Tom
Elam
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Tom
Elam
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By the
time you read this, the PTAC counselors and I will have returned from a training
conference in Detroit, MI. Included in this conference is a tour of the US Army
Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM). This should prove to be a very
educational outing and will help the counselors better understand the goals
and processes of TACOM.
I would ask each company to check and make sure that you have responded to the
PTAC Awards Survey. An e-mail was distributed to everyone at the end of January,
and we need your information in order to complete the "end of the year"
report to Defense Logistics Agency. The response so far has been good, but by
no means complete. So, please help us by submitting this survey. You can fax
it back to me at 919.715.7777. Please be sure to list your company and sign
the form.
As I look at the coming months, I am in awe of the number of training events
we are preparing/sponsoring. The first is the Small
Business Innovative Research (SBIR) National Conference, April 30 -
May 3 at the Sheraton Imperial in the RTP. If you have some new technology and
want to find out how to move it from drawing board to testing to manufacturing,
this is a must for you. Go to for more info and registration. Next is Marketplace
2007 to be held on May 30 at the Sheraton Imperial in the RTP. This
is a reverse trade show where the government contracting offices and the prime
contractors have a booth. You, as an attendee, can go to each booth and market
your company. There are seminars that run concurrently during the trade show.
I anticipate over 60 booths. For the first-time, we are adding one-on-one sessions
with the contracting officials and prime contractors. There will be a sign-up
sheet, and it will be first come first served. This will really allow you to
get across the product and its benefits to the government.
The PTAC is also planning two General Services Administration (GSA) training meetings. We are looking at Charlotte and Raleigh as the training sites. Dates are not firm, so we will advise you by email when we have a set date and time. The target dates are mid to late July.
Lastly, at least for now, is a Veterans Conference planned for Aug 17 at Campbell University. This conference will focus on the resources available to NC veteran-owned small businesses. Representatives from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) & Center for Veterans Enterprise (CVE) will be there as well as many other groups that have assistance to offer.