this year's Small Business Program with a networking event in conjunction with September's Joint Warfighter IT Day. Tables and chairs were provided at no additional cost for small businesses and large firms to informally gather and discuss requirements and map capabilities and opportunities for teaming. The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) and the Army Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) staff attended to promote their valuable services. October brought a breakfast with the topic "Staying Out of Jail: Government Security and Accounting Compliance," and next up is the chapter's Defense Enterprise IT Small Business Forum. Government leaders and program managers (PMs) from the Program Executive Offices at the Army, Navy and Air Force as well as DISA and the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) will present highlights of small business opportunities and provide insights for doing business with their respective organizations. Afternoon tracks will provide exciting opportunities to engage in one-on-ones with program managers from each of the organizations, participate in matchmaking with prime contractors supporting defense clients and hear from technical and Office of Small Business Programs points of contact. The PMs also will be available for networking just before the November 4 event. This will be one of many opportunities to engage with Defense Department information technology buying agencies in an environment completely focused on AFCEA's small business members.

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