Small Business Works 2022: Navigating Equity in Procurement

Amy Lineberry is GSA’s Deputy Associate Administrator for the Office of Small Business Utilization. Amy has been with GSA for over 17 years and was previously a Contracting Officer in GSA’s Public Buildings Service. Amy’s expertise in small business, policy, and acquisition assists GSA to maximize small business participation. She is Level III Federal Acquisition Certified in Contracting and a recipient of the Chief Acquisition Officer Council’s Excellence in Small Business Award. Amy is a fourth generation small business owner and owned a small business for ten years. She understands the challenges that small businesses face. It is this experience that drives her to reduce the burden on the vendor community and contracting officers, streamline business practices, increase prime and subcontracting opportunities, and develop single source tool for finding procurement opportunities.

Andrew is an expert in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) accessibility. He is Co-Chair of the annual ICT Accessibility Testing Symposium, which brings together other experts from around the world in the field of ICT accessibility testing to exchange academic analysis of current ICT accessibility testing issues and explore approaches to improve accessibility testing practices. He is a principal co-author of the current version of the Harmonized Processes for Revised Section 508: Baseline Tests for Web Accessibility (aka the “ICT Baseline”). Andrew was also the coordinator and facilitator of the inter-agency team of experts that developed both the Baseline and the current version of the “Trusted Tester” accessibility testing process, which is recognized across the federal government as a leading practice in accessibility testing.

Ms. Angela Terry is a small business owner and Federal Government employee with over 30 years of Accounting, Financial Management, Marketing, IT Project, and Program Management, and Federal Government Contracting and Policy experience. Angela currently works in the Small Business Administration’s Office of Policy, Planning and Liaison Office. Angela holds an Associate of Arts degree in Accounting from the University of the District of Columbia. She also has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from the University of Maryland University College. Angela is currently obtaining her Master of Arts degree in Communications from the University of Maryland Global College. Angela is certified in both Project and Program Management. She also holds Level III Federal Acquisition Certification (FAC) in Contracting (FAC-C) and Contract Officer Representative (FAC-COR). Angela began her career in the Federal Government as a Federal government subcontractor. As a subcontractor, Angela’s company Conceptual Concepts provided financial management, project management, program management, donor relation service, prime and subcontract policy, data analytics, and IT system development and implementation service to the Federal government. Angela's fierce leadership qualities, excellent service, and communication skills allowed her to transition to the Small Business (SB) Administration's (SBA) Subcontracting Program Manager (SPM). Angela left a successful career as a subcontractor to become the SPM because she wanted to help increase prime and sub-contract awards to small businesses, affect policy change, provide awareness and education, and enforce the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). As SBA's SPM, she oversees the management of the Federal Government's Prime and Subcontracting Program. She is committed to educating and ensuring the Federal Acquisition Community (FAC) is aware of, understands, and complies with the FAR and SBA's SB program regulations, policies, and processes. Angela is an award-winning keynote speaker and author who brings awareness, education, and inspiration to her audience. Her manuals, instructional, and e-learning videos have increased Federal prime and sub-contracts to SBs and helped professionals achieve greater understanding and compliance with Federal Government contracting. Angela's policy initiatives, tools, and IT system development support accountability and accessibility to SB opportunities. She is responsible for developing key strategies to increase SB contracts, which includes her compliance review initiatives and the redevelopment of the SBA's Subcontracting Network System (Sub-Net). Her redesign of SBA's Sub-Net bridged the gap between SB in need of subcontracts and organizations in need of SB subcontractors. Angela is a leader in community engagement and a successful entrepreneur. Angela is the owner of Accommodations by Angela, Desire To Be Training Institute ̧ and Angela's Memoirs. As the owner and CEO, she is responsible for the day-to-day operations and management of the organizations, ensuring aggressive and successful growth. As a real estate investor, Angela established Accommodations By Angela (ABA). ABA provides temporary modernly furnished 3-and 4-bedroom townhomes for those relocating or visiting the Washington DC and Baltimore MD area. Angela founded Angela's Memoirs to motivate people to reach their dreams despite their past and current situation. Through their life skills training, Angela's Memoirs aims to educate and inspire people to overcome challenges, breakthrough roadblocks, and cultural boundaries to gain the required knowledge and behavioral straits to reach their desired goals and accomplish their dreams. Angela motivates thousands weekly through Angela's Memoirs social media platform and virtual seminars. Desire To Be (D2B) Training Company provides training on various entrepreneurship and Federal government contracting topics. Angela’s passion is to influence others to become entrepreneurs. DTB also offers free business plan development and financial and business management skills training to children age nine years upward and adults of all ages.

Arielle Douglas began her federal civil service career as a contract specialist with the Defense Information Systems Agency and became a warranted contracting officer with the Department of Health and Human Services. She transitioned into acquisition policy and small business program management with the National Institutes of Health. Arielle also previously served as the Associate Director for the Defense Information Systems Agency, Office of Small Business Programs. Before joining EPA, Arielle was a Senior Procurement Analyst with the General Services Administration supporting acquisition workforce policies and initiatives. Arielle holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland Global Campus and a Bachelor of Science in Health Administration and Policy from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She enjoys spending time with her daughter, traveling, and doing community service activities.

Ms. Carena Jackson currently serves as the General Services Administration (GSA) Subcontracting Program Manager / Procurement Analyst for the Office of Small Business Utilization (OSDBU). Her responsibilities include overseeing the subcontracting program, eSRS agency coordinator, subcontracting training, developing, reviewing, evaluating, and implementing new and/or modified acquisition policies that could have projected impact on the various GSA Small Business Programs agency-wide. She supports Federal Acquisition Services (FAS), Public Building Services (PBS), and Office of Administrative Services (OAS) including staff offices. Prior to joining GSA, Carena worked for the Department of Defense (Air Force) for nine (9) years in various roles such as Policy Division Chief, Branch Chief, Unlimited Contracting Officer, and Contract Specialist at both Eglin Air Force Base, FL and Air Force District of Washington (Joint Base Andrews, MD). While working for the Department of Defense (Air Force), she had direct acquisition experience in the following areas: major weapon systems, foreign military sales, base operations, and professional services (including direct support of the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force). In total, Carena has awarded over $500M dollars as a Contracting Officer. She currently has her Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) Contracting Level III Certification (equivalent Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) Level III Certification). In addition, Carena holds a Master Degree in Public Administration from the University of West Florida and an Undergraduate Degree in Finance from Florida State University. In addition to her role in OSDBU, Carena is currently member of GSA Toastmasters.

