Training & Events
June 23, 10am - 11:30am, VetBizCentral Contracts & Coffee Webinar Series, Intro to Contracting Pt. 1
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3238926415484652885
Join VetBizCentral for an informative webinar designed to help military members and veterans understand the best practices for entering the corporate and government contracting marketplace. This session will provide a clear overview of how to prepare for contracting success, including understanding the contracting landscape, aligning your military experience with business opportunities, building a strong capability statement, and navigating key compliance and registration requirements. Attendees will also learn proven strategies for positioning their business, networking with buyers, and avoiding common pitfalls when pursuing corporate and government contracts. This webinar is ideal for service members and veterans who are new to contracting or looking to strengthen their approach and compete more effectively.
June 25, 2026, 10:00 AM -11:00 AM, Contracting 101, Meet the Expert
State of Michigan Procurement with VetBizCentral
There is no charge to attend.
State of Michigan Procurement with VetBizCentral Join representatives from State of Michigan Procurement for a webinar covering how to bid on State of Michigan contracts. The webinar will be on Tuesday, June 25, 2026, 10:00 AM -11:00 AM (Eastern) Speakers will review the basics of how to do business with the state & will include info on initiatives geared towards increasing opportunities for Geographically Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (GDBE). We’ll also review our Let’s Do Business vendor toolkit on Michigan.gov. This presentation is virtual.
Questions?
DTMB-micontractconnect@michigan.gov
June 30, 10am - 11:30am, VetBizCentral Contracts and Coffee Webinar Series, Pt. 2, Obtain Your Veteran Owned Small Business/Disabled Cert.
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3397680501504996445
Join VetBizCentral for an informative webinar designed to help veteran entrepreneurs understand the process of obtaining their Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB) and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) certifications through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s VetCert Program. During this session, attendees will learn the eligibility requirements, required documentation, registration process, and best practices for successfully completing the certification application.
July 7, 10am - 11:30am, VetBizCentral Small Business Start-Up Orientation
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2646178597367940697
The VetBizCentral Small Business Start-Up Orientation Webinar introduces veterans, service members, and military-connected entrepreneurs to the essential steps of starting a small business. The webinar covers business planning fundamentals, legal and licensing considerations, preparing for financing, best practices for new business owners, and veteran-specific resources to support long-term success.
July 8, 10am - 11:30am, Contracts and Coffee Webinar Series Pt. 3, I'm Certified (VOSB.SDVOSB/WBE), Now What? ...
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3262217370737904213
Congratulations on obtaining your Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), or Women Business Enterprise (WBE) certification—but what comes next?
Join VetBizCentral for an informative webinar designed to help certified businesses maximize the value of their certification and position themselves for growth in both government and corporate contracting markets.
This session will explore how to leverage your certification to increase visibility, identify contracting opportunities, connect with supplier diversity professionals, and strengthen your business development strategy. Participants will learn best practices for marketing their certification, building strategic relationships, utilizing certification directories, and preparing for conversations with procurement decision-makers.
July 15, 10am - 11:30am, Contracts & Coffee Webinar Series Pt. 4, Contracting 101
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1487854093135426907
Are you interested in selling your products or services to government agencies but unsure where to begin? Join VetBizCentral and the West Michigan APEX Accelerator for an informative Government Contracting 101 webinar designed to introduce small businesses, veteran-owned businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned businesses, and women-owned businesses to the fundamentals of government contracting.
This session will provide an overview of the federal, state, and local government marketplace and help participants understand the steps necessary to become contract-ready. Attendees will learn about registration requirements, certifications, market research, identifying contracting opportunities, and developing a strategy to compete for government contracts.
Topics of discussion will include:
Understanding the government contracting landscape
Federal, state, and local contracting opportunities
Business registrations and contractor requirements
Certifications and socioeconomic programs, including VOSB, SDVOSB, and WOSB
July 22, 10am - 11:30am, Contracts & Coffee Webinar Series, Pt. 5, Understanding The Gov. Marketplace & Preliminary Market Research
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6951734190856689751
Join VetBizCentral and the East APEX Accelerator for an informative webinar designed to help small businesses understand the government marketplace and the importance of conducting preliminary market research before pursuing government contracts.
Attendees will learn the fundamentals of preliminary market research, including how to identify target agencies, analyze spending trends, research competitors, and determine whether their products or services are a good fit for the government marketplace. The session will also highlight tools and resources available to help businesses make informed decisions before investing time and resources into government contracting.
