One of the most valuable aspects of this conference is networking with peers, and industry veterans, and making new connections
Our Professional Development Day 2026 theme is: “Unstoppable – Leading Through Change. Delivering What’s Next for Defense.”
Join us on October 29th at The Hilton Norfolk The Main for an all day event full of learning, professional growth, and connections. We will have multiple breakout sessions, key note speakers, and the opportunity to network with well connected peers from all over the Hampton Roads area.
Tracks currently covered are:
• Leadership and Strategy in National Security
• Career Advancement and Professional Skills
• Workforce Development and Talent Management
• Growing a GovCon business
• Starting a GovCon business
• Transition from a founder-led to a leadership-led business
• Leadership and Strategy in National Security
• FAR Changes and Strategies
Confirmed speakers include:
• Emcee: Dr. Natalie Halloran
• Opening Speaker – Senator Angelia Williams Graves – 21st District in the Virginia Senate
• Steve Preda, Founder, Summit OS Group – Topic: Scale Your GovCon Business Without the Chaos
• Koren Wise (Sponsor), Wise Technical Innovations, LLC – Topic: Navigating CMMC
• Adeline “Addy” Maissonet, Office of Secretary of War / Procurement – Session: Acquisition Transformation
• Peyton Carter Krzyzewski, Director of Strategy and Growth, Qantm Creative (Sponsor), Topic: Mission-Driven Messaging: Marketing Strategies That Strengthen the Defense Workforce Pipeline
• Lynda Stafford, Stafford Business Consulting. Topic: Operational Readiness: Core Business Processes for New Federal Contractors
• Guy Timberlake – The American Small Business Coalition, CEO and Co-Founder. Topic: Building Your Moat: Visible. Memorable. Trusted.
• Caitlin Johnson, Input Technology Solutions, CEO – Topic: Turning Crisis into Capability: How One Failed Deal Became Credibility – and Completely Rewired Our Trajectory
• Martin White, Outbox LLC/Founder – Topic: When Risk Becomes Real: Leadership and Decision-Making in High-Stakes Environments
• Kindra Dionne, CEO of Purpose WorX, LLC – Topic: Built for This: Leading, Executing, and Winning in a Disrupted GovCon Market
• Jacob Noe, Contracts Attorney at Reaves – Topic: ED/WOSB Certification, Joint Venturing, and Claims and Disputes
• Jon Wilkins, BAFO Services LLC, Topic: GovCon Pricing 101
• Seldan Richards and Christopher Brin, Topic: Banking for GovCons – Bank of American (Sponsor)
• Dr. Lazaro Astro “Tony”, CEO of CommerceWise, Topic: The Misfit Advantage: Weaponizing Cultural Hybrid Intelligence (CHI) in the Defense Sector
Panel: Topic: Connecting Innovation to Mission (Track- Innovation and Emerging Technologies in Defense)
Moderator – Kali Luthra, 757 Collab Director of 757 Defend)
Panelist – Iulia Griffin, The Cactus Group LLC with a CMMC focus
Panelist – Kelly Jenne, Apex Systems Vice President