2012 Albany Matchmaker & Expo

Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Albany Marriott Hotel
189 Wolf Road
Albany, NY 12205

At the 2012 Albany Matchmaker & Expo, small business owners can discuss potential contracting opportunities face-to-face with representatives from colleges and universities, large corporations and federal, state and local agencies. This annual sellout event is a valuable networking opportunity with dozens of exhibitors and government contracting resources. Small businesses can participate in either the morning session or the afternoon session and sent up to two representatives at a cost of $45 per person. Small businesses will schedule individual appointments with participating buyers prior to the event during the online registration and payment process.

To be added to our mailing list for the 2012 Albany Matchmaker & Expo, please contact Stephanie Ubowski at stephanie.ubowski@sba.gov. 

2011 Event Sponsors
The 2011 Albany Matchmaker & Expo was sponsored by the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Business Review, Empire State Development and NYS Contract Reporter, New York Business Development Corporation, NYS Small Business Development Center at University of Albany, State Farm Insurance Companies, and the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Interested in sponsoring the 2012 Matchmaker? Contact Erica Choi at erica.choi@sba.gov.

2011 Participating Buyers
The 2011 Buyer Listing provides information on what this year’s participating buyers were looking for in small business certifications, products and services in an easy-to-read, printable PDF. New participating buyers for 2011 include: Albany Medical Center, C&S Companies, Element K, GE Energy, GE Inspection Technologies, General Dynamics-AIS, Harris Corporation, Oshkosh Corporation, Pioneer Credit Recovery, Razak Associates, SRCTec, U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, and U.S. General Services Administration Public Building Service. For a complete list of all participating buyers, please view the 2011 Buyer Listing.

Interested in a buyer table at the 2012 Matchmaker? Contact Rachael Stanton at rachael.stanton@sba.gov.

2011 Exhibitors
Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce, Albany SCORE Chapter, the Business Review, Capital Bank, CentiMark, Creative Marketing Concepts, Liberty Enterprises, Linstar, NBT Bank, New York Business Development Corporation, NYS Small Business Development Center at University of Albany, NYS Department of Veterans Affairs, Panera Catering, Pinnacle Recruiting and HR Solutions, Pioneer Bank, Rochester Institute of Technology, State Farm Insurance Companies, Teal, Becker & Chiaramonte, CPAs, P.C., Tech Valley Office Interiors, Turnkey Internet, Women's Business Center of New York State.

Interested in exhibiting at the 2012 Matchmaker? Contact Kate Baker at kbaker@uamail.albany.edu.

2011 Government Contracting Resources
Defense Contract Management Agency, Empire State Development, NYS Contract Reporter, NYS Small Business Development Center Procurement Assistance Center, North Country Procurement Technical Assistance Center, Rochester Procurement Technical Assistance Center, Rockland Economic Development Corporation Procurement Technical Assistance Center, U.S. Small Business Administration

2011 Online Workshops
Free online workshops were presented to help prepare interested small businesses for the matchmaker event. To watch recordings of past presentations, please click on the relevant recording link below.

     Opening Doors to Federal Procurement Opportunities
     The U.S. Government is the world’s largest buyer of goods and services. 
     • Discover how federal contracting can help your business grow
     • Explore the features of the SBA 8(a) Business Development, HUBZone, SDVOSB,
       WOSB, and EDWOSB procurement set aside programs
     • Learn how to find federal subcontracting opportunities

     Presenters: James Quackenbush, SBA Business Development Specialist
                         Joyce Spears, SBA Procurement Analyst
     Recording Link: http://cc.readytalk.com/play?id=5c0bfg

     Making the Matchmaker Work for You!
     With only one chance to make a first impression, learn these “tried and true” tips.
     • Discover the importance of your “elevator speech”
     • Create the ideal 10-minute buyer appointment
     • Know your customer

     Presenter: Cathy Pokines, SBA Director of Marketing and Communications 
     Recording Link: https://cc.readytalk.com/play?id=34hswp

     Are You Eligible for WOSB certification?
     This year SBA announced a new Women Owned Small Business Federal Contracting
     (WOSB) certification.
     • Learn if your woman-owned business is eligible
     • Find out the steps to take to certify as a Women Owned Small Business 
     • Learn about the WOSB Repository

     Presenter: Roxanne K. Mutchler, SBDC Government Contracting Coordinator
     Recording Link: http://cc.readytalk.com/play?id=1ogcpp

     Government Marketing Strategies: Your Map to Government Sales
     The information you need to develop a government marketing plan.
     • What’s First - recommended preparations 
     • Marketing Mix – consider your target 
     • Market Research – who’s buying, who’s selling?
     • Making Contact with Government Agencies
     • Alternatives to selling directly to the Government

     Presenter: Paulette Birch, Rochester Procurement Technical Assistance Center 
                      Program Director
     Recording Link: http://cc.readytalk.com/play?id=asjs9g

     Doing Business With NYS: Your Business Is Our Business
     The NYS Office of General Services establishes and administers over 2500 statewide
     contracts valued at more than $5 billion annually. 
     • Learn how New York purchases goods & services
     • Find out about centralized contracts (state contracts) 
     • What is the NYS Contract Reporter, and why should my business be registered?

     Presenters: Nancy Fisher, ESD Small Business Division, Deputy Director
                        Anne Samson, NYS OGS Procurement Services Group,
                        Acting Assistant Director
     Recording Link: https://cc.readytalk.com/play?id=4o9twm

    Understanding Bonding: Your Guide To Surety Bonds
    When doing business with the government, many contracts, particularly construction projects,
    require that contractors obtain surety bonds to protect the government from financial losses. 
     • Learn about different types of bonds
     • Learn how to obtain bonds 

     Presenters: Roxanne K. Mutchler, SBDC Government Contracting Coordinator 
                         Dave Mallen, Mohawk Valley SBDC Director 
     Recording Link: https://cc.readytalk.com/play?id=58u6p1
 

Overnight Accommodations
Traveling from outside the Albany area? View the local hotel list for 2011    

Cosponsorship Authorization #11-0248-130. SBA's participation in this cosponsored event is not an endorsement of views, opinions, products, or services of any cosponsor or other person or entity. All SBA programs or cosponsored programs are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. Reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact: Erica Choi at 518-446-1118, ext 231.