Mr. Azpiazu has more than 30 years of international technology assessment and marketing expertise. He spent more than 16 years with the US Department of Defense, leaving that appointment as the first Director for Industrial Cooperation with Australia. As the incumbe nt, he was asked to return to this Embassy post after nearly 20 years and develop new directions for defence technology and industrial cooperation with Australian firms. His original pioneering work resulted in more than $3 Billion dollars of reciprocal business opportunities.

Mr. Azpiazu has worked in the medical field as a senior officer directing Operations of a publicly traded firm. He is also on several corporate boards, Chairs and serves on community-based not-for-profit organizations and is a Patent Holder for several devices including computer security techniques.

Mr. Azpiazu is multi-lingual and bi-lingual in Spanish and English, a licensed engineer, a graduate in Engineering of the University of Miami, is a Navy certified Instructor, holds a Masters from the University of the Armed Forces, Industrial College and has various other post-graduate and management training certifications. He has been a featured lecturer at the Naval Postgraduate School, several colleges and universities and most recently as a consultant to the Chief of Naval Research presented at a Naval Science Board of the National Science Foundation Symposium on Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Technology Development and Assessment at the University of California, Berkeley.

Janna Babcock is a Contract Specialist at the General Services Administration’s Small Business Government wide Acquisition Contracts Center (SBGWACC). She has been with the SBGWACC since Fall 2001. Janna has worked for GSA as an 1102 for over 17 years and holds an unlimited contracting officer’s warrant. She is the PCO for the VETS GWAC (Veterans Technology Services), and works with the SBGWACC team to educate industry partners on proper use and how to market to government customers. Many of the industry partners are new to the government marketplace.

Janna also spends time educating federal agency customers on scope compatibility and proper ordering for the VETS GWAC. She is a member of the National Contract Management Association and holds a BBA in Marketing and Spanish from Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, KS and an MBA from University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Jack Beecher is a lifelong resident of Virginia currently residing in Virginia’s fastest growing city, Chesapeake. Jack was drafted into the U.S. Army just a few months after completing High School. After a tour of duty in Vietnam in 1968, he landed a job with the Corps of Engineers Norfolk District in 1970 as a Surveying Aid. He has been with the Norfolk District ever since.

In 1974 he joined the District’s Contracting Division as a General Clerk working in the District’s Plan Room. Since 1974 Jack has held virtually every position in the Contracting Division from Purchasing Agent to the Chief of the Division. He is currently the Chief of the Norfolk District’s Small Business Program Office and is a special assistant to the District Commander on all issues related to the District’s Small Business Program.

Jack has led Norfolk District in becoming one of the most successful in the Corps in support of the Small Business Program. Over the last three fiscal years, Norfolk District has averaged awarding just over 51% of its total obligations to Small Businesses. In fiscal year 2006 Jack, was awarded the Corps Commander’s Team of Excellence Award.

Anthony (Tony) Bell is the Chief of Small Business Programs at the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The mission of USACE is to provide engineering services to the nation. Tony is responsible for managing the USACE Small Business Program.

Prior joining USACE, Tony was the Program Manager for the Small Business Office at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), one of the agencies in the US Department of Homeland Security. Tony was named the 2006 Small Business Advocated of the Year by UIDA Business Services. UIDA is a Native American organization dedicated to the economic advancement of Native American Indians.

Prior to joining TSA, Tony served as the Assistant Small Business Officer at the Internal Revenue Service. While there Tony was named Department of Treasury Small Business Advocate of the Year for 2003 and Vendor Outreach Advocate of the Year for 2002 and 2001.

Walt Blackwell serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer for The Veterans Corporation. Mr. Blackwell brings over 30 years of global management and communications experience to TVC.

During his career with IBM, he held management positions in technical publications, product development, external/press and internal/community communications, employee recognition within the public sectors and led communications external/press/internal and community for the Federal Sector.

After leaving IBM, Mr. Blackwell became President of several international trade associations on five continents and in 65 countries. In 2004, he led the successful merger of ASCENT with its competing sister organization, CompTel, to form CompTel/ASCENT, giving one voice to the competitive telecommunications industry. Prior to joining TVC, Blackwell was an independent industry and technology consultant to small business and emerging technology companies.

LTC James A. Blanco serves as the Assistant to the Director, U.S. Army Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP). The OSBP is the Army’s single point of contact for small business outreach, policy and acquisition integration. LTC Blanco served as Platoon Leader and Executive Officer for Headquarters and Service Company, Field Station in Berlin Germany. After departing Berlin, he was selected to command Headquarters Company, 20th Corps Materiel Management Center (CMMC) at Ft. Lewis, WA.

LTC Blanco earned a Masters of Science in Commercialization and Technology Transfer from the University of Texas. LTC Blanco was assigned to the U.S. Army Contracting Command Europe in Wiesbaden, Germany. His military education includes the Quartermaster Officer Basic and Advanced Courses and the Army Command and General Staff College. LTC Blanco is Level III Certified in Contracting.

As national spokesman for NaVOBA, Rocky Bleier advocates on behalf of all veteran business owners with the same optimism and determination that were his trademarks as a running back with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Rocky distinguished himself on the gridirons of the National Football League where he earned four Super Bowl championships with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Drafted out of the University of Notre Dame in the 16th round in 1968, Bleier was drafted again by the U.S Army late in his rookie season.

In August of that 1969, his infantry platoon was ambushed while on patrol. Bleier received both rifle fire and grenade fragments in both legs. He was barely able to walk and prospects for a professional football career seemed a distant memory.

With the determination and spirit that would become his trademark, Rocky rehabilitated himself back into playing condition over two years and not only made the Steelers team but eventually worked his way into the starting lineup. His personal story of triumph and perseverance was made into a television movie entitled “Fighting Back,” starring Robert Urich.

Since retiring in 1980, Rocky has run his own successful small business, Rocky Bleier, Inc., as a motivational speaker and instructor. His “Be the Best You Can Be” message is ideal for the development of corporate executives, offering inspiration to young professionals or practical advice for student athletes.

A career Naval Officer, Mike Brinck received his Navy wings in 1969. He reported to Helicopter Attack Light Squadron 3 in the Republic of Vietnam in support of Riverine operations in the Mekong Delta. His fleet assignments include carrier deployments to the Gulf of Tonkin and Mediterranean, flight instructor, 3 deployments in support of Operation Deep Freeze in Antarctica, the Naval War College, and assignments at the Pentagon, the Bureau of Naval Personnel, and the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency. He retired in 1988 with the rank of Commander. His military decorations include 16 Air Medals, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, Vietnam Service and Campaign Medals, 2 Navy Commendation Medals, the Navy Achievement Medal, the Antarctic Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation, Presidential, Navy, and Meritorious Unit Commendations.

Following his Navy career, Mr. Brinck worked 8 years in the private sector as a project manager in support of Navy and Army UAV programs and 3 years as the AMVETS National Legislative Director. He first joined the House Committee on Veterans Affairs in 1995 as the Veterans Benefits Subcommittee Staff Director for the 104th and 105th Congresses. He returned to the Veterans Affairs Committee in 2005 as the Staff Director for the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.

Sandra Broadnax has served in her present role as Director of Small Business Programs Office (SBPO) at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency since 2004. Her previous assignments include Alaska, New Jersey, Hawaii and Nebraska during her 30-plus years of federal government service. She has worked passionately in the contracts acquisition field throughout her career and brings this knowledge and commitment to the SBPO. Ms. Broadnax is committed to the Small Business Program mission and the small business community in support of National Security and the Warfighter.

