Event Agenda
| 8:15 AM | Doors Open |
| 8:15 AM – 10:15 AM |
Matchmaking Registration • Spotlight Room |
| 8:45 AM – 9:45 AM |
Breakfast & Opening Remarks • The Hall |
| 8:30 AM – 9:20 AM |
Morning Program
Presentation of the Colors
Maryland Transportation Police Honor Guard Podium Remarks
|
| Morning Sessions | |
|---|---|
| 9:55 AM – 10:50 AM |
Track A: MDOT In Action |
| 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM |
Concurrent Tracks
Track B: Using EMMA and the Procurement Forecast to Plan Your Business
Track C: Sales Excellence: Winning Customers and Growing Revenue
Track D: Manufacturing for Small Businesses
|
| 10:15 AM – 11:15 AM |
Matchmaking Session 1 |
| 10:55 AM – 11:50 AM |
Mid-Morning Session — Track AThe Power of USM: Higher Education & Opportunity |
| 10:55 AM – 11:40 AM |
Concurrent Tracks
Track B: The Certification Payoff: Business Access, and Where to Start
Track C: Funding Your Future: Panel on Identifying and Securing Business Financing
Track D: Panel: AI for Small Business: Navigating Maryland’s Evolving Market
|
| 11:45 AM – 1:00 PM |
Lunch & Keynote Program |
| 12:45 PM – 12:30PM |
Break for lunch |
| 12:30 PM – 1:00PM |
Keynotes
|
| Afternoon Sessions | |
| 1:10 PM – 2:05 PM |
Track A: Doing Business with the State of Maryland |
| 1:15 PM – 2:00 PM |
Concurrent Tracks
Track B: Inside the Maryland Procurement Playbook: Expert Insights & Q&A
Track C: Understand Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI)
Track D: Workshop: Commerce Programs Available to Elevate Small Businesses
|
| 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM |
Matchmaking Session 1 |
| Late Afternoon Sessions | |
| 2:10 PM – 2:55 PM |
Concurrent Tracks
Track B: Capacity Building — Winning RFPs, Eligibility vs. Suitability
Track C: Women Building Business in Maryland: Challenges, Opportunities, and Success Stories
|
| Closing Session | |
| 3:05 PM – 3:50 PM |
Track A: Breaking Down DBE Regulation Changes: Certification Process Updates and Constants |
| 3:05 PM – 3:50 PM |
Track B: Follow the Dollar: How Maryland's Procurement Economy Works for You |
Exhibitors
- Capital Region Minority Supplier Development Council
- The Christman Company
- Clark Construction
- Commuter Choice Maryland
- ComplyFormAI
- Comptroller of Maryland
- Constellation
- Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates
- Department of Commerce
- Department of Labor / FAMLI
- Department of Social and Economic Mobility (DoSEM)
- FlatironDragados Constructors
- Fraport USA Inc.
- FSC First
- Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses
- Grunley Construction
- Hensel Phelps
- Howard County Government Office of Procurement and Contract Administration
- Integrative Management Solutions, LLC
- Iuvo Systems
- Maryland Auto Insurance
- Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA)
- Maryland Department of General Services (DGS)
- Maryland Department of Juvenile Services
- Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT)
- Maryland Port Administration (MPA)
- Maryland Stadium Authority
- Maryland State Police
- Maryland Transit Administration (MTA)
- Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA)
- Metro DC Hispanic Contractors Association
- Mirror Accounting Services
- MMG Capital Group
- Morgan State University
- Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA)
- OfficePro Technology Training
- P. Flanigan & Sons, Inc.
- Skanska USA
- Small Business Development Center
- State Highway Administration (SHA)
- Tri-Logistics llc
- Whiting-Turner Contracting Company
- WSSC Water
Parking and Public Transportation
You can find information on parking for Live! Casino + Hotel Maryland via the link below. Please note this includes parking on the surface lot across from the hotel and entering through the main hotel entrance to access the event center, as well as parking in the garage and highlighting the best elevator bank to use to bring you closest to the event center.
Click here for information on parking.
You can take the MTA Route 75 bus from Patapsco Light Rail Station to Arundel Mills Mall. Alternatively, you can take the MTA Commuter Bus 201 which runs from several locations, including Shady Grove Metro and Gaithersburg Park and Ride, directly to Arundel Mills Mall before continuing to BWI Airport.
Option 1: Route 75 bus
- This is a direct route from the Patapsco Light Rail Station to the Arundel Mills Shopping Center.
- To catch this bus, go to Patapsco Lightrail Station Bay 4.
- The journey is approximately 48 minutes and costs $2.
Option 2: Commuter Bus 201
- This bus makes a stop at Arundel Mills Mall.
- It also stops at BWI Airport, the Shady Grove Metro, and several park-and-ride locations.
- This option is best if you are starting your trip near one of its other stops.
Certifications
For the VSBE & CSB certifications please come prepared to the event with the following:
- Laptop (required to complete the certification process)
- Google Chrome browser
- Tax ID Number (EIN)
- UNSPSC Codes for your business profile in eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA); you can explore those at https://www.ungm.org/public/unspsc
- For VSBE Certification: Electronic copy of your DD214
- For CSB Certification (for the SBR Program): Electronic access to the last 3 years of your business’ gross sales (2024, 2023, and 2022 tax returns) and number of employees
NOTE: To get your VSBE or CSB Certification you must be registered in eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA – emma.maryland.gov), the state of Maryland’s electronic “Bid Board”. If you need to register, you can review the vendor registration process through this Quick Reference Guide.
