Annual Review 2020: Hot Issues in Federal Contracting

Keynote Speaker:

Alan Thomas – Commissioner for the U.S. General Services Administration’s Federal Acquisition Service

Alan B. Thomas Jr. was sworn in as Commissioner for the U.S. General Services Administration’s Federal Acquisition Service on June 26, 2017. In this position, he oversees the delivery of more than $50 billion of products, services and solutions that save taxpayer dollars and enable federal agencies to accomplish their missions as efficiently as possible. Thomas comes to GSA with more than 20 years of experience in both industry and government.

Plenary Speaker:

Oki Mek – Chief Product Officer, Division of Acquisition, Department of Health and Human Services

Oki Mek is behind a blockchain proof of concept that could revolutionize how government agencies handle procurement. By providing new visibility into Department of Health and Human Services acquisition data, Mek is helping the agency leverage its buying power to save billions of dollars a year. Mek spearheaded the project, called HHS Accelerate, also incorporates artificial intelligence to highlight relevant data and streamline the procurement process.

Plenary Speaker:

Alan Chvotkin – Executive Vice President and Counsel, Professional Services Council

Alan L. Chvotkin is the executive vice president and counsel of the Professional Services Council, the principal national trade association of the government technology and professional services industry, where he is responsible for the association’s legislative and regulatory policy activity. Chvotkin is a member of the American, Supreme Court and District of Columbia Bar Associations and a fellow of the National Contract Management Association, where he serves on its national board of advisors.

Topic: Bid Protests, Litigation, and Legislation

Barbara Kinosky - Managing Partner, Centre Law and Consulting

Barbara Kinosky is the Managing Partner of Centre Law & Consulting.  She has more than twenty-five years of experience in all aspects of federal government contracting. Barbara is a nationally known speaker, experienced expert witness, and sits on the American Arbitration Association complex disputes panel for government contracting cases.  Barbara routinely advises clients on compliance issues, claims, protests and ITAR. She has a proven track record of solving complex issues for clients by providing strategic and business savvy advice. Barbara was named a top attorney for federal contracting by Smart CEO magazine in 2010, 2012 and 2015.

David Warner - Partner, Centre Law and Consulting

David Warner heads Centre’s litigation, audit, and investigation practices. He is a seasoned counselor and advocate with more than twenty years of experience in the resolution and litigation of complex business and employment disputes before state and federal courts and agencies. His practice is particularly focused on the government contractor, nonprofit, and hospitality industries.

Hon. Jack Delman - Retired Judge, Centre Law and Consulting

Jack Delman served as a judge on the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals for 29 years and has extensive experience in the adjudication and mediation of large and complex contract disputes, including equitable adjustments, terminations and cost, and pricing issues. Jack has extensive experience with claims analysis, FAR and DOD agency regulations and BCA practice and procedure.

Breakout Session: GSA and VA Schedule Updates

Maureen Jamieson - Executive Director of Consulting, Centre Law and Consulting

Maureen Jamieson has more than twenty-five years of experience managing federal contracts. Maureen is highly experienced in solving client pricing problems and implementing effective pricing strategies for placing products and services on GSA Schedule contracts. Maureen also frequently works with clients on effective selling and marketing strategies in the federal market space and is highly skilled as a federal contracts capture or proposal manager.

Breakout Session: Government Shutdown – How to be Prepared (Now and Next Time)

Traci Rowland Shepps - CPA, Partner, Cordia Partners

Traci Rowland Shepps is a Partner at Cordia Partners providing consulting and advisory services to government contractors and various other professional services organizations. Traci has over twenty-five years of professional experience in all facets of accounting operations, compliance, system design and implementation, and system and process optimization. Combining a strong accounting and consulting background with business systems experience, Traci specializes in providing accounting support, system design, and business process implementation and optimization.  Her diverse professional and industry experience has provided her with an extensive knowledge base of business scenarios and industry best practices.

Brigitta Scott - CPA, Partner, Cordia Partners

Brigitta Scott is a Partner at Cordia Partners providing accounting outsourcing and advisory services to government contractors and various other professional services organizations. Brigitta has over twenty-five years of professional experience in all facets of accounting operations, compliance, internal audit, and internal controls, with extensive expertise in GAAP, FAR, and CAS. Brigitta’s experience with accounting department management, revenue recognition, cost allowability, forward pricing, internal controls, and risk management provides her clients with the industry-leading expertise and compliance best practices needed for their successful growth.

Breakout Session: Small Business – How to Win Federal Contracts as a Prime or Sub

Threase Baker - President, ABBTECH Professional Resources, Inc.

Threase joined ABBTECH in 2001 and has more than twenty-five years’ of experience in all areas of the staffing industry with particular emphasis on corporate recruiting, executive placement and staff augmentation. Her customer focus includes both the government and the private sector. Prior to her current role at ABBTECH, Threase worked as a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) System project manager which provided vital perspectives on the Information Technology (IT) industry and process.

2019 Sponsors:

 

The Destination: MGM National Habor

The MGM National Harbor is a luxury resort, retail, dining, entertainment and gaming experience just minutes from Washington D.C on the banks of the Potomac River. MGM National Harbor includes a 23-story hotel with 308 rooms, 135,000 square feet in gaming space, retail space, a spa, seven restaurants, a 3,000-seat theater with seven VIP suites, 27,000 square feet of meeting and event space, and a parking garage for 4,800 cars.

The resort’s public spaces feature a permanent collection of art inspired by the Washington metropolitan area and developed in collaboration with Prince George’s County Arts and Humanities Council, Atlantic Arts, and RareCulture. Artists, sculptors, and photographers featured in the collection include Alice Aycock, Charles Hinman, Chul Hyun Ahn, John Safer, Liao Yibai, Margaret Boozer, Martha Jackson Jarvis, Sam Gilliam, and Terry O’Neill. The west entrance to the facility features a 25 foot by 15-foot iron archway composed of “found objects” such as farming tools, children’s toys, wheels and axes designed by Bob Dylan. 

Sleeping Room Rate:      $269++

Hotel reservations can be made in two ways:

By Phone:  Make your reservation directly through the MGM National Harbor’s Reservation Office by calling 844.646.6847.

On-line:  You can make your reservation online here.

Other accommodations are available as well. 

Download the 2020 Sponsorship Packet.

Register with a group of three or more, and receive 10% off!