Program

Tuesday, December 10

The Contracting Academy (TCA) | VIRTUAL   

This is an opportunity for businesses to grow their technical knowledge of contracting with federal government, state and local government, and government prime contractors. The series of workshops will benefit established businesses looking to grow and develop their government sales.

9 a.m.-noon – Contracting with State and Local Governments

Noon-1 p.m. – Break

1-4 p.m. – Contracting with the Department of Defense and Federal Agencies

Visit The Contracting Academy (TCA) website for additional details.

Wednesday, December 11

IN-PERSON MARKETPLACE WISCONSIN | BAIRD CENTER     

8 a.m.-6 p.m. – Registration

9 a.m.-Noon – Educational Breakout Sessions

• 9-10 a.m. – Maximizing Global Reach: Essential Tools for Your Export Strategy
  • Description: This session will highlight the extensive resources available to Wisconsin businesses to support their global expansion efforts. From export financing and risk management to market entry strategies, organizations like the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), U.S. Commercial Service-Wisconsin, the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), and the Wisconsin District Export Council provide tailored support for exporters. Learn how these resources can help your business grow in international markets.
  • Moderator: Chelsey Libecki-Duszynski, CGBP, Senior International Trade Specialist, U.S. Commercial Service Wisconsin
  • Panelist: Aaron Zitzelsberger, Senior Director of Global Trade and Investment, WEDC
  • Panelist: Bruce Glaub, Principal, Trade Acceptance Group Ltd.
  • Panelist: Chris Wojtowicz, International Trade Consultant, UW Office of Business and Entrepreneurship
• 9-10 a.m. – Leveraging Certifications for Small and Diverse Business
  • Description: Government small business certifications can give your business a competitive advantage when selling as a direct supplier to federal, state, or local governments and their prime contractors. During this session, we will discuss how to leverage your certifications, including how they can be used to establish prime, subcontractor, mentor, and protégé, joint venture, and other business relationships.
  • Moderator: Aina Vilumsons, President and Executive Director, Wisconsin Procurement Institute
  • Panelist: Wenbin Yuan, Project Manager, Wisconsin Chinese Chamber of Commerce
  • Panelist: Lori Jansen, President, Clear Global Solutions LLC
  • Panelist: Dele Ojelabi, Principal, Comcentia
  • Panelist: Benjamin Blanc, CFCM, Government Contract Specialist, Wisconsin Procurement Institute
• 10-11 a.m. – Unlocking Growth: Digital Marketing and E-Commerce Strategies for 2024
  • Description: Join a panel of small business owners discussing digital marketing and e-commerce strategies for growth.
  • Moderator: Fanni Xie, President, Northeast Wisconsin Chinese Association
  • Panelist: AJ Miller, Director, New Normal Studios Production Company
  • Panelist: Jessica Williams, Owner, Whimsical Celebrations LLC
  • Panelist: Ross Catterton, Director, New Normal Studios Production Company
  • Panelist: Sabrina Robins, Adjunct Faculty, Fox Valley Technical College, Venture Center
  • Panelist: Tone Ly, Agency Principal/Agent, Rectify Services LLC
  • Panelist: Ziming Wu, CEO and Executive Director, Wisconsin Chinese Chamber of Commerce
• 10-11 a.m. – Property and People: Legal Strategies for Small Business Growth
  • Description:  This presentation will provide small business owners with essential legal insights on two critical aspects of business success—property and people. We’ll explore key real estate considerations, from leasing to property ownership, and discuss important employment law strategies to help you navigate hiring, managing, and retaining your workforce in compliance with legal requirements. Attendees will walk away with practical strategies for reducing legal risks, optimizing growth, and fostering a strong foundation for their business.
  • Speaker: Alexandra Don, Attorney, von Briesen & Roper, s.c.
  • Speaker: Erica Storm, Attorney, von Briesen & Roper, s.c.
• 11 a.m.-Noon – Empowering Small Business: Leveraging Chatbots for Growth and Efficiency
  • Description: This seminar will introduce ‘Chatbots’–an artificial intelligence application–such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot (Gen AI) as essential tools for small business owners. Chatbots can significantly save time and enhance task efficiency for small business owners and operators, all without requiring extensive training. We will demonstrate how to leverage chatbots to conduct market research for sales and marketing, write compelling job descriptions for job postings, perform competitive intelligence for strategic planning, brainstorm innovative ideas for improving or creating new products, and analyze customer feedback to strengthen customer relationships.
  • Moderator: Ziming Wu, CEO and Executive Director, Wisconsin Chinese Chamber of Commerce
  • Panelist: Gene Wright Assistant Professor and INNOVENT Center Director, Milwaukee School of Engineering
• 11 a.m.-Noon – Access to Capital: Strategies for Securing Capital to Accelerate Growth
  • Description: The importance of building relationships with chambers, local, state, federal and financial institutions to understand the different financing programs offered by traditional and non-traditional sources to grow your business and fund your business proposal.
  • Moderator: Dr. Kamaljit Jackson, Director, Wisconsin Minority Business Development Agency – Business Center
  • Panelist: Denisse Pachuca, Sr. Regional Manager, Zero Barriers to Business, BMO Bank
  • Panelist: Minna Dinh-Stuver, Vice President, Sr. Business Consultant, Chase Business Banking
  • Panelist: Susan Eick, Relationship Manager, Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation
  • Panelist: Willie Smith, Executive Director, Northwest Side Community Development Corporation

