Gloria Larkin’s Post

To grow and sustain business in the federal market, A/E/C firms of all sizes need marketing expertise. Join me, Ali K. Detar, CPSM, and Ree Miskimon, FSMPS, CPSM, NASM-CPT, during the Society of American Military Engineers Small Business Conference in November for an interactive session. We'll discuss current best practices for creating marketing teams and workshop your challenges to establishing a cohesive action plan to support strategic firm growth. Let me know if we'll see you in Texas! #SAMESBC23 #marketing #FederalMarketGrowth #AECMarketing #StrategicGrowth #MarketingExpertise

📰 How one company set itself up to continue thriving post SBA’s 8(a) program For Tabatha Turman, a critical aspect of the vision she has for the financial services business she began in 2007 involves being an inspiration to other small and minority- and woman-owned businesses — particularly those in the finance and accounting field. “The stigma is that most 8(a)s when they graduate, they go away. But I want to be able to motivate and inspire them to actually build their infrastructure and start bidding early,” said Turman, founder and CEO, Integrated Finance and Accounting Solutions (IFAS). In a discussion for the American Society of Military Comptrollers’ The Business of Defense podcast on Federal News Network, Turman shared insights about how she has grown IFAS, which is nearing graduation from the Small Business Administration 8(a) program, and about how she plans for its continued success. READ ARTICLE – https://lnkd.in/gb8--QbW #SBA #8a #SmallBusiness #WOSB #SDB #SDVOSB #VOSB #FederalContracting #Navy #MarineCorps #DONOSBP

We are only 41 days away from the Eastern Defense Summit, but who’s counting? Preparing for the summit is always very exciting but this year, we cannot wait to show you what we’ve been working on. The Eastern Defense Summit, formerly known as the Annual CDCA Defense Summit, has a new name to incorporate the massive growth we’ve experienced over the last 16 years. However, we are still keeping that hometown Charleston “flare,” so many know and love about our annual event.   The Eastern Defense Summit serves as a mechanism for defense industry leaders to collaborate on innovative solutions and other focus areas to enhance interoperability across defense assets. By presenting exhibit demos, keynote addresses, innovation spotlights, and high-energy tech exchanges, the Summit will provide an opportunity for all representatives to form workforce partnerships that result in achieving a national defense tactical edge no foreign adversary can match. The Summit’s theme, “Collaborating on actionable solutions for our nation’s pacing threats,” highlights the growing strategic threats to the United States and represents the necessity to envision near-term solutions to such challenges.  The Eastern Defense Summit will be in-person December 6-7, 2023, at the Charleston Area Convention Center in North Charleston, SC. The Innovation Pitch Jam will remain a keystone event of the Defense Summit in December. Visit the link below to register and to find more information about the Pitch Jam, sponsorship opportunities, and exhibitor opportunities where you’ll have the ability to get your brand in front of thousands of government, military, academia, and industry leaders, after-hours events and so much more. We can't wait to see you there! https://lnkd.in/esJfwTkw #EasternDefenseSummit #EDS #CharlestonDCA #Charleston #CharlestonSC #SouthEast #DefenseIndustry #DefenseSummit #SponsorshipOpportunities #Exhibitors #Government #Military #IndustryLeaders #Academia #Collaboration #UnitedStatesDefense

