Seize These Great Last-Minute Opportunities for the 2011 Department of Energy Small Business Conference & Expo -- Before They Expire

The 12th Annual U.S. Department of Energy [DOE] Small Business Conference & Expo is less than a month away. Whether you've been a small-business owner for a decade or a day, DOE invites you to join them at the Kansas City Convention Center from May 10-12, 2011, for a conference packed with keynotes, workshops, business matchmaking, and a very busy Expo.

The conference is right around the corner, and there are great opportunities which are about to expire. Take a moment now to:

* Register for the conference. Regular registration rates will expire on May 8, 2011. Registering now will save you $50 on the registration cost.

* Purchase an Expo Visitor Pass. If you cannot attend the entire conference, an Expo Visitor Pass will allow you to target the exhibitors and sponsors with whom you want to speak.

* Reserve an exhibitor booth. Only a few exhibitor booths remain. Get yours today if you are planning to exhibit -- before they're all sold out.

* Share your voice. Submit a 30-second video clip on how small business has affected your community.

* Sign up for business matchmaking sessions as a buyer or supplier. Visit the site to check out the buyers who have signed up, and the featured buyer categories.

For more information on the 12th Annual U.S. Department of Energy Small Business Conference & Expo in Kansas City, Mo., visit http://smallbusinessconference.energy.gov; or, call 877-837-8623.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Economic Impact & Diversity
____________________

Top Deals for the Business Traveler -- Only at Expedia.com! ^AF

Registration Opens for 2011 DOE Small-Business Conference

This just in from the U.S. Department of Energy...

The time has come to register for the the 12th Annual U.S. Department of Energy Small Business Conference & Expo, taking place at the Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City, Mo., from May 10-12, 2011.

Register as an Attendee
Register as an attendee for DOE's 12th Annual Small Business Conference & Expo, where you will build connections with like-minded business professionals; acquire invaluable information from general sessions and educational workshops; and solidify contract opportunities with prime contractors, government agencies, and large companies during the expo and matchmaking sessions.

DOE's last event brought in record attendance, and they want you to get in on the action. Register NOW and take advantage of early-bird registration before the discounts expire.

Attend as an Exhibitor
Attend as an exhibitor to showcase your products or services. Increase your visibility by sponsoring the event.

As an exhibitor or sponsor, your company will appear on the 2011 DOE Small Business Conference website, where more than 30,000 potential clients, customers and business partners will recognize you before, during, and after the event! Additionally, your business’ identity will be present throughout the venue and in the conference guide -- further establishing your place in the minds of folks representing those potential networks.

For more information, and to stay up-to-date on the conference and related news, visit the 2011 DOE Small Business Conference website, and be sure to follow the annual event on Facebook.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Economic Impact and Diversity
____________________

Top Deals for the Business Traveler -- Only at Expedia.com! [affiliate link]

May 10-12: U.S. Department of Energy to Host 12th Annual Small-Business Conference

This just in: The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization will present its 12th Annual DOE Small Business Conference & Expo at the Kansas City Convention Center, in Kansas City, Mo., on May 10-12, 2011.

The event will feature plenaries, educational workshops, an exhibit hall with 200-plus exhibitors and sponsors, as well as matchmaking sessions. Over 1,600 attendees will represent all levels of federal, state and local government agencies, large/prime contractors, small businesses and more.

The largest civilian contracting agency within the federal government, DOE spent over $25 billion in contracts in FY 2010. The 12th Annual DOE Small Business Conference & Expo is a great opportunity for small-business owners and large companies alike to network and partner. Registration for the event will open later this month.

For more information, check the event website http://smallbusinessconference.energy.gov/, or e-mail DOE at: InfoDOE@aetherquest.com.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utililization
____________________

HostGator.com: Green Web Hosting Made EASY and AFFORDABLE. [affiliate link]

New Jersey, Texas Firms Take Top Prize as National Contractors of the Year; Small Businesses, Business Leaders and Government Officials Honored

A small-business contractor from New Jersey and another from Texas were named the National Prime Contractor of the Year and National Subcontractor of the Year, respectively, during a breakfast ceremony held this morning by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The event, sponsored by Raytheon, was part of National Small Business Week 2010, held at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Washington, D.C.

