The Honorable Lisa E. Gordon-Hagerty
Under Secretary for Nuclear Security of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration
With more than 30 years of national security experience, Ms. Gordon-Hagerty is responsible for the management and operations of NNSA in support of President Trump’s and Secretary Perry’s nuclear security agenda. NNSA maintains and enhances the safety, security, and effectiveness of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile; works to reduce the global danger from weapons of mass destruction; provides the U.S. Navy with safe and effective nuclear propulsion; and responds to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the United States and abroad.
The Honorable James Campos, Director
Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, U.S. Department of Energy
James Edward Campos was nominated by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate on April 9, 2018, as the Director of the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity at the United States Department of Energy. As Director, Mr. Campos oversees the Office of Minority Economic Impact and the Office of Civil Rights and Diversity. He is tasked with helping to implement legislation and executive orders with an eye towards their effect on minorities and minority businesses, as well as ensuring that minorities are afforded an opportunity to fully participate in Department programs. Mr. Campos also serves as the Department of Energy’s Equal Employment Opportunity Director, which includes field sites across the United States.
Charles R. Smith
Director
Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
U.S. Department of Energy
Charlie Smith is the Director of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Since September 2017, he has led a senior-level acquisition and outreach staff focused on increasing small business engagement to effectively advance the Agency’s missions.
Under Charlie’s leadership, DOE has instituted a new Small Business First Policy, strengthening DOE’s internal and external advocacy with small business stakeholders. He is an active member on several Agency Boards, including the Laboratory Operations Board, the Technology Transfer Policy Board, and the Executive Resources Board.
Charlie worked for over 13 years with JP Morgan Chase and with a range of other small businesses, establishing himself as one of the nation’s foremost experts in tax lien purchasing and financing transactions for local governments.
A military veteran, Charlie received his commission from the U.S. Navy Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. He served five years on active duty in the Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer onboard a guided missile destroyer, homeported in Norfolk, Virginia, leading the ship’s anti-submarine warfare division during three overseas deployments.
After the military, Charlie moved to New Jersey, where he worked on a congressional staff and subsequently in various roles in three state government administrations serving as a Senior Advisor to the Office of New Jersey Governor, the Deputy Commissioner for the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance, and as a Director in the New Jersey Department of Labor.
Born in Massachusetts, and raised in upstate New York, Charlie holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Princeton University.
Art Humphries
Director, Business Development
Cybermedia Technologies
Art Humphries recently completed three years with the New Mexico Procurement Technical Assistance Center – PTAC. He was contributing to his community and the state economy by training, coaching and mentoring small businesses through the rigors of government contracting in local, state and federal markets. Art and the PTAC team helped their clients grow from $52m to $180m in Federal contracts alone in just one year. PTAC is a program of totally free services sponsored by the federal and state governments across the country (www.nmptac.org).
Art’s career includes service as a Navy Commander working in chief public affairs posts including the staff of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon, and for the Commander in Chief of Naval Forces Europe and northern Africa; PR and marketing companies as a senior officer and owner; the VP of a state Chamber of Commerce; and one of State Department’s senior advisors in Iraq where he reestablished US diplomatic presence in the southern Kurdish region along the Iranian border, and guided Iraqi provincial government and business leaders to establish an economic development investment commission bringing in new and old money for infrastructure and more. He still receives social calls from his Iraqi Investment Commission colleagues, just to check in.
After 18months in Iraq, Art served as a Federal contracting company general manager in Albuquerque that included work as a project and program manager for the intelligence community, FAA, HUD, FDA, DOI, and others. His team increased their federal contracts from $3m to $70m in less than three years’ time.
Art is now operating his own consultancy – The Public Affairs Office, LLC with clients such as the New Mexico Municipal League, where he conducts workshops for the state’s elected and appointed officials in leadership, management, governance, ethics, and more. Other clients include Central New Mexico Community College, the Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority, the NM state Department of Workforce Solutions, and Cybermedia Technologies (CTEC) of Reston, VA.
As importantly as his government, business, and other professional positions, Art has served in leadership positions on the boards and/or as chairman of boards of significant community services organizations such as the National Kidney Foundation, Salvation Army, Boy Scouts, Habitat for Humanity, YMCA, church, a state Media Council, the U.S. Congressional Philharmonic Society, and besides Albuquerque’s lead Rotary, two Rotary clubs in Hawaii. Art is married to the premier home designer in the greater Albuquerque area – Liza Way.
