Conference schedule
Morning sessions: 9:00 a.m.- 12:30 p.m
Lunch Break: 12:45-1:30
Job fair: 1:30-4:00
Session 1
"So You are a Small Business and Want to be a Federal Contractor?"
Stan VanderWerf, president of Advanced Capitol Consulting LLC
Positioning your company to compete for business at the federal level can appear as a labyrinth of confusion. What you many not realize are the resources available to help you navigate to success.
This session will show you how to register in the "Central Contractor Registration" database, how to identify yourself as a small business, how to use this database to advertise your company for free, and how to find federal government opportunities. The instructor will provide key advice to make the process simpler and will also answer questions on how to get Department of Defense business. Did you know, as a small business, you receive preferential treatment for contracts below $150,000? Don't miss out on these outstanding opportunities.
Session 2
A Public-Private Partnership Model
Phillip Sanger, director of the Center for Rapid Product Realization
The Center for Rapid Product Realization was established at Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC, in 2004, and since that time has served over 300 companies, entrepreneurs and non-profits in the western North Carolina region. The mission: transform the economy and enhance learning in a fully integrated program.
This session will describe the ways we do business with the business community, our position on intellectual property, a brief summary of our terms and conditions and a broad spectrum of case studies and testimonials to stimulate ideas and discussion.
Session 3
Potential and Challenges of Pursuing China Business Opportunities
Mark Van Fleet, executive director of Purdue's Global Business Engagement initiative
The session will help Indiana firms explore the potential and the challenges of pursuing China business opportunities, including trade and investment. We will begin with a broad overview of the current Chinese economy, priorities, trends and implications for U.S. business. Next, we will discuss export, sourcing, technology transfer, joint ventures, merger and acquisition, attracting Chinese capital, protecting intellectual property, and business development services offered by Purdue and others to help firms profit from China strategies.
Session 4
Technology Infrastructure to Support the Product Lifecycle for SMEs
Nathan Hartman, associate professor in the Department of Computer Graphics Technology at Purdue University
Karen Waldenmeyer, member of the Information Management Leadership Program, GE Aviation
The Product Lifecycle Management Center of Excellence at Purdue coordinates and sponsors research in the use of technology and methods that support an integrated data infrastructure to support the product lifecycle.
This session will examine the technologies and methodologies that can be used to promote and manage a model-based enterprise using a model-based definition. Particular use cases will be presented for different workflows within an organization, and a round-table discussion will be used to uncover challenges and suggest possible solutions in these areas for SMEs.
Session 5
"Free Strategic Planning and Implementation Assistance"
Confidential one-on-one business consulting, access to advance market research and financial analysis tools, and connections to local lenders are just a few free services the Indiana Small Business Development Center (ISBDC) provides entrepreneurs. Find out why the ISBDC is supported by the federal and state government, local economic development offices, municipal and county governments, chambers of commerce, universities, and banks as a resource to help grow stronger businesses throughout Indiana. In this workshop you will learn who the ISBDC is and how to start obtaining their services to advance your business.