Ms. Jeanette L. Brown serves as the Director for the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). As Director, Ms. Brown is responsible for ensuring that small, disadvantaged, and woman-owned firms are provided an equitable opportunity to receive a “fair share” of sub-agreements and contracts. OSDBU develops policies and procedures to aid small minority and woman-owned entities doing business with EPA. Additionally, OSDBU is responsible for internal training programs to enhance the capabilities of socioeconomic firms in becoming more competitive and viable in the EPA procurement arena.

Prior to her current position, Ms. Brown served as the Deputy Director of OSDBU and the Deputy Director of EPA’s Office of Acquisition Management. Prior to her tenure at EPA, Ms. Brown served as the Director of the Office of Procurement and Grants Management and the Director of the Division of Program Development for the Minority Small Business Capital Ownership Development Program at the Small Business Administration.

Ms. Brown has more than 27 years of contracting experience in various federal agencies, including the Navy Regional Contracting Center, the Navy Automatic Data Processing Selection Office, the Joint Cruise Missile Project/NAV AIR, the Small Business Administration, and EPA.

Mr. Brown joined the General Service Administration in August 2003. He has been detailed to work with Brad Scott, GSA’s Region 6 Regional Administrator and senior level official responsible for GSA’s SDVOSB initiative. Mr. Brown is a service disabled veteran.

Prior to joining the GSA, he served as a company officer with Iconixx Systems Engineering. Mr. Brown served as Manager, Hardware Development & Vendor Alliance, Sprint Technology Services. He was selected a part of a six person core team to form Sprint’s Advanced Technology Development directorate. The Advanced Technology Development team was responsible for all technical aspects of Sprint Integrated On Demand (ION) development effort. In this capacity, he was responsible for the management of strategic alliances for the Chief Technology Officer of Sprint. He is co-author on two patents for converged network design and won a 2005 GSA Above and Beyond Award for his work with veterans.

Mr. Brown had a distinguished military career and during his last five years with the US Army was responsible for Research & Development procurement for advanced laser engagement systems and computer simulation systems for the US Army.

Born at Ft. Benning, Georgia, Gordon grew up and finished high school in nearby Columbus, GA. After finishing college, he entered the Army in 1972 as a Second Lieutenant. Over 26 years, Gordon served in Special Forces, Infantry, Airborne, and Air Assault units as a troop leader and Commander at the A-Team, Platoon, Company, and Battalion level. His service includes 14 years overseas and numerous staff assignments to include the Department of the Army Staff. He has been a Special Assistant to two Army Chiefs of Staff and retired from the Army in 1998 at the rank of Colonel. His last military assignment was in the Pentagon as the Chief of Legislative Liaison for the Army Budget (SAFM-BUL).

After retirement, Gordon served on the personal staff of Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and as a professional staff member of the Governmental Affairs Committee in the United States Senate. He was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in the Mine Safety and Health Administration as the Director of Administration and Management and now serves as the Director of Operations and Programs in the Veterans Employment and Training Service of the U.S. Department of Labor.

Ms. Burrows joined SPAWAR System Command August 2004 and assumed responsibility for the Small Business Program, having previously been Deputy at the Command’s System Center, San Diego.

Prior to joining SPAWAR Systems Center, San Diego, Susan was the Naval Sea Systems Command Field Contracting Office Liaison. While employed by NAVSEA Headquarters she provided Head of Contracting Activity (HCA) oversight and liaison support to contracting offices at NAVSEA field activities.

She is a member of the Defense Acquisition Corps and National Contract Management Association, Executive Board member and past Chair of the DoD Western Regional Council for Small Business Education and Advocacy. She is an active member of the National Defense Industry Association (NDIA) Small Business Committee, and is an advisor to the Board of Directors, Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association (AFCEA), promoting small business awareness in the San Diego area. Ms. Burrows is a member of several women’s professional organizations, including Women in Defense and Athena, which is affiliated with San Diego State University.

Mr. Gary Cook is a Business Development Specialist at the Information Technology Acquisition Center, Federal Acquisition Service, General Services Administration, responsible for assisting companies to obtain a GSA contract and help them develop a viable marketing strategy. He also provides assistance to Federal agencies with their use of the GSA schedule contracts, providing instruction, guidance, and suggestions as to Best Value acquisitions. Gary has addressed members of Congress and the business community at the US Capitol Building and at the Library of Congress on IT and small business development. The IT Acquisition Center of the GSA was responsible for approximately $29 Billion in contract sales in FY 06 with an estimated $32 Billion dollars in overall sales from all GSA schedule contracts. The GSA is the primary acquisition arm for the U.S. government for commercial products and services.

A decorated, disabled veteran of the Vietnam War, Gary retired from the Army in 1989 and was recalled to active duty again during the first Gulf War. He worked seven years as a Department of the Army contracting specialist and has worked for the GSA as both a contract specialist and Business Development Specialist for eight years.

Mr. Glenn A. Delgado is the Assistant Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Office of Small Business Programs. As the Assistant Administrator, Mr. Delgado provides executive leadership and policy direction for developing and implementing policies and initiatives throughout NASA, to ensure that all categories of small businesses are afforded opportunities to compete for agency contracts.

Prior to his appointment to NASA, Mr. Delgado served as the Acting Director of the Department of the Navy’s Office of Small Business Programs. He was the Department of Navy’s Mentor-Protégé Program Manager for the six years he was assigned to the Navy’s Small Business Program Office. He also served as the Director of Small Business for the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR). He has over 25 years of acquisition experience.

Mr. Delgado has been awarded two Department of the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service medals, for his innovative approaches in the acquisition process while serving as a PCO for the EA-6B aircraft and for his performance as the Director of Small Business at NAVAIR. In September 2006 Mr. Delgado was awarded the Superior Civilian Service medal for his exceptional service to the Navy Small Business Programs Office.

Gil Del Valle currently serves as a Senior Procurement Analyst for the Small Business Office located at the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in Maryland. This office provides a variety of support to the small business community in obtaining contracts and subcontract opportunities with the National Aeronautic and Space Administration. It is primarily responsible for planning, organizing, and administering the Center’s small and small disadvantaged business programs.

Gil has worked for the National Aeronautic and Space Administration for 22 years. He served on some of NASA’s largest and most important programs including the Hubble Space Telescope and the International Space Station. He began his career as a contract specialist in December, 1985. He has also worked as a Financial Analyst for the Space Sciences Directorate and Flight Project Directorate. In addition, he is a member of the Hispanic Action Committee for Employees (HACE) which is one of several employee advisory groups to the Equal Opportunity Programs.

Dennis DeMolet, a leading expert on veterans’ business affairs, is an active proponent for disabled veteran, small business, and non-profit organizations. He has distinguished himself in these fields, receiving numerous accolades and honors during 40 years of dedicated service to the veteran community. His expertise is sought by federal government and state policy-makers as well as by numerous community organizations. In representing the veteran community and its organizations, he has significantly contributed to key governmental policy changes and is credited with obtaining recognition of veterans as a vital force to this nation.

A decorated United States Marine Corps Vietnam service connected disabled veteran who was selected as Chairman (former 2005-2006) of the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) Advisory Committee for Veterans Business Affairs, DeMolet is CEO of DeMolet Consulting. He was honored as the United States National Veterans Small Business Advocate of the Year for 2003 by the United States SBA. He has also been selected Ohio’s most outstanding disabled veteran. Finally, the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association, (AFCEA) have bestowed several additional accolades for his tireless efforts and many achievements for their organization, including the Medal of Merit for 2006.

Diane Dempsey’s career spans twenty five years in the field of procurement, subcontracts and supplier diversity Hughes, Northrop Grumman, DynCorp, CSC and currently, Director – Small Business Relations, BAE Systems. She is active in the small business community, serving on several board of directors and committees for organizations that advocate for small business. She was honored as the EPA Advocate of the Year 2003 and VA Minority Supplier Development Council Advocate of the Year 2003.

In addition to her career as a small business advocate, Ms. Dempsey is an adjunct professor teaching a variety of business and acquisition classes at Northern VA Community College and Stratford University.

Mr. Denniston was appointed to the position of Director, Office of Small Business in October 1987. He is a veteran, having served in the U.S. Army. He is active in the National Contract Management Association (NCMA), the National Defense Industry Association (NDIA) and is a past chair of the Small Business Committee of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA).

Mr. Denniston is a nationally recognized advocate for veteran entrepreneurs. In 1998 he was appointed to the Commission on Service Members and Veterans Transition Assistance, where he developed recommendations for enhancing and expanding support for veteran business owners. Many of those recommendations were incorporated into Public Law 106-50, the Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act of 1999 and Public Law 108-183, the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003. Most recently, he established the Center for Veterans Enterprise, a VA organization dedicated to and providing support for veterans and service-disabled veterans interested in entrepreneurship.

In March 2005, Mr. Denniston was a recipient of the prestigious Federal 100 Award from Federal Computer Week for his work in developing the VetBiz website and Vendor Information Pages data base of veteran and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses.

Wendy Despres became the Mentor-Protégé/Subcontracting Program Manager for the U.S. Army Office of Small Business Programs in January 2005. Ms. Despres advises the Director, U.S. Army Office of Small Business Programs and the Secretary of the Army on matters related to management of the Army’s Mentor-Protégé Program. She also advises acquisition personnel and industry on matters related to the Army’s Mentor-Protégé Program, as well as ensuring successful program execution. Ms. Despres also serves as the primary point of contact for Small and Disadvantaged Business Subcontracting for the Army.

Ms. Despres entered civil service in June 1987. She served in several other appointments throughout her career, most recently, as the Chief, Center for Health Care Contracting for the U.S. Army Medical Command (MEDCOM). She has earned numerous awards including two Achievement Medals for Civilian Service and the Outstanding Operational Contracting Civilian for Fiscal Year 1990 for the Air Force Logistics Command.

Kathy Dow is currently the Deputy Director of the Procurement Outreach Program (POP) at the Nevada Commission on Economic Development. POP is the statewide Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) for Nevada.

As a buyer for the State of Nevada, Ms. Dow bought a wide variety of commodities for state agencies. She also worked to assist state agencies in negotiating service contracts that were in the best interest of the state; contracts included purchase cards, airline travel, an integrated financial management system and lease/purchase financing for long-term assets.

After 11 years in state purchasing, Ms. Dow took a position as the Deputy Manager for Administrative and Fiscal Services for the State Public Works Board. Responsibilities there included monitoring of construction contracts with architects, engineers, and construction firms, ensuring contract compliance for payment on state/federal projects.

In 2002, Ms. Dow joined the staff of the Nevada Commission on Economic Development. Working under statewide POP Director Rick Horn, she is responsible for assisting small businesses in Nevada navigate federal, state and local government contracting. She recently earned the professional certification of level one Contracting Assistant from the national Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (APTAC).

Mr. Elmore is responsible for the formulation, execution, and promotion of policies and programs of the Administration that provide assistance to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans, by service-disabled veterans and for self-employed members of the Reserves and National Guard. He also conducts comprehensive outreach to veterans and the veteran-serving community, while acting as an ombudsman for full consideration of veterans in programs of the Administration.

In the past three years, Mr. Elmore has reversed significant downward trends of veteran’s participation in virtually all SBA programs, including lending, technical assistance and procurement.

Prior to being hired as the Associate Administrator, Mr. Elmore owned a small business, specializing in military record’s access, & veterans’ program development. From 1974 through 1995, Mr. Elmore was also the principal in the creation and operation of the One Stop Veterans Service Center in St. Louis, Missouri, providing entrepreneurial training, job placement, housing, and other services to thousands of veterans and their families.

Although DiJon Franklin Ferdinand is no stranger to his place of birth in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, he has been a resident of Prince Georges County in Largo, Maryland for over 20 years now. It was in Prince Georges County he received the majority of his formal education and later Baltimore, Maryland where he earned his Bachelors Degree in Business Administration at Morgan State University in 2001.

Mr. Ferdinand was fortunate to start his professional career at the U.S. Census Bureau shortly upon graduating from undergraduate school. It was there, in 2002, that he was introduced to the world of contracts. Working at the U.S. Census Bureau, he is privileged to work as both a Senior Contract Specialist and Small Business Specialist. He is a firm believer in delivering excellence in all aspects of life—work, education and family. He thoroughly enjoys being an advocate for small businesses, and will continue to be involved in market research meetings with small businesses. The latter will enable him to find requirements within the U.S. Census Bureau that can match the capabilities and value-added services that the small businesses have to offer.

The Senate confirmed Dr. James I. Finley as Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology in February 2006.

As the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (A&T), Dr. Finley is responsible for advising the Secretary of Defense and the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics on matters relating to acquisition and the integration and protection of technology. He is responsible for policies and procedures governing the Department’s procurement and acquisition process.

Prior to joining the Department of Defense in his current position, Dr. Finley spent over 30 years in the private sector. He held a variety of operational and management positions with General Electric, Singer, Lear Siegler, United Technologies and General Dynamics, where he was a Corporate Officer, President of Information Systems and Chair of the Business Development Council. His business experience spans air, land, sea and space programs for the Department of Defense.

Leadership examples of Performance Awards include the Boeing Gold Certification Award, Honeywell Preferred Supplier Award, Northrop Grumman Blue Achievement, Lockheed Martin Best In Class Rating, Defense Security Service “Outstanding” Achievement Award and the George Westinghouse Award.

In 2002, Dr. Finley formed his own consulting company, The Finley Group, LLC, that provided business assistance and advice for all facets of the business cycle including start-up, growth, acquisition and divestiture. Those market initiatives focused on information technology, retailing and golf.

As a partner at PilieroMazza PLLC, Tony Franco oversees the Government Contracts/Small Business Group. His practice includes all aspects of federal government contracting and administration. He has represented clients before government agencies, and federal and state courts, including the Court of Claims, General Accountability Office, and Board of Contract Appeals.

Mr. Franco’s primary focus is in areas relating to commercial and government contracting with an emphasis on procurement programs, such as the small business, 8(a), HUBZone and SDVOSB programs, representing large, mid-size and small business concerns. His practice also encompasses transactional matters, such as the negotiation and preparation of joint venture, shareholder, and operating agreements. In addition, he provides general corporate counseling and advises clients on business strategies and structures, and the effects of various legislative and regulatory proposals on their business plans.

Mr. Franco serves on the Small Business Administration’s Advisory Board for the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area District Office. He has served on the board of directors of various non-profits. He was also a Commissioner on the Montgomery County Human Rights Commission.

Gerardo (Jerry) Franco is currently serving as program manager, supervisor and business advocate in the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) with primary responsibility for implementing small business contracting and procurement assistance programs.

Mr. Franco has been with the DOT’s OSDBU in various capacities since 1992. He has served as Senior Advisor to the Director, Associate Director and Chief, Procurement Assistance Division. He is the recipient of several Secretarial awards and commendations for work performed in his area of expertise as well as on strategic planning, management excellence and programmatic effectiveness. Throughout his federal career, Mr. Franco has been actively involved in small and disadvantaged business issues and is widely recognized for his work in the field. He has published a number of authoritative documents on federal procurement programs including a subcontracting review guide and a number of federal register notices.

Before joining DOT, Mr. Franco served as senior procurement analyst and acting competition advocate at the Department of Agriculture’s OSDBU which he joined in 1982. He started his federal career with the General Services Administration’s Federal Supply Service, Office of Policy, in 1981.

Nick Freije began his professional career as the Engineering Manager for K&H Industry, which manufactures electrical plugs, connectors and portable fluorescent lights. There he learned the design and manufacturing process. In 1995 he took a position with Naval Undersea Warfare Center where he provided key technical expertise on the automation of the radio room for 688 class submarines.

In 1990 Mr. Freije began working for Space and Naval Warfare System (SPAWAR) Systems Command serving as the Chief Engineer for the Automated Digital Network System. In 1992 he was promoted to his current position of Chief Engineer for the Afloat Networks Programs.

In his current position Mr. Freije is responsible for overseeing the acquisition process related to System Engineering on Naval C4I Information Technology (IT) network equipment and applications for several ACAT I, II and III systems.

John Garcia is a native New Mexican, appointed by Governor Bill Richardson in 2003 as the first Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services. Previously, he was President of Garcia & Associates, a consulting company which he started in 1995. He was a member of the United States Army from 1969 to 1971 and served in the Central Highland of South Vietnam from 1969-1970. While attached to the 4th Infantry Division, he received several citations and was honorably discharged in 1971 as an E-5. He is a founding member of the Vietnam Veterans of New Mexico.

Mr. Garcia is a member of numerous boards, committees and task forces, and has been recognized by numerous organizations including the De Colores, Inc. for the New Mexico Hispanic Businesses Leadership Award, and has received the National Hispanic Leadership Award from the Mexican-American Foundation, the American Center for International Leadership Award. He is listed in Who’s Who Among Hispanic Americans and has received the Profile of Courage Award from the Vietnam Veterans of New Mexico, and most recent, the New Mexico Veteran Small Business Advocate of the Year Award by the New Mexico Small Business Administration.

Mr. Luis E. Garcia-Baco is the Director of the Industrial Base Capabilities Directorate, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Business Transformation, G-7, at the Headquarters, U.S. Army Materiel Command, Virginia. He manages the integration and coordination of the U.S. Army Materiel Command’s Public-Private Partnership Program among other matters that relate to the U.S. Army’s reliance on the Defense Industrial Base.

Mr. Garcia-Baco is a member of the U.S. Army Acquisition Corps, and holds the highest Level III Acquisition Certificates in Program Management and in Systems Planning, Research, Development and Engineering. He is a graduate of the Office of Personnel Management’s Leadership for a Democratic Society Program and the Department of Defense’s Program Management Course, among other Defense and Federal courses.

Jim Ghiloni is the Director of the Center for Government-Wide Acquisition Contract (GWAC) Programs at the General Services Administration (GSA). The Center for GWAC Programs resides within the Office of GWAC and IT Schedule Programs portfolio in the Office of Integrated Technology Solutions (ITS) within the Federal Acquisition Service (FAS). The Center assures that necessary and proper GWACs are developed, maintained, and overseen in order to successfully meet the mission needs of GSA’s federal agency customers. He also acts as the Alliant Program Manager, responsible for overseeing the procurement of the Alliant and Alliant-Small Business GWACs.

Previously, Mr. Ghiloni worked with the FEDSIM organization, as a Senior Project Manager and later as the Group Manager for Navy and Marine Corps Programs. He also served as the Transitional Manager for the SmartBUY program when it was transferred from the Office of Government-Wide Policy to the Federal Technology Service (FTS). He has extensive experience managing GWAC task orders and acquisitions and is a Certified Project Management Professional.

Robert Griffin has more than 27 years of public service and was selected to the Navy’s Senior Executive Service in July of 2000. He is the Command’s Senior Civilian Contracting Official responsible for the contractual business practices, policy and oversight for the Command’s $7 billion contract program.

Prior to assuming the role as the Director of Acquisition, Mr. Griffin served as the Director of Public Private Venture Programs at NAVFACENGCOM from March 1998 to December 2000, Director of the Contracts Management Division at NAVFACENGCOM from November 1990 to October 1997 and Director of the Environmental/Service Contracts Division at the Western Division of NAVFACENGCOM from May 1989 to October 1990.

Mr. Griffin’s awards include the President’s Meritorious Executive Service Award (2004), Department of the Navy Superior Civilian Service Award (1998) and the Meritorious Civilian Service Award (1996).

Mark is the founder and CEO of Oak Grove Technologies (formerly Oak Grove Software). A former US Army enlisted soldier and a graduate of Catholic University in Washington, DC, Mark continued his public service under the DOJ Honors Program in 1991 with the US Department of Justice Antitrust Division. Assigned to the Communications and Finance Sections Bank Merger Unit, Mark assumed sole responsibility of a six member team within six months. During this time, Mark improved relations with other regulatory agencies to facilitate the sharing of vital information collected by different governmental agencies.

Upon leaving public service, Mark held numerous Senior Level Business Development positions with Fortune 500 Companies, where he made President’s Club for performance every year. A lifelong Veterans Advocate, Mark is active with NDIA, AFCEA, and is an Honorary Chairman on the National Republican Congressional Committee - Business Advisory Council, as well as a founding member of the American Legion National Economic Committees’ Business Advisory Council. In March of 2006, he was nominated to serve a three year term on the President’s Veterans Business Advisory Committee. The committee advises both the White House and the Congress on Veterans Business issues.

William W. Gross joined the Wage and Hour Division in 1974 as a Wage and Hour Analyst in the Branch of Service Contract Enforcement in Washington, DC. In 1979, he was appointed Chief of the Branch of Service Contract Enforcement. In February 1988, he was selected to be the Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Program Operations, and from November 1988 to 1995 he served as the Acting Assistant Administrator for Program Operations. In that capacity, Mr. Gross was responsible for providing policy guidance to Wage and Hour field staff enforcing all labor standards laws enforced by the Wage and Hour Division.

In 1996, Mr. Gross was appointed the Director of the Office of Wage Determinations within the Wage and Hour Division. In his current position, Mr. Gross is responsible for administration of the prevailing wage determination programs for both the Davis-Bacon Act and the McNamara O’Hara Service Contract Act.

Chief Executive Officer CPT (Ret) Dawn Halfaker founded Halfaker and Associates in January 2006 in response to the radically changing business environment brought on by the growing need for dynamic consultants with specialized experience to provide national security services to the federal government. CPT (Ret) Dawn Halfaker has extensive management experience as a Military Police Officer in the United States Army, where she was deployed with the 3rd Infantry Division as a platoon leader and deputy provost marshal in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. She was subsequently wounded during a combat patrol near Baghdad in 2004, earning a Purple Heart and Bronze Star.

In addition, Dawn served as a military liaison to the House Armed Services Committee where she advised the committee Chair on central Department of Defense issues. Since 2005, she has worked with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), specializing in technical consulting for the Defense Sciences Office. Her mission is to help initiate research that will provide advanced capabilities to the military. Dawn also remains very active with veteran’s affairs and is a member of many of the veteran’s service organizations and serves on various advisory committees.

Lee Harvey was appointed as a Deputy Program Executive Officer, Enterprise Information Systems (PEO EIS) in January 2004. He is responsible for the management of business information systems development, integration, and overall program implementation functions including the personnel, medical, distance learning, installation management and reserve component domains. Prior to becoming a DPEO EIS, Mr. Harvey served as the Program Director for Army University Access Online – eArmyU, reporting to the Army’s Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1 and the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. He was directly responsible for all aspects of program management for the $450 million program.

Mr. Harvey previously served as the Director of Acquisition Management for the Army’s Communications Electronics Command Acquisition Center - Washington. In that capacity he was responsible for awarding $500 million in new contracts each year and managing approximately $2 billion in existing contracts.

Mr. Harvey has more than 25 years of experience in the information technology management field. He is a veteran of the United States Army and a current member of the IAC partners program.

Terry Hill is Vice President of Communications for the International Franchise Association, the world’s oldest and largest association representing business-format franchising. The association’s membership includes more than 1200 franchise companies, ranging from some of the most famous worldwide brands to newly established firms that are just beginning to adapt the franchising model.

A Vietnam veteran, Hill serves as the organization’s chief liaison to the Veterans Transition Franchise Initiative, known as “VetFran.” Since its re-initiation in 2002, the program has grown to include more than 250 participating companies and resulted in the sales of more than 700 franchised small businesses to veterans.

VetFran is recognized by major federal agencies including the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and has been honored by the Center for Veterans Enterprise as a Support Sector Champion.

Hill has served for more than 20 years with business trade associations directing national public relations strategy and helping establish grassroots political programs. He has also served as a staff member in both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives.

Mr. Rick Horn is the Director of the Procurement Outreach Program (POP) for the Nevada Commission on Economic Development, which is funded by the Department of Defense and State of Nevada. He has 20 years of military contracting experience and 20 years of contracting experience with the civilian sector.

During his military contracting experience Mr. Horn prepared, evaluated, negotiated, awarded and administered government contracts. He was a warranted contracting officer for 11 years and held many positions including a branch chief and contracting director.

Mr. Horn’s commercial contracting experience includes Director of Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTACs) Programs for Nevada and Illinois. He also managed the Simplified Acquisition of Base Engineering Resources (SABER) project for a Colorado based services defense contractor at Scott Air Force Base.

Ms. Yvonne Howerton is the Director of Contracting for the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM), Fort Belvoir, VA. As Director, she has responsibility for the execution of contracts supporting the Headquarters Operations, Major Subordinate Commands, and associated customers.

Ms. Howerton entered the contracting field in 1981 as a Contract Specialist for the U.S. Army Communications and Electronics Command (CECOM), Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. She was subsequently employed as a Contracting Professional with the U.S. Navy (NRCC-Long Beach, CA); U.S. Air Force (HQ, Space Division); the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO), now known as the Government Accountability Office); and the U.S. Army, Picatinny Arsenal (TACOM) prior to joining INSCOM.

Ms. Howerton is the author of a treatise entitled “Closing the Gap between R&D and Application in Academe to Better Support Government and Industry.” She has also been a freelance writer for over twenty years, specializing in inspiring personality profiles and interviews with such subjects as tennis legend Althea Gibson and author Alex Haley.

Robert Hughes has been with the Naval Inventory Control Point Philadelphia (NAVICP) since 1982. His primary duty is to review and recommend approval of viable manufacturers of both critical and non-critical engines spares used in Navy Aircraft. He has assisted many small businesses with source approval, qualification testing, technical data support and contracting issues.

He also participates and works one on one with representatives at the Small Business conferences and symposiums and was recently presented with a letter of appreciation for his work at the 2006 HUBZone Conference in New Orleans.

Mr. Hughes’ background includes work as a Jet Engine Mechanic for J-52 Engine (A6E Intruder) and T56 Engine (P3 Orion) He is also qualified Aircrew for the P3 as both Flight Engineer and Sensor Station Operator with over 2000 hours seat time supporting Anti-Submarine Warfare Operations in the Mediterranean, the Artic Circle and the Pacific. His experience spans 23 years of both active and reserve duty with the Navy.

Dr Hunter has served more than twelve years in the Office of Small Business Programs on the senior staff of the Secretary of the Air Force as Program Manager and Assistant to the Director for Training and Development. First, to assist Minority Institutions of Higher Education and Veteran-owned and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses to compete for Air Force contract and research opportunities, and, second, to oversee the Air Force’s Small Business Specialists Training Program and the Air Force Flight Awareness Summer Training Program. Prior to this service he served six years as the Technical and Deputy Director of Naval Occupational Research at the Bureau of Naval Personnel; nine years in academic research, teaching, and service in training and development and vocational special education at two major universities; a Fellow at the University of Illinois; and a secondary education counselor and teacher of electronics in Pennsylvania. While with the Army, he served as a commissioned officer in combat and combat support units in North and South East Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the Pennsylvania State University, University Park, and doctorate at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.

Billy C. Jenkins, a native of Washington, DC, serves as the Veteran’s Procurement Liaison for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). In this role, he is responsible for the delivery of the agency’s Veteran’s Procurement program for Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Business as required by Executive Order 13360.

Jenkins has a 31-year career with the SBA and four years with the U.S. Air Force. He spent 28 years of his career as a contractor, after which he obtained a position as the Senior Contracting Officer for the SBA headquarters in Washington, DC.

Mr. Verne Johnson currently serves as Source Development Officer and Technical Engineer for the Defense Supply Center’s Office of Small Business Programs and Land Directorate. He has been working successfully with small businesses for over 17 years. Mr. Johnson is responsible for identifying and developing new sources to assist in backorder reduction, to ultimately better serve the war fighter. He assists contractors and government officials in understanding technical requirements. He works closely to support the socio-economic program managers in setting aside contracts.

Mr. Johnson has over 30 years in the Department of Defense and Defense Industries. He is an Air Force Vietnam-Era Service-Disabled Veteran.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Tom Johnson, a Vietnam Era veteran with more than 34 years in healthcare management experience, as Secretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CDVA) on February 12, 2004. As Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Mr. Johnson oversees an annual department operating budget of approximately $300 million, a Farm and Home Loan program with assets of about $2.2 billion and roughly 1,600 employees statewide.

CDVA provides outreach to veterans reentering civilian life after having answered America’s call to military service by helping them claim their earned veterans benefits, provides low-cost loans to acquire homes and farms, and, when the time comes, provides aged and disabled veterans rehabilitative, residential, and medical care and services in home-like environments at the California Veterans Homes.

An active member of his community, Mr. Johnson has been involved with a great variety of local, state, and federal groups, including the American College of Healthcare Executives, the California Hospital Association, the Visalia Chamber of Commerce, the Tulare County Boys and Girls Club, and the Boys Scouts of America, as well as many others.

Dale Karraker is a Senior Program Manager on the Product Development Technology Team at the Advanced Technology Institute (ATI). He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Defense Sustainment Consortium (DSC), which is DLA’s Competitive Sustainment Program, in cooperation with Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) and the Joint Council on Aging Aircraft (JCAA). The DSC is tasked with working with government stakeholders, industry, and academia to develop and deploy cost-effective processes and tools to extend the life of the military’s aging weapons platforms and acquisition programs. The DSC also serves as the Technology Insertion Program for NAVAIR’s Aging Aircraft Integrated Product team.

Prior to joining ATI, Mr. Karraker was the Senior Director of Foreign Military Sales for Information Handling Services, where he also served as Director, Navy Programs. He retired from US Naval Service in 1997 as a Cryptologic Officer. During his Naval Career, he served in a variety of Joint Operational and NATO Commands, the US Naval Security Group, and the National Security Agency.

Jaye D. Lampert is the Small Business Liaison Officer for Rolls-Royce Corporation. She is responsible for coordinating the supplier diversity activities for the Indianapolis site. This includes working with customers, site leaders and project teams from Indianapolis and other Rolls-Royce locations to understand the process, goals, accountabilities, and commitments in developing diverse suppliers.

Ms. Lampert is responsible for providing a resource of quality, small, diverse businesses for the buyers to access. This activity supports the buying activity as it relates to military contracts. In addition to finding and developing suppliers that can manufacture parts to be used in our engines, the Indianapolis facility oversees purchasing for the indirect spend for all of North America.