📧 Have you seen this week's #DONOSBP newsletter? ⚡ Don't miss out on the latest opportunities and insights! Check it out now! 👉 https://buff.ly/4b7hSl3 ➡️ 2024 Vanguard Award: Last week, we proudly accepted the 2024 Vanguard Award during the Department of Defense Small Business Training Week. This recognition underscores our ongoing commitment to supporting small businesses and fostering innovation. We express our sincere appreciation to our Department of the Navy team and our 10 Buying Activities for their exceptional dedication and contributions. ➡️ Navy Week Spokane - "Doing Business with the DON" Workshop & Networking Event: Join us on May 16 at the Spokane Public Library for the Navy Week Spokane - "Doing Business with the DON" Workshop & Networking Event. The workshop will feature DON OSBP Data Scientist Mr. Nic Louisos as the keynote speaker. Following the workshop, there will be an informal matchmaking event providing opportunities for engagement with key stakeholders from the Department of the Navy, SBA, SBDC, and more. ➡️ Small Business Achievements: In small business achievements, the Biden administration announced the awarding of a record-breaking $178.6 billion to small businesses in fiscal year (FY) 2023, representing 28.4 percent of all contracting dollars. Additionally, the General Services Administration (GSA) received an A+ rating for the 14th consecutive year for its work with small business contractors. Furthermore, GSA issued a resource guide to assist federal acquisition professionals in procuring generative artificial intelligence and related technology platforms. ➡️ Upcoming Events: Looking ahead, mark your calendars for upcoming events including the DISA Business Match 2024 on June 24 in Linthicum Heights, MD, and the 2024 Navy Gold Coast Expo from August 18 - 21 at the San Diego Convention Center. Don't miss out on informative webinars such as "Doing Business with GSA" on May 17 and "How To Do Business with DHS" on July 31. Additionally, various industry engagement events and opportunities for networking and collaboration are scheduled throughout the coming months. ➡️ Current Opportunities: For those seeking business opportunities, current projects include market research and requests for information (RFIs) on projects like the Shipboard Electrical Services IDIQ and the Navy/Marine Corps Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS). #SmallBusiness #Navy #MarineCorps #FederalContracting #DONOSBP

Thanks Wyatt Hughes for this repost- my 2 cents Small business owners can gain a competitive edge by implementing the following strategies: 1️⃣ Differentiate Your Offering: Identify what sets your business apart from competitors and highlight those unique selling points. Whether it's exceptional customer service, innovative products, or a specialized niche, emphasize your unique value proposition. 2️⃣ Build Strong Customer Relationships: Focus on building strong relationships with your customers. Provide personalized experiences, listen to their feedback, and go the extra mile to exceed their expectations. Loyal and satisfied customers can become brand advocates and help attract new business. 3️⃣ Leverage Technology: Embrace technology to streamline your operations, enhance efficiency, and improve customer experiences. Utilize social media platforms, e-commerce tools, customer relationship management (CRM) systems, and data analytics to gain insights and make informed business decisions. 4️⃣ Stay Ahead of Industry Trends: Keep a close eye on industry trends, emerging technologies, and consumer preferences. Stay informed through industry publications, attending conferences, and networking with peers. By staying ahead, you can adapt quickly to changes and proactively meet customer demands. 5️⃣ Foster Innovation: Encourage a culture of innovation within your business. Empower your employees to contribute ideas, experiment with new approaches, and continuously improve processes. Innovation can lead to new products, services, and operational efficiencies that give you an edge. 6️⃣ Focus on Continuous Learning: Invest in your own professional development and that of your team. Stay updated on industry best practices, attend workshops or webinars, and seek out learning opportunities. Continuous learning ensures you stay informed and can adapt to evolving market conditions. By implementing these strategies, small business owners can differentiate themselves, build strong customer relationships, leverage technology, stay informed, foster innovation, and continuously improve - all of which can contribute to gaining a competitive edge. #SmallBusinessOwners #CompetitiveEdge #Differentiation #CustomerRelationships #Technology #Innovation #ContinuousLearning

OmicronVis: From Passion Project to Award-Winning Partner. Peter Huang, co-founder of OmicronVis, wasn't one to settle. Seeking control and the freedom to innovate, he built a company that empowers both his team and the Navy. OmicronVis: Minority-Owned Powerhouse: They specialize in integrated combat systems and multi-domain operations for the Navy. Explosive Growth: Revenue doubled, contracts tripled, and staff boomed 300% in just 2 years. Award-Winning Excellence: Recognized as the Pacific Region Small Business Subcontractor of the Year. Technical Innovation: Their solutions not only meet needs but do so at a reduced cost, exceeding expectations. Community Champions: They actively mentor future STEM leaders, investing in tomorrow's innovators. OmicronVis's journey is a testament to Peter's vision and the company's dedication. Their 8(a) certification unlocks further growth within the federal market, ensuring their continued impact on the industry and community. #omicronviswins #pacificsbwinner #stemleaders #navypartner #communityimpact