Byron McCollum
Small Business Program Manager
Western Area Power Administration
U.S. Department of Energy
Byron McCollum is a retired United States Air Force Major who started his Air Force career as a Missile Launch Officer at Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapid City, South Dakota. During his military career, Byron served at Vandenberg Air Force Base as Missile Crew Member Instructor before transitioning into the procurement career field. Byron has over 25 years of contracting experience which includes working for LTV Corporation as an Education with Industry (EWI student), Price Analyst at Wright-Labs and System Contract Manager for the B-1B Program Office, Contract and Advisory and Assistance Service Contract Manager, Chief Special Contracts Branch Chief Human Resources, Chief Operational Contracting and Deputy Section Chief for Special Contract.
Byron began his tenure with the Department of Energy (DOE), Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), Desert Southwest Regional Office in 2006. During his time at WAPA he served at the Desert Southwest Regional Office’s Procurement Manager. In this role, Byron served as a supervisory contracting officer overseeing that acquisition of over $30M in construction, services, supplies, and architect and engineering services. In 2015, Byron transitioned to his current role as a Corporate Service Office Procurement Analyst. Byron serves as a Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting Point of Contact, and Site Acquisition Career Manager (SACM), and Western Area Power Administration’s Small Business Program Specialist. Prior to this appointment, Byron served as WAPA’s Procurement Manager for over eight years. In this role, Byron served as a supervisory contracting officer overseeing that acquisition of over $30M in construction, services, supplies and architect and engineering services.
Byron has held Contract Warrants in the United States Department of Defense, Air Force Material Commands, United States Department of the Army, and United States Department of Energy. Byron also served as Joint Contracting Officer Chief in support of Task Force Falcon, Operation Guardian, Kosovo.
Byron holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and a Master’s in Science in Human Resources and Management Development from Chapman College.
Byron enjoys spending time playing with my grandkids, coaching High School basketball and growing over 30 fruit trees. Byron is also an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.
Christopher Fresquez
Small Business Program Manager
Los Alamos National Laboratory
U.S. Department of Energy
Chris Fresquez is a graduate of New Mexico State University, and has been an employee at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) since 1991. As a LANL employee, he spent most of his time in the Procurement organization, either as a Procurement Specialist or as a Procurement Manager, earning his Purchasing Manager Certification in 1997. Throughout his career at LANL, Chris has been a champion and advocate for the small business community. He has received LANL’s Allen Johnston Small Business Advocacy Award, the LANL Distinguished Performance Award, and several Achievement Awards under LANL’s Los Alamos Awards Program. Chris has had the opportunity to support a variety of the larger technical organizations at LANL, providing support in the development of their procurement requirements, and identifying capable small business suppliers.
Prior to working at LANL, Chris gained valuable experience working in the retail environment for both small homegrown businesses, and a large corporate America retailer. His background and experience provides him with the unique insight necessary to interact with the LANL technical community, LANL management, and small businesses interested in doing business with LANL.
Eric Lochausen
Supplier Diversity Advocate – Veteran Owned / Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business Advocate
Supply Chain Risk Management & Supplier Diversity Department
Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM
Eric is a Supplier Diversity Advocate for Sandia National Laboratories. His current position at Sandia has him reaching out to small businesses, including Veteran Owned and Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses to ensure they have maximum practicable opportunity to do business with Sandia. In addition, Eric is the project manager for Sandia’s Supplier Open Houses which provide small businesses with the opportunity to meet with Sandia advocates, buyers and technical people. He is also the program lead for Sandia’s Small Business Steering Committee. The goal of the committee is to increase small business utilization, exceed negotiated small business goals in Sandia’s prime contract requirements, and build confidence with stakeholders. This is accomplished by executive leadership’s commitment to the small business.
Eric has been active in Procurement, Supply Chain Management and Production for the last 25 years while working at Motorola/CTS, Emcore and Sandia National Laboratories. His roles have ranged from Buyer to Production and Material Planner to Supplier Diversity Advocate.
Eric received a BBA degree with a concentration in Production and Operations Management and an MBA with a concentration in Management of Technology from the University of New Mexico.
Jim J. Green
Lead Veteran Small Business Specialist
Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization
U.S. Department of Energy
Jim J. Green assumed his current duties on January 10, 2016 as the Lead Veteran Small Business Specialist for the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU). He serves on the Outreach team within the OSDBU office and advocates for the service-disabled veteran-owned small business program in accordance with Executive Order 13360. Drawing on over four decades of public/private service having served, twenty years in the United States Air Force and twenty-two years at Sandia National Laboratories, Green brings a diverse background and capable skillset to DOE.
