TOPIC	SPEAKER
Navigating the Federal Procurement Process	Michelle M. Stacener Small Business Specialist/Contracting Officer NASA, John C. Stennis Space Center, MS
DESCRIPTION
Learn the essential steps in the federal procurement process. Become familiar with terminology and the myriad of registration, certifications and representations required to do business with the federal government. If you are interested in learning how to do business with the largest buyer in the U.S., this session is for you.
TOPIC	SPEAKER
How to Analyze, Question, and Process a Request For Proposal (RFP)	Chuck Keller Keller Proposal Development & Training (KPD&T)
DESCRIPTION
Learn how to analyze, and process a Request for Proposal (RFP). Chuck will offer tips on finding and receiving bids (commercial or government) opportunities, analyzing customer requirements in the RFP, and planning a proposal in response to the RFP.
TOPIC	SPEAKER
Responding to a Federal RFP: “10 Mistakes to Avoid in Your Proposal”	Chuck Keller Keller Proposal Development & Training (KPD&T)
DESCRIPTION
Learn how to avoid costly mistakes when responding to a  Request for Proposal (RFP). Chuck will offer 10 tips on avoiding these mistakes.
TOPIC	SPEAKER
Competitively Pricing Your Proposal:  “Avoid Losing Your Shirt to Get the Contract”	Emmanuel Bradley, CPA Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) Technical Specialist
DESCRIPTION
Properly pricing a competitive proposal can be a daunting task to fulfill the goal of earning a profit. What costs should I include? Will the cost be allowable? What is my fixed cost versus variable costs? All of these questions and many more must be considered when reaching a final price. The Defense Contract Audit Agency, an accounting arm of the U.S. Department of Defense, will guide you though some dos and don’ts to consider when pricing your proposal.
TOPIC	SPEAKER
Contract Compliance and Closeout: “Keeping Out of Hot Water to the End”	Emmanuel Bradley, CPA Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) Technical Specialist
DESCRIPTION
The excitement of being awarded a contract can rapidly disappear if the contract administration and auditing provisions are not followed. The ramifications could range from warnings to terminations and possibly debarment. This session helps to avoid these costly situations.
TOPIC	SPEAKER
GSA “Federal Government Purchaser and Landlord”	Dinora Gonzalez Small Business Technical Advisor Federal Supply Schedules General Services Administration Region 4,      Atlanta, GA   Rebecca Vanover Small Business Technical Advisor Public Buildings General Services Administration  Region 4,    Atlanta, GA
DESCRIPTION
GSA operates the worldwide purchase and distribution system that other federal agencies use to buy billions of dollars worth of products and services for day-to-day operations. Most GSA contracts are for standard services and "commercial off-the-shelf" (COTS) products and equipment. GSA, the federal government's architect and builder, offers contracting opportunities for building design, construction, repairs, remodeling and maintenance. GSA directs and coordinates federal purchases of equipment and services for information resource management, office automation, and telecommunications systems and support. This workshop explains how GSA buys.
TOPIC	SPEAKER
Subcontracting Opportunities with Major Defense Contractors, Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin	Joan Branson, Small Business Liaison Officer Northrop Grumman Ship Systems
DESCRIPTION
For many businesses, the best entry point into the arena of government and commercial contracting is through subcontracts with prime contractors. Learn how prime contractors select their subcontractors and about mentoring and teaming arrangements. A panel of prime contractors will share their unique insights.
TOPIC	SPEAKER
Business Opportunities with the World’s Premiere Public Engineering organization: the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers	Darrel L. Johnson, Chief Vicksburg Contracting Office   Sally Sherman, Acting Chief ERDC Contracting Office
DESCRIPTION
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is " the world's premier public engineering organization responding to our nation's needs in peace and war." With a mission of water resources development; restoring, managing and enhancing ecosystems; building and sustaining the critical facilities for military installations and the public; responding to local, national and global disasters; and providing full spectrum engineering and contingency support, numerous procurement opportunities abound for small, medium and large businesses. Insight will be provided on how to access these opportunities
TOPIC	SPEAKER
HUD/Public Housing Authorities/Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Programs	Holly Knight Department of Housing & Urban Development     Gloria Adams Community Services Division Mississippi Development Authority   Tracey Giles Community Services Division Mississippi Development Authority
DESCRIPTION
HUD provides substantial amounts of financial assistance to state and local governments and nonprofit organizations for a variety of purposes such as modernizing public housing and renovating urban areas. HUD's funding recipients, in turn, use a significant portion of these funds to contract directly for supplies, services and construction to help them carry out their projects. These procurements may offer considerable contracting opportunities in general and often provide significant opportunities for participation by small, disadvantaged and women-owned small businesses.