The Small Business Prime Contractor and Small Business Subcontractor of theYear awards honor small businesses that have provided the government and private sector with outstanding goods and services, either as prime contractors or as subcontractors.

This year’s winners are:

* Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year: Anne C. O’Brien, president of Kalimex Inc., of Ocean View, N.J. This woman-owned, 8[a]-certified, small disadvantaged construction company boasts 14 years of successful project experience, plus more than $18 million in annual sales revenues. In one of those projects, Kalimex reopened the stairs to the crown in the Statue of Liberty for the first time since 9/11, ensuring visitors’ safe ascent up the famous double-helix stairway to the observation level in the statue’s crown. The National Park Service described Kalimex’s work on the Statue of Liberty as "sleek, elegant and magnificent." Another notable project for Kalimex Inc. includes exterior building renovation and masonry repairs on the Edgar Allan Poe House, located in Philadelphia, Penn., for the National Park Service; and

* Small Business Subcontractor of the Year: W.T. Gardner, founder and CEO of Savage Precision Fabrication Inc., of Wylie, Tex. Gardner founded Savage, a veteran-owned and Native American-owned firm, with $2,000 worth of tools. The company manufactures precision machine and sheet metal fabrication components -- including mechanical assemblies made of aluminum, titanium, copper, stainless steel and plastics -- to meet design specifications, and support the aerospace, military, defense and high-tech industries. It develops in-house processes -- such as heat treating, aging, Tungsten Inert Gas [TIG] and Metal Inert Gas [MIG] -- that are usually outsourced by a small business. The company has 38 employees, $4.4 million in annual sales in 2008, and is a preferred manufacturer in the aerospace and defense industry.

"Today, we celebrate the contributions of the outstanding business leaders, government officials and small businesses whose inspiring work in the federal contracting arena are creating jobs and helping lead economic recovery," said SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills [pictured].

"Contracting with small businesses is a win-win for both the government and small businesses," Mills noted. "The government gets access to the most innovative companies, and small businesses get the oxygen they need to grow and take their businesses to the next level.

"That’s why it’s so important that more than $7 billion in federal contracts have already been awarded to small businesses under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act."

Small-business owners, corporate leaders, government officials and volunteers from across the country are in Washington, D.C., for the three-day conference, to be honored during five major award events for their achievements as America’s top entrepreneurs. The contracting awards recognize businesses and organizations for their commitment to providing contracting and subcontracting opportunities to small, women-owned and small disadvantaged businesses.

Other federal contracting awards included:

Frances Perkins Vanguard Award: Honoring government and industry for excellence in the use of women-owned small businesses as prime contractors and subcontractors.

The recipients are:

* Jim Cuff, senior vice president, Science Applications International Corporation [SAIC], of McLean, Va. [Industry Buying Activity];

* Kevin Boshears, director, Office of Small Disadvantaged Business Utilization, Department of Homeland Security, of Washington, D.C. [Federal Buying Activity]; and

* Bennie Boren, acquisition supervisor/small-business specialist, Public Works Department Gulfport, NAVFAC Southeast, of Gulfport, Miss. [Federal Procurement Official].

Gold Star Award: Recognizing the exemplary performance of federal agencies and their dedicated personnel who carry out the aggressive goals and strategic initiatives that help ensure a role for small business in the federal marketplace.

The recipient is:

* Judith P. Croxton, director of business operations, Shaw Air Force Base-20th Contracting Squadron, of Shaw AFB, S.C.

Surety Bond Award: Honoring the 16 participating surety companies and bond producers for the support they provide to small businesses who need help securing bid, payment and performance bonds.

Two prominent national surety trade associations accepted the awards on their behalf. They are:

* Ms. Lynn Schubert, president, The Surety & Fidelity Association of America; and

* Mr. Mark H. McCallum, CEO, the National Association of Surety Bond Producers.

Dwight D. Eisenhower Award for Excellence: Recognizing large prime contractors that have excelled in their use of small businesses as suppliers and subcontractors.