Green joined the United States Air Force, enlisting in 1973 as an Airman Basic with one year of college completed. He began his military career as a Medical Administrative Specialist in the Philippines, a turning point in his life. His career in the military brought about both on-the-job coaching on marketable skills, leading to opportunities to obtain a college education. In 1978, he was commissioned in the United States Air Force as a Second Lieutenant where he was assigned duties as an Acquisition Officer, he has served in positions such as Chief of Systems Automation, Chief of Supplies Buying, Detachment Commander for a Contracting Center and Chief of Contracts at military bases located in Nebraska, Alaska, Texas and New Mexico. In each of these positions he focused on management of personnel and the Air Force mission, helping to improve performance throughout those military bases, he retired a Major (O-4). Following his military career, Green worked for Sandia National Laboratories as a member of the laboratory staff. He was a senior buyer, buying a wide array of items to include, Third Party Medical Services for active and retired Sandia employees, to construction services, to rad-hard parts for the geothermal imaging system satellite launched in 2003. Green, retired from Sandia National Laboratories in 2015, whereby the later part of his career he served, as a Small Business Advocate in Sandia's Office of Small Business Utilization.
Jim J. Green earned a Certified Purchasing Manager Certificate, (C.P.M.), (Lifetime Certification), in February 2002. In addition, he received his Master’s Degree in Business with emphasis in Hospital Administration from the University of Northern Colorado in 1985.
John M. Garcia
District Director
U.S. Small Business Administration
New Mexico District Office
John M. Garcia is the District Director of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) New Mexico District Office. Garcia is responsible for the statewide delivery of SBA programs and services to the 33 counties in the state. He supports business owners in starting and growing their businesses, creating jobs and developing local economies throughout New Mexico.
Garcia is both an experienced small business owner and public servant and has earned high acclaim for his achievements as a veteran advocate and small business champion at the city, state and national levels. As past president and owner of Garcia and Associates, a service-disabled veteran owned consulting company, he advised both public and private sector senior leaders in strategic planning, tactical marketing and business development with a special emphasis on veteran wellness and entrepreneurial development. As the White House appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Garcia oversaw the agency’s Intergovernmental, Tribal Government, International and Consumer Affairs programs. In this role, he worked with mayors, governors, tribal leaders and international governments to the benefit of our country’s veterans, including the VA National Veteran Business Outreach efforts. He has served as a strong advocate for veteran small business owners through appointments to the National SBA Veteran Business Advisory Board, the U.S. Association of Veterans in Business and the White House Task Force on Veteran Business Development.
In addition to being a national champion for small business and veterans, Garcia has been integral to veteran’s advocacy and economic development in his home state of New Mexico. Garcia served honorably in the U.S. Army in Vietnam with the 4th Infantry Division and upon returning home, he began what is now a rich legacy of service to veterans and their families.
His advocacy on behalf of veterans and their families include an appointment as the first Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Veterans Services under then Governor Bill Richardson. He established the New Mexico Veterans Business Outreach Center under his tenure. He also served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Cabinet Secretary for Economic Development under Governor Bruce King’s administration, where he oversaw international trade and economic development throughout the state.
Garcia has been recognized for his outstanding contributions to veterans, small businesses and economic development through numerous recognitions. Most recent awards include the Profile of Courage Award from the Vietnam Veterans of New Mexico, the New Mexico Veteran Small Business Advocate of the Year from the SBA and the Iron Mike Award from the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs for his leadership as president.
Throughout his career, Garcia has demonstrated cultural sensitivity, planning and project management skills and a strong tactical understanding of the needs and concerns of small business owners, veterans, their families and members of the military. Garcia brings his solid background and a wealth of experience in service to the small business owners and veterans of our state.
Jon Benjamin
Small Business Program Manager
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Jon Benjamin is the Small Business Program Manager at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). LLNL is one of DOE/NNSA’s premier laboratories that provides the nation with strategic security and technological capabilities. The Laboratory is managed and operated by Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC. LLNL is committed to increasing subcontract opportunities for small businesses. As the Small Business Program Manager, Jon is the advocate and liaison between the qualified suppliers and contract analysts in the Supply Chain Management Department. He manages the small business program office and attends outreach events and provides small business guidance. He also facilitates contact between suppliers and contract administrators, advises and trains personnel on the small business program, and tracks and reports all small business spend. Before working for LLNL, Jon worked for the Carnegie Foundation, where he worked on small business contracting, construction procurements, and quality improvement.
