Robert W. Baird & Co. will host the sixth edition of its annual Government and Defense Conference on Wednesday, Nov. 15 at the Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner. The event gives voice to leadership from many high-profile private sector entities in the government services industry as well as top federal officials. Speakers offer pedigreed perspectives on the most pressing issues of the day and share thoughts on the direction of the market.
John Song, managing director, co-head of the government and defense investment banking practice at Baird and one of the principal organizers of the event, said a motivation to stay topical and relevant with regard to current events informs the subject matter of much of the program.
“We try to go beyond the superficial and really go in depth in terms of the subject matter. Whether it’s AI or space-related topics, among many others, the speakers will be extremely thorough about the issues and considerations for those areas of the market,” Song told GovCon Wire.
Song, a Wash100 Award winner, said that what the featured companies choose to address is indicative of how they’re positioning themselves in the always “rapidly changing” government services market.
The managing director feels it’s crucial for the event to help participants identify where their efforts should be focused, “where they should be placing their bets,” how various companies are deploying capital and “what the priorities of the government are that may not be prevalently known.”
Baird is careful to avoid repeat guests or “recycled” sessions at each year’s conference. This year, attendants will hear fresh takes from company leaders like CGI Federal President and Wash100 Award winner Stephanie Mango and Noblis CEO and fellow Wash100 recipient Mile Corrigan. Viewers — the event is both held in-person and virtually broadcast — will also hear from Ultra Intelligence and Communications CEO Jon Rucker, LinQuest Senior Vice President Joe Dodd and NTT Data Group President Chris Merdon about their company’s recent activities and plans.
Attendees will have the chance to listen in on Accenture Federal Services Chief Operating Officer Ron Ash and Managing Director of the National Security Portfolio Brian Hobbs dialogue about what they’ve learned from their positions in recent times, and watch as CACI’s Todd Probert, yet another Wash100 winner, leads a crosstalk between U.S. Navy and Air Force representatives about Ukraine, IndoPacom and the digital battlefield.
Baird’s annual conference takes all year to prepare — Song says they’re already in talks about the following year’s event in the midst of conducting the current one. And yet, it remains a “labor of love” for Song and his business partner, Managing Director and multiple Wash100 Award winner Jean Stack, who will be delivering “Baird’s Government & Defense State of the Market Update” to kick off the day’s proceedings.
For more information, or to request an invitation, please contact Baird’s conference events team at IBEvents@rwbaird.com.
