[March 18, 2013]

Small Businesses Connect, Collaborate, and Commit at 7th Annual ACT-IAC Small Business Conference

The American Council for Technology and Industry Advisory Council (ACT-IAC) today released the workshop topics for its 7^th Annual Small Business Conference (SBC), a one-day collaborative forum focused on promoting small business growth and success in the federal IT marketplace. The event will be held on April 11, 2013 at the Grand Hyatt Washington in Washington, D.C.

"With the changing federal landscape, this year's event is more focused than ever on accelerating the growth and success of small businesses to refuel the U.S. innovation economy," said Marietta Allen, SBC Government Chair. "SBC 2013 will encourage government and industry collaboration to address some of the most important issues concerning improving government performance and how small businesses working together as government partners can achieve successful solutions."

The theme for SBC 2013, "Connect, Collaborate, Commit," will focus on capturing the innovate spirit that small businesses bring to the federal IT market, while encouraging government and industry collaboration and commitment to achieving the common goal of a more efficient and effective government. Keynote speakers include John Shoraka, Associate Administrator of Government Contracting and Business Development at the U.S. Small Business Administration, who will deliver the opening remarks and Joseph Jordan, Administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP), Office of Management and Budget (OMB), who will provide an update from the White House.

This event will feature a number of dynamic and thought-provoking moderated plenary events, interactive roundtable discussions, and government agency workshop and breakout sessions, on tmely federal IT issues, including:

• 2^nd Annual Smack Down Session - Back by popular demand, this session will provide an open forum for discussion focused on practical solutions for optimizing existing roles/relationships with government entities.
• Breakout Sessions - Four sessions that will provide attendees with detailed information on pending regulations and their impact on the small business community, as well as best practices, tools and resources for ensuring success with the federal government in 2013 and beyond.
• CXO Panel - Thriving in an Era of Change - A panel of senior government leaders will engage in a lively discussion about the importance of small businesses and what's on the horizon for their respective agencies in 2013.

"SBC focuses on the most significant topics relative to small businesses in the federal market, such as the impact of regulations, risks and tapping into new contracts," said Kimberly Purlia, SBC 2013 Industry Chair. "We are forming a platform for collaboration where government agencies and industry can work together to institutionalize a level of commitment in outcomes which can be measured, and enable our Small Business community to align their business plans with Government requirements and goals. Our Workshops are Agency-focused to enable the full scope: Connect, Collaborate, and Commit as a lifecycle for improving performance and providing better outcomes, while meeting stakeholder requirements. When this foundation is solid, it enables a new tradition of working together - the Trusted Advisor - of which Small Businesses play a key role."

SBC 2013 will also feature government agency workshop sessions, which will provide attendees with the opportunity to engage in conversations with federal CIOs, CAOs, and program and project managers on their progress to implementing OMB's 25 Point IT Reform Plan and how agencies will continue to work with small businesses amid budget cuts. Workshops will also include discussions around sequestration and the impacts of continuing acquisitions. The government agencies confirmed include:

• Department of Agriculture
• Department of Commerce
• Department of Health and Human Services
• Department of Homeland Security - Immigration and Customs Enforcement
• Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection
• Department of Housing and Urban Development
• Department of Interior
• Department of Veterans Affairs
• Department of Transportation
• General Services Administration
• Small Business Administration

Registration is now open, but attendance is limited. For more information, or to register for SBC 2013, please visit: http://www.actgov.org/SBC2013.

For more information on sponsorship or exhibiting opportunities, please contact Judy Fry at (703) 208-4800 ext. 205 or at [email protected].

About ACT-IAC (News - Alert) - Advancing Government Through Education, Collaboration and Action

ACT-IAC has been recognized as the premier government IT community's public-private partnership and is an example of how government and industry work together. We are a nonprofit educational organization created to advance government in serving the public through the effective application of IT resources. Our education, training, programming and collaboration opportunities enhance and advance the government IT profession. ACT-IAC's objective, vendor- and technology-neutral, and ethical forum allow government and industry to collaborate and improve government through technology. Headquartered in the Greater Washington, D.C. area, ACT-IAC also has chapters in the Pacific region (based in San Diego) and the Rocky Mountain region (based in Denver).

Learn more about our organization and how to become a member at www.actgov.org or call 703-208-4800.

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