Proposal Development Workshop for RFP’s (Part 1 & 2) - Chuck Keller addresses how to analyze a request for proposal (RFP), develop winning strategies for your proposal, and then effectively outline, write and edit your proposal. He also addresses how to illustrate your proposal by planning, developing and using effective graphics, design features and captions.

Is Yours Really a Drug Free Workplace? - Todd Shoulberg educates you on how to become a “true” drug free workplace. What you don’t know can hurt you — What you do know can help you. Florida gives a 5% reduction in worker’s compensation premium if you follow these basic rules. Find out how you can get government funding to cover many of the costs involved in setting up a drug free workplace program.

DCAA and the Price Proposal Audit (Part 1) - Scott Compton explains what to expect if your proposal is audited by the DCAA. Find out when the DCAA gets involved, what are the audit processes, and what makes an adequate proposal. Includes elements of a proposal, common proposal deficiencies, and a walk-through of a proposal example that includes computation of overhead and G&A rates. A calculator is not necessary but would be helpful.

Inventory Hot Potato - Ron Fowler hosts an interactive discussion between panelists and the audience covering the causes and effects of excessive material inventory. Work-in-process and finished goods inventories, usually counted as assets, are actually symptoms of deeper troubles in the manufacturing process. Additionally, high inventory causes production problems related to vendor deliveries, long cycle times, low on-time delivery rates, poor forecasting, poor scheduling, and others.

Project Management?! What the Heck is Peters Talking About? - John Buziak provides an overview including an introduction to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) as defined by the Project Management Institute (PMI).

“Money”- A Vitamin for Your Business. How “Healthy” are You? - James Hosman addresses the financing issues that most growing businesses face and helps you determine financing to fit your needs and prepare you for growth. Several SBA loan programs such as SBA 504, 7(a) and Express loans will be discussed.

DCAA Best Practices - Adequate Accounting/Labor Systems & How to Get the Money Faster (part 2) - Scott Compton clarifies the basic elements of an adequate accounting, timekeeping and labor system. Explains the “why, what, and how to” of obtaining interim financing from the government via progress payments and public vouchers.

Lean Manufacturing Overview - Jerry Nelligan provides an overview of Lean Manufacturing which is a philosophy of production that focuses on creating greater efficiencies through maximizing value-added activities while minimizing waste. The process begins by correcting the eight wastes inherent in manufacturing: overproduction, inventory, wait time, motion, transportation, defects, inefficient process and production bottlenecks.

Lunch - Going from Good To GREAT - Keynote Speaker Mark Llano shares the key steps for success and what it takes daily to get there. Mark helps you to understand the difference between the government and corporate buyers, and shares the key word people want to hear and how to build on that relationship.

Planners, Schedulers, Progressors and Damned Schedulers - John Buziak reviews the evolution of Network Scheduling (CPM) and brings you up to date on recent trends, good and bad, among practitioners. He covers competencies required of Project Managers to implement Project Time Management and closes with a review of key features of the Unified Facilities General Specification (UFGS) released in February of 2003.

Strategic Business Initiatives - Winning New Business (Part 1 & 2) - Rich Worsham explains how to define your company’s core competencies and strategic goals and shows you how to construct and implement a strategic plan for winning new business.

Threat of Disaster! Could it Impact My Business? How are We Vulnerable? - Jim Crumlish - How would you handle a disaster if it struck your business? Find out how to assess your vulnerabilities, take preventative measures and develop strategies to protect your interests. Jim will guide you through the steps of developing an effective business preparedness response plan.

Lean Sigma - Value Creation for Stakeholders - David Ferguson acquaints you with the process management, analysis and improvement techniques that are integral to Lean Process Management and Six Sigma. Case examples of the “red flags” of opportunity will be discussed along with the concepts and tools used to make business process enhancements. See how cost, inventory and cycle time reductions, as well as product and service quality improvements can be attained.