Joshua Baca
Business Opportunity Specialist
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
Joshua Baca is a Business Opportunity Specialist for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) New Mexico District Office. Mr. Baca joined the SBA in November of 2012. His primary responsibility with the SBA is to provide business development assistance and guidance for small businesses certified in the 8(a) Business Development Program. Mr. Baca also provides assistance to small businesses that participate in the SBA small business government contracting programs. Prior to being hired at the SBA, Mr. Baca worked as a Veteran Business Development Specialist for the New Mexico Department of Veteran Service’s Veteran Business Outreach Center (VBOC). Mr. Baca was enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve and served in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Mr. Baca earned his Bachelors of Business Administration from the University of New Mexico, Anderson School of Management.
Julie Baer
Small Business Coordinator, and Subcontract Specialist
Newport New Nuclear BWXT Los Alamos, LLC (N3B)
Julie Baer has over 20 year of experience in the Department of Energy, Department of Defense, and State Acquisitions. Ms. Baer joined N3B in 2018 and is the Lead Subcontract Administrator for Managed Support Services, as well as establishing, awarding, and administering various types of acquisitions to support the Los Alamos Legacy Cleanup Contract LLC. In addition to overseeing Subcontracts, Julie also serves as the Small Business Coordinator. Julie advocates and develops relationships with small business partners, evaluates solicitations for feasible small business set-asides to maximize small business participation and ensures compliances with Department of Energy small business prime contract goals.
Dr. Kelly Beierschmitt
Deputy Laboratory Director, Operations
Los Alamos National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy
Dr. Kelly Beierschmitt serves as the Deputy Laboratory Director for Operations at Los Alamos National Laboratory. The Laboratory is a principal contributor to the U.S. Department of Energy mission to maintain the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile. Los Alamos uses innovative science and technology to enhance global nuclear security and protect the world. Los Alamos has an annual operating budget of approximately $2.7 billion, roughly 12,000 employees, and a nearly 40-square-mile site featuring some of the most specialized scientific equipment and supporting infrastructure in the world.
Kelly has worked more than 30 years in the service of critical DOE missions. Most recently, he was the Deputy Laboratory Director for Science and Technology and Chief Research Officer for Idaho National Laboratory (INL) where he had responsibility for setting the scientific and engineering agenda and overseeing the research, development, demonstration and deployment of the critical missions for the laboratory.
Prior to joining INL, Kelly worked at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) for 13 years where he served as Associate Laboratory Director for both the Neutron Sciences and the Nuclear Science and Technology Directorates. He also served as ORNL’s Director of Environment, Safety, Health and Quality. Kelly moved to Oak Ridge from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory where he held several roles both in the sciences and support functions.
Kelly began his career at the Pantex Plant, where he served as a nuclear explosives engineer, developed some of the earliest Safety Analysis Reports, retooled high explosives operations and developed one of the earliest Master Safeguards and Security Agreements. Kelly’s entire career has emphasized the synergistic integration of science, technology and engineering with operational excellence to ensure effective mission delivery in a wide array of research and development environments – ranging from forefront experimental research in physical sciences to developmental engineering requiring hazardous nuclear operations.
Kelly has a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering (Risk, Reliability Engineering) from Texas Tech University and a BSc in Engineering Mathematics from West Texas A&M University. He is a registered Professional Engineer, Certified Safety Professional in Comprehensive Practice, and a member of the American Nuclear Society, Materials Research Society, and other professional societies.
Kevin Donovan
Programs and Contract Execution
WIPP Nuclear Waste Partnership
Kevin Donovan, has more than 30 years of experience in technical and business problem solving, customer service, strategic planning/analysis and implementation, business innovation, team building and leadership, employee and management development, multi-level and multi-discipline internal and external communications, and marketing.
Prior to joining WIPP, he was program manager for AECOM’s support contracts at the National Energy Technology Laboratory, where he led an organization of more than 400 employees and subcontractors providing services to R&D, site operations and program management. He had previously served as Director of Marketing and Planning for the Energy and Construction Division.
Additionally, he served in a variety of capacities at WIPP (1988-2003), including manager of Environment, Safety and Health; Permitting; and Program Integration. He also had leadership roles in organizations supporting waste generator site readiness, which evolved into the National TRU Program. Donovan holds a master of science degree in industrial engineering from New Mexico State University and a bachelor of science degree in mining engineering from New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology.
