Department of Defense Small Business Training Week

April 29, 2019
St. Louis, Missouri

The Objective

To equip Department of Defense (DoD) acquisition professionals with the latest insights, policy updates, and tools to strengthen their small business engagement strategies. SBTW19 aimed to foster a deeper understanding of the evolving acquisition landscape and enhance collaboration across the small business ecosystem within the federal space.

The Approach

Held at the historic St. Louis Union Station Hotel from April 29 – May 3, 2019, the 5-day event was strategically designed to deliver a comprehensive mix of training and networking. Key components included:

Curating more than 30 breakout sessions tailored to diverse acquisition roles.
Coordinating 75 expert speakers, including government leaders and small business advocates.
Facilitating informative general sessions addressing current and emerging legislative, regulatory, and policy shifts.
Creating spaces for peer-to-peer learning, best practice exchange, and strategic networking among DoD professionals.

The Impact

SBTW19 delivered targeted professional development that strengthened the DoD’s small business outreach and acquisition capabilities. The event:

Enhanced attendees’ readiness to implement new policy mandates.
Provided actionable knowledge on acquisition trends and compliance.
Empowered professionals to build more inclusive, efficient procurement pipelines by leveraging small business innovation

The Results

Attendance: Over 700 DoD acquisition professionals participated.
Sessions Delivered: 30+ breakout sessions across five days.
Speakers Featured: 75 leaders and experts shared insights.
Professional Growth: Attendees gained critical updates on acquisition legislation, improved cross-agency coordination, and expanded their networks within the small business community.