TOPIC	SPEAKER
Airport Authorities: “An Often Overlooked Source of Procurement Opportunities”	Jack Thomas  Jackson Municipal Airport Authority
DESCRIPTION
Airports are like small cities with a transient population and a robust transportation system. A myriad of goods and services are required to sustain operations and support the massive infrastructure. These needs which translate in numerous opportunities for small businesses are often overlooked. From “concessionaires,” “landscapers”, “construction contractors,” janitorial services, etc., opportunities abound. In this session a panel of representatives from airports located in Mississippi share information on how to take advantage of this expanding market.
TOPIC	SPEAKER
Doing Business with State and Local Governments: “A Multi-Billion Dollar Industry”	Milo Crabtree Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration, Office of Purchasing and Travel   David Anderson, Deputy Executive Director Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration
DESCRIPTION
This session focuses on how to do business with the State of Mississippi’s government offices. The State of Mississippi’s Office of Purchasing and Travel, Personal Service Contract Review Board, and the Bureau of Buildings have been invited to attend. Learn about procurement opportunities within the state and the laws pertaining to purchasing in the State of Mississippi.
TOPIC	SPEAKER
Doing Business with the Mississippi Department of Transportation	Sarah Ridley, Procurement Division Mississippi Department of Transportation   Justin Steep, Information Systems Division Mississippi Department of Transportation     Mike Roberts, Information Systems Division Mississippi Department of Transportation   Mark Turner, Contract Administration Division Mississippi Department of Transportation   Stacy Slay, Civil Rights Division Mississippi Department of Transportation
DESCRIPTION
Obtain valuable information related to  procurement opportunities associated with the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT).  Representatives from MDOT will discuss the commodities, equipment,  and services procured by their organization.
TOPIC	SPEAKER
Mississippi’s Office of the Secretary of State: A Valuable Resource for Mississippi Businesses	Thomas Riley Assistant Secretary of State for Business Services
DESCRIPTION
Learn about the resources available through the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office.   Thomas Riley, Assistant Secretary of State for Business Services, is scheduled to speak. His division is responsible for filing all documents relating to business formation. Documents filed with the division concern all domestic and foreign corporations, for profit and nonprofit, limited partnerships, limited liability companies, and limited liability partnerships, among others.
TOPIC	SPEAKER
Selling Information Technology Services and Equipment to Mississippi Agencies	Lynn Ainsworth Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services (ITS)   Jane Woosley Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services (ITS)   Cheryl Yelverton Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services (ITS)
DESCRIPTION
An in-depth discussion of the role the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services plays in the procurement of information of technology for Mississippi agencies, universities, and optionally, governing authorities such as community/junior colleges, local governments, and K-12 schools and school districts.
TOPIC	SPEAKER
“And You Thought You Were Through with College”:  Doing Business with Mississippi’s Colleges and Universities	Sam Lemonis, Purchasing Director Hinds Community College   Don Buffum, Director of Procurement & Contracts Mississippi State University   Roxanne Chisolm, Purchasing Director Holmes Community College   Edward Smith, Executive Director of Supply Chain Management University of Mississippi Medical Center
DESCRIPTION
A panel discussion featuring representatives from Mississippi’s colleges and universities. Learn about procurement opportunities for colleges and universities within the state. Understand the procurement laws and regulations governing public colleges and universities in Mississippi. Participants will be given the opportunity to ask procurement-related questions.
TOPIC	SPEAKER
Thinking Inside the Bomgar Box	Joel Bomgar, Founder and CEO, Bomgar Corporation
DESCRIPTION
Joel Bomgar, most recently, accepted into the Young Presidents’ Organization, the world’s largest network of company Presidents and CEOs developed the first version of Bomgar™ software as a way to provide helpdesk and technical support to disparate users - without leaving their desk. Come learn how this young executive’s focus training methodology help propel his rank as the 28th fastest growing software company in the nation on Deloitte’s 2008 Technology Fast 500 list with over 4,500 corporate customers in all 50 states and 48 countries.