The recipients are:

* Richard A. Heltzel, president, Healy Tibbitts Builders Inc., of Aiea, Hawaii [Construction Category];

* Amber Janey, small business liaison officer, Rockwell Collins, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa [Manufacturing Category]; and

* Keith Joy, director of small business programs, UT-Battelle LLC/Oak Ridge National Laboratory [ORNL], of Oak Ridge, Tenn. [Research & Development Category].

The 2010 Dwight D. Eisenhower Award for Excellence-Research & Development is one of SBA's top honors. Administrator Mills praised the Department of Energy's ORNL's "hard work, innovative ideas, and dedication to [its] community" while presenting the award to Keith Joy, director of small business programs at ORNL.

Joy tasked his office with "aggressive goals" to meet the requirements of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Award. In 2010, he and his staff encouraged strong performance via an internal awards program, meetings between contractors and small businesses, and extensive outreach programs to maximize the impact of ORNL's small business programs. Joy noted that he was "very proud, humbled, and appreciative" to receive this honor on behalf of his team at ORNL.

"The President recognizes that small businesses are the building blocks of our economy," said Bill Valdez, acting director of the Department of Energy's Office of Economic Impact and Diversity. "Our office's mission is to support the innovation and growth of small businesses, and we absolutely must continue to honor their hard work."

Small Business Week featured a series of forums on innovation, exporting and social media, designed to help entrepreneurs with current, real-world issues that impact their businesses. There was also a town hall forum to discuss small-business concerns.

For additional details on Small Business Week 2010 -- including a full schedule of events and information on all award winners -- visit http://www.nationalsmallbusinessweek.com/.

Small Business Week 2010 sponsors and co-sponsors include: Sam’s Club, Visa, Ford, ADP, Raytheon, Cbeyond, UPS, Intuit, Google, eBay, AT&T, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, D&B, Verio, ASBDC, NADCO, NAGGL, NASE, NSBA, WIPP and SCORE.

SOURCE: U.S. Small Business Administration
____________________

Infusionsoft Is the Only Software That GUARANTEES to DOUBLE YOUR SALES. Get a FREE 15-DAY TRIAL to Email Marketing 2.0 Now.

GoodBiz113 Issues Open Memo to Leaders of Congressional Small Business Committees

TO: Sen. John Kerry [D-Mass.], Chair, and Sen. Olympia Snowe [R-Maine], Ranking Member, U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship; and Rep. Nydia Velazquez [D-N.Y.], Chair, and Rep. Steve Chabot [R-Ohio], Ranking Member, U.S. House Committee on Small Business

FROM: Kari Larson, Editor & Publisher, GoodBiz113

SUBJECT: Striving for Enforced Compliance, Accountability and Transparency

Last Friday, President George W. Bush praised America's small-business owners and employees, and proclaimed the week of April 22-28 as a time to recognize "their important role in ensuring that America remains the economic leader of the world."

The President's proclamation was issued on the eve of the U.S. Small Business Administration's observance of National Small Business Week in Washington, D.C. [April 23-24]. The two-day conference will focus on small-business accomplishments, including disaster recovery, federal contract procurement and entrepreneurial success. The celebration honors the nation's most outstanding entrepreneurs, and culminates with the selection of the National Small Business Person of the Year for 2007 from among the 53 state small-business winners, including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam.

"The state and regional winners who will be a part of this event personify the entrepreneurial spirit that is vital to the growth of the American economy," said SBA Administrator Steven C. Preston [pictured above]. "They are an innovative and diverse group involved in technology, manufacturing, retail, construction, professional services and a host of other industries. We are proud to have them here in Washington, and we are proud to have helped many of them achieve their business success."

View from the Small-Biz Bunker

On the face of things, that's all good. However, it's not unlike watching this weekend's Zurich Classic of New Orleans on TV, then assuming that restoration of the PGA TOUR's lush TPC Louisiana golf course reflects widespread Gulf Coast disaster-recovery efforts in the 19-month wake of Hurricane Katrina. A wide-angle look reveals some major divots in the small-biz realm.