Kimberly deCastro
Owner
Wildflower International
Ms. deCastro is a federal contracting executive and entrepreneur. A native New Mexican, she has been the President and CEO of Wildflower International, Ltd., New Mexico’s largest woman-owned business, for nearly 30 years. Wildflower is a government technology firm focused on national security, and participates on the most important Federal Government Wide Acquisition Contracts (GWAC) in existence today. Prior to founding Wildflower, she was the National Sales Director for the industrial division of Avnet, Inc. She attended college at The United States International University in San Diego, CA as well as the University of Hawaii.
Lani MacRae
Small Business Program Manager
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Golden Field Office, U.S. Department of Energy
Lani MacRae is the Small Business Program Manager for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). Ms. MacRae spent nearly two decades in Washington, DC where she led the national ENERGY STAR communication and marketing efforts for the U.S. Department of Energy and management of the $300 million ARRA Appliance Rebate Program across 56 states and territories. Having focused much of her career in the area of public education, she has extensive experience in consumer outreach, education, and promotion of energy efficiency programs. She has served on the immediate staff of two cabinet secretaries and spent many years on the staff of the Assistant Secretary of Energy for EERE working on corporate communications.
Throughout her career, Ms. MacRae has directed education and outreach efforts of DOE’s State and Community Programs, creating and implementing national outreach campaigns promoting public literacy of energy issues. Upon entering the Federal workforce, Ms. MacRae worked in science education in the western states – connecting our national laboratories and nation’s teachers.
Leonardo Valencia
Supplier Diversity Advocate - HUBZone Advocate
Supply Chain Risk Management & Supplier Diversity Department
Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM
Leonardo (Leo) Valencia is the HUBZone Supplier Diversity Advocate at Sandia National Laboratories. Leo provides support to small business suppliers that are interested in doing business with Sandia National Labs. He is accountable for identifying and utilizing qualified, capable, diverse small businesses to partner with Sandia to achieve its national security mission. He has been in his current role for over two years, where his main goal is to help small businesses learn about government contracting and help Sandia meet their small business and economic development goals. Leo is native to New Mexican, born and raised in Farmington, NM. He received his BBA, with a concentration in Accounting, and his MACCT, with a concentration in Information Assurance, from the University of New Mexico. Leo joined Sandia in 2014 as Purchasing Card Program Administrator. He later moved to Business Operations and Finance where he managed budget and operational activities for Sandia’s Supply Chain Division.
Marie A. Myszkier
Lead Supplier Diversity Advocate
SDB/8(a) and Alaskan Native Corporations & Indian Tribes
Supply Chain Risk Management & Supplier Diversity Department
Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM
Marie is a Supplier Diversity Advocate at Sandia National Laboratories where she is responsible for the identification and utilization of qualified, capable small businesses. Her focus is support of small businesses, specializing in SDB/8(a), Alaskan Native Corporations and Indian Tribes. Her responsibilities include management of subcontracting plans, socio-economic analysis, reporting and special projects.
Marie joined Sandia National Laboratories in September, 2002. Before joining the Supplier Diversity Department she was the Sandia Small Business Advocate and, Laboratory Point of Contact for SBIR/STTR programs, and a Financial Lead for the Material Protection, Control & Account (MPC&A) program within the International Security Programs.
Prior to joining Sandia National Laboratories Marie was a Project Manager in the Cash Processes / Revenue Accounting group at Gap, Inc., Project Manager in the Shared Services Center at Honeywell, Inc. and a Financial Analyst at Chrysler Corporation.
Marie earned her Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Detroit; studied abroad at Oxford University and in Volterra, Italy. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from Central Michigan University and has received certifications in Supplier Diversity (CSDP) from the Alliance of Supplier Diversity Professionals; and in Project Management (GWCPM) from George Washington University.
Mark R. Lochbaum
Lead Small Business Specialist and DOE’s Mentor-Protégé Program Manager
Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU)
U.S. Department of Energy
Mark Lochbaum is a Lead Small Business Specialist and DOE’s Mentor Protégé Program Manager with the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization. He serves on the Outreach team within the OSDBU office and is the primary representative for OSDBU’s HUBZone Small Business Program and the Department’s Mentor Protégé Program.
Prior to joining the U.S. Department of Energy, Mark worked at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as a Contracting Officer. There, he procured a wide variety of items and services in support of the VA mission, with a primary focus on small business acquisitions.
Mark holds a Masters of Business Administration from Frostburg State University, Frostburg, Maryland and a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia. Mark is also FAC-C Level III Certified. Recently, he completed the Leadership Excellence in Acquisition Program (LEAP) through the Partnership for Public Service. LEAP is a program that prepares federal acquisition leaders to lead agency operations by driving innovation, inspiring employees and delivering results.