TOPIC	SPEAKER
Access to Capital Roundtable: “Financial Resources for Your Small Business”	Rhonda Fisher U.S. Small Business Administration Jack Curry Mississippi Development Authority Existing Industry Business Division   Stephanie Butler Mississippi Development Authority Minority and Small Business Development   Betty Norman Mississippi Development Authority Energy Division   T. Larry Anderson Mississippi Development Authority Mississippi Planning & Development Districts   Sonya Burks Minority Capital Fund of Mississippi, Inc.
DESCRIPTION
This session provides a forum for an informal discussion with state and local financial resource providers for start-up and existing businesses. Representatives from various financial resources providers will be on hand to lead the discussions.  Many emerging and existing businesses lack the necessary capital to develop or expand their products or services due to a lack of adequate financial resources. This session introduces businesses to several firms who specialize in meeting this need.
TOPIC	SPEAKER
Procurement Opportunities with Mississippi’s Gaming Industry	Erik Lewis   MGM Mirage/Beau Rivage Casino & Resort
DESCRIPTION
Mississippi casinos spend millions of dollars on hospitality-related goods and services every year.  Find out what they look for in their vendors and how minority -and women-owned companies can be successful suppliers.
TOPIC	SPEAKER
Doing Business with the Mississippi Power Company and Entergy Corporation	Jimmy Flesher Mississippi Power Company   Cedric Hurd Mississippi Power Company   Essence Harris  Entergy Corporation
DESCRIPTION
Understand business practices, policies and requirements for doing business with local power companies.  This session will provide necessary resource to assist supplies align and capaitalize on business opportunities and achieve their goals.
TOPIC	SPEAKER
"Following Your Dream": Starting and Operating a Small Business	John Brandon  Mississippi Development  Authority
DESCRIPTION
Profiting in a Sluggish Economy--learn how successful entrepreneurs stay afloate in a hostile business environment.  Leave this session feeling inspired with a renewed sense of empowerment and determination.
TOPIC	SPEAKER
“ Bonding and Insurance for Emerging Small Business: "Often the Show-Stopper in Getting the Contract"	Brian Johnson Bottrell Insurance
DESCRIPTION
This session focuses on what surety bonds are and the various types of surety bonds; how to begin the process of obtaining a bond; the role of the agent/producer and underwriter; the prequalification process; the 3 “C’s” – capital, capacity and character; the costs of bonding; and how to develop a surety bond relationship. On the insurance side, the module covers the various types of insurances required (commercial general liability, Workers Compensation, etc.) and what to look for in an insurance agent relationship.
TOPIC	SPEAKER
Construction Accounting: “Keeping Track of Your Financial Position at All Times”	Robin Word Word CPA Group
DESCRIPTION
This session focuses on basic construction accounting concepts and will provide an overview - from job costing to financial reporting - as well as construction-specific practices that introduce the contractors to construction accounting fundamentals.  These fundamentals include: debits and credits and how they work, accounting for job cost, work-in-progress (WIP) schedules, percentage-of-completion revenue recognition, and developing financial statements.
TOPIC	SPEAKER
Project Management: “The Tricks and the Trades of Bidding and Estimating”	Ben Crosby W.G. Yates Construction   Chad Pippen White Construction
DESCRIPTION
This session covers methods of computing measurements, including off-the-shelf estimating software, metric conversions and essential mathematical formulas for estimating and planning construction projects, and preparation of bid documents.
TOPIC	SPEAKER
“Staying on Cost and on Time”: Project Management (Field Operations)	Judson McLeod Roy Anderson Corp
DESCRIPTION
This session focuses on project-specific activities, including hands-on advice at the job site. The session covers such topics as plan reading, estimating and bidding, types of contracts (lump sum, cost plus fee, etc.), common contract forms, project planning methods, job costing and scheduling, management of subcontractors, the proper expedition of change orders, and measuring project performance.
TOPIC	SPEAKER
“When it Just Doesn’t Go as planned”: Claims and Disputes Resolution	Adam Stone Watkins, Ludlam, Winter and Stennis
DESCRIPTION
This session focuses on such areas as mechanic's liens, the claims process under Miller Act payment bonds, and the various mediation services and approaches available to a contractor in a dispute.  Discussion will cover the arbitration provision in standard form construction contracts, what it means and when and under what circumstances one should consider litigation.