Chad Maisel is the Director for Racial and Economic Justice at the White House Domestic Policy Council, where he leads federal efforts to build wealth in underserved communities. Prior to joining the Biden-Harris Administration, Chad served as Economic Policy Advisor to Senator Cory Booker, and worked as the Deputy Policy Director for his presidential campaign. He served in the Obama-Biden Administration for more than five years, concluding in 2017 as a Senior Policy Advisor at the White House National Economic Council and Domestic Policy Council focused on child poverty and rural economic development issues. Chad also held roles at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the White House Office of Management and Budget, and the White House Office of Cabinet Affairs, and was a Regional Field Director in Ohio for the 2008 Obama campaign. Chad received an MPA from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs and a BA from Emory University.

Christopher Sao has dedicated a majority of his federal career promoting and advocating for small businesses in Government prime contracting and subcontracting. He is currently SBA’s Area 1 (MA, ME, VT, NH, CT, RI, NY, NJ, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands) Commercial Market Representative (CMR), based in Boston, MA. Prior to the SBA, from 2009-2018, he served as a Procurement Analyst, Contract Specialist, and Small Business Specialist/Program Manager with the Army Natick Contracting Division and Natick Soldier Systems Center located in Natick, MA.

Daria Ingram works within the Office of Human Resources Management. She serves as Deputy Director for the Office of Human Strategy to the Deputy CHCO for the U.S. General Services Administration. Daria brings nearly 40 years of experience in the management of various federal human capital programs. In her current role, she leads teams responsible for the oversight of GSA-wide human capital policy, programs, and strategy for all aspects of Human Capital Management including: talent acquisition, development and sustainment, labor and employee relations, performance management, compensation, strategic workforce, succession planning, diversity management and data analytics.

E. Darlene Bullock was appointed as the Director of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) in January 2020. She served as the Acting OSDBU Director in June 2019 and the OSDBU Deputy Director in June 2015. Ms. Bullock is responsible for implementing the Department’s small business procurement programs across DHS’ $21 billion procurement operation, which awards approximately $6 billion each year to small businesses. Ms. Bullock joined the OSDBU in January 2011 as the Program Manager for several small business programs to include: 8(a), small disadvantaged, and women-owned. As a Desk Officer, she provided technical procurement and small business support to four DHS operational contracting offices. Before joining the OSDBU, Ms. Bullock was a Division Director and Contracting Officer in the DHS, Office of Procurement Operations (OPO). OPO is one of the largest procurement divisions in DHS obligating about $4 - 4.5 Billion a year. Her division was responsible for supporting the Office of the Secretary and other high-visibility offices at DHS Headquarters. Ms. Bullock oversaw and managed the award process of the first DHS-wide Program Management, Administrative, Clerical, and Technical Services (PACTS) Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contracts which were set-aside for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs). PACTS had an estimated value at $1.5 billion. The award of PACTS I enabled DHS to meet and exceed the 3% SDVOSB goal for the first time in Fiscal Year 2010. DHS continues to meet or exceed the SDVOSB goal. With over 28 years of experience in procurement, federal assistance, and acquisitions management, Ms. Bullock has held leadership positions at several Federal and local agencies including DHS, U.S. Agency for International Development, U. S. Department of Commerce, District of Columbia Government, and the U.S. Army. Ms. Bullock began her acquisition career with the U.S. Army successfully completing the Department of Defense contract specialist intern program. She was a Certified Federal Contract Manager (CFCM) with the National Contract Management Association (NCMA) and maintains her FAC-C Level III Certification in Contracting. She has completed various Federal Executive leadership courses throughout her career. She has an undergraduate degree in Agricultural Business and Resource Economics from the University of Maryland, College Park and a MBA in International Management from Southeastern University.

Darlene Coen is the Deputy Director and Director of Strategy and Acquisition for the NASA Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Acquisition Contract (SEWP), an Office of Management and Budget (OMB) designated, Government-Wide Acquisition Contract (GWAC), providing access to the latest in Information and Communication Technology Products and Solutions. With more than 43 years of progressive leadership experience within the private and public sectors, Ms. Coen assists SEWP’s Program Director in accomplishing NASA SEWP objectives by providing strategic counsel and operational oversight expertise. Ms. Coen also directs SEWP’s Federal Agency Strategic Support Team (FASST) - an Agency-focused team delivering a ‘consultative-type’ approach to Federal Agencies for Information Technology requirements that are strategic, complex or significant in size. The Contracting team within the SEWP Program Management Office is also under her oversight. Prior to NASA, Ms. Coen worked for various agencies within the Department of Defense and the Department of Transportation, as well as several private industry firms in the Contracting, Program Management, Administration, and Policy fields. Raised in Maryland, Ms. Coen has a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Management Studies from the University of Maryland University College and a Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) Level III certification from the Defense Acquisition University.

Dietra Trent earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Criminal Justice from Hampton University and completed her master’s and doctoral degrees in Public Administration and Policy from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has over twenty-five years of experience working to advance equity for Virginia’s most disadvantaged populations. Most recently, she served in several leadership positions at George Mason University, including chief of staff and interim VP for Compliance, Diversity, and Ethics. In 2016, Dr. Trent was appointed as Virginia’s Secretary of Education. Prior to her appointment, she served as Deputy Secretary of Education, a position she also held during the administration of then-Governor Tim Kaine. Having served in the Administrations of three former Governors (including Mark Warner), as well as the Office of Congressman Bobby Scott, she has a wealth of federal, state, and higher education experience.

DiJon F. Ferdinand, Sr. is the Acting Assistant Division Chief of Operations, for the U.S. Census Bureau Acquisition Division, responsible for overall procurement operations in support of the Decennial Program and major acquisitions. Mr. Ferdinand manages the daily operations and advises executive leaders on a broad range of management and policy issues. Prior to this role, Mr. Ferdinand served as Policy Chief for the U.S. Census Bureau Acquisition Division advising the Bureau Procurement Official on issues related to policy and program implementation. Mr. Ferdinand has been with the U.S. Census Bureau since 2002. He twice successfully led procurement operations in support of the Decennial Census, the largest acquisition projects within the Department of Commerce and the largest peacetime mobilization undertaken by the federal government, culminating in a collection of data vital to U.S. social, political, and economic systems. Mr. Ferdinand is a long-time small business advocate for the utilization of small and socioeconomic businesses to meet the procurement requirements of the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Commerce. He holds a Level III certification for contracting officer. He maintains unlimited signatory authority and has successfully overseen the award of contracts for good and services, totaling on average over $2 billion dollars annually. Under Mr. Ferdinand’s leadership, the U.S. Census Bureau has met and/or exceeded the statutory goals in all small business categories for consecutive fiscal years. Mr. Ferdinand completed the Digital Information Technology Acquisition Professionals (DITAP) Program in June of 2020. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Morgan State University and a master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA), with a minor concentration in Acquisitions/Procurement, from Webster University. Mr. Ferdinand also holds a master’s degree in Project Management and Business Analysis from George Washington University.

