Winning Business and FY21 Opportunities Forum
Watch Recording

Winning Business and FY21 Opportunities Forum

Recorded on Tuesday, October 20, 2020 2:00pm-3:30pm EST   Virtual, ON24

This virtual event will educate and inform small to midsize GovCon professionals on how to win business, FY21 opportunities to look out for, navigating the GSA schedule, and discuss what industry can do to help. Our distinguished panel will allow you to hear first hand insight from the government agencies with upcoming contracting opportunities.

The forum will feature Brian Barnes Associate Administrator of the Office of Small Business Utilization, U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) as the keynote speaker.
  • Brian Barnes
    Brian Barnes -
    Associate Administrator,Office of Small Business Utilization, U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)

    Mr. Brian Barnes was named Associate Administrator of GSA’s Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization in January 2020, after a two-year appointment as the GSA White House Liaison. As head of OSDBU, Mr. Barnes has nationwide responsibility for GSA’s small business programs and is the chief advocate for small businesses, driving the agency to achieve more than $2.4 billion in small business contract awards. Prior to joining GSA, Brian served as the Assistant Portfolio Manager for a Minority Business Accelerator under the Greater Cleveland Partnership. Brian was instrumental in driving state, local, and private contracts to black businesses valued at $183 million. Brian earned his bachelor’s degree from the College of Wooster as an Urban Studies major and Economics minor.

  • Darlene Bullock
    Darlene Bullock -
    Executive Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

    E. Darlene Bullock was appointed as the Director of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) in January 2020. She served as the Acting OSDBU Director in June 2019 and the OSDBU Deputy Director in June 2015. Ms. Bullock is responsible for implementing the Department’s small business procurement programs across DHS’ $18 billion procurement operation, which awards approximately $6 billion each year to small businesses. Ms. Bullock joined the OSDBU in January 2011 as the Program Manager for several small business programs to include: 8(a), small disadvantaged, and women-owned. As a Desk Officer, she provided technical procurement and small business support to four DHS operational contracting offices. Before joining the OSDBU, Ms. Bullock was a Division Director and Contracting Officer in the DHS, Office of Procurement Operations (OPO). OPO is one of the largest procurement divisions in DHS obligating about $4 - 4.5 Billion a year. Her division was responsible for supporting the Office of the Secretary and other high-visibility offices at DHS Headquarters. Ms. Bullock oversaw and managed the award process of the first DHS-wide Program Management, Administrative, Clerical, and Technical Services (PACTS) Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contracts which were set-aside for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs). PACTS had an estimated value at $1.5 billion. The award of PACTS I enabled DHS to meet and exceed the 3% SDVOSB goal for the first time in Fiscal Year 2010. DHS continues to meet or exceed the SDVOSB goal. With over 28 years of experience in procurement, federal assistance, and acquisitions management, Ms. Bullock has held leadership positions at several Federal and local agencies including DHS, U.S. Agency for International Development, U. S. Department of Commerce, District of Columbia Government, and the U.S. Army. Ms. Bullock began her acquisition career with the U.S. Army successfully completing the Department of Defense contract specialist intern program. She was a Certified Federal Contract Manager (CFCM) with the National Contract Management Association (NCMA) and maintains her FAC-C Level III Certification in Contracting. She has completed various Federal Executive leadership courses throughout her career. She has an undergraduate degree in Agricultural Business and Resource Economics from the University of Maryland, College Park and a MBA in International Management from Southeastern University.

