On April 12, industry leaders and experts in academia, research, military, and breakout technology will gather in Rapid City at the Monument in LaCroix Hall for the 2023 Black Hills Defense & Industry Symposium. For two days, attendees will be able to witness high-level discussions, expert presentations, and informational displays aimed to contribute to solutions for a stronger national defense and elevate regional economic development initiatives.
“Last year, we attended the symposium for the first time, and I am excited to return this year and sit on the small business panel – highlighting work we do with the Department of Defense,” explained Tim Houghton, VP and COO of H-S Precision, a small business manufacturer who holds multiple contracts with government entities. “The amount of planning that has gone into this year’s event has been exceptional. The entire Black Hills region will have the potential to see benefits from it.”
Houghton is one representative out of a handful of local businesses that have been integral part of the Black Hills Industry & Defense Symposium planning committee. In addition to logistical planning, Houghton has been able to assist Elevate Rapid City in hosting hands-on workshops that get local businesses ready to meet with prime defense contractors at the symposium.
“We’ve been doing business with government entities for the past 25+ years and a lot has changed. Through our experience with earning contracts and conversations, I wanted to be able to help other talented businesses be as prepared as they can possibly be when they meet attending contractors,” said Houghton.
Although H-S Precision has only attended one year previous to the upcoming symposium, the returns of the time committed to being present for the event have benefitted the company greatly. H-S Precision has recently been awarded a multi-million dollar Department of Defense contract that would not have happened without the connections made at the 2022 symposium.
“Last year's symposium provided me visibility on programs I was not aware of, as well as an introduction to high-level contacts at Northrop Grumman, background knowledge on Global Supplier Diversity Programs, and the sources for government relations,” explained Houghton. “Everyone with an interest in doing business with the government should attend the Black Hills Defense & Industry Symposium. Even if you aren’t sure about taking the next step in submitting for a contract, the amount of knowledge you will take away from this is worth attending for.”
One program of notice that Houghton suggests for small businesses is the mentor/protege program. In this breakout session, a small business works with a subcontractor for a prime, who in turn works for major Defense Department projects. Not only does this route of participation require significantly less paperwork, but also lessens of overall contract bidding processes. Houghton admitted he was not prepared for the meeting last year, but this year that has changed. Since last year’s symposium, H-S has worked closely with NSIN and the PTAC (now APEX) to produce a capabilities statement that summarizes what the government is looking for even before being considered, such as: becoming cybersecurity certified, and setting up alerts for applicable contract opportunities.
“The teams at NSIN and APEX have helped us out tremendously, and made the process of getting our capabilities and qualifications up to par smooth. Now, with the correct framework in place, I hope we can see a repeat of success on a larger scale this year,” said Houghton.
It’s a common misconception that government contracting is only for businesses in the weapons industry. However, there are many needs and contract options available for a variety of services – from construction to fixture installations – and everything in between. Attendees of the 2023 Black Hills Defense & Industry Symposium will learn about small business innovation research (SBIR) grant opportunities, meet local reps from organizations who will walk you through the steps for getting government contracts, and talk with several different primes to pitch your capabilities.
“If I could give any advice to someone new attending the symposium it would be this: don’t hold back; be ready to highlight everything your business can do and how well you do it,” said Houghton. “Talk to as many people you can, and absorb as much knowledge as possible. That will make your time at the event a success.”
For more information on attending the 2023 Black Hills Industry & Defense Symposium and to purchase your tickets, click here.