Doreen Blades is the founder and President of US Eco Products Corporation. Doreen started US Eco Products Corporation in 2009 by reviewing the trends in federal contracting and private business focusing on green products and services. US Eco Products Corporation now has federal contracts with US Army Warfighter division, US Coast Guard, Architect of the Capitol, US Navy, US Army Corps of Engineers, USDA, Department of the Interior, FAA, FEMA, US Airforce Academy and the Veterans Administration. US Eco Products Corporation is now certified as an 8A, WOSB, EDWOSB, DBE, ACDBE, WBE, and HubZone. Doreen Blades and US Eco Products Corporation was awarded the New England Region Small Business Prime Contractor of the year 2022 by the US Small Business Administration. Doreen graduated from University of Massachusetts Amherst with a Bachelor of Science and has extended her classroom experience with graduate Business classes at Harvard University. WBENC Tuck program from Dartmouth College WBENC Executive Energy Program at Shell Oil’s training site in Louisiana Awards: Cheryl Sneed Leadership award from Center for Women Enterprises WBENC’s WBE Star 2016 Massachusetts Office of Supplier Diversity success Story September 2016 Award Winner of Irish American Small Business top 50 Board Memberships: WBENC Government Forum Team 2nd Vice Chair Board Member, International Aviation Snow Symposium, Buffalo, NY Board Member Emeritus, Boston Irish Business Association Doreen is a National Speaker.

Mr. Dwight D. Deneal is the Director for the DLA Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP), Headquarters, located at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. In this capacity, Mr. Deneal provides executive leadership for all aspects of the DLA’s small business mission, including small business program functional operations for DLA's six Major Subordinate Commands (MSCs). Under Mr. Deneal’s leadership he supervises and directs advocacy and outreach for all of DLA’s small business programs, development and dissemination of policies and procedures for execution of small business functions, and oversight for the execution of the small business program at the DLA’s contracting activities--equating to more than $35 billion dollars of annual contract spending. Under Mr. Deneal’s direction, he provides the vision for the DLA Small Business program and oversight of the agencies’ fiduciary responsibility to maximize small business federal procurement dollars. Mr. Deneal maintains, and grows strategic partnerships that attract traditional and non- traditional businesses into the DLA supply chain; while striving to build dynamic ecosystems that help grow the national defense industrial base. This includes representing the program to state policy, industry and federal acquisition leaders; while working collaboratively towards a common goal and vision. Additionally, Mr. Deneal is responsible for the execution and management of policies, plans and sub-programs of the congressionally mandated U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Procurement Technical Assistance (PTA) Cooperative Agreement Program, for which DLA is the agent; which establishes a nation-wide network of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs). Previously, Mr. Deneal served as Director, Small Business and Industry Liaison Programs for the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), an operational component of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In this capacity, Mr. Deneal served as USCG’s authority on all small business and socio-economic related guidelines, policies, regulations and was delegated the authority for planning and carrying out acquisition activities in support of the small business programs. In recognition of his professional efforts and mission impact, Mr. Deneal was awarded the 2018 U.S. DHS Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) Excellence in Industry Engagement Award and 2018 Federal Small Business Champion by Homeland Security Today, a media outlet. Mr. Deneal is an active thought leader in the Federal Acquisition space and a staunch advocate for the small business community. A native of Columbia, South Carolina, Mr. Dwight D. Deneal graduated from Hampton University, Hampton, VA where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management. He is married to a loving and supportive wife, Adrienne N. Deneal.

Eric is the Small Business Technical Adviser for GSA's Office of Small Business Utilization, Region 8. His undergraduate degree is from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and he has a MBA from Colorado State University. He retired from the U.S. Air Force after almost 23 years of service. Upon retirement he worked for Defense Contract Management Agency on the NASA Orion Space Program for over 6 years as Lead Quality Assurance Specialist, before moving to Small Business Administration as a Business Opportunity Specialist in the 8(a) BD program. In his role, Eric oversees GSA Region 8 and is the chief advocate for small and disadvantage businesses in Region 8. He promotes increased access to GSA’s nationwide procurement opportunities, and engages in activities that make it possible for the small business community to meet contracting experts and to receive counseling on the federal procurement process. Find your Technical Adviser at the website below: https://www.gsa.gov/node/2053

Exodie C. Roe, III serves as Associate Administrator for the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) at the U.S. General Services Administration. As head of OSDBU, Exodie has nationwide responsibility for GSA’s small business programs and is the chief advocate for small and disadvantaged businesses. OSDBU promotes increased access to GSA’s nationwide procurement opportunities and engages in activities that make it possible for the small business community to meet key contracting experts and receive counseling on the federal procurement process. Prior to joining GSA, Exodie was the Director of Policy and External Affairs for the Congressional Black Caucus. For the past 14 years, he has dedicated his career to public service in various staff positions in the U.S. Congress. In 2007, he started his government service with Congressman Jerry McNerney of California, rising to become his senior policy advisor. From 2019 to 2021, he served as the Director of Policy and External Affairs for the Congressional Black Caucus under Chairwoman Karen Bass in the 116th Congress. During his congressional service, Exodie worked with congressional leadership and congressional members on political strategy, strategic communications, regulatory issues, advocacy, and a broad range of public policy initiatives, including small business legislation to strengthen minority and disadvantaged businesses. In 2019, Roe was honored by his alma mater as a “40 under 40” inductee for his public service achievements. A native of Stockton, California, Exodie Roe is a graduate of Dillard University with honors. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science.

Mr. Herman Lyons is a Business Management Specialist within GSA's Small Business GWAC Division. Herman is responsible for ensuring that federal acquisition professionals are able to easily access 8(a) STARS III industry partners. Additionally, Herman enjoys working closely with industry partners and leveraging his experience as an 8(a) contractor prior to beginning his federal service career. Herman has been with GSA for 13 years and has primarily supported the 8(a) STARS program. Herman attended the University of Central Missouri, where he received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Master's in Business Administration.

Jeff Koses is recognized as an innovative leader in the field of acquisition. As Senior Procurement Executive for the General Services Administration, Jeff has three priorities: 1) strengthen the acquisition workforce, 2) smart and effective buying and 3) healthy and productive industry relationships. Jeff and his team are working to ensure an acquisition system that is modem, accessible, and streamlined. Jeff is a voting member of the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council where he is a champion for acquisition reform. He also oversees the Federal Acquisition Institute which supports 180,000 members of the civilian acquisition workforce. Jeff also serves as the Chairperson of the U.S. AbilityOne Commission, the largest single source of employment, in the United States, for people who are blind or have significant disabilities. In his AbilityOne role, he emphasizes effective stewardship, prioritizing job growth, and engaging the Commissioners in the strategic direction of the program. Earlier in his career, Jeff created GSA’s premiere vehicle for integrated professional services, OASIS, and managed 25 multiple award schedules with annual sales of over $22 billion, supported emergency acquisition and oversaw acquisition for GSA Global Supply. He holds a bachelor’s degree in History and Political Science from Washington University in St. Louis, MO. He also holds a masters in Acquisition Management.

