Tag: govcongiants

166: Navigating Procurement and Supplier Diversity with Diane Dempsey

Posted on by Eric Coffie

In this episode, we have Diane Dempsey, the Director of Small Business Programs for BAE Systems Intelligence & Security Sector. With her extensive experience in procurement, subcontracts, and supplier diversity, Ms. Dempsey is a highly respected advocate for small businesses in the DC Metropolitan area.

We talked about her current role as Director of Small Business Programs for BAE Systems Intelligence & Security Sector and the responsibilities that come with it. She also shared about her experience as a small business advocate for several prime contractors in the DC Metropolitan area. In this episode, you get to hear her advice for small businesses looking to work with larger companies, including the importance of networking and building relationships and the resources available to small businesses, such as Small Business Development Centers and Procurement Technical Assistance Centers.

Diane Dempsey provides valuable insights and advice for small businesses looking to work with larger companies and navigate the government procurement process. Her extensive experience in procurement, subcontracts, and supplier diversity make her a valuable resource for anyone looking to succeed in the world of government contracting.

Tune in to our episode with our next Giant, Diane Dempsey.

If you want to connect with Diane, you can go through these links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diane-dempsey-a625b249/ 

Corporate Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/baesystemsinc/

Website: https://www.baesystems.com/en/home 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BAESystemsplc 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baesystems/ 

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/BAESystemsplc 

Contact Bae Systems: https://www.baesystems.com/en/contactus 

Former Director of the Navy’s OSBP shares Advice for Small Businesses Government Contractors

Posted on by Eric Coffie

With over 30 years of experience and service as a contracting officer and a small business professional under the Department of Navy, Emily Harman shares her story and advice for small businesses government contractors to take advantage of. 

HOW DID SHE START?

Emily Harman is an active and experienced Supply Corps Officer, a contracting officer, and a lieutenant in the Navy for seven years.

Then, when she was in the reserves, she was moved into the Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) at the Naval Air Systems Command and became the director of the Navy’s OSBP.

She is now retired in the army but she is currently working as a keynote speaker and personal coach. She also has her podcast, Onward, wherein she features authentic stories from people who have faced and overcome adversity. 

“My goal with that podcast is to help people see how they can apply what they learn about in the podcast to their particular situation and face adversity and overcome it.”

HOW CAN THE GOVERNMENT HELP SMALL BUSINESSES?

As a former director of the Navy’s Office of Small Business Programs, Harman shared her point of view on how the government can increase small business participation.

1. Technology

When she was still in the Navy, Harman created an initiative to make sure that there are a handful of opportunities that will be given to small businesses. She believed that to get more traction from these businesses, the government should utilize technology.

“In order for contracting, government contracting, and acquisition to really work, you have to have a better mix of government industry communication; and government contracting officers and acquisition personnels need to understand industry; and the industry needs to understand the government. I think, especially the government, needs to understand how their decisions drive industry behavior and impact the price of the contract.”

2. Stories

Apart from using technology, Harman also thinks of using story in terms of changing the behavior of small businesses. Regardless of what technology is being used, she believed that a good story will always resonate with people.

“It needs to go to the government. It needs to go to program managers… You’ve got to get the people, the targeted audience, to listen.”

WHAT IS HER ADVICE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES?

Harman also shared her advice to small businesses in order to prepare them in working with the government. 

1. Roles of Contracting Officers

One thing that some contractors failed to consider that contracting offers are the ones who award government contracts but they are not the ones who came up with the requirements.

They are just making sure that all the requirements and specifications are transferred into the contract and are met by government contractors.

Things beyond that point such as market research, pricing, and others can only be answered by suppliers, other businesses, or other technical people.

To help you figure out which organizations within the government buy what you are selling, you can search for previous contract awards and do your market research on the Federal Data Procurement System website and visit your area’s Procurement Technical Assistance Centers.

2. Be a Credible Contractor

Another thing that Harman wants small businesses government contractors to do is making sure that they present their business in a credible manner. 

She wants small businesses to be prepared in meeting government individuals during and even before considering a specific contract.

She doesn’t want contractors to talk to these people without even having any idea what these people want and what their business can offer as you will most likely look unprofessional and these people might think of all small businesses as unknowledgeable and inexperienced. 

“Do your homework. Narrow down your niche. You can’t go after the whole government… the whole government’s huge. You’ve got to pick one or two customers that you want to target and put your effort into that.”

RESOURCES

If you want to watch the full interview with Emily Harman, then be sure to click the links below.

034: Emily Harman – Former Director of the Navy’s Office of Small Business Programs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwrQvTaNh2I

https://govcongiants1.wpengine.com/podcast/emily-harman-former-director-of-the-navys-office-of-small-business-programs/

Darcella Craven Explains Motivation in Helping Veterans through VetBiz.com

Posted on by Eric Coffie

As the President of the Veteran Resource Business Center, Darcella Craven shared how VRBC is helping veterans gain success in the federal marketplace.

BACKGROUND

Before becoming part of the Veteran Resource Business Center (VRBC), Darcella Craven was an army veteran who later worked in different private entities for various administrative roles while also working as a faculty at Sanford Brown College.

She also started her business but it failed that made her pay the Internal Revenue Service a significant amount of money. She didn’t want that to happen to other veterans. So, when an opportunity in helping  veterans came, she accepted it. 