Topics of discussion include:
Understanding the federal, state, and local government marketplace
How government agencies purchase products and services
Identifying agencies that buy what you sell
Conducting preliminary market research
Understanding NAICS codes and industry classifications
Researching competitors and incumbent contractors
Analyzing government spending and procurement trends
Determining your business's readiness for government contracting
Resources and assistance available through APEX Accelerator
July 29, 10am - 11:30am, Contracts & Coffee Webinar Series Pt. 6, Leveraging APEX Accelerator Bid Match Program to I.D. Contracting Opportunities, Pt. 6
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1091419678182907738
Join VetBizCentral and the Schoolcraft College APEX Accelerator for an informative webinar focused on how businesses can leverage the APEX Accelerator Bid Match Program to identify government contracting opportunities and expand their customer base.
Finding the right contract opportunities can be one of the biggest challenges for businesses entering the government marketplace. This webinar will demonstrate how the Bid Match Program helps businesses receive customized contract opportunity notifications based on their products, services, and capabilities, saving valuable time and helping companies focus on opportunities that align with their business goals.
Participants will learn how the Bid Match Program works, how to develop an effective profile, and how to use market intelligence to identify potential federal, state, and local government contracting opportunities. The session will also highlight best practices for evaluating opportunities and developing a strategic approach to government contracting.
Boots to Business/Reboot Courses
Spouses are Encouraged to Attend
Contact mark@vetbizcentral.org for registration assistance
June 25, 2026, Indiana B2B Reboot (Virtual Training)
July 16, 2026, Michigan B2B Reboot (In-Person)
Mott Community College
Regional Technology Center
Flint, MI 48503
July 23, 2026, Indiana B2B Reboot (Virtual Training)
Contact mark@vetbizcentral.org should you have any difficulty registering.
New Govology Trainings Webinar Schedule
Contact VetBizCentral for Access Code to Webinars
June 23, 1pm – 2:30pm, Ethics in Federal Government Contracting
https://govology.com/product/ethics-in-government-contracting-what-contractors-need-to-know/
In this informative webinar, government contracts attorney Nicole Pottroff will break down the fundamentals of procurement integrity and explain the key ethics rules every federal contractor should understand. Attendees will gain practical insight into how ethics regulations apply throughout the contracting lifecycle and learn how to identify and avoid common compliance pitfalls that can expose organizations to significant legal and financial risk.
Topics Covered:
Appropriate boundaries for agency communications
Conflicts of interest
Kickbacks and contingent fee restrictions
False claims liability and compliance risks
Effective internal ethics plans and compliance programs
This session is designed to help contractors better understand procurement law requirements, strengthen internal compliance efforts, and confidently navigate ethical challenges in the federal contracting environment.
June 25, 1pm – 2:30pm, Breaking into GovCon: A DCAA Perspective
https://govology.com/product/breaking-into-govcon-a-dcaa-perspective/
Are you ready to navigate the complex world of government contracting? This presentation provides a comprehensive overview from the Defense Contract Audit Agency’s (DCAA) perspective, equipping potential government contractors with the essential knowledge to confidently break into the Defense Industrial Base. DCAA will demystify the different contract vehicles, including Fixed-Price, Cost-Reimbursement, Time and Materials, and Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts. Understand the risks and rewards associated with each type and how they impact your business operations. Additionally, learn what factors the government considers when determining if a prospective contractor is responsible for performing under government contracts.
July 9, 1pm - 2:30pm, Accounting Systems Requirements
https://govology.com/product/accounting-systems-requirements/
This comprehensive webinar, presented by the DCAA Small Business Program, explores the essential accounting system requirements for government contractors. Participants will gain a thorough understanding of the triggers and request process for accounting system audits, as well as the key criteria and regulations that govern accounting systems. The webinar also covers major concepts critical to designing an adequate accounting system and highlights the importance of monitoring costs and maintaining robust policies and procedures.
Learning Objectives:
Understand the triggers and request process for accounting system audits.
Learn about DCAA’s pre-award accounting system audit program and the key criteria and regulations that apply to accounting systems.
Gain insights into major concepts that are critical to the design of an adequate accounting system.
Appreciate the importance of monitoring costs and implementing strong policies and procedures.
July 15, 1pm - 2:30pm, [GOVCON ROUNDUP LIVE] Expanding VOSB and SDVOSB Opportunities & Navigating the SBA Certification Minefield
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_q3UQE5KLSkyiIAbpcIZ_-A#/registration
In Episode 10 of GovCon Roundup Live, Carroll Bernard and Steven Koprince will cover several important developments affecting veteran-owned small businesses in federal contracting.
