8:00 AM

Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:00 AM

Opening Remarks
Jeff Cantor, Colonel, U.S. Army (Ret); NJ State Veterans Chamber of Commerce

9:05 AM

Official Welcome
Ron Rios, Middlesex County Freeholder Director

9:10 AM

Expanding Economic Opportunities for Veterans in NJ; Profiles of Veterans Who Own Businesses in NJ
Jeff Cantor, Colonel, US Army (Ret); Founder of the NJ State Veterans Chamber

9:25 AM

Remarks
The Hon. Bob Andrzejczak, NJ State Assembly and Veteran of Iraq

9:30 AM

Remarks
The Hon. Ryan Peters, NJ State Assembly and Veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan

9:35 AM

Impact of the Military and Veterans on New Jersey’s Economy
Tom Bracken, President & CEO, NJ Chamber of Commerce

9:40 AM

Wells Fargo’s Commitment to Veterans and Its Diverse Supplier Program
Al Nunan, Business Banking Manager for Central New Jersey, Wells Fargo

9:47 AM

Prudential’s Veterans Initiatives
Chuck Sevola, VP, Veterans Initiatives, Prudential Financial

9:54 AM

Institute for Veterans and Military Families
Maureen Casey, Chief Operating Officer, IVMF at Syracuse University

10:01  AM

New Jersey’s Military Heroes (video)
Courtesy of AT&T

10:06 AM

BREAK

10:25 AM

Panel Discussion: Private Sector Opportunities - Supplier Diversity and Veterans’ Businesses

Moderator

• Misty Stutsman, Director Entrepreneurship & Small Business, IVMF
  

Panelists

• Beth Canning, Supplier Diversity Manager, Prudential Financial
• Sandi Hassett, VP, Global Consumer Care, Johnson & Johnson
• John Peterson, President, OA Peterson Construction
• Stanley Campbell, Chairman & CEO, Eagle Force Associates

11:15  AM

In The Trenches: Navigating the Public Sector
Hester Agudosi, Chief Diversity Officer, Office of Diversity & Inclusion, State of NJ

11:20  AM

Public Sector Opportunities: Leveraging Support Organizations and Programs

Moderator

• Michael Riegel, Managing Director A/E/C

Panelists

• Catherine Best, RCC Compliance Officer, Railroad Construction
• Megan Carton, Director of Marketing, Ferreira Construction
• Ida Perich, General Manager, Supplier Diversity, Port Authority of NY & NJ

12:05 PM

Contracting Opportunities – County Level
Rafael Mata, Director of the Office of Business Developmemt, Hudson County

12:10 PM

Contracting Opportunities at Joint Base MDL
Suzanne Edgar, Director of Business Operations, Small Business Specialist, JBMDL

12:15 PM

A Veteran Entrepreneur’s Perspective
The Hon. Patrick J. Murphy, Former Secretary of the Army

12:23 PM

A First-of-its-Kind  Incubator for Veterans’ Businesses
Jack Fanous, President, GiGo Fund

12:28 PM

SBA’s Support to Veterans
Larry Stubblefield, Associate Administrator, Office of Veterans Business Development, Small Business Association

12:33 PM

Final Remarks and Adjourn to Procurement Expo
Jeff Cantor, Colonel, US Army (Ret), Iraq & Afghanistan Veteran

12:38 PM

New Jersey’s Military Heroes (Video Tribute)
Courtesy of AT&T

National Certifications

There is a lot of information about certifications out there. This workship will walk through what certifications make sense for your company and who you want to do business with.

• Brenda Smith - Vice President of Corporate Development, National Veteran Business Development Council (NVBDC)

Posistioning for Success (Capability Statements and More)

This workshop is will have straight forward tactical advice for VOBs who are looking to do business with companies. How do you put together a capability statement. What should you do when meeting a company in matchmaking or at their booth. And how do they best position themselves for success.

• Raul Mercado – Director, NJIT Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC)
• Daretta Whitefield - Head of Supplier Diversity, First Data
• Shyeka M. Hopkins - Marketing Program Coordinator, America’s SBDC New Jersey (NJSBDC)

Gaining Access to Capital

Access to capital is one of the biggest calnnges for entrepreneurs. Learn from a panel of experts including bankers, CDFI and business development professionals so that you can gain access to appreciate capital.

• Derrick K. Benns, Program Manager–Business Banking, New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA)