The Southern CO SBDC and Colorado SBDC TechSource is presenting a one-day conference to help your small to mid-sized business improve award success on Contracting opportunities at the Federal and State levels as well as on Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grants. Additionally, we will have a special guest representing the RoadX program of CDOT to talk about a new opportunity for innovative companies to get involved with CDOT. Presenters include Carolyn Terrell, SBA Colorado and SBDC consultants Stephanie Amend (Arrowhead Solutions), Yoriko Morita (Patents Integrated) Ed Kase (EKase Consulting), Rosy McDonough (Colorado MBO), and Cathy Kramer (Connect2DOT Program). 

Attendees are welcome to register for just the morning (Contracting and Resource Conference), afternoon (SBIR Grant and Resource Conference) or plan to attend all day! Please register at the link at the very bottom of the page to register for just the morning. 

The agenda for the morning includes the following:

Contracting and Resource Conference: 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Certifications and Contracting - Federal Level
Attendees will obtain an overview of how federal government contracting works from solicitation through award. Where to find government opportunities and other important information to get started with the federal government customer will be provided. Additionally, you will learn how to apply for certifications needed to conduct business with the federal government. Federal Certifications include: Woman-Owned Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, Veteran & Service Disabled Veteran Program, 8(a) Business Development Program, and HUBZone Empowerment Contracting Program.

Advanced Marketing for Federal Contracts - Insider Tips
This program is designed to help companies understand marketing tools and strategies and how they can work in real world federal marketing arenas. Attendees will learn the most important aspect of federal procurement which is how to define the true decision maker and how to build a relationship with the agency. 

Certifications and Contracting Opportunities - State Level
Who are the minorities making a difference in Colorado? You will learn about the revenue, payroll, and top industries in which minority and women-owned firms are having a significant impact. You will also hear about the various certification process and opportunities for federal, state, and local contracts that can provide a leveled playing field for your business. This will include an inside look at doing business with the Colorado Department of Transportation.

RoadX - Innovating Travel Across Colorado
Come learn about how you can help transform Colorado's aging transportation system and revolutionize how people travel. The Colorado Department of Transportation RoadX Program is tapping public and private industry innovators for solutions to address our infrastructure challenges with 21st century technology and ingenuity. This session will provide an overview of RoadX Program initiatives and how you can present your ideas. Only bold thinking and bold actions will drive progress!

Resource Fair: presenting agencies will have informational resource booths available and representatives to connect with you one-one


*Who should attend? Businesses looking to enhance their contracting opportunities at the federal and state levels.


Speakers include:

Carolyn Terrell,Supervisory Business Development Specialist,U.S. Small Business Administration
Carolyn Terrell administers the 8a Business Development Program, the Small Disadvantaged Business Program, the HUBZone Empowerment Contracting Program, and the Women Owned Small Business Programs. In these programs, certified firms receive assistance with various aspects of starting, developing and expanding their business, as well as entrance into the government procurement arena. 

Cathy Kramer,Statewide Program Manager,Connect2DOT
Cathy Kramer has 25 years of marketing and management consulting experience, working with a range of clients from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies. Cathy has been a consultant to CDOT for 15 years providing technical assistance to construction and engineering firms and supporting the development and implementation of CDOT's DBE/ESB Programs. She has an extensive understanding of CDOT contracting and project delivery methods and has assisted hundreds of firms in marketing their services to CDOT and other government agencies.

Rosy Aburto McDonough, Director, Minority Business Office
Rosy Aburto McDonough is a seasoned business consultant and entrepreneur. She has extensive experience as an independent consultant for the Colorado SBDC office in the Disaster Recovery, Connect2DOT, and general financial consulting programs state-wide.In her current role, she provides leadership to the nonprofit and for-profit minority industries and organizations in Colorado.

Stephanie Amend, Founder, Arrowhead Solutions, LLC
Stephanie Amend's specializations include SBIR/STTR grants and contracts, government contracting, identifying topics and agency opportunities, capture management, proposal preparation, contract and subcontract management, subcontracts, accounting and compliance; Indirect Cost Rate Development. Clients include Vaisala, Radiasoft, Avosys, NDP, Sporian Microsystems, Standard Aero, among others.

Jennifer Kurtz, Conundrum Creek Consulting
Jennifer Kurtz has worked for more than 15 years in different aspects of government procurement: RFP development, proposal writing and review, program evaluation, project management, contract fulfillment, and GSA Schedule. She is affiliate faculty at Regis University (graduate courses in cyber security and project management since 2010), author of Hacking Wireless Access Points: Cracking, Tracking, and Signal Jacking (2016), former technology infrastructure manager for an international automotive manufacturer, and an award-winning previous director of ecommerce for Indiana.


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