UCM Hosts Annual Skelton Procurement Conference May 30

WARRENSBURG, MO (April 9, 2008) — Owners of small businesses can learn how to secure government contracts and network with potential contractors at Rep. Ike Skelton's annual Procurement Conference, Friday, May 30, at the University of Central Missouri.

Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. in Elliott Union 234B, and Skelton will open the conference with remarks at 8:45. Doug Hensley of Kansas City-based Hensley Technologies, Inc., will speak at 9 a.m. on successful government contracting, and Rear Adm. Sean Crean, deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition, will speak on government procurement at 9:30 a.m.

The featured luncheon speaker for the conference is the Honorable Donald Winter, secretary of the Navy. Winter is responsible for all affairs of the U.S. Navy, including recruiting, equipping, training, mobilizing and demobilizing. He also oversees the construction, outfitting and repair of naval ships, equipment and facilities.

Winter earned a bachelor's degree in physics from the University of Rochester and master's and doctoral degrees in physics from the University of Michigan. He also is a graduate of the USC Management Policy Institute, the UCLA Executive Program and the Harvard University Program for Senior Executives in National and International Security. He was elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering in 2002.

Afternoon breakout sessions include topics such as selling to the government, choosing veterans first, contract pricing and estimating, and funding a business through Small Business Innovation Research networks. Sessions also will address SBA contracting programs, base and post contracting, business financing and marketing, ISO standards, the Small Business Transportation Resource Center, radio frequency identification and the "lean and clean advantage" in marketing. Speakers also will be available for questions following the afternoon breakout sessions.

"Our goal is to help small businesses expand their sales efforts through contracting with the federal and state government or through major employers," said Wes Savage, director of the SBTDC at UCM.

The conference is open to business owners and interested individuals. A brochure showing the agenda and exhibitor list can be found downloaded at www.missouribusiness.net/ptac/docs/skelton2008.pdf.

A fee of $49 per person is required and includes lunch. Registration prior to May 23, is encouraged. Individuals who want to attend may register online at www.missouribusiness.net/ptac or www.ucmo.edu/sbtdc, or contact the SBTDC at UCM at 660-543-4402, email sbtdc@ucmo.edu.

This story was featured in the May 2008 newsletter