SESSION SUMMARIES

Selling to the Federal Government & Tools for Success in the Federal Marketplace. Representatives from the Small Business Administration, Small Business Center Network, Government Contracting Assistance Program and NC Military Business Center session will focus on infrastructure-related steps to enter the federal marketplace and resources available for support. 

• Sue Kranes, Strategic Industries Professional, North Carolina Military Business Center
• Aregnaz Mooradian, Deputy District Director, North Carolina District Office, US Small Business Administration
• Jacquie Spearman, Director, Government Contracting Assistance Program
• Anne Shaw, State Director, Small Business Center Network, North Carolina Community College System

Program and Procurement Dialogue Sessions
Note: Check the agenda for date/time/location for specific government and military organization session.

Representatives will present and engage in interactive discussion with businesses about their programs, projects related issues for FY2025 and beyond.  Representatives will address acquisition and execution processes for projects in the program of work. Audience participation throughout the session is strongly encouraged.

Topics to be addressed include:

• Installation/agency growth and facilities utilization plans, FY2025 and beyond
• Installation/agency major military construction (MILCON) projects, FY2025 and beyond
• Installation/agency sustainment, restoration, and modernization (SRM) construction, FY2025 and beyond
• Installation/agency civil works projects, FY2025 and beyond
• Installation/agency energy programs and projects, FY2025 and beyond
• Installation/agency environmental programs and projects, FY2025 and beyond
• Installation/agency horizontal infrastructure construction, FY2025 and beyond
• Installation/agency non-appropriated fund major/SRM construction, FY2025 and beyond
• Installation/agency architectural and engineering services, currently in place and future acquisitions
• Installation/agency service contracts, currently in place and future acquisitions
• Installation/agency use of public private partnerships to provide infrastructure and services
• Process for teaming, subcontracting, or supplying installation public private partnerships
• Impact of budget constraints on FY2025 and future programs and projects
• Anticipated acquisition strategies for projects in the FY2025 program (primary emphasis)
• Agency use of and business access to Multiple Award Task Orders Contracts (MATOC)
• Multiple Award Construction Contracts (MACC), Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts, Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPA), Basic Ordering Agreements (BOA) and other acquisition tools
• Agency use of various small business set=asides, sole source awards and other acquisition tools
• Government expectations, concerns and current issues (with contractors) in acquisition and execution of construction and engineering projects.

Sessions:

• US Army Program and Procurement Dialogue
  • Colonel Chad Mixon, Garrison Command, Fort Bragg Garrison
  • Colonel Russell Henry, Commander, 596th Transportation Brigade (SDDC), Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point (MOTSU)
  • Major Joe Schaefer, CONDET Commander, Contracting Detachment B, 900^th Contracting Battalion, 419^th Contracting Support Brigade, Mission & Installation Contracting Command – Fort Bragg
  • Brian Vesely, Engineering Services Division Chief, Fort Bragg Directorate of Public Works
  • Eddie Rosado, Engineers Deputy Director, US Army Reserve Command
  • Mel Meleka, Master Planning Chief, Directorate of Public Works, Fort Stewart/Hunter Army Airfield (Virtual Participation)
• US Army Corps of Engineers Program and Procurement Dialogue
  • Paula Beck, Chief of Contracts (Virtual) and Tonja Dreke, Contracting Officer/Section Chief, USACE Baltimore District
  • John Flint, Chief, Military Branch, USACE Norfolk District (Virtual)
  • Cathern Gil, Chief of Engineering, USACE Wilmington District
  • Charlenne Figgins, Chief of Contracts, USACE Charleston District
  • Jennifer Cavanaugh, Chief, Office of Small Business Programs, USACE Savannah District (Virtual)
  • Sonya Rodgers, Deputy for Small Business, USACE Mobile District (Virtual)
  • Ernise Cummings, Deputy for Small Business, USACE Jacksonville District (Virtual)
  • Mariano-Torres-Feliciano, Deputy for Small Business, USACE Caribbean District (Virtual)
• Defense Health Agency Program and Procurement Dialogue
  • Todd Gibson, Chief, Capital Strategy Management, Defense Health Agency
• Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast and Marine Corps Installations East Program and Procurement Dialogue
  • Bethanie Rider, Deputy Operations Officer, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Mid-Atlantic (and Southeast program)
• US Air Force and US Coast Guard Program and Procurement Dialogue
  • Commander Colleen Symansky, Commanding Officer, USCG Civil Engineering Unit Cleveland
  • Brian Joyner Deputy Base Engineer and Kyle Donah Small Business Specialist, 4^th Mission Support Group, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base
• • Isabelle Rico, Branch Supervisor, RTP Facilities Operations Branch, FTP-FMSD, Office of Site Management and Operations, Office of Mission Support, Environmental Protection Agency (Virtual)

Building the Future: Workforce Development for Federal Energy and Construction. During this session, panelists will explore the evolving demands of the energy and construction sectors, focusing on how the federal government, academia, and industry can collaborate to build a skilled workforce. The panel will highlight current trends, challenges, and opportunities for workforce development in these critical areas. Discussion will include:

• Skills Gaps and Emerging Technologies
• Role of Apprenticeships and Training Programs
• Government and Private Sector Collaboration
• Future Workforce Needs

Speakers:

• Erin Ananian-Gentile, Business Development Professional (Craven), North Carolina Military Business Center
• Kristie Sauls, Executive Director of Apprenticeships and Career Development, Wayne Community College
• Emily Holt, Director, Workforce Readiness, Cape Fear Community College
• Charles Westall, Director of Apprenticeship, LJ Electrical Construction
• Tony Sterling, Project Executive, McGough Construction

Responding to Emergency and Natural Disasters as a Contractor. In the past decade, the United States and North Carolina experienced several major hurricanes, including Hurricane Florence which effected Eastern NC and Hurricane Helene which effected Western NC. This session will discuss the processes for responding to a natural disaster and/or emergency effort as a contractor.  Speakers will explain the role of the State ranging from statewide efforts to federal programs and how businesses can assist within those processes.