Meliton (Isaac) Gonzales
President
A-One Equipment
Meliton (Isaac) Gonzales is a native New Mexican with deep roots in the north area of the state. He grew up in west gate. Went to Holy Ghost for grade school, then St. Pius and graduated from West Mesa high school. He received two degrees from CNM, formerly known as TVI. One in Electronics and one in Photonics. While attending TVI he had the honor of being recruited for an elite trades apprentice program at Sandia National Laboratories.
A 20 year career at the labs began in advanced fabrication. He was part of teams in many organizations. Which include solar tower, weapons, targets, Satellites, spook group, with his career ending in Nuclear weapons. While working in these organizations he worked alongside talented people from Los Alamos, Air force, Army, Navy, FBI, and CIA. Receiving many awards from customers for his talents.
Meliton purchased A-One Equipment in 2016 with a vision to become a contractor for government agencies. In doing so he is mirroring the trades program and will give the opportunity awarded him to the next generation of New Mexicans.
A-One Equipment has been a business since the early 50’s. The location is 115 Pennsylvania NE, off central near Kirtland air force base. This location was once in a thriving area of Albuquerque. Now it is one of the worst areas of New Mexico. A-One equipment is in a hub zone and is a hub zone business.
Michael Emerson
Vice President
Valencia Solutions
Michael Emerson is co-founder and Vice President of Valencia Solutions, an Albuquerque-based engineering consulting firm. Valencia Solutions specializes in vulnerability, risk and safety analyses for the US military and National Laboratories. Prior to that he was President of ARES Corporation’s Space and Defense Division, which supported clients throughout DOE, NASA, MDA, DARPA and AFRL. In addition, he was active in the New Mexico venture capital community for several years performing due diligence of and making equity investments in high-potential companies and providing expert managerial advice and assistance to entrepreneurs to help them create scalable businesses. He is past President of the Professional Aerospace Contractors Association (PACA) of New Mexico. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of New Mexico and a Master’s degree in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Washington.
Nicola E. Ohaegbu
Procurement Analyst, Small Business Technical Adviser
Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization
U.S. Department of Energy
Nicola Ohaebgu is a Procurement Analyst and Small Business Technical Adviser (SBTA) with the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization. As a Procurement Analyst she analyze and interpret contracting policies and directives, and provides guidance and assistance to organizations that implement regulations, policies, procedures, and ensuring compliance. Her principal duty as a SBTA involves providing support to the Small Business Administration procurement center representative in his/her duties and functions relating to sections 8, 15, 31, 36, and 44 of the Small Business Act.
Before joining the Department of Energy, Nicola worked for the U.S. Army Medical Research Material Command – Office of Small Business Programs as a Deputy Associate Director and Small Business Specialist for over three years. Her dedication earned her the Army’s FY 2015 Small Business Specialist of the Year Award for Exceptional Service. Prior to this, Nicola spent six years functioning as a contract and grant specialist for the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity administering a wide variety of grants and contracts to include Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer requirements. Nicola served honorably in the U.S. Navy for almost 8 years.
Nicola earned her Masters of Business Administration from Mount St. Mary’s University and her Bachelor of Science in General Studies degree from Northwestern University. Nicola is DAWIA Level III certified.
Norbert S. Doyle, MS, MBA
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Acquisition and Project Management
Office of Environmental Management, U.S. Department of Energy
Norbert S. Doyle is the Deputy Assistant Secretary, Acquisition and Project Management, for the Office of Environmental Management, Department of Energy, located in Washington, D.C. He also serves as the Head of the Contracting Activity. The Office of Environmental Management awards almost $7 billion of contracts annually and has projects valued at approximately $20 billion in support of the world’s largest cleanup program. “Norb” was selected for this positon in April, 2018. He is responsible for project management oversight as well as the contract award and administration processes for all Environmental Management contracts. He joined the Department of Energy in 2015. Norb retired from the U. S Army as a Colonel in 2008. He is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, University of Florida, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
Patricia A. Brown
Supplier Diversity Advocate – Women Owned / Economically Disadvantaged Women Owned Small Business Advocate
Supply Chain Risk Management & Supplier Diversity Department
Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM
Patricia is a Supplier Diversity Advocate at Sandia National Laboratories. She is responsible for the identification and utilization of qualified, capable small businesses to partner with Sandia to achieve its national security mission. Her focus is on Women Owned and Economically Disadvantaged Women Owned small businesses.