“Sure, there are a lot of front doors that can get you started, like the DIU or AFWERX, but if you don’t have a sponsor on the backend who’s willing to bring you in and adopt you at scale, it’s going to be a challenge. So, you have to be very selective about who you end up investing your cycles in.” - TJ Rowe, VP of Sales at #SecondFront Did you catch TJ's episode of #AQ2F? After completing his Engineering degree at West Point, TJ spent 7 years as an Infantry Officer with the Army, then carried his success over to the land of commercial real estate. It wasn’t too long before TJ returned to the world of defense. Some highlights from the episode: - Military, real estate, defense: The why behind TJ’s career transitions - The potential Tyler saw with TJ’s background - Why it's difficult to be optimistic in the world of defense - The requirements necessary to sell and scale as a software company Listen now: https://lnkd.in/eD8W7AGR

Business Owners: How will you bridge the gap? By operating your business in a way that, as Christopher M. Snider puts it, "drives the income and, more importantly, the transferable value to create the financial resources to enable you to achieve your personal purpose." It's a question that many of my conversations revolve around as a defense acquisition professional where I plan and activate the businesses providing those maintenance and sustainment services to ensure an operationally available weapons system. For example: What are the required capabilities that are needed to support a system? (i.e. people, equipment, facilities, business operations etc.) What capabilities currently exist to provide that level of support to the system? What are my options for "bridging the gap"? Similarly, understanding your three gaps as business owner is equally as important for building and leading a successful and significant company with a ready-to-exit capability. It's all part of the Master Plan. By having a clear picture of your personal purpose and what your desired lifestyle looks like post-business, you can figure out what your net worth goal is. The first gap is your Wealth Gap = Your Net Worth Goal minus Your Current Actual Net Worth (not including your business) The second gap is your Value Gap = Best-in-Class Value at Your Level of Sales minus Your Actual business Value The third gap is your Profit Gap = Best-in-Class Profit at Your Level of Sales minus Your Actual Profit This is how you begin to build a strategy that's decomposed into action. Do you know your three Gaps? #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneur #Vetrepreneur #DefenseIndustry #AerospaceAndDefense #ExitPlanning #ValueAdvisor #SmallBusiness #Business #VeteranOwnedAndOperated #VeteranOwned #MarineCorps #Navy #Army #AirForce #SpaceForce #CoastGuard

OmicronVis: From Passion Project to Award-Winning Partner. Peter Huang, co-founder of OmicronVis, wasn't one to settle. Seeking control and the freedom to innovate, he built a company that empowers both his team and the Navy. OmicronVis: Minority-Owned Powerhouse: They specialize in integrated combat systems and multi-domain operations for the Navy. Explosive Growth: Revenue doubled, contracts tripled, and staff boomed 300% in just 2 years. Award-Winning Excellence: Recognized as the Pacific Region Small Business Subcontractor of the Year. Technical Innovation: Their solutions not only meet needs but do so at a reduced cost, exceeding expectations. Community Champions: They actively mentor future STEM leaders, investing in tomorrow's innovators. OmicronVis's journey is a testament to Peter's vision and the company's dedication. Their 8(a) certification unlocks further growth within the federal market, ensuring their continued impact on the industry and community. #omicronviswins #pacificsbwinner #stemleaders #navypartner #communityimpact

🏆 SBC Core Value Award Winners of October: Meet the Pioneers of Our New Military Division 🏆 We're thrilled to announce the Core Value Award winners for the month of October - Jacob Brown and Daniel Pierce! Their remarkable efforts embody what SBC stands for, particularly in the realms of "Adventuring Boldly," "Engineering a Solution," and "Helping Others Succeed." 🌟 Adventuring Boldly: Jacob and Daniel took the brave step of establishing our brand-new Military Division. They ventured into uncharted territory with determination and vision. 🛠️ Engineering a Solution: Not just visionaries, they're problem solvers. They meticulously laid down the framework, aligning the division's objectives with SBC's core competencies. 🤝 Helping Others Succeed: This initiative isn't just a business expansion; it's geared towards helping veterans transition into civilian roles, facilitating their success and contributing to our society. Join us in congratulating Jacob and Daniel! Their outstanding contributions are setting new standards for excellence at SBC. We're excited to see where they will take us next. #SBC #CoreValues #AwardWinners #MilitaryDivision #VeteranTransition #ExcellenceInAction