- This event has passed.
Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI) Annual Meeting and Wisconsin Federal Contractor Forum – Milwaukee, WI
January 30, 2020 @ 4:00 pm - 6:30 pm
WPI is celebrating 32 years, but it is not about us.
This year we will focus on expanding opportunities for Wisconsin businesses in technology, R&D and non-traditional opportunities. We will learn how to really understand the government’s challenges and requirements and how to use mechanisms such as OTAs, PIAs, CRADAs, DIU, SOFWERX / AFWERX, prize challenges and other processes. Federal contracting is not just responding to posted bids. It is understanding the real opportunities and challenges and understanding what is really required by the contractor to succeed in this environment.
Join the WPI Board of Directors, government contractors from around the state and government influencers for a sharing of knowledge and a discussion on the “State of Government Contracting in the State” and how to expand Wisconsin’s Federal contracting power to truly increase businesses sales, profits and jobs.
It is about the businesses we serve and the services and products they provide to our country.
Speakers include:
- LTC Steven Helm is an active duty Army Lieutenant Colonel and Product Integrator for the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). In this role he is responsible for the integration of sensors and tactical systems. He has 20 years of experience in supporting national security objectives throughout a global theatre. His additional Department of Defense Acquisition assignments include Contracting Officer for the Army Contracting Command-Rock Island, IL; Contracting Branch Chief, Regional Contracting Center, Afghanistan; and Assistant Program Manager and Chief of Staff, Program Executive Office (PEO) Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation (STRI), Orlando, FL. His areas of expertise include Systems Program Management, Procurement and Sourcing Strategy Development, and Government Cross Collaboration with small businesses and non-traditional defense contractors.
Steve is a certified Army Acquisition Corps member; Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) Level 3 certified in Program Management and Level 3 certified in Contracting. He holds a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin Consortium and a BA in Communications from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.
- Dave Zvenyach is an attorney, strategist, author, full-stack software developer, and innovative former government executive who helps businesses and government work smarter, together. Dave has unique expertise on all things public sector; he has held positions in all three branches of government, as well as at the federal, state, and local levels. He served as a Senior Technical Advisor and Assistant Commissioner for the US General Service Administration’s Federal Acquisition Service Office of Systems Management; Executive Director of 18F; Deputy Commissioner for the GSA Technology Transformation Service (“TTS”); Assistant Commissioner for the TTS Office of Acquisition; General Counsel to the DC Council; Chief of Staff to Councilmember Mary Cheh; and judicial law clerk to United States District Judge Yvette Kane.
- Sean Ketter is Vice President, Supply Chain Operations, Global Procurement and Supply Chain at Oshkosh Corporation. He is responsible for overall supplier performance, business process management, technology and supply chain risk management strategies for Oshkosh Corporation globally. Sean’s focus is creating and deploying common processes to understand and improve how Oshkosh Corporation and its global supply base work together. In addition, Sean overseas the Supply Chain function for Oshkosh Corporation’s manufacturing operations located in Leon, Mexico.
- William Hughes is a Partner in the Milwaukee office of Husch Blackwell LLP. He is a member of the firm’s Construction Services Team and has expertise in all aspects of construction and public contract law. Bill represents construction managers and prime and subcontractors, on construction issues, including the drafting and negotiating of construction contracts. He has extensive experience in the award, protest, and litigation of competitively bid and publicly awarded contracts, and he counsels federal contractors on all aspects of government contracts including the Federal Acquisition Regulations, audits, bids, changes, costs, claims, intellectual property rights, terminations and negotiations. He also has extensive arbitration and litigation experience representing clients in recovering damages or defending against claims on both private and public contracts.
Agenda
3:45 – Registration Opens
4:00 – Networking, Appetizers, Beverages
5:00 – Program Begins
Welcome
Bill Hughes, WPI Chairman
Mary Gage, Vice President, Business & Community Development, WEDC
Andrew Bergholz, Executive Vice President of Sales, TAPCO
The State of Federal Contracting in Wisconsin
Aina Vilumsons, CEO, WPI
Driven to Lead, Built to Last
Sean Ketter, Vice President, Supply Chain Operations, Oshkosh Corporation
Bringing more Federal Dollars to Wisconsin: Opportunities lie in the Challenges
LTC Steve Helm
Dave Zvenyach
Forum
How to augment and leverage in-state initiatives to increase federal procurement dollars to Wisconsin?
6:30 Program Ends, Final Networking
Hosted by TAPCO – Traffic & Parking Control Co., Inc.
The registration fee for this event is $75.