When the Plan and Reality Collide (Earned Value Mgmt.) - John Buziak supplies a proven, reliable tool to determine what the real cost of a project will be as early as the 20% complete point. Don’t wait until the project is over to know if you are going to be over or under budget.

Staying the Course - Responding to Section M of the RFP - Rich Worsham reveals the importance of Section M and how it affects source selection, how to analyze the content of Section M relative to capture actions and the rest of the RFP, how to develop a process to analyze Section M, and how to write to the proposal requirements.

Business Disaster, Business Continuity - What Can I Do Now? - Tom Ring assists you in making simple and cost effective changes to sustain your business in times of external hardships, whether by nature, accidents or design. Tom gives an overview of domestic security issues in Florida (where we were and where we are now) and provides information on how to protect your business through informed hiring decisions, employee safety and business safety ideas. The nation’s fight against terrorism begins locally - at home and in your business. Come and participate in Tom’s table top disaster simulation.

DCMA - Supplier Risk Management Prior to Award (Pre-Award Surveys) - Diane David helps suppliers prepare for the pre-award process by focusing on those things they should be ready to answer and present to government representatives. This is a look at how the government views risk in choosing its suppliers.

Supply Chain Management - Transforming Supply Support - Rich Worsham explains the elements of Supply Chain Management, how it operates within the DoD, how it relates to DoD opportunities, and where DoD supply chain management is in the transformation process.

DCAA - FAR Part 31 Basics (Part 3) - Scott Compton covers the basic definitions of terms and FAR Part 31-205, Selected Costs. Understanding FAR cost principals is vital to understanding the how and why of adequate preparation of price proposals in accordance with FAR 15.408, Table 15-2.

Time WiseTM 101- Lean Manufacturing Simulation - FL MEP - (Parts 1 - 4) An interactive workshop combining a minimum of classroom instruction with hands-on experience in the simulated shop-floor venue of the Time Wise TM Clock Factory. Participants will experience the process of assembling a variety of working clocks in an environment that begins with traditional manufacturing principals but is then transformed into a world-class Lean Facility. Participants of this class must attend all 4 parts of the simulation.

Rumba or Chorus? Putting Together Your Line - John Buziak provides an introduction to production planning and scheduling focusing on the small vendor. John illustrates how technical capabilities, organizational culture and supply chains must all be blended to produce even the simplest product on a consistent basis.

Latest Federal Initiatives for Veteran-Owned Businesses - Laura Subel discusses the new federal initiatives for procurement, qualifications and how to locate opportunities.

Customer Care Equals Customer Focus - Bill Neville illustrates how to implement “service quality” as a means to a competitive edge in a competitive environment. A ten step practical approach to planning, introducing, and sustaining a program designed to increase customer satisfaction and retention.

Lunch - BRAC 2005 Update - Keynote Speaker General Gordon Fornell gives an update on the BRAC timeline, potential economic impact and efforts being made to keep Florida bases off the list.

How to Check Out Your Competition - Sharon O’Hara - Have you identified what creates a competitive advantage in your industry? Do you understand the competitive dynamics of your market? In today’s world you not only have to manage your business well, you have to manage your business better than your competitor. This class will help to make you the most effective competitor in your business and move your company into a stronger more competitive position.

Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Overview - Lew Attardo explains how you can take advantage of this unique program opportunity, including instructions on the preparation of SBIR proposals, and assistance on how to identify R&D opportunities in the federal government and at universities and federal labs.

Total Quality Management (TQM) - Bill Neville points out ways a business can become more efficient and increase quality perception by analyzing and documenting its processes. Key components from W. Edwards Deming and others.

If We Only Knew Then What We Know Now - Risk Management - John Buziak teaches you how to ensure that your risk decisions do not strike fear in the hearts of your project team.

How to Market to the Government - Laura Subel provides you with tips on how to locate your government markets and how to develop a marketing strategy to win more government contracts.