Joshua is a former army communications team chief who served 3 tours as part of a patriot missile unit in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. He started his federal career as an 1102 contract specialist with Charleston Air Force Base in 2006 where he did construction and services acquisitions. Joshua also served as the systems administrator for the Standard Procurement System (SPS/PD2) contract writing system while also managing the base BPA program. Joshua then moved on to Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque New Mexico where he was integral in establishing the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center (AFNWC) contracting office. In his role at AFNWC, Joshua was responsible for the activity’s Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Explosive (CBRNE) research and development contracts which managed U.S. warhead stockpiles. He then went on to the National Guard Bureau (NGB) where he served a warranted Contracting Officer for Air Force’s Base Re-alignment and Closure (BRAC) acquisition remediation team as well as the Agency Organization Program Coordinator (AOPC) for the Government Purchase Card (GPC) program managing Army, Air Guard, and Joint agency office GPC programs. After his time with NGB, Joshua transferred to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) National Institutes of Health (NIH) where he served and a warranted Contracting Officer for construction and services acquisitions. And finally, for the last two years, Joshua served as the Small Business Administration’s Procurement Center Representative (PCR) for a number of federal agencies included but not limited to; DHHS, Department of State, Housing and Urban Development, United States Agency for International Development, United States Department of Agriculture, Army and Navy activities and more.

Kanika “K.A.” Perkins is currently the Deputy Director of the SBA Mentor Protégé Program for the US Small Business Administration. Housed in Washington DC, she leads a tiny but mighty team of application and continuing eligibility Analysts for one of SBA’s newest programs, now in its sixth year of existence. K.A. oversees the operations of the program – ensuring that every decision we make is in the best interest of building the small business’ capacity, whether it’s through business development or contracting. Before joining SBA MPP in July of 2019, K.A. was a Business Management Specialist with SBA in Washington DC. She served as a subject matter expert in 8(a) regulations and federal procurement, and worked directly with 8(a) firms, federal agencies, and SBA District Offices to resolve federal contracting actions that are in the best interest of 8(a) firms she serves and the 8(a) portfolio. K.A. comes to Washington DC from Kansas City, MO by way of San Antonio, TX. In San Antonio, K.A. was a Business Opportunity Specialist with the SBA’s San Antonio District Office. There, she managed, advised, and advocated for a portfolio of more than 30 8(a) contractors with a vast variety of expertise throughout their nine years in the 8(a) Business Development program. She also promoted SBA’s programs heavily, through conducting numerous training and outreach opportunities touting the agency’s small business certification programs. K.A. brings to the SBA nearly seven years of federal procurement experience as a Contract Specialist specializing in construction, architecture-engineer, and construction management contracts. Prior to entering the federal sector, K.A. has worked in numerous industries including, real estate, non-profit, and education. Always passionate about education, she holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature with the minor in Spanish from the University of Missouri - Columbia and a Master of Arts degree in Marketing from Webster University.

Kelley Kiernan is a US Air Force and US Space Force cybersecurity and small business ecosystem leader, who applies her experience in industry, NASA, and as an Air Force officer/pilot to pave the way for small business innovation. A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, a scientist, an engineer and a certified cybersecurity professional, Kelley's champion leadership brings cybersecurity within the reach of current and future Department of the Air Force contractors.

Katy Kale is the Deputy Administrator of the General Services Administration under the Biden- Harris Administration. In this capacity, she leads a staff of nearly 12,000 GSA employees nationwide, overseeing more than 370 million square feet of property, approximately $75 billion in annual contracts, 5 million government credit and purchase cards, and 225,000 leased vehicles. She also serves as GSA’s Senior Climate Adaptation Official. In addition, she is a federal member of the U.S. Access Board, which promotes accessible design, guidelines, and standards. Prior to serving as the Deputy Administrator, and Acting Administrator in early 2021, Katy was President and Chief Operating Officer of Elevate. There she led growth strategy, operational process, financial planning, and performance management, and ensured all were aligned with the broader purpose of serving the nonprofit sector. A public servant at heart, Katy was a senior leader in the Obama-Biden Administration, serving as Assistant to the President for Management and Administration, Director of White House Operations, and Chief of Staff at GSA. She also served 10 years in the U.S. Senate working on operational and legislative issues for several senators. Katy is a graduate of George Mason University.

Kevan Kivlan, MS, is a Director and innovation leader at the US General Services Administration. Since 2013, he has been responsible for stakeholder program management across New England. Kevan is also the founder and director of GSA’s Market Research as a Service (M-RAS) program, which serves GSA’s worldwide Federal partners in understanding both commercial and noncommercial marketplaces. He is a competition advocate for GSA and holds FAC C Level III, FAC P/PM Senior, and FAC COR Level III certifications. Most recently, he received the 2022 Federal 100 Award in recognition of his contributions and innovation in information technology for the Federal Government. Additionally, since 2017 Kevan has taught Contracting, Procurement, Risk, and Project Management at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. Kevan holds a Master of Science from Brandeis University and a Bachelor of Arts from Assumption University.

Kristy Wilbur has spent the last 21 years working in the Federal contracting arena. Holding such positions as Financial Technician, Subject Matter Specialist and Project Manager in the Federal Technology Services (FTS). Kristy joined GSA-FAS as a Business Development Specialist (BDS) in 2011 with Region 6 in Kansas City, MO. As a BDS, Kristy has worked diligently with a broad spectrum of clients to assess customer requirements and to assist procurement teams with arriving at optimal contracting solutions. Kristy joined the Market Research as a Service (MRAS) program when it began in 2017. In 2020 she moved from Region 6 to Region 1 as a Market Research Analyst to support the MRAS program full time. In 2021 she became the Branch Chief position for MRAS. She has worked diligently with the MRAS team and the Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to streamline the MRAS process and continues to do so.

