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The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 directed the Small Business Administration (SBA) to create a Governmentwide certification program for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses. Effective January 1, 2023, SBA assumed responsibility for certifying Veteran-Owned small firms. If you have questions, please contact SBA at vetcert@sba.gov. You can also call 800-862-8088, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. EST to speak to an SBA representative about the Veteran certification program or visit Veteran Small Business Certification.(sba.gov)
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Thank you for Attending the

National Veterans Small Business Engagement

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November 7 - 9, 2023
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Kissimmee, Florida

Attendees can maximize their experience at National Veterans Small Business Engagement (NVSBE) by following these key strategies:

  • Build Your Agenda in Advance

    • Business Opportunity Sessions (BOS) provide high-level insights to Procurement Decision Makers (PDM) contracts. Click "See Matches" on the "My Meeting Maker" tile in the Events Dashboard.

    • Networking Roundtables (NRT) are 20 minute, small group networking conversations between 1 PDM and as many as three small businesses simultaneously. Each company has 5-minutes to give their “elevator speech”, leaving 5-minutes for the PDM to ask questions. From your dashboard, click on "My Matches" to view and select the desired Networking Roundtable (NRT).

    • One-on-One Meetings are 20-minute discussion between one PDM and one firm. During this session, the entrepreneur can further describe their company’s capabilities. The business owner is encouraged to use the information learned during the BOS the PDM presented as the basis for the conversation.

  • Network During Lunch and at the Receptions – The open-seating luncheons in the Exhibit Hall and receptions facilitate PDMs and participants to interact in a casual setting.

  • Visit the Exhibit Hall – A large and diverse assembly of products and services are showcased in this year’s expo. Experience live, hands-on product demonstrations with extended hours to conduct talks and market research directly with manufacturers, distributors and product representatives. A color-scheme is used to identify each Community of Interest (a.k.a. business lines) throughout the Exhibit Hall. The color-scheme is:

    • Information Technology and Services: Green

    • Medical Supplies and Services: Red

    • Specialty Supplies and Services: Yellow

    • Facilities Supplies and Services: Blue

  • Research Attendees – Prior to the event, research the speakers, sponsors, and attendees. Identify individuals or companies you want to connect with and learn about their backgrounds and interests.

  • Prepare an Elevator Pitch – Craft a concise and compelling introduction that highlights your expertise and what you're seeking. This will make it easier to start conversations and leave a memorable impression.

  • Have your Business Cards and One-page Capability Statement – Remember to have plenty of business cards and copies of your Capabilities Statement to facilitate networking, and networking follow-ups.

  • Dress to Impress – Remember NVSBE provides many opportunities for professional networking, as such small businesses are encouraged to observe professional or business casual attire during NVSBE.

  • Be on Time – Allow enough time to arrive promptly to each of your scheduled sessions.
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Please note: Content on this Web page is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide legal advice or to be a comprehensive statement or analysis of application statures, regulations, and case law governing this topic. Rather, it's a plain language summary. If you are seeking claims assistance, your local VA regional office, a VA-recognized Veterans Service Organization, or a VA-accredited attorney or agent can help.