They’ll begin with a major legislative update: the bipartisan Contract Our Veterans Act of 2026. This proposed bill would establish a government-wide 5% contracting goal for Veteran-Owned Small Businesses and give federal Contracting Officers authority to set aside competitions and make sole-source awards for VOSBs outside the VA.
Carroll and Steven will also discuss a critical compliance issue for veteran-owned businesses pursuing VA set-asides: the frequently overlooked limitations on subcontracting certification requirement under VAAR 852.219-75.
The episode will also cover common SBA certification problems that continue to create trouble for contractors, including:
Why SBA’s strict “unconditional control” rules make certification extremely difficult for franchises
Why a veteran must be listed as the company’s highest officer, such as CEO, in the governing documents
What “fatal flaws” can undermine an appeal after a certification denial
Finally, they’ll explore how veterans can use the 8(a) Program strategically as part of a broader government contracting growth plan.
This episode is designed for veteran entrepreneurs, VOSBs, SDVOSBs, and GovCon professionals who want to stay current, avoid costly certification and compliance mistakes, and better position themselves for success in a changing federal contracting environment.
July 16, 1pm - 2:30pm, Debunking SBIR/STTR Myths: Strategies to Protect and Optimize the Value of SBIR & STTR Program Authorities
This webinar provides insight into the SBA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, including program regulations, common myths, and strategies for protecting and maximizing a participant’s rights, value, and wealth under these programs.
The session also covers significant changes included in the 2026 SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act, including new authorities that allow certain federal agencies to award SBIR Phase II contracts of up to $30 million for periods of up to four years to support the commercialization, production, and scaling of critical technologies.
What You’ll Learn
Key SBIR and STTR program regulations and requirements
Common myths and misconceptions surrounding the programs
Strategies to protect and optimize SBIR/STTR rights, value, and intellectual property
How SBIR/STTR policies differ from traditional government contracting regulations
Ways to address government misinterpretations and reluctance to use SBIR/STTR authorities
Major updates contained in the 2026 SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act
July 23, 1pm - 2:30pm, Elements of an Adequate Proposal
https://govology.com/product/elements-of-an-adequate-proposal/
Winning government contracts starts with submitting strong, compliant proposals. Presented by the DCAA Small Business Program, this webinar explains the proposal adequacy checklist and provides practical guidance to help contractors develop proposals that meet government requirements with confidence.
Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of proposal cost elements, including direct labor, materials, subcontracts, Other Direct Costs (ODCs), and indirect rates, as well as key considerations for properly supporting and justifying each cost element.
What You’ll Learn
The meaning of “proposal adequacy” in the government contracting environment
How the proposal adequacy checklist is used to evaluate proposals
Best practices for developing compliant and well-supported cost proposals
Key considerations for justifying direct labor, materials, subcontracts, ODCs, and indirect rates
How to align proposal content with government evaluation criteria
Common proposal deficiencies that can lead to rejection, including lack of clarity, inconsistencies, and inadequate supporting documentation
July 28, 1pm - 2:30pm, The Strategic Pivot: Rebuilding Revenue & Resilience When the Rules Change
This webinar introduces a five-part, field-tested framework for assessing federal pipeline risk and making a strategic pivot when the market shifts. Instead of reacting after a crisis hits, attendees will learn how to evaluate their current exposure, select the right pivot path, and begin executing a practical action plan immediately.
What This Webinar Covers
Attendees will learn how to:
Recognize the four warning signs of revenue overexposure
Assess their current federal pipeline risk using a structured approach
Choose among four strategic pivot paths: Redirect, Diversify, Team, or Double Down
Reposition existing assets, including certifications, past performance, and relationships
Build a 90-day action framework with phase-by-phase milestones
Apply three proactive safeguards to protect against future disruption
contact abron@vetbizcentral.org for additional information
contact: abron@vetbizcentral.org for additional information
Website: www.vetbizcentral.org
VetBizCentral | 1401 E. Court St RTC Building Rm. 3116 8107678387 | Flint, MI 48503 US
Boots to Business
Boots to Business is the entrepreneurship track of the Department of Defense’s Transitions Assistance Program offered on military installations worldwide. Program includes:
• Identifying business opportunities
• Drafting a business plan
• Connecting with local small business resources
• Launching your small business
• Learning marketing basics
Boots to Business Reboot
Boots to Business Reboot is an extension of Boots to Business, delivering the same information and benefits to veterans, members of the National Guard and Reserves, and military spouses in a more accessible format. Program includes:
• Identifying business opportunities
• Drafting a business plan
• Connecting with local small business resources
• Launching your small business
• Learning marketing basics