  • Glenn Delgado
    Glenn Delgado -
    Associate Administrator, Office of Small Business Programs, National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA)

    Mr. Glenn A. Delgado is the Associate Administrator of the Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). As the Associate Administrator, Mr. Delgado provides executive leadership and policy direction for developing and implementing policies and initiatives that ensure that all categories of small businesses are afforded opportunities to compete for Agency contracts. Since Mr. Delgado’s arrival at NASA just before Fiscal Year (FY) 2007, the dollars awarded to small businesses have increased significantly. Specifically, between Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 and Fiscal Year 2019, NASA increased its spending with small businesses as prime contractors by $580,709,584, or 23%. During this time it also increased its spending with small business as subcontractors by $656,391,399, or 28%. Additionally, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has recognized several new policies and procedures implemented by OSBP as a federal government best practice. With more than 38 years of acquisition experience, Mr. Delgado has received many accolades. In FY 2014, his career success was recognized with a Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Executive. In 2010 and 2018, Mr. Delgado received the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, which is the second-highest award bestowed by NASA. He received this award for his innovative practices and outstanding stewardship of NASA’s small business programs in support of the Agency’s mission, goals, and objectives. In July 2013, Mr. Delgado was presented with the NASA Exceptional Service Medal. The Agency has also awarded OSBP approximately six (6) Agency-level Group Achievement Awards for outstanding performance in running a small business program. Additionally, his work has not gone unnoticed by external political organizations and government agencies. In September 2010, the Congressional Black Caucus honored Mr. Delgado with the 2010 Small Business Champion Living Legends Award, and he also received the Department of the Navy Competition and Procurement Excellence Award. Mr. Delgado’s federal service also includes several volunteer leadership roles that furthers his work on behalf of small businesses, as well as improve workplace culture for employees of color. Such opportunities include Mr. Delgado’s three (3) terms as Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Federal Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) Directors Council, and his current role as executive sponsor of the NASA African-American Coalition for Advocacy and Leadership (NACAL) Employee Resource Group at NASA Headquarters and the NASA Headquarters Chapter of Blacks in Government (BIG). Mr. Delgado was also awarded the NASA HQ Mentoring Award for his dedication to guiding emerging Agency leaders. Prior to Mr. Delgado’s appointment to NASA, he served as the Director of Small Business for the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) and the Acting Director of the Department of the Navy’s Office of Small Business Programs. While at NAVAIR, he worked on several major weapon system programs and served as the Procuring Contracting Officer (PCO) for the A-6, EA-6B, and F/A- 18 C/D aircraft. Mr. Delgado was awarded the Superior Civilian Service medal for his exceptional service to the Navy Small Business Programs Office. This is the second highest award that can be presented to a civilian in the Navy. Mr. Delgado was also 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. Mr. Delgado earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of New Hampshire and his Master of Business Administration degree from Marymount University. He is Level III- certified in the Acquisition Professional field of Contracting and a member of the Acquisition Professional Community.

  • Dwight Deneal
    Dwight Deneal -
    Director- Office of Small Business Programs, Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)

    Mr. Dwight D. Deneal is the Director for the DLA Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP), Headquarters, located at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. The Defense Logistics Agency is the Department of Defense's logistics combat support agency, providing worldwide logistics support in both peacetime and wartime to the military services as well as several civilian agencies and foreign countries. Previously, Mr. Deneal served as the Director, Small Business and Industry Liaison Programs for the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), an operational component for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In this capacity, Mr. Deneal served as the USCG’s authority on all small business related socio-economic guidelines, policies, regulations and was delegated the authority for planning and carrying out acquisition activities in support of small business programs. In addition, Mr. Deneal served as the USCG Industry Liaison for DHS and represented the USCG in interactions with other federal, state, local agencies and industry (small/mid-cap/large/trade associations). In recognition of his professional efforts and mission impact, Mr. Deneal was awarded the 2018 U.S. DHS Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) Excellence in Industry Engagement Award and 2018 Federal Small Business Champion by Homeland Security Today, a media outlet. Furthermore, Mr. Deneal served as a Team Lead Small Business Specialist at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) reporting to the Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU). Where he advised executive leadership and led a team of Small Business Professionals on matters relating to the development, evaluation and implementation of the small business programs. Mr. Deneal began his federal career as a Contract Specialist in 2008 with the DoD at the U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command supporting the Energetic Systems and Programs mission at the Naval Surface Warfare Center- Indian Head Division. He also served as a Contract Specialist at the U.S. Department of Education in the Office of Contracts and Acquisition Management. Mr. Deneal is an active thought leader in the Federal Acquisition space and a staunch advocate for the small business community. Mr. Deneal was appointed to serve as a Government Representative for the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) International Small Business Committee. A native of Columbia, South Carolina, Mr. Dwight D. Deneal graduated from Hampton University, Hampton, VA where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management. He is married to a loving and supportive wife, Adrienne N. Deneal.