Patricia has been employed at Sandia since 2002. She has 14 years of experience as a Sandia Subcontract Manager. In 2016, Patricia became a Supplier Diversity Advocate.
Prior to joining Sandia, Patricia was a buyer for Honeywell Power Systems, a planner for Johnson & Johnson Ethicon and a buyer for Phelps Dodge Mining Corporation.
Patricia holds an MBA, Masters of Business Administration and a BS, Bachelors of Science with a concentration in Management and Marketing from Western New Mexico University, Silver City; and held the professional certification of Certified Purchase Manager.
Paul E. Ross
Small Business Technical Adviser, Team Lead
Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU)
U.S. Department of Energy
Paul Ross is currently serving as a Small Business Technical Adviser, Team Lead within the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, U.S. Department of Energy.
Paul came to the Department of Energy more than six years ago and has served as the Acquisition Director supporting Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP), the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and multiple support service contract awards.
Paul Ross holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from University of North Texas (AKA North Texas State University) and a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Troy University.
Paul is married to Michelle Ross and they have three children: Matthew, Sylvana and Naomi.
Paul Sedillo
Supply Chain Risk Management Manager
Small Business Program Manager
Supply Chain Risk Management & Supplier Diversity Department
Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM
Paul Sedillo has built his career with experience largely focused in procurement at Sandia National Laboratories and as a Power Trader with the Public Service Company of New Mexico. In September, 2015 Paul obtained his first managerial job as a Procurement Manager. He was responsible for procurements associated with science and technology and research foundation, CIO & IT services. After 2 ½ years in this position, Paul was then asked to manage his current department. He is now the Small Business Program Manager at Sandia National Laboratories. Paul’s team is responsible for the administration and assurance of Sandia’s Small Business Subcontracting Plan. This includes small business goals, small business steering committee, New Mexico’s 5% pricing preference, outreach, small business subcontracting plans, mentor/protégé agreements, reliable and reportable data. Paul also has responsibilities at Sandia for ensuring the security of Sandia’s Integrated Supply Chain. Some of these activities include Quality Levels Program, Subcontractor Risk Assessments, Suspect/Counterfeit, SCORE, At-Site/Desk Assessments, Terms & Conditions Reviews.
Rebecca Askew
CEO
Circuit Media, LLC
Colorado attorney Rebecca Askew founded Circuit Media in 2002. Certified as an 8(a) Small Disadvantaged Business, a WOSB/EDWOSB, and an Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise (ISBEE), Circuit Media has grown from a seasoned commercial enterprise to a strong supplier of goods and services to state and federal government. Circuit Media currently provides support to Sandia National Laboratories, NREL and WAPA. Whether staffing a project, providing multimedia design or public affairs assistance, Circuit Media utilizes concise methodologies and plain language skills to offer cost-effective end products that meet and exceed expectations. With locations in both Denver and Washington, D.C., Circuit Media is a certified green company and is always looking for ways to reduce its corporate footprint.
Before founding Circuit Media, Ms. Askew served as corporate counsel for an international media technology company, started her own litigation law firm, and served as a government prosecutor. Her expertise includes human resource management, corporate governance, and business development. She earned a BA from the University of Iowa and a JD from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. In addition, Ms. Askew has received training in change management and design thinking from Harvard University.
Rexann Dunn
Small Business Program Manager
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
U.S. Department of Energy
In her position managing small business partnerships at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Rexann Dunn oversees many of the lab’s outreach activities with the small business community, both locally and across the nation. In this capacity, she attends trade fairs, conferences, and other events to educate and assist small and minority-owned business owners and managers, and facilitates their efforts to explore business opportunities with NREL. To further her efforts in building a dynamic workforce that supports minority and small business entities, Rexann also works closely with the Office of Small Disadvantaged Business Utilization and the Small Business Administration, as well as with other laboratories and government agencies.
In addition to her work with the small business community, Rexann manages NREL’s Mentor-Protégé program, in which she works with small businesses to enhance their performance capabilities so they could successfully subcontract with NREL, the Department of Energy (DOE), and other federal agencies. In 2015, Rexann was selected by DOE as it’s Facility Management Contractor Small Business Program Manager of the year.
Ryan Williamson
Small Business Program Manager
Nuclear Waste Partnership LLC
Ryan Williamson is the Small Business Program Manager for the WIPP management and operations contractor, Nuclear Waste Partnership.
As a Small Business Program Manager, Ryan has a passion for helping businesses become successful vendors at WIPP and throughout the DOE complex. He strives to maximize small business participation in WIPP procurement opportunities and his efforts have resulted in WIPP consistently surpassing its small business subcontracting goals.