With over 14 years of active involvement in the small business market, Ms. Lampert has a wealth of experience to share. She has successfully owned and operated her own small business in addition to actively participating in many organizations that support small business efforts, such as National Association of Women Business Owners, Indianapolis Chamber Diversity Council, Central Indiana Small Business Development Center, Women for Success, and many others.

John E. Lee, a Vietnam War veteran and retired Command Sergeant Major of the U.S. Army, was appointed Director of the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs on November 1, 2005, by Governor Christine Gregoire. As agency director, his responsibilities include advocacy and outreach for the state’s more than 670,000 veterans and their families, as well as overseeing three veterans homes throughout the state.

A native of West Virginia, Lee entered the U.S. Army in 1968, and spent the next 21 years serving in the Army’s Infantry. He finished his Army career as the Command Sergeant Major of the 3rd Brigade, 9th Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, retiring in 1990. Upon retirement, Lee entered the public sector, joining WDVA as an administrative assistant. In 1994 he was appointed as the agency Deputy Director and has served with the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs for 15 years.

Lee has served on the Army Chief of Staff Retiree Council, is the co-chairman for the Fort Lewis Retiree Council, and is a proud member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, Vietnam Veterans of America, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Disabled Veterans of America, and the Association of the United States Army.

Ms. Teri Lesicko is the Program Manager for SAGE Systems Technologies, LLC (SAGE) on the U.S. Navy Defense Small Business Technology And Readiness Resource (DSTARR) Program. The Program is designed to assist small companies integrate into the Department of Defense Supply chain. She also acts as the Program’s expert resource on financial, accounting, contract management, and proposal development.

Prior to joining SAGE, Ms. Lesicko operated her own consulting business, which provided a broad range of services to small business working within the Federal sector. The consulting services included; identifying and implementing process improvements; evaluating and defining financial system requirements; facilitating strategic planning; and implementing business workflow processes. Ms. Lesicko has assisted small businesses in acquiring Federal contracts and gaining an understanding of the regulations that are associated with Department of Defense contracts. Ms. Lesicko has extensive experience in assisting small businesses implement FAR compliant accounting systems.

Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs Gordon H. Mansfield serves as the chief operating officer of the federal government’s second largest department, responsible for a nationwide system of health care services, benefits programs and national cemeteries for America’s veterans and their dependents. With a budget of more than $70 billion for fiscal year 2005, VA employs approximately 230,000 people at facilities nationwide. Mr. Mansfield was nominated to serve as Deputy Secretary by President George W. Bush on November 3, 2003, and confirmed by the Senate on January 22, 2004. He previously served as VA Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Legislative Affairs since August 1, 2001.

Following his 1964 enlistment in the Army, Mr. Mansfield served two tours of duty in Vietnam. While serving as company commander with the 101st Airborne Division during his second tour, he was wounded during the Tet Offensive of 1968 sustaining a spinal cord injury. For his actions while his unit was under fire, he was decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross. He was medically retired by the U.S. Army at the grade of Captain. His other combat decorations include the Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge and the Presidential Unit Citation.

Mr. Mansfield was honored as the Outstanding Disabled Veteran of the Year at the 2006 national convention of Disabled American Veterans, and was inducted into the Spinal Cord Injury Hall of Fame in October, 2006. He is a recipient of the Presidential Distinguished Service Award and the Villanova University Alumni Human Relations Medal, and was inducted into the U.S. Army Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame in 1997.

Steven S. Marion is currently serving as Senior Program Director of Operations and Supplier Management for Boeing Combat Systems. As a member of the Office of the Program Manager, he leads the development and execution of the acquisition and production strategies in the Army’s Future Combat Systems program. Boeing is operating as a Lead Systems Integrator (LSI) in a firewalled environment, and Mr. Marion leads all acquisition activity representing sub-contracts in excess of 12 billion dollars. Previously, Mr. Marion served as Director of Supplier Management and Procurement, Boeing Airplane Services, in Long Beach, California, where he focused on developing and implementing Supplier Management strategies that supported the new and growing service business in Boeing Commercial Airplane Group. He oversaw organizations in Long Beach, Wichita and Puget Sound, which were all critical elements of the businesses.

Marion joined McDonnell Douglas in 1980 and has held increasing levels of responsibility in all aspects of materiel and project management. He has rotated through all west coast divisions of Boeing in various capacities of materiel, and has extensive process knowledge in military, space and commercial.

Mr. Anthony Martoccia serves as the Director, Office of Small Business Programs in the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). In this capacity, he is the DoD focal point for developing DoD-wide policy to guide procurement processes to meet Small Business procurement goals and objectives.

Mr. Martoccia has previously served in the DoD as a Senior Contract Specialist and Contract Price Analyst. He has also been Chief of the Acquisition Branch at NASA Headquarters and Chief of the Contract Operations Division at the U.S. Department of Transportation. Most recently, he was an Associate Administrator for Government Contracting and Business Development at the U.S. Small Business Administration, where he served as a chief advisor to the Small Business Administrator responsible for providing direction, oversight, and policy to all federal small business contracting programs.

Tim McClain has over 35 years of experience in law and executive leadership and management positions. He served as General Counsel for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from 2001-2006, a Senate-confirmed Presidential appointment position, serving two Cabinet secretaries and managing an office comprised of nearly 400 lawyers with offices across the United States. In 2005, Tim also served concurrently as the Chief Management Officer for VA with overall responsibility for the department’s budget formulation and execution, procurement policy and acquisitions management, real property acquisition and management, and business process oversight. As General Counsel, Tim was directly involved in advising VA’s Secretary and senior leadership on issues related to the nation’s largest integrated health care delivery system, federal health care policy, appropriations, major construction, issues related to BRAC, legislative and regulatory issues, and Congressional relations.

Tim McClain is now in private practice at Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice PLLC in their Washington, DC office. He specializes in federal healthcare, federal procurement, and privacy and information security.

Michele McCoy is a Contracting Officer and Branch Chief of the Simplified Acquisitions and Support Services Branch, Department of Commerce, NOAA, Eastern Region Acquisition Division (ERAD), located in Norfolk, VA. She joined NOAA in 1983 and has held the positions of purchasing agent and Contract Specialist. She has been the Small Business Specialist for ERAD since 1996. She was promoted to Branch Chief/Contracting Officer in April 2006. This August she will have 26 years of government service.

Ms. McCoy is a member of the SBA Procurement Advisory Council. She has been a panelist at several events, most recently the Veterans Procurement Conference, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA. She is a recipient of the NOAA Administrators Award and she also has received the Leadership in Small Business Award for the last 4 years from the Department of Commerce for institutionalizing contract opportunities for small business.

Gregory McSweeney has been a Contracting Officer with the General Services Administration for 16 years. He has worked in Design and Construction and Property Development, awarding and administering Architect/Engineering and Construction contracts. He has awarded and administered numerous contracts to Small and Small Disadvantaged Businesses. Recently, he completed a major renovation project at the PJKK Federal Building, in Honolulu, HI with an 8(a) contractor as the prime General Contractor.

Mr. McSweeney has also negotiated and administered numerous Small Business Subcontracting Plans with large businesses to ensure small business participation. Successfully completed projects include the $100,000,000 renovation of the United States Court of Appeals building in San Francisco, and the Sandra Day O’Conner Federal Building in Phoenix.

Robert Medina is a Senior Procurement Analyst and Small Business Specialist at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California. He has been Dryden’s Small Business Specialist’s since Dryden became a NASA center in March 1994. He began his career with NASA in 1977 as cooperative education student and continued to work with NASA after graduation.

During his thity years with NASA, Mr. Medina has worked in many different procurement positions and different NASA Centers. He has worked as a purchasing agent, price analyst, contract specialist, contracting officer, procurement analyst, and small business specialist. In addition to his procurement background, he worked three years at NASA Headquarters in the Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology as an Institutional Program Manager having institutional oversight of NASA’s three Research Centers (Ames, Langley, and Lewis).