Krystal J. Brumfield is an attorney and accomplished executive with nearly 20 years of proven leadership experience in the public and private sectors. She currently serves as a Presidential appointee in the Biden-Harris Administration. As the Associate Administrator for the Office of Government-wide Policy at the General Services Administration (GSA), Krystal manages the direction of acquisition policy to ensure the promotion of effective business practices and the timely delivery of best value products for an agency that leverages approximately $75 billion dollars annually in contracts and manages a real estate portfolio of nearly 370 million rentable square feet. Among other roles, she is designated as GSA’s Chief Acquisition Officer (CAO) and represents GSA as Co-Chair of the CAO Council. Krystal recently served as Chief of Staff for Carlyle Airport Group (CAG) Holdings, LLC, the Carlyle Group’s dedicated US-based investment platform for airport infrastructure investment opportunities globally. As Chief of Staff, she oversaw collaboration among CAG’s Washington, DC and New York teams to ensure effective and streamlined performance to advance the $7.4 billion JFK International Airport New Terminal One Redevelopment. Prior to joining CAG, Krystal was the President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC), a national trade association that represents thousands of airports, corporations, and small businesses in the aviation and aerospace industries. She was recognized for driving growth and innovation at AMAC and was named in the top 25 of “Women in Power Impacting Diversity” by DiversityPlus Magazine in 2018 as well as awarded “Outstanding Woman in Law” by Hofstra University School of Law in 2019. Krystal’s additional professional experiences include Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of the DC Chamber of Commerce, Tax & Procurement Counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Visiting Instructor for the International Law Institute South African Centre for Excellence and Sales & Use Tax Attorney for the Louisiana Department of Revenue. She currently serves on the Board of Governors of the Aero Club of Washington and previously served on the Board of Providence Hospital’s Health Foundation and the DC Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) as Commissioner and Vice Chair, appointed by Mayor Muriel Bowser. She was also appointed by Mayor Bowser to serve on the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee of the ReOpen DC Advisory Group amid the COVID-19 pandemic. A graduate of Southern University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Accounting as a Bill Gates Millennium Scholar, Krystal earned a Juris Doctorate from the Southern University Law Center and obtained a Master of Laws in Taxation from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. She is admitted to practice law before Louisiana State Courts (2007) and United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana (2008). Krystal is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. A Louisiana native, Krystal currently resides in Washington, DC.

Laura Maas is a program manager in the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Office of the HUBZone Program where she oversees the program’s continuing eligibility processes. She was previously a program manager in the SBA’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership which administers the Women’s Business Center program. She holds a B.S. from Northeastern University and a MPA from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies.

Laurie serves as Chief Growth Officer and leads TTS’s Market Development and Partnerships Division. In this role, where she teams with Business Unit leaders to develop customer relationships at the senior executive level in both government and industry. In addition, she brings nearly thirty years of experience starting and developing new business lines and services to TTS, leveraging this expertise to help ready TTS to take on “what’s next.” Laurie leads executive-level engagement with agency partners and is sought after as a trusted advisor by senior government technology officials. She has worked with senior TTS leaders to build TTS’s market development and partnerships capabilities to meet increasing demands on the organization. She has been a leading contributor to TTS’s strategic vision, goals, and objectives, including designing and developing the Market Intelligence and Analysis (MI&A) capability as an enterprise-wide market insights capability; building a professional opportunity development sales force; launching a structured industry engagement framework through the Industry Engage program; and sponsoring the configuration and deployment of the Salesforce-based Opportunity Tracker Customer Relationship Management (OTCRM) system, the first TTS-wide opportunity pipeline and contact management capability that will be at the center of maturing TTS’s processes and infrastructure. Born in the Philadelphia suburbs and growing up in central New Jersey, Laurie has lived and worked in the D.C. area for over thirty years. She began her career as a Presidential Management Fellow with the Commerce Department, and most recently was a senior executive with Booz Allen, serving as the Managing Director of Business Development and Capture and as Principal IT Strategist for Booz Allen’s Federal Civilian and Health division. Passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion, Laurie was an executive sponsor of Booz Allen’s women and LGBTQ+ Business Resource Groups leading to lasting DEI policy changes at the company. A long-time business and community leader in Northern Virginia, she has served on many nonprofit boards; she is the chair of two nonprofit boards/councils, the Compass Pro Bono’s DC Board of Directors and the Community Leadership Council of Good Shepherd Housing and Family Services in Fairfax County, Virginia. Laurie holds an undergraduate degree in political science and Spanish from Muhlenberg College, a master’s degree in international affairs and economics from Tufts University’s Fletcher School, and is a 2016 graduate of the Political Leaders Program at the University of 1800 F Street, NW Washington, DC 20405-0002 www.gsa.gov Laurie MacNamara Director, Market Development and Partnerships Technology Transformation Services U.S. General Services Administration Virginia’s Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership. She is also a trained classical singer, with formal training in opera, and has performed with both professional and amateur opera companies and choral groups throughout the metro Washington, D.C. area. Laurie lives in Alexandria, VA and Rockport, MA with her husband Bill Hendrickson, their teenage daughter Fiona, and their three Zoom-famous cats Trixie, Lakee, and Hank.

Lisa J. Avila (Lee) is a Business Opportunity Specialist for the Small Business Administration. She has worked in the federal government employee for 14 years, but she has been an ardent small business advocate for more than 30. She has worked at the Department of Energy, headquarters and for the Army at Fort Meade. Prior to working with the SBA Washington DC District Office, Lee work in in the SBA San Francisco, Office of Certification and Eligibility reviewing applications, recommending firms for inclusion in the 8(a) program. Lee truly believes there is no greater reward than positively impacting the futures of small business owners.

Lori Ginnings joined GSA in 2002 under the Federal Intern Program. Ms. Ginnings is the Small Business GWAC Team Lead as well as the Polaris GWAC Program Manager. Ms. Ginnings previously worked on the STARS II and STARS III GWACs. She holds a Master's Degree in Management from Webster University.

Ms. Schneider currently serves as a Procurement Analyst on the Compliance and Goaling team within the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU), General Services Administration (GSA). In this role she advises on small business policy and regulations as well as managing the small business goaling program for GSA. Prior to joining OSDBU, Ms. Schneider was a Supervisory Team Lead with the Federal Acquisition Institute where she served as the governmentwide Program Manager for the Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C). She was also responsible for developing and updating training for the federal acquisition workforce to implement Agency and Office of Federal Procurement Policy acquisition vision and policies. Earlier in her career Lynne worked with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as an operational Contracting Officer and Procurement Analyst. She has been fortunate to work in the acquisition field in both the public and private sectors which has afforded her a multi-faceted perspective of contract management. Ms. Schneider currently holds FAC-C Level III and FAC-COR Level III certifications, along with the National Contract Management Association’s Certified Professional Contract Manager and Certified Federal Contract Manager. Ms. Schneider was competitively selected for, and is an alumna of, the year-long Partnership for Public Service’s Excellence in Government program. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland, magna cum laude, with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology.