10 a.m.-3 p.m. – Exhibitor Move-in

Noon-2 p.m. – Break

2 p.m.-4:45 p.m. – Business and Economic Opportunity Sessions

• Welcome
  • Eugene Manzanet, Senior Director of Diverse Business Development, WEDC
• Business Opportunity Session
  • Moderator: Lafayette L. Crump, Commissioner of City Development, City of Milwaukee
  • Panelist: Peter Nilles, Director of Facilities Planning and Development, Milwaukee County Department of Administrative Services
  • Panelist: Sean Hayes, P.E., Director of Architecture, Engineering, and Environmental Services, Milwaukee County Department of Administrative Services
  • Panelist: Isaac Larson, Executive Director of Enterprise Facility Services, Froedtert Health
  • Panelist: Paul Conlin, P.E., Northwest Region Project Development Chief Engineer, WI Department of Transportation
  • Panelist: Tondra Davis, Director of the Office of Business Opportunity and Equity Compliance, WI Department of Transportation
  • Panelist: Mike Hahn, P.E., Vice President, Lunda Construction Company
• Economic Opportunity Session
  • Speaker: Eugene Manzanet, Senior Director of Diverse Business Development, WEDC
  • Speaker: Alex Ysquierdo, Wisconsin Supplier Diversity Program Director, Department of Administration
  • Speaker: Geri Sanchez Aglipay, Region V Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration
  • Speaker: Eric Ness, Wisconsin District Director, U.S. Small Business Administration
• Report on the Economy
  • Speaker: Tom Walsh, Labor Market Economist, Department of Workforce Development

5-7 p.m. – Networking Reception in Expo Hall

• Join all conference attendees in the expo hall for networking and a chance to visit a multitude of exhibitors. Brief remarks will also be provided by WEDC and the networking reception sponsor.

Thursday, December 12

IN-PERSON MARKETPLACE WISCONSIN | BAIRD CENTER     

6:30 a.m.-4 p.m. – Registration

8-9:15 a.m. – Breakfast Business Panel/SBA and DOA Recognition

• SBA Recognition of Anniversaries
• DOA Procurement Awards
• Emcee: David Lee, President and General Manager, 89.7 WUWM
• Breakfast Sponsor: Milwaukee Business Journal
• Breakfast Business Panel
  • Moderator: Michael Ward, Senior Vice President of Business and Community Development, WEDC
  • Panelist: Adam J. Skenandore, President, ANASA Traffic Control Services
  • Panelist: Jose Reyes, President, CMJ Electric
  • Panelist: Tennisha Loggins, Owner and CEO, Loggins Family Business
  • Panelist: Allana Randall, Owner, Ten by Ten
  • Panelist: Nas Laine, Owner, NL Suits

9:15-11:45 a.m. – Expo Hall and Buyer Meetings

9:30-11:30 a.m. – Roundtable Sessions in Expo Hall

• 9:30-10:30 a.m. – Construction Roundtable in Expo Hall
  • Description: Roundtables bring together industry and government professionals in a small group, discussion-based format to educate attendees about successfully doing business in a particular industry.
  • Host: National Association of Minority Contractors Wisconsin Chapter
• 10:30-11:30 a.m. – Health Care Roundtable in Expo Hall
  • Description: Join this healthcare industry roundtable to explore strategies for successfully partnering with medical institutions. Hear from representatives of the Milwaukee Anchor Collaborative (MAC), including buyers from major healthcare organizations and a MAC client, as they share insights on upcoming opportunities, unique challenges, and how diverse businesses can position themselves as valuable suppliers in this sector.
  • Host: Milwaukee Small Business Development Center

Noon-1:15 p.m. – Awards Luncheon

• Emcee: Diana Gutierrez, News Anchor, WISN ABC 12
• Keynote Speaker: Kevin Shafer, Executive Director, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District
• Business Awards Ceremony

1:15-4 p.m. – Expo Hall Reopens for Exhibitors and Buyer Meetings

2-3 p.m. – Energy Roundtable in Expo Hall

• Description: Roundtables bring together industry and government professionals in a small group, discussion-based format to educate attendees about successfully doing business in a particular industry.
• Host: Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation

2:30-3:30 p.m. – Make More, Work Less: The Three Most Effective Tools to Manage Work Overload and Gain Back Your Freedom

• Description: The business world that we live in has changed forever. Learn how to capitalize on the challenging times that we’re in with The Five-Point Proven Blueprint to grow your business and your profits!
• Speaker: Susan Thomson, CEO and Licensed Coach, ActionCOACH Business & Executive Coaching

4 p.m. – Conference Ends