Current small-business set-aside and subcontracting Federal Acquisition Regulations [FAR] are well-intended to engage small businesses in the potentially lucrative realm of government contracting. Unfortunately, actual enforcement of FAR standards leaves a lot to be desired in order to level the playing field for small-business owners, entrepreneurs and their employees -- "the lifeblood of cities and towns across the country," declared President Bush.

Compliance Begins With Education
As with most issues, education is key. Since registering as a woman-owned small business 10 years ago, I've found that some decision-makers in several federally funded entities -- e.g., prime contractors, public agencies, land-grant educational institutions -- are totally unaware of their organization's responsibilities to procure business from small businesses and enterprises owned by minorities, women, veterans and socially disadvantaged populations. In too many cases, even the procurement directors and/or designated small-business liaison officers [SBLOs] neither knew, nor seemed to care, that they're contractually obligated to engage small businesses.

Proposed solution: Remind all federally supported agencies, companies and organizations that they need to comply with FAR set-aside and subcontracting standards, lest their funding be drastically reduced or cut off completely. Encourage each entity to fully educate managers of their procurement requirements -- perhaps by using a carrot-and-stick approach that rewards them for complying; e.g., the University of Minnesota's AIR [Awards Incentive & Recognition] Program, which kicks off July 1, 2007.

While you're at it, please remind DoD's Procurement Technical Assistance Center [PTAC] directors that they're funded to provide free or low-cost counseling to small-business owners wading into the federal contracting waters -- especially, via the General Services Administration [GSA], that convoluted, quasi-public behemoth conceived to somehow streamline the federal procurement process.

[FYI: I met one clever counselor who worked part-time for PTAC, earning all the accompanying benefits for himself and his family, a steady paycheck, etc. He also ran his own small-business consulting enterprise that charged folks -- mostly, his PTAC clients -- $14,000-plus to prepare the 300-page GSA schedules that he strongly suggested they complete in order to help land federal contracts. Legal? I guess. Ethical? You decide.]

Hold All Funded Entities Accountable -- and Do So Transparently
As of this writing, the total U.S. cost of the invasion of Iraq approaches $420 billion. That money has to come from somewhere, and federal agencies are duking it out for their share of the financial pie. Meanwhile, companies large and small are competing for federal contracts. Too often, it seems, one can't discern how federal contracting funds are actually spent.

Proposed solution: Require that all federally funded entities -- including agencies -- publish accounts of exactly how dollars are spent, and make those frequently updated reports easily accessible by virtually anyone via the Internet.

Last year, after noticing that an agency -- one that had previously done a consistent job of communicating with its small-business vendors, their stakeholders, etc. -- hadn't published anything, online or off, in months. Deducing a possible opportunity for my seasoned communications expertise, I queried the agency's Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization [OSDBU] director. He informed me that he'd retained a small agency to do the work -- two months prior to my call.

Suffice to say, about one or two months later, that OSDBU director left his post [as did the agency's secretary], and no deliverables ever manifested. Further, as much as the new, interim OSDBU director wanted to engage my services, he couldn't, because the creative-services agency commissioned by his predecessor had sapped the communications budget.

In another instance, I had occasion to discuss my concerns about contracting practices with a U.S. Senate legislative assistant. When I asked him about discerning exactly how, if at all, defense contractors, agencies, etc., were fully complying with FAR small-business standards, he replied that it would be impossible to do without subpoenas for each entity.

Allocation of public dollars should be public information. During National Small Business Week, we celebrate the far-reaching contributions of America's 25.8 million small businesses that generally create 60 to 80 percent of the net new jobs, and contribute $918 billion to the U.S. economy. It would greatly benefit all concerned if your committees announced an initiative to enforce full compliance, accountability and transparency regarding FAR's small-business set-aside and subcontracting standards.

Sources: U.S. Small Business Administration, U.S. Census Bureau

____________________

The American Express SimplyCash(SM) Business Card. Earn 5% cash back on gas, wireless and office supplies -- plus 1% cash back on virtually everything else! Apply now!