  • Sharon Ridley
    Sharon Ridley -
    Executive Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

    Sharon G. Ridley, MSW, LCSW is the Executive Director for the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). She is responsible for oversight of programs that promote small business participation in VA procurements, with special emphasis on Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses and Veteran-Owned Small Businesses. Prior to her position with OSDBU, Ms. Ridley served as the Executive Director, Network Support, leading initiatives to advance Secretary of Veterans Affairs priorities. Reporting directly to the Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Operations and Management of the largest integrated health care system in the nation ($70B budget, 1250 sites of care, and more than 300,000 employees). In this role she provided health care operations guidance and information on strategic initiatives to regional leadership including 18 Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) directors and 172 medical center directors. Ms. Ridley previously served for 6 years as Chief Operating Officer in the Veterans Health Administration Procurement and Logistics Office, providing primary support to the chief officer, whose responsibilities included leadership and oversight to approximately 2,800 contracting and logistics professionals. She supervised a staff of 27 and provided oversight for budget and fiscal responsibilities (in excess of $308M), human resources, the Chicago-based Data Collection and Extraction Program, and many other management functions. Past VA experiences included serving as a Health System Specialist in the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Operations and Management; as the Administrative Officer for the Geriatric Rehabilitative and Extended Care Center at VA Pacific Islands Health Care System, where she provided a broad range of administrative functions including consultation, support, resolution of staffing issues, and oversight and approval of the budget; as the Business Operations Manager for the VHA Employee Education System; an assignment in VA’s National Cemetery Administration headquarters; and as a psychiatric social worker at VA Loma Linda Healthcare System. Before joining VA, Ms. Ridley served as Director, U.S. Navy Family Service Center, Sasebo, Japan. She provided a broad range of community services for a population of approximately 6,000 military service members and their families. Ms. Ridley directed programs for a multi-service organization, which included 13 core technical programs. Ms. Ridley is a proven leader with a broad range of successful work experiences with Veterans, military members, civilians and contractors, across the country and internationally. She has over 22 years of experience leading clinical and administrative programs, both internal and external to the Federal government, at the national level and in the field. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work from Tuskegee University and a Master of Science degree in Social Work from Clark Atlanta University. She is licensed by the Florida Clinical Board of Social Work Examiners and is also a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute.

  • Rich Wilkinson
    Rich Wilkinson -
    Senior Director Industry Marketing, Unanet

    Rich spent more than 8 years as a Contracting Officer with the Naval Air Systems Command and then 10 years in a variety of finance and accounting leadership positions at leading GovCon firms from ManTech to General Physics to CSC. In those 10 years, he implemented accounting systems in 12 different business units of those companies and managed both financial operations and government contract compliance functions. He has spent the last 20 years in senior leadership roles with prominent GovCon software companies and service providers. In past positions, Rich worked with a leading Washington area CPA firm where he focused on contract and accounting compliance. Rich currently leads the Sales Engineering & Enablement group at Unanet, a leading provider of Project ERP software for professional services firms and specializing in the SMB GovCon space.

  • 2:00pm - 2:05pm EST

    Welcome and Opening remarks

  • 2:05pm - 2:40pm EST

    Keynote Speaker: Brian F. Barnes

  • 2:40pm - 3:30pm EST

    Panel

  • 3:30pm - 3:35pm EST

    Closing Comments