MaryEllen Martin is a highly regarded and recognized entrepreneur who established P3S Corporation to provide a broad range of services primarily focused on the government sector. Drawing on 12 years of federal executive experience, she has grown P3S Corporation from a home-based business to a highly competitive enterprise in as many as 29 CONUS and OCONUS locations and over $208 Million in executed contracts. As a young executive MaryEllen worked for the U.S. Office ofPersonnel Management where she was hired under the Outstanding Scholar Program and climbed the federal corporate ladder very quickly, reaching GS-15 status early in her career. MaryEllen served as the COO and VP for the U.S. Department of Treasury Franchise Fund, improving the delivery of products and services throughout the government. Under her leadership, annual revenue for the U.S. Department of Treasury grew to over $400 million, while savings to government agencies reached in excess of $10million. After12 years of federal service MaryEllen recognized there was a great need for highly capable businesses with knowledge and experience to deliver services in the federal sector. She founded P3S Corporation with Performance, Productivity, and Powerful Solutions as a delivery promise. MaryEllen's vision was to help the federal government meet its mission; increase the quality of service delivery; and reduce risk to the government-- ultimately saving tax payer dollars. That vision became P3S Corporation, with unprecedented growth of almost 6,000% in the first three years. P3S Corporation is a leader in theGovernmentServices industry with extensive experience providing Information Technology, Financial Management and Public Health Management Services. Critical mission support is provided to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, SouthernCommand,Defense AdvancedResearch ProjectsAgency, Department of Air Force, Department of Army, Department of Navy, Department of Health and Human Services, NIOC-Hawaii, US Fleet Cyber Command and many other federal agencies and commercial clients across the nation and internationally in countries like Malawi, SouthAfrica, Columbia, Egypt, Guatemala, Saudi Arabia and Australia. Notable awards have been received from the Air Force Medical Operations Agency, Navy Professional Development Center, Small Business Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Inc. 500, Secretary of State of Texas, American Society for Military Comptrollers, and Government Computer World. Even with the rapid growth of her company, MaryEllen still values her commitment to the community as she serves on numerous boards and committees. Thankful for her full and successful life, MaryEllen and her family volunteer their time and financial resources for various charitable events and world-wide causes. Corporately, P3S is also committed to the community by serving as a member of Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), Chamber of Commerce, American Society of Military Comptrollers, National Classification Management Society, National Contract Management Association (NCMA), Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA), St. Mary’s University Advisory Council of Executives, NCMA Atlanta Board of Advisors, San Antonio Zoo Board of Directors, YPO Board of Directors and others. MaryEllen has been recognized as the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Business person of the Year, 40 under Forty,101 Most Influential Leaders,Women's Leadership Award, State of Texas Woman of Distinction, Inc 500 Top Woman-Run Company, 100 Fastest Growing Companies, Exceptional Business Leadership, Inc500Top10inGovernmentServices, Distinguished Achievement Award, Top Private Companies,SBARegionVITopBusiness,SATAI Technology Superstar and others.

Michael Horton is an accessibility and technology professional with over 25 years of experience in website and web-based application development. He is a compliance subject matter expert, DHS Certified Trusted Tester, and advocate who joined the General Services Administration, Office of Government-wide Policy’s IT Accessibility Program in August 2018 as an Accessible Design and Development Advisor supporting agencies in their efforts to ensure independence and the dignity of work for people with disabilities. Prior to joining GSA, Michael served as the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Section 508 Program Manager for eight years, and also enjoyed twelve years with America Online (AOL) as a software/web engineer, partner advocate, online community standards policy and compliance specialist, and creator of member education.

Michael D. Parrish was appointed VA’s Chief Acquisition Officer and Principal Executive Director for the Office of Acquisition, Logistics, and Construction (OALC) on March 1, 2021. He serves as Chief Acquisition Officer, overseeing all acquisition, contract administration, and supply-chain processes for the Department. As the advisor to the Secretary on acquisition, logistics, and construction issues, he directs the development of policies, determines priorities, and establishes organizational goals and objectives for OALC. Mr. Parrish has over 35 years of senior leadership experience in military, government, corporate, and non- profit organizations. After graduating in 1985 with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the U.S. Military Academy, Mr. Parrish served for 14 years on active duty and 21 years in the U.S. Army Reserves where he held various leadership positions of increasing responsibility as an Army Aviator, serving as an Air Operations Officer during Desert Storm and culminating as a member of the Army Acquisition Corps. Mr. Parrish has been Chairman & CEO of several publicly traded companies and was founder and CEO for several start-ups, including an environmental services business which was recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine's Hot 100, highlighting the top 100 start-ups in America for 2004 as well as by Inc. Magazine as the 7th fastest growing private environmental company on its Inc. 500 list for 2006 and 2007. Previously, Mr. Parrish held various executive leadership positions with several General Electric Companies where he served in roles such as General Manager for global logistics and services for GE's Water business, and earlier, as Managing Director for GE Capital specializing in ecommerce, six sigma, and productivity of several of GE's equipment management groups. Additionally, Mr. Parrish holds a Master's degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Stanford University and an MBA with honors from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also a graduate of The Air War College and is DAWIA Level III certified in Program Management. Mr. Parrish is rotary wing and fixed wing multi-engine qualified and instrument rated as a pilot and has logged over 1,500 flight hours in military and civilian aircraft. Mr. Parrish is the past President of the West Point Society of Philadelphia and served on the advisory boards of the Delaware Valley Industrial Resources Center, USO of Southeast Pennsylvania/New Jersey and the United States Military Academy at West Point.

In 2018, Mrs. Burnett was appointed the Executive Director for the HUBZone Contractors National Council, a member-based non-profit organization established to advocate, educate and promote the HUBZone Program. Mrs. Burnett’s knowledge of the HUBZone Program and expertise in government contracting stems from 10+ years of supporting the HUBZone small business community both as a contractor for SBA and a small business consultant.

Michelle Chandler is a Contract Specialist with the IT Vendor Management Office (ITVMO). The ITVMO office is a partnership between GSA, DOD, NIH, and NASA. The purpose is to help small businesses understand IT governmentwide contracts (GWACs), cybersecurity, supply chain risk requirements, break down barriers small businesses face when contracting with the federal government and help agencies find small business partners to meet requirements. Her primary role is collaborating across Government to promote small businesses. She also serves as a trusted independent advisor and advocate to help agencies buy common IT goods and services in compliance with procurement laws. Ms. Chandler gained this knowledge in a variety of roles ranging from her time in the US Navy, DOD logistics, Program Manager, Customer Success Manager and an acquisition professional for over 25 years. Ms. Chandler holds and maintains a FAC-C Level III Certification, a Masters Certification in Contract Management and a Masters degree in Procurement Acquisition Management.

Michelle’s procurement career started as a Contracting Intern with the Department of Veterans Affairs. She worked there for 6 years, earning her FAC-C Level II and Level II Limited Warrant. In 2014 she accepted a job with the US Forest Service in Denver, Colorado, working as a Realty Specialist. Michelle then joined GSA OSDBU in July 2016, serving in numerous roles including Small Business Technical Adviser, Supervisory Small Business Technical Adviser, before transitioning to her current role as Procurement Analyst.

