2013 Business and Education Showcase

Full Access to the Public and Private Sector

A Celebration of the Diversity within the East TN Business Community

Monday January 28th

12pm – 5pmVendor Arrival and Booth Set up

  • Ballroom A,B,C,D – Henley Concourse

5pm – 8:30 Reception, Awards Dinner, Keynote Address

5pm Networking, Cash Bar, Light Appetizers

  • Henely Street Concourse
  • Open to all Exhibitors and Keynote Dinner Guests
  • Welcome Remarks – Jonathan Williams: Chairman, TVBA, US Navy
  • Welcome Remarks –Freda Hopper: DOE Oak Ridge

6:30Keynote Dinner, Presented by Pilot Corporation

  • Ballroom’s E,F,G – Cumberland Concourse
  • Ticketed Dinner, Must purchase ticket to attend

6:50 Presentation of Colors – Pledge of Allegiance

  • Ron Emery:President, Emery 5&10, TVBA Member, US Marine Corps
  • US Marine Corps Color Guard

7:00 Welcome and Introduction of the TVBA

  • Chris Coyne: President, Modeof8, TVBA Member, US Air Force

7:10Veteran Small Business Awards Ceremony

  • Presentation of TVBA “Veterans Work” Award
  • Honors a local company that works with and hires veterans
  • Presented by Joe Zimmerman: Vice President, Xcel Engineering, TVBA Member, US Army
  • Presentation of TVBA “Bravo Zulu” Award
  • Presented to a Member company that exemplifies the veteran spirit
  • Presented by Dan Hurst: President, StrataG, TVBA Member, US Navy
  • Presentation of TVBA “Veteran Young Entrepreneur” Award
  • Presented to a member start-up company that is thriving
  • Presented by Dan Brown,President, Attention IT, TVBA Member, US Army
  • Presentation of TVBA “Veteran Innovator” Award
  • Presented to a Member Company that is an innovator
  • Presented by Dave Hayner, President, Veterans Contracting Solutions Group, US Army

7:40 Introduction of Special Guest

  • Jonathan Williams: TVBA founder and Chairman, US Navy

7:45 Special Guest: Proclamation of Veteran Owned Business Week

7:50 Special Guest: Introduction of Keynote Speaker

8:00 Mr. Jim Haslam, Founder of Pilot Corporation. Korean War, US Army

Tuesday January 29th

8:00Call in to Opening Ceremony

  • Meeting Room 301 A/B

8:10Presentation of Colors, Pledge of Allegiance

  • John Dyess:Area Director, ESGR, US Army
  • Bearden High School, Navy JROTC

8:20Introduction and Welcome

  • Chris Coyne:President, Modeof8. TVBA Member, US Air Force

8:25 Guest Speakers

  • Jonathan Williams: Founder and Chairman of the TVBA, US Navy
  • Doug Minter:,Small Business Development Manager, Knoxville Chamber, US Marine Corps
  • TBD – US Army
  • TBD, DoE Director, Veteran

Keynote Speaker

9:15 Charlie P. Tombras Jr:,President, Second Generation Veteran Owner, The Tombras Group, US Army.

9:30Expo Begins

10:30Breakout Session 1. Room 301 A

  • Panel Discussion of Veteran Owned Government Contractors
  • Moderated by Milton Tookes, Government Advocacy Director, TVBA
  • Inviting all government buyers, contracting officers, program managers and directors
  • Discussion on the issues facing veteran owned businesses in the govt. contracting arena.
  • Dan Hurst, Veteran Owner, StrataG
  • Katherine Bumgartner, Veteran Owner, LB Services
  • Joe Zimmerman, Veteran Owner, Xcel Engineering
  • Tony Buhl, Veteran Owner, Energx
  • Michael Sclitz. Veteran Owner, Ingenium Professional Services
  • Terry Douglas. Veteran Owner, Alliant Corporation
  • Gary Gilmartin. Veteran Owner, Gilmartin Engineering Works.

10:30 Breakout Session 2. Room 301 B

  • Understanding Your VA Education Benefits: An overview of GI Bill Benefits
  • Moderated by Kitty Rodriguez, Director of Admissions University of Phoenix, US Army.

10:30 Breakout Session 3. Room 301 C

  • Marketing your business in the digital space.
  • Moderated by David Avery, VP of Client Relations, The Tombras Group. Lecturer of Marketing, University of Tennessee.
  • Social media in the business environment
  • Branding through the digital noise

10:30 Breakout Session 3A. Room 301 C

  • Utilizing social media in your job search.
  • Moderated ???
  • How LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter can assist and destroy your job search

11:30Lunch

  • Exhibitors – Buffet Lunch in room 301 D/E Ticket Required
  • General Public, Convention Center Concessions on Henely Concourse

12:30Breakout Session 4. Room 301 A

  • Educating employees, what education and training is the business owner seeking for your workforce.
  • Moderated by Bruce Damrow: Owner, B&D Custom Associates, US Air Force Master Trainer.
  • A panel discussion of local colleges and university’s seeking input from the business community on how to better train our workforce.
  • University of Phoenix
  • Pellissippi State
  • South College
  • Tusculum College
  • University of TN Center for Industrial Services

12:30Breakout Session 5. Room 301 B

  • Employing veterans, identifying the challenges associated with veteran employees.
  • Moderated by Jerry Bush, Director of HR, Eastman Chemical Company, US Army
  • Panel Member: Major General Max Haston, TN Adjutant General
  • Panel Member: Noel Riley-Philpo, Director of Psychological Health, TN National Guard
  • Panel Member: DaruBurdge, Counselor, CredAbility
  • Panel Member: ??
  • A panel discussion of professionals that understand the challenges veterans face in the workplace.
  • Assist employers in hiring and training veterans
  • Assist employers in understanding the effects of PTSD in the workplace
  • Debunking myths, mystique, and stigma about veterans with PTSD.
  • Assist employers in overall family readiness
  • Educate employers on the value of hiring veterans

1:30Breakout Session 6. Room 301 A

  • Overall Local Business Climate in both the Commercial and Government arena.
  • Moderated by Jenny Freeman, Director, StrataG. Director, ETEBA
  • Topics Include Representatives From:
  • Knoxville Oak Ridge Innovation Valley: Economic Growth in the TN Valley Corridor
  • ETEBA / SBA: Upcoming Government Regulations and Programs
  • Regions/Suntrust: Financial Climate
  • LMSPI: Manufacturing Climate
  • Business Owner Benefits: Insurance and Regulatory Climate

1:30Breakout Session 7. Room 301 B

  • Taking Advantage of your Veteran Benefits
  • Moderated by Tom Humphries:Knox County Veteran Service Office, US Marine Corps
  • Topics include Representatives From:
  • Federal, State, Local, Veteran Service Officers
  • TN Career Center, Volunteers of America
  • Disabled American Veterans, VFW, Amvets

1:30Breakout Session 8. Room 301 C

  • Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Starting a Business
  • Moderated by Jutta Bangs, Tennessee Small Business Development Center
  • Topics include Representatives From:
  • TN Small Business Development Center
  • FranNet (Franchising)
  • SBA
  • East TN Regional Accelerator Coalition
  • Funding, mentorship, Incubation

4:00Conference Ends

4:30JOYful Outing. The Social Business Networking Event Presented by the TBVA

  • Latitude 35, Market Square. CELEBRATION TIME!