I am back in Lawrence after a great Midwestern driving trip last week, where I spoke at two fantastic government contracting events.

On Tuesday, I was in Des Moines for the Iowa Vendor Conference.  My presentation focused on debunking common myths surrounding the SBA’s size and socioeconomic programs (think that VetBiz verification applies to all agencies?  Think again!)  Many thanks to the Iowa State University Center for Industrial Research and Service for organizing this great event and inviting me to speak.  Special thanks to Pam Russenberger and Jodi Essex for all their work planning and coordinating the event, and a big “thank you” to the featured keynoter–the one and only Guy Timberlake–for everything he did to make the conference such a great success.

After I spoke at the Iowa Vendor Conference, I hit the road for Norman, Oklahoma for the annual Indian Country Business Summit.  My talk at the ICBS touched on several recent, major changes to the small business contracting regulations, including the new rules for the limitations on subcontracting and universal mentor-protege program.  The ICBS has always been a great event, but it seems to get bigger and better each year.  A big “thank you” to Victoria Armstrong for her amazing work planning the event, as well as the Oklahoma Bid Assistance Network and Tribal Government Institute for hosting.

I’ll be sticking around home for a few weeks, but more travel is on the agenda–I’m excited to be speaking at the Redstone Edge conference in Huntsville, Alabama on September 22.  Hope to see you there!