Necole Parker is the CEO and Founder of The ELOCEN Group, LLC, a Program & Project Management provider in the built environment, committed to improving the quality of lives within our communities. Celebrating ELOCEN’s 15th year anniversary, Necole has expertly managed and overseen project lifecycles from start to finish, comprised primarily of new construction and renovation projects within government and commercial sector markets, totaling 200+ million square feet of managed space. This has resulted in securing over $210 million in federal contract awards, and recently receiving the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2022 8(a) Graduate Firm of the Year award in all categories (DISTRICT, REGION, NATIONAL). With over 30 years of comprehensive Program & Project Management experience, Necole continues to build synergistic relationships that create value for each of ELOCEN’s respected customers. Professional excellence, integrity, and a willingness to go the extra mile every time defines who she is. Necole holds several Board positions and is a huge proponent of giving back. Through her ELOCEN Group Foundation (EGF), an advocacy framework for teen mothers and African American males raised in single parent households, under her guidance, EGF has sponsored over $500,000 in scholarships, endowments, trainings, educational empowerment, and small business support through multiple charities.

Nancy C Cleveland is a Procurement and Veteran Affairs Certified Verification Counselor with Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Centers (GTPAC) based in Atlanta. GTPAC is one of seven programs under the Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI²). As a GTPAC Counselor, Ms. Cleveland helps GA-based businesses navigate the government acquisition processes. This includes getting our clients procurement ready to identify, prepare to respond to contracting opportunities and win contracts at the federal, state, and local levels. She has more than 12 years of experience in the role GTPAC Counselor. Additionally, she serves on the National Board of the Association of Procurement and Technical Assistance Centers (APTAC) as Region 4 Director for PTACs in the Southeast. Ms. Cleveland worked as the Program Support Manager for The Contracting Education Academy at Georgia Tech, (The Academy). In this position, she supported the Academy’s Program Management team and served as an Instructor of the Academy’s topflight acquisition and government contracting courses for DoD’s government-wide acquisition workforce, contracting officials within other federal contracting officials and federal contractors. Before joining the GTPAC Team, Ms. Cleveland held executive positions both in the public and private sectors. She served as SBA’s SCORE Augusta Chapter Chair and held the position of Fund Management and Monitoring Director for the State of Connecticut, Department of Economic Development and Housing. In the private sector, she held several executive corporate Human Capital positions in the insurance and transit industries. To cap it off, Ms. Cleveland was a small business owner. Ms. Cleveland holds an EMBA from the University of New Haven, New Haven CT, Certification in Project Management from Boston University, and a BA in Business from Clark, Atlanta GA.

Mr. Mann joined the NASA HQ Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) as a Small Business Program Manager in March 2009. Currently, Mr. Mann is the Program Manager for Marshall Space Flight Center, Stennis Space Center, the NASA Shared Services Center, and the NASA Office for JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) Management and Oversight. He also has OSBP responsibility for small business prime and subcontracting goaling and metrics (FPDS-NG, sam.gov, and eSRS). From 2003-2009, Mr. Mann worked in various roles at NASA John C. Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, including Contracting Officer, Procurement Analyst, and Small Business Specialist. He has also been a Contracting Officer for the Defense Logistics Agency/Defense Energy Support Center and for the US Agency for International Development. Mr. Mann is a Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM), has an MBA w/ a Concentration in Contracting from the Florida Institute of Technology, and a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University.

Robert W. Dozier, Jr. is the President, Chief Executive Officer, and owner of RWD Consulting, LLC (RWD). He brings nearly 30 years of experience in working with federal, state and local governments and commercial entities. For over 17 years Robert has been a hands-on leader – guiding the overall development and direction of RWD while creating exceptional value for his clients. He defines his company’s character as “competent, competitive, customer-oriented, and compassionate.” Robert holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, with a minor in Economics from the University of South Carolina and is a graduate from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Emerging Leaders (MBA) program. In 2017, he was named by both the SBA and Washington Metropolitan Area District Office as a Small Business Person of the Year. Prior to his time with RWD, Robert was the Director of Business Development and Operations for a Small Business in the Washington Metropolitan Area, taking that organization to over $8M in sales. He also served as a District Sales Manager for Pitney Bowes, Inc. for 17 years and successfully managed accounts for various Fortune 500 companies. While serving in this role, he consistently achieved more than 120% of his sales target and ranked among the top 10 sales managers nationwide. In 2004, Robert established RWD, which is an 8(a) certified business that supports approximately 40 federal, state, and local government clients, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), U.S. Department of State, Department of Defense (DoD), Defense Health Agency (DHA), and the District of Columbia’s Department of General Services (DGS). RWD achieves mission-critical results for the public and private sectors through its core competencies: Information Technology, Facility Operations and Management, Logistics, and Program Management Support. Currently, RWD has grown to over $33M in sales revenue and has over 250 employees across varied government agencies. Promoting corporate responsibility and community investment is also an important commitment for Robert. To that end, he has continually dedicated numerous resources to support local, national, and international efforts, such as the Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program (MBSYEP), Greater Mt. Nebo Africa Mission Trip, Fairfax Stars Basketball Program, and numerous scholarship programs and internship opportunities.

Ron Pierce is the Director of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). In his prior role, he served as an independent management consultant, where he led efforts to address issues on environmental and climate change for several small businesses and military veteran lawmakers. He spent five years as Senior Director of PBS Veterans and Small Business Initiatives on the Station Services Team. Ron led the national planning, coordination, and implementation efforts for member stations and other public media partners across the country. Over the course of two high-profile presidential campaigns, he was the National Director of small business, veterans, and military family outreach programs at the DNC. A combat veteran, Ron spent 11 years as a U.S. Army Officer. He earned his B.S. in Behavioral Human Services from U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY, and holds a Master of International Affairs from The Naval Postgraduate School at Monterey, CA.

Sam Le is the SBA’s Director for the Office of Policy Planning and Liaison, Office of Government Contracting and Business Development. He is responsible for small business government contracting regulations, size standards, and small business contracting goals for executive agencies. As director, Sam developed governmentwide policy changes to promote small-business utilization in Federal procurement. These included major changes to the Category Management program and new methods for analyzing small-business procurement data. He oversaw the comprehensive review of SBA’s size standards and guided the Federal Acquisition Regulation Council’s amendments to the FAR small-business rules. Sam started at SBA in 2008. Prior to becoming director, Sam was SBA’s deputy associate general counsel for procurement law. He supported SBA’s Office of Government Contracting and Business Development on size, affiliation, and goaling. He also has worked closely with the SBA Acquisitions Division, the Office of Communications and Public Liaison, the Office of Capital Access, and the Office of Disaster Assistance. Sam advocated for small-business-friendly policies in administrative and Federal litigation, ranging from GAO bid protests to a case before the U.S. Supreme Court. Prior to joining SBA, Sam worked at a large D.C. law firm in its mass media practice group. During his legal career, he also has represented television and radio stations, museums, and non-profit organizations. He currently serves as the co-chair of the American Bar Association’s Small Business Committee (Public Contract Law). Sam received his BA in economics and his law degree from the University of Virginia.

Mr. Shannon Jackson was selected as the new HHS OSDBU Director. He comes to HHS with a wealth of experience and is joining us from the Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) where he has served in various roles to include Acting Director of OSBP, Deputy Director of OSBP, and Associate Director for the DoD Mentor Protégé Program and Senior Advisor to the Director of the DoD OSBP. Mr. Jackson has served over 29 years in the federal government and has held various leadership positions throughout his career, to include his military service retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S Army. Mr. Jackson led a network of 700 full- and part-time small business professionals across the DoD. Noteworthy is that the work of DOD’s small business workforce results in more than $50 billion in prime-contract spending on contracts to small businesses and over $40 billion in subcontract spending for small businesses annually.

Sharon G. Ridley, LCSW isthe ExecutiveDirector for the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). She is responsible for oversight of programsthat promote small business participationin VA procurements, with special emphasis on Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses and Veteran-OwnedSmall Businesses. Before becoming the Executive Director, Ms. Ridley wasthe office's Deputy ExecutiveDirector. Prior to her position with OSDBU,she servedasthe Executive Director, Network Support, leading initiatives to advance Secretary of Veterans Affairs priorities. Ms. Ridley reported directly to the Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Operations and Management of the largest integrated health care system in the nation ($70B budget, 1250 sites of care, andmore than 300,000 employees). In this role she provided health care operations guidance and information on strategic initiatives to regional leadership including 18 VeteransIntegrated ServiceNetwork (VISN) directors and 172 medical center directors. Ms. Ridley previously served for 6 years as Chief Operating Officer in the Veterans Health Administration Procurement and Logistics Office, providing primary support to the chief officer, whose responsibilities included leadership and oversight to approximately 2,800 contracting and logistics professionals. She supervised a staff of 27 and provided oversight for budget and fiscal responsibilities (in excess of $308M), human resources, the Chicago-based Data Collection and ExtractionProgram, andmany other management functions. Past VA experiences included serving as a Health System Specialist in the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Operations and Management; as the Administrative Officer for the Geriatric Rehabilitative and Extended Care Center at VA Pacific Islands Health Care System, where she provided a broad range of administrative functions including consultation, support, resolution of staffing issues, and oversight and approval of the budget; as the Business Operations Manager for the VHA Employee Education System; an assignment in VA’s National Cemetery Administration headquarters; and as a psychiatric social worker at VA Loma Linda Healthcare System. Before joining VA, Ms. Ridley served as Director, U.S. Navy Family Service Center, Sasebo, Japan. She provided a broadrange of community services for a population of approximately 6,000 military service members and their families. Ms. Ridley directed programs for a multi-service organization, which included 13 core technical programs. Ms. Ridley is a proven leader with a broad range of successful work experiences with Veterans, military members, civilians and contractors, across the country and internationally. She has over 22 years of experience leading clinical and administrative programs, bothinternal and externalto the Federal government, at the national level and in the field. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work from Tuskegee University and a Master of Science degree in Social Work from Atlanta University. She is licensed by the Florida and Maryland Clinical Board of Social Work Examiners and is also a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute.

Tamara E. Murray is the Underwriting & Marketing Specialist for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Surety Bond Guarantee Program. Tamara began her career in the surety industry in 1990 as the bond manager for a small bonding agency in Fort Worth, Texas before moving to Denver, Colorado to become a contract bond underwriter. Tamara joined SBA in 2007 and is responsible for marketing and outreach to the surety industry and small business community, working closely with bond agents and surety companies who provide over $7 billion a year in bond guarantees to small businesses. Ms. Murray received her Bachelor’s in Marketing from Colorado State University in 2018. Her marketing efforts on behalf of SBA’s Surety Bond Guarantee Program resulted in the publication of a professional article in the December 2014 issue of The Risk Management Association Journal entitled “Minimizing Contractor Defaults: SBA Surety Bond Guarantee Can Open Door to Bonding”.

Ms. Lewis’ work experience includes the Office of Naval Regulations as a Senior Contract Specialist; US Army Corps of Engineers where I served as lead Contract Specialist for Air Force Programs; NAVSUP where she served as a Senior Contract Specialist in the Large Contract Services team and was selected to represent the agency under an internship at the DoN Small Business Office in Washington, DC under the Rotational Excellence Program; and Naval Hospital Jacksonville as a Purchasing Agent with SAP level contracting responsibilities. Ms. Lewis has a Master’s Degree in Procurement and Acquisitions and is currently working towards completing her MBA. In her spare time she enjoys gardening and is currently remodeling her home while learning how to do several DIY landscaping projects.

Terrance began his career in the private sector working for an investment management firm in Kansas City, Missouri before joining the General Services Administration, Public Buildings Service Region 6 in 2007. Over a 14 year period, Terrance has served as a Contract Specialist, Contracting Officer, Team Lead, and Branch Chief of the Services Acquisition Branch and is now the R6 PBS Acquisition Management Director. Terrance has built relationships and coalitions, both regionally and nationally, and he currently serves as the R6 Strategic Acquisition for Quality Services program manager. Terrance's leadership helped Region 6 embrace innovation in their service contracts, created increased efficiencies, contributed positively to the region's socio-economic goals and ultimately passed on those benefits to the taxpayer.

Tiffany Townsend serves as a Senior Advisor in SBA’s Office of Government Contracting and Business Development. In this role, she focuses on creating an equitable environment for small businesses to thrive in the federal marketplace. Prior to joining SBA, she was the Senior Vice President of External Affairs for the Brooklyn Navy Yard, a mission-driven industrial park focused on growing the modern, urban industrial sector in New York City that is home to more than 400 small businesses. Tiffany has worked with a range of organizations in the public and private sectors - including the New York City Council, NYC & Company (New York City’s tourism office), the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey and the New York Wheel. She is also a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Design Management program at Pratt Institute.

Trenescia Briggman is a Branch Chief and Contracting Officer, supporting the Department of Energy’s Headquarters Procurement Services Office (MA-641.2). In this role she manages 5 program offices with a combined portfolio valued over $1B. Trenescia has been with the Federal Government over twelve years. She has worked with 5 agencies, starting as a procurement analyst, and working her way up to a Warranted Contracting Officer and Supervisor. In her prior role, she served as a Contracting Officer with the U.S. Secret Service. Originally from Texas, she earned her B.S. in Sports/Entertainment/Event Management, holds an M.B.A and recently completed the Digital Information Technology Acquisition Program (DITAP).