Small Business Lunch and Learn Hosted at USCYBERCOM's DreamPort

The chapter's Small Business Committee led by VP of Small Business, Angie Lienert, vice president of small business and president and CEO of Intelligenesis, arranged an event hosted at the DreamPort in Columbia, Maryland, where members of the Maryland Department of Commerce and Military spoke about various benefits and programs available to Small Businesses working with U.S. Department of Defense installations and agencies. With over 40 people in attendance, Lisa Swoboda from the Office of Military and Federal Affairs (OMFA), noted that the total military impact to the state is valued at $57.5 billion and that Maryland ranks in the top five states for defense spending. More importantly for this audience, Swoboda highlighted that Maryland is ranked second for Army small business spending. Further, she discussed several financial tools available to many small businesses working with Defense Department installations and agencies. These tools include loans, tax credits, as well as other support programs designed to provide small businesses with the necessary resources to do business effectively. She and her team from Commerce discussed many interesting and promising programs and networks available to small businesses. A full list of speakers and links to the items they discussed are included below. Following the speakers from the Commerce Department, Denise Bordeaux of Military Career Connect (C3) discussed how small businesses could benefit from working with C3. As she spoke with those in attendance, she shared that C3 is Maryland-wide and initiative focused on building career success for transitioning active-duty service members, active-duty spouses, and recently separated veterans. They offer many tools aimed at connecting businesses with talented and eager veterans looking to enter the workforce following their separation from service. Through their efforts, C3 helps develop and connect candidates with employers and helps both sides navigate and access incentive programs available to ease the transition. C3 is funded by a $4.2 million National Dislocated Workers Grant from U.S. Department of Labor. A big AFCEA Central Maryland thank you goes out to all speakers and the event host DreamPort. The speakers included: Lisa Swoboda, senior director, OMFA; Jennifer White, grant program manager, OMFA; Mike Kelleher, executive director, Maryland Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Defense Cybersecurity Assistance Program; Griffin St. Louis, Maryland DefTech Center; Ken McCreedy, director of cyber development, Maryland Commerce; and Denise Bordeaux, C3.

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