In addition to overseeing the small business program at WIPP, Ryan also serves as a Public Affairs Officer in WIPP’s Emergency Operations Center.
Prior to joining WIPP, Ryan was the business development manager for URS Corporation’s Engineered Products Division, where he managed the sales, marketing, estimating, and other business development related functions for the manufacturing arm of the business.
Ryan holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Business Administration from New Mexico State University.
Shannon Mulligan
Business Point of Contact
Supply Chain Risk Management & Supplier Diversity Department
Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM
Shannon is the Business Point of Contact for Sandia National Laboratories Supplier Development Department. Her role is to inform companies, specifically small businesses, on the process of doing business with the laboratories. Shannon also notifies thousands of small businesses throughout the country on current Sandia National Laboratories business opportunities. Internally, she assists procurement departments by providing potential sources for business opportunities. She also audits subcontracts to ensure data integrity on manually entered business classification information.
Shannon is currently a Graduate Student at the University of Denver pursing a Master of Science in Organizational Development.
Stacey Francis
INL Small Business Program Manager
Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC
Stacey Francis is the Small Business Program Manager at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) located in Idaho Falls, Idaho. She is responsible to target, shape and retain small businesses in support of the diverse mission areas of the laboratory. INL is one of the DOE's 10 multiprogram national laboratories. The lab provides national leadership in the areas of nuclear energy, national security and sustainable energy research. Ms. Francis has over 25 years of experience in building relationships with key stakeholders and partners. She leads small business outreach for the lab and regularly participates in events to promote its mission and share opportunities for small business to engage the lab. Ms. Francis’ depth of experience in marketing local small business and communicating with a variety of internal and external audiences has fostered a successful Small Business Program at INL. Ms. Francis received the Department of Energy Secretarial Award for Facility Management Contractor Small Business Program Manager of the Year for fiscal year 2015. INL received of the Laboratory Director’s Award for fiscal year 2017.
Ms. Francis has a BS in Journalism, Mass Communications from Kansas State University.
Dr. Stephen Younger
Director
Sandia National Laboratories, U.S. Department of Energy
As the Labs Director for Sandia National Laboratories, Stephen Younger provides leadership and management direction for the safe, secure execution of all Sandia missions.
Prior to joining Sandia, Steve contributed 34 years of distinguished service at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS), Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). He was Vice President and Chief Technologist for Northrop Grumman Technology Services, and served on the Board of Managers for National Security Technologies, LLC (NSTec), the M&O contractor for NNSS.
Steve Hull
President
Westwind
With 30 years of Federal IT sales Westwind’s president, Steve Hull, brings a wealth of experience and relationships to every project. Mr. Hull knows the efficiencies to be gained through marketing and partnerships, and understands Federal client needs and processes. His extensive experiences in large scale IT commodity roll-outs, high performance computing and federal joint-venture projects makes him an invaluable team member on projects. Mr. Hull has been at Westwind since 1998 and was the Vice President of sales for 17 years before becoming Westwind’s President in 2017. Mr. Hull has and continues to serve on a variety of IT industry advisory/executive boards. Mr. Hull’s experience with large scale IT roll-outs, high performance computing, and federal projects makes him an invaluable resource on any project.
Tonya McCabe
Event Logistics Manager and Mentor Protégé Program Administrator
Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
Tonya McCabe is the Event Logistics Manager and Mentor Protégé Program Administrator for the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Tonya has worked in event planning for the past seven years, and she takes great pleasure in a career allowing for creativity and innovation. Prior to joining NREL in 2014, McCabe worked as an event planner in the healthcare industry. Tonya joined NREL’s Small Business program in 2017 as the Mentor Protégé Program Administrator, and she has since onboarded three new protégé’s, as well as graduating three others from the program.
McCabe is a Certified Government Meeting Planner (CGMP) and is scheduled to receive her Certified Meeting Planner (CMP) designation in November of 2019. Tonya has planned and managed a variety of events, such as corporate conferences, non-profit fundraisers, 5k and 10k marathons, listening sessions and even a fashion show!
Tonya has lived in seven states throughout her life. Currently, she resides in Colorado where she enjoys spending time with her husband and three children. Two of her children are in high school, while her oldest will be starting her Junior year of college at the University of Oklahoma. Tonya and her husband can be spotted in the stands cheering on their two high school students during their football, lacrosse, or volleyball games. She and her entire family also enjoy cheering on the Oklahoma Sooners! In other spare time, she enjoys reading, crocheting, or volunteering her time with various charities.