• Jacquie Spearman, Director, Government Contracting Assistance Program
• Reena Bhatia, Business Development Professional (Raleigh), North Carolina Military Business Center
• Tonya Marriott, Deputy Director, Office of Civil Rights, North Carolina Department of Transportation
• Roland Moreau, Vice President, Military Programs, ECC
• Marcus Kirkman, Business Inclusion Manager, City of Asheville
• Pam Racer, Government Contracting Counselor, Government Contracting Assistance Program

Government & Industry Perspective Challenges Dialogue and Networking with Government Officials.
Join this open dialogue between industry and the government on issues affecting industry and federal agencies.  Topics will address supply chain resiliency, inflation, labor workforce issues and what efforts are being made to streamline the acquisition process, rules and regulations affecting industry and the potential cost impact to industry and to the government. Participants will hear lessons learned from the implementation of Project Labor Agreements (PLA), how the government and contractors are meeting small business goals, and the impact of the newly implemented regulations concerning CMMC and Davis Bacon Wage increases. 

Speakers:

• Sue Kranes, Strategic Industries Professional, North Carolina Military Business Center
• Joe Angell, Society of American Military Engineers (SAME)
• Jordan Howard, Counsel, Federal Construction & Regulatory Affairs, National AGC
• Bradley Saull, Vice President, Federal & International Programs, ACEC
• Jackson Moore, Attorney, Smith Anderson Law Firm
• Dan McFerrin, Program Director, ECC
• Paula Beck, Chief of Contracts, USACE Baltimore District (Virtual)

Emerging Technology and Building Systems Opportunities. During this session, senior government experts and industry innovators will explore current and future government initiatives and programs to modernize and enhance the strategic readiness of our military installations. The panel will discuss integrating artificial intelligence in construction processes, fostering efficiency and adaptability, and highlighting pioneering new energy initiatives and innovative construction techniques aimed at sustainability and resilience. This session will provide actionable insights into how these innovations drive smarter and more connected military installations.

Speakers:

• Bob Burton, Director, Defense Technology Transition Team
• Matt Walters, Chief – SMS Technical Center of Expertise and Allison Long, Program Manager US Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL) (Virtual)
• Captain Luke Greene, Commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) PEO Industrial Infrastructure Office
• Calvin Brown, Deputy AC/S G6, Marine Corps Installations East

Department of Defense Small Business Specialist Panel. This session will provide a brief overview of the Small Business Specialist roles within several government agencies – including when capability reviews are scheduled and with whom, specific agency client support, small business goal attainment
and specific products and services the agency procures.

Speakers:

• Andrea Green, Deputy for Small Business, USACE Wilmington District
• Chris Rabassi, Office of Small Business Programs, Marine Corps Installations East
• Cherie Kunze, Deputy for Small Business, USACE Norfolk District (Virtual)
• Tamika Gray, Deputy for Small Business, USACE Baltimore District (Virtual)
• Tonya Willis, Deputy for Small Business, USACE Charleston District (Virtual)
• Jennifer Cavanaugh, Deputy for Small Business, USACE Savannah District (Virtual)
• Mariano Torres-Feliciano, Deputy for Small Business, USACE Caribbean District (Virtual)
• TBA, NAVFAC

Policy and Regulatory Updates for Small Business. The Small Business Administration and Smith Anderson Law Firm will provide an overview on recent small business rules and regulations affecting small businesses and an overview of the recent legislative changes and how they impact federal contracting and all contractors.

• Jackson Moore, Attorney, Smith Anderson Law Firm
• Sam Q. Le, Director, Office of Policy Planning and Liaison, Office of Government Contracting and Business Development, U.S. Small Business Administration (Virtual)
• Tamika Gray, Deputy for Small Business, USACE Baltimore District (Virtual)
• Tonja Dreke, Contracting Officer/Section Chief, USACE Baltimore District

Factors Driving Facility Programs at North Carolina Installations. The purpose of this session is to discuss factors driving infrastructure programs at North Carolina installations. Rather than a discussion on product workload, this session will focus on developments at military installations that are driving their infrastructure programs.

• Captain David Jayne, OICC Florence Commanding Officer, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
• Captain Jim Brown, Assistant Chief of Staff, Facilities and Environment (GF), Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Installations East
• Brian Joyner, Deputy Base Engineers, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base
• Brian Vesely, Engineering Services Division Chief, Fort Bragg Directorate of Public Works

CMMC Certification for Infrastructure Contractors. Join this session for an in-depth exploration of Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) tailored specifically for infrastructure contractors. This session will cover essential aspects of CMMC compliance, focusing on how contractors in the infrastructure sector can meet the certification requirements effectively. Key topics include understanding the levels of certification, navigating compliance challenges, and practical strategies for achieving and maintaining CMMC compliance.

• Laura Rodgers, Director of Cybersecurity Practice, Secure Computing Institute and Director, NC-PaCE, NC State University