Mr. Medina has been a long-time supporter and member of National Contract Management Association and is a NCMA Fellow. He is a Level III certified contracting officer.

On January 22, 2003, Texas native Felipe Mendoza was named to head the Office of Small Business Utilization for the U.S. General Services Administration as its Associate Administrator. In this role, Mr. Mendoza is responsible for monitoring and implementing small business policies and managing small business programs that strive to expand opportunities and technological capabilities through increased participation of small businesses – including those located in HUBZones, minority, veteran and woman-owned – in federal government procurement.

The OSBU is responsible for the scope of small business programs mandated by law. Business activities are supported by program experts at GSA headquarters, through Small Business Centers in 11 regional offices, and by the Small Business Technical Advisors in the GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) and the Public Buildings Service (PBS).

Mr. Mendoza’s military record includes service for seven years as an intelligence officer for the U.S. Army, including three years in Europe. He also served one tour in Vietnam with the 173rd Airborne Brigade and is a recipient of the Bronze Star and Army Commendation Medal.

In 1995, John P. Molière founded Standard Communications, Inc. (SCI), which specializes in delivering best value IT, telecommunications, and business improvement services. Since then, SCI has built lasting relationships of trust with each of our clients. Headquartered in Northern Virginia with offices in Massachusetts and Michigan, SCI currently serves the VA throughout the nation, as well as the Navy, Air Force, SEC, State Department, Secret Service and GSA.

Mr. Molière, is a disabled Navy Vietnam veteran and is a prominent leader in the veteran community. His work for passage of PL 108-183, the Veterans Benefit Act of 2003 was recognized in a 2004 Fed100 Award. To further aid government agencies in meeting their 3% procurement goal, he encouraged the GSA to reachout to assist SDVOSBs and VOBs to secure their own GSA Schedule and to provide another tool, the VETS GWAC, which was included in Executive Order 13-360 and became a reality for many of us in February.

Mr. Molière works to further the cause of SDVOSBs across the country. He believes in paying back and is in the process of working with the Army and Qwest Communications, Inc. in a Mentor-Protégé program to establish an IT/Telecommunications incubator for severely disabled veterans from Walter Reed AMC.

Ms. Pamela L. Monroe is the Associate Director for the Contracting Center of Excellence (CCE) Small Business Program. Ms. Monroe assumed her duties at CCE (formally Defense Contracting Command-Washington), June 2003. Prior to joining CCE, she was the Associate Director for the Military Traffic Management Command’s (MTMC) Small Business Program. Ms. Monroe’s career began as a Contract Specialist at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma in 1984. She worked as a Contract Administrator, Contract Officer; Cost and Zero-Over Pricing Analyst. In 1994, she was selected to enter the Advanced Copper Cap Contracting Intern Program at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. Upon completion of the intern program, she returned to Bolling AFB and continued to work as a Contract and Small Business Specialist. Ms. Monroe holds a Bachelor of Science Degree and Masters Degree; she is certified in Contracts Acquisition Level III and a member of the Army Acquisition Corps.

Richard (Dick) J. Otero, Sr. serves as the President of EZCertify.com, a business development software and services company that he founded in 1998. This company is devoted to assisting minorities, women, and service-disabled veterans to succeed in the federal government contracting arena.

Prior to EZ, Mr. Otero started, operated for nineteen years, and sold off his ownership in RJO Enterprises, Inc., one the country’s most successful 8(a), high-tech, information technology and electronics concerns. He was recognized twice as the national entrepreneur of the year, and his company was an INC. 500 Fast Growth company for five consecutive years.

Mr. Otero also served as the Managing Director of the Government and Commercial Systems Division of ARINC Research Corporation, where he led this multi-hundred million dollar company in providing telecommunications, command and control and information systems to its clients on a worldwide basis.

As a small business and minority business community activist, Mr. Otero was among the founders of the National Federation of 8(a) Companies, and the National Coalition of Minority Business. He served as Chairman of the Latin American Management Association, and President of the Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Maryland State Chamber of Commerce.

Jean Oyler is the Business Operations Manager for the Small Business Governmentwide Acquisition Contracts Center with the U. S. General Services Administration in Kansas City, Missouri. She oversees Center operations including communications, customer and industry relations, outreach and training. Jean and her staff of business development specialists are responsible for educating federal customers in the proper use of the contracts as well as assisting contractors in how to market their contract. Her efforts in promoting small business have been recognized by the Offices of Small Business Utilization within GSA, U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Prior to GSA, Jean served as Contracting Officer’s Representative for information technology software and services contracts at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Her 20+ years of federal service also led her to employment with the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the 66th Military Intelligence Group, U.S. Army European Command in Munich, Germany.

Mr. Parker works for the State Government of Victoria, Australia out of the Australian Consulate-General in New York. Having worked in San Francisco and New York for the Australian federal government’s investment agency for the past 4 years Lincoln now covers both trade and investment in the defence, aerospace and security industries for the Victorian Government in North America.

Born and raised in Australia, Lincoln received his bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley, where he focused on business and international trade. He then went to work in the private sector in Australia and New York trading global commodities before entering service with the Australian Government.

Victoria is the leading manufacturing State in Australia and is home to the majority of Australia’s Aviation, Aerospace and Defence industries. Victoria’s manufacturing industry has delivered around 40% of all Australian defence major project requirements over the past two decades. From the Bushmaster vehicle to the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), Victorian companies are leading the way in research and development and the manufacture of high level defence systems and products in Australia.

In her current position as the Director of the Small Business Governmentwide Acquisition Contracts Center in the Heartland Region of General Services Administration, Mary Parks is responsible for developing and providing small business contract solutions for federal information technology customers worldwide. As Center Director, she oversees a Business Management Division and Contracts Division which develop and manage the GWAC portfolio and provide training and education on the contracts. The Small Business GWAC Center is responsible for 8(a) STARS, HUBZone and the new VETS GWACS.

Mary began her federal government career in 1976 in GSA’s Office of Finance, in Kansas City, MO as an Accounts Maintenance Clerk. In 1980, she joined the Heartland Region’s Federal Supply Service, Tools Commodity Center as a Contract Specialist intern and participated in the development of the first multiple award Federal Supply Schedule for tools. In 1996, she moved to GSA’s Federal Technology Service as Director of Contracts. She was a member of the National ITS team to award the 8(a) Federal Acquisition Services for Technology contracts and developed the business case to move the national contract function for the 8(a) contracts to the Heartland Region in 1999.

Ms. Parks currently serves as the Defense Supply Center Columbus HUBZone Specialist. She is responsible for the leadership, management and oversight of the HUBZone program. In this capacity, she identifies opportunities to set aside procurements for small business and HUBZone concerns. She is also responsible for managing the DSCC Business Counseling Center, and conducting training sessions to teach incoming contractors how to start working with DSCC. She performs a variety of outreach activities, including the DSCC Training Knowledge and Opportunities Seminar (TKO).

Ms. Parks is a member of the DSCC Acquisition Council, DIBBS Council, Leadership Development Association, and Women for Economic and Leadership Development (WELD). She is also a 2004 graduate of the DLA Program for Developing Managers and won the DLA Award for Professionalism in Small Business.

Named as Chief of Staff for the U.S. General Services Administration effective July 3, 2006, John F. Phelps arrived at the agency after having served as Chief Operating Officer of the Grand Canyon Chapter of the American Red Cross in Phoenix, Arizona since 2005.

Effective November 1, 2006, Phelps was selected to serve concurrently as Acting Chief of Emergency Response and Recovery (OERR), an office created to leverage all the emergency resources within GSA. OERR provides a new level of support and assistance to first responders, emergency workers and recovery teams.