“So that’s my reason for the push here is that it’s amazing to watch people make a decision that changes the course of their life. And so for me, that’s the thing. Whether that decision is, yes, here’s a business and this is what’s going to happen, or no, not right this time… I just appreciate that light bulb moment that you see with folks.”

Currently, Craven is the President of the Veteran Resource Business Center (VRBC). She also volunteers on various nonprofit events that aims to promote entrepreneurship, provide job opportunities, and celebrate small business successes. 

ABOUT THE VETERAN RESOURCE BUSINESS CENTER

1. GOAL

The reason why the Veteran Resource Business Center was created is to assist veterans with startup and expansion opportunities for their small businesses in the areas of Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas and Iowa region.

The organization helps analyze problems and develops solutions to grow successful veteran-owned businesses as well as provide opportunities for immediate family members of military servants.

They are also part of a larger nationwide network of Veteran Business Outreach Centers (VBOC). 

2. SERVICES

VRBC, on their own, has seven military posts and during the transition process of military members, they visit these areas. They have a week-long conversation with these people on what they will do afterwards. 

“If they decide that entrepreneurship might be a thing they want to do, they can sign up for an additional two days, and that’s when we come in. We can give them this two-day entrepreneurship class, which is called Boots to Business. It’s about a 10,000 foot view of what entrepreneurship is.”

Other than going to these posts, VRBC also provides opportunities to their surrounding community and to the family members and spouses of military servants. 

“So we might bring in an attorney or an accountant or a marketing expert to kind of help deliver those trainings so they can also know what resources are around them as well as what’s available to them nationally.”

THE PROCESS THAT VBRC FOLLOWS

When a veteran is interested in establishing a business, these people should have all the certifications and papers in place first for the assessment.

Then, they make sure that these people have their own business plan and understand what they have written into it.

“A part of our process there is to kind of make sure that they are shored up with their plan and they know what kinds of questions they have and then we get them prepared to talk to people that they may hire. Because it really is specific. I mean you need to know what you’re doing.”

So, a part of this process is to really teach these veterans on what their goal and their market are as well as help them develop a plan on how to reach their goal. 

RESOURCES

If you want to watch the full video of the interview with Darcella Craven as she shared how the Veteran Resource Business Center aims in helping veterans gain success in the federal marketplace, then be sure to click the links below:

009: Darcella Craven – Veteran Resource Business Center President and Chief Fear Conquer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXZkdVKv_rw

009: Darcella Craven – Chief Fear Conqueror and President of the Veteran Resource Business Center

https://govcongiants1.wpengine.com/podcast/darcella-craven-chief-fear-conqueror-and-president-of-the-veteran-resource-business-center/

Wesley Ross: 16 Year Old Military Contractor

Posted on by Eric Coffie

Age is not a requirement in the federal marketplace. As long as you establish yourself and your business, you will certainly land into various contracting opportunities. To give you an inspiration, here is Wesley Ross, the 16 year old military contractor!

BACKGROUND

Just recently Wesley Ross has been featured in different news outlets in the United States. He thought of only selling out his stocks of Personal Protective Equipments but this in turn gave him an opportunity to be featured as a young government contractor. 

Wesley Ross is a young business-minded individual who started selling ever since at a young age on things such as bracelets, handmade soaps, clothes, shoes, electronic parts, and auto parts on both online and offline. 

Then, at the age of 16, he already has two businesses: SpeedLabs which is a car accessories and electronics business and NorthStar Dynamics, a government contracting company. 

“Ever since I was in the seventh grade, I always knew that I wanted to live my dreams and goals at an early age.”

STARTING IN THE FEDERAL MARKETPLACE

Wesley Ross didn’t know anything about government contracting until he saw the movie, War Dogs, for the second time and then attentively took note of the things about the said topic.

Then, he started making his business legitimate. He stayed up late until four or five in the morning just to make sure that NorthStar Dynamics is a registered business in SAM.gov and has the qualifying codes after looking for contracting opportunities in FedBizOpps. 

“Hard work and dedication is what’s gonna actually bring money in on the table, so staying up ‘till four or five in the morning was no issue for me if knowing what the potential could be too.”

STRUGGLES AS A YOUNG CONTRACTOR

When Ross started in the federal marketplace, he lacked money to get his first contract even with the income that he gained in his previous endeavors. 

As a way to supply it, he organized the Minnesota Auto Show and used the Internet to make sure that a huge number of people will be there at the event.

Another thing that also bugged him is being underage because he’s still unqualified for getting government loans and credits as well as not being taken seriously by others. 

However, he was able to gain the public trust by showing them the process and things that he had already done.

ADVICE FOR OTHER TEENAGERS

Currently, Ross has already won contracts, performed various projects, and gained public recognition for being a young entrepreneur and government contractor. When he was asked what could be his message if he will be given a chance to do a 2020 commencement speech, he stressed the importance of finding yourself and what you want with your life. 

Consider that you only have one chance of living and you have a lot of things that you want to do with it, so don’t let anything or anyone hold you back. 

“Follow your dream and let nothing stand in your way because the only person who will hold you back from what you want to do on this road, on what you want to do with your life, is you.”

RESOURCES

If you want to watch the full video with the 16 year old military contractor, Wesley Ross, then be sure to click the links below.

Wesley Ross the 16 year old military contractor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFVrRAfwq7Q