In his role as GSA’s Chief of Staff, Mr. Phelps oversees the Office of the Administrator, ensures effective and efficient staffing of agency programs and projects, guides the agency’s continuity of operations planning and emergency response efforts, and maintains liaison and facilitate coordination with GSA Regions.

Before coming to GSA, Mr. Phelps, a resident of Arizona, also previously served as Deputy Director of the Arizona Office of Homeland Security in the Office of the Governor. Mr. Phelps’ areas of expertise include government ethics and policy, administrative and constitutional law, homeland security, and executive leadership.

Ms. Tracey L. Pinson became the Director for Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, Office, Secretary of the Army in May 1995. Ms. Pinson advises the Secretary of the Army and the Army Staff on all small business procurement issues and is responsible for the implementation of the Federal acquisition programs designed to assist small businesses, including small disadvantaged businesses and women-owned businesses. She is responsible for the management of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Institutions (HBCU/MI) program, and develops policies and initiatives to enhance their participation in Army funded programs. As one of the top females in the Army’s acquisition career field, she is responsible for the integration of small businesses, HBCUs and MIs in acquisition strategies developed at the Army Headquarters. She also provides management and oversight for the Army’s Mentor-Protégé Program.

Ms. Pinson was born in Washington, D.C. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science from Howard University. She also received a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. She is a member in good standing of the Maryland Bar Association and the National Contract Management Association.

Pamela Porter serves as a Small Business Advocate and Director of the Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) for the National Security Agency (NSA). Her previous position at the agency was as Director of the Office of Research and Technology Applications (ORTA) and the Domestic Technology Transfer Program (DTTP) charged with promoting, effectively brokering, and facilitating transfer of valuable technological innovations to the commercial sector, universities, and other government agencies.

Prior career positions include defense contractor for the Army and Navy, retired Lieutenant Colonel after 25 years with the US Army Reserves - Signal Corps, Senior Engineer with MCI, and a small business owner.

Ronald A. Poussard, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is Director of Small Business Programs of the Department of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. He leads the Small and Minority Business Program, the Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and Minority Institution Programs for the Department of the Air Force.

Prior to assuming his current position, Mr. Poussard was the Air Force Program Executive Officer for Combat and Mission Support Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Washington, D.C. Mr. Poussard lead the acquisition of services for the Air Force and was responsible for managing and overseeing more than $100 billion in existing and planned contracts awarded by commands across the Air Force.

Mr. Poussard served as Deputy Director of the Defense Acquisition Regulations System, Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Washington, D.C., where he was responsible for directing the activities of the Defense Acquisition Regulation Council charged with creating, publishing and maintaining the Department of Defense’s procurement business rules in the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement and representing the DOD in development of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

During his four-year tenure (2001-2005) as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, New York-born Anthony J. Principi directed the federal government’s second largest department, responsible for a nationwide system of health care services, benefits programs, and national cemeteries for America’s 25 million living veterans and dependents.

Mr. Principi is a 1967 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD, and first saw active duty aboard the destroyer USS Joseph P. Kennedy. He later commanded a River Patrol Unit in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. During his service in Southeast Asia, Mr. Principi was awarded the Bronze Star with combat V for valor.

Mr. Principi served as Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs, VA’s second-highest executive position, from March 17, 1989, to September 26, 1992, when he was named Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs by President George Bush. He served in that position until January 1993. Following that appointment, he served as Republican chief counsel and staff director of the Senate Committee on Armed Services. Mr. Principi was nominated as Secretary of Veterans Affairs by President George W. Bush on December 29, 2000, and was confirmed by the Senate on January 23, 2001.

In 2005, Mr. Principi was appointed by the President as Chairman of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission. He led the statutorily created commission that reviewed and acted upon recommendations by the Department of Defense regarding America’s military bases.

Louis Pruitt retired from Federal Service in 1994 after 34 years. He worked in the Civil Service for the first 15 years of his career, mostly with General Services Administration (Public Buildings Service) in Atlanta and Washington, D.C. The last 19 years of his career were spent in the Foreign Service (U.S. Department of State). In addition to 10 years working in Foreign Buildings Operations in Washington, Louis served as Supervisory General Services Officer at U.S. Embassies in Zaire, Brazil and Mexico. Since 1995, Louis has worked in a contract capacity managing the Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) program for the Department of State’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization.

Cathy J. Read is the Director, Acquisitions Management (AQM), office of Logistics Management (LM) for the Department of State (DOS). Cathy is responsible for providing global acquisitions and logistics support for the people and programs all around the world in support of America’s diplomacy. A career member of the Senior Executive Service, Cathy’s office is responsible for over 99% of the operational acquisitions for DOS including all overseas buildings operations, diplomatic security domestic guard services, Iraq and Kabul security guard services, IT equipment and services, weapons abetment program, and operational and support services. She leads an organization of over 170 acquisitions professionals both in Washington, DC and two regional centers in Frankfurt, Germany and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

With over 20 years as a seasoned acquisition professional, Cathy has worked with several government and private entities including the Department of the Navy where she procured command, control and communications systems for submarines, and most recently, as Director of Contracts, US Arms Control and Disarmament Agency before joining the Department of State through the Foreign Affairs Reorganization.

SGT(Ret) Tracy M. Reep is a service-disabled veteran (retired) from the Texas Army National Guard. While attending Midwestern State University, Tracy was drawn to the Reserve Officer Training Corp (ROTC), which led him to join the National Guard. After graduating with honors from Artillery Basic training in 1989, Tracy served with distinction for 13 years, receiving multiple awards for outstanding performance and physical fitness.

On November 11th, 2003, while stationed in Northwest Baghdad in an area known as the Sunni Triangle, Tracy’s unit was ambushed while pulling security on a convoy. Shortly after taking up a firing position against the insurgents, an RPG entered Tracy’s vehicle and exited where he was standing. Tracy took the blast to his left hand (amputating his ring and small fingers), elbow, shoulder and face (losing vision in his left eye). Tracy has been awarded the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, three Army Commendation Awards, and numerous other awards.

Despite the incredible challenges that Tracy has faced, he can still only think of others. With his work with Disabled Veterans Office Suppliers, Inc. and the Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes, Tracy now cherishes the opportunity to assist other disabled veterans in their quest to return to a normal life following their brave service.

Ms. Ridgely is the Director for the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization at the Department of Health and Human Services. She was selected for the position over six years ago. As the Director, she works to foster an atmosphere that provides fair, equitable and impartial opportunities for the entire small business community. Ms. Ridgely establishes departmental policy for the small business program and advocates on behalf of the small business vendor in the federal acquisition process.

Prior to working in her current capacity, Ms. Ridgely served as a Contracting Officer for the Departments of Transportation, NASA and Energy. She also currently serves as the Chair of the Federal OSDBU Directors’ Interagency Council. She has been recognized with awards from small business trade associations and other national organizations.

Dan Robinson is Manager of Global Purchasing - Market Access in Xerox Corporation. Mr. Robinson has 37 years of experience in Business with specific concentration in Materials Management including Inventory Management, Purchasing, Contracting, Product Cost Engineering, Finance and Market Access. His experiences include assignments in both Domestic and Global Markets.

His current responsibilities include managing Xerox Corporation Market Access Strategies for Small Businesses, and Supplier Diversity. He also has supporting team member responsibilities for Market Access activities in other countries, which included South Africa, Brazil, Canada and England. Many of his activities and interactions require him to work closely with Marketing, Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering and Purchasing.

Mr. Robinson has been a member of numerous community boards including President of the Webster New York Community Chest, Member of Rochester Junior Achievement,