Insights, Relationships, and Opportunities
The SCM Consulting team recently returned from VETS26 in New Orleans, one of the nation’s leading conferences for veteran-owned businesses, government agencies, and industry partners.
Representing SCM were William Osgood, Ronald Draughon, and Lisa Walker. The conference provided opportunities to connect with government agencies, industry partners, and fellow contractors while exploring emerging trends in government contracting.
The Value of Relationships Became Clear
One of the most memorable takeaways from the conference had nothing to do with a presentation or breakout session.
For Lisa Walker, one of SCM’s rising team members, it was seeing firsthand just how well-connected William Osgood and Ronald Draughon are within the government contracting community.
Throughout the conference, people frequently stopped by the booth or approached them in hallways to say hello, discuss opportunities, or simply reconnect. Agency representatives, contractors, and industry leaders recognized both William and Ron by name. What may have appeared to be a simple conversation often reflected relationships that had been built over many years.
It was a powerful reminder that government contracting is still a relationship-driven business. Technical capability and past performance matter, but trust, credibility, and a strong professional network often create opportunities that would otherwise be difficult to access. One quality connection frequently leads to another.
New Opportunities for Veteran-Owned Businesses
The conference featured representatives from the Small Business Administration (SBA), Department of Energy (DOE), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), large prime contractors, and numerous industry organizations.
A consistent message emerged across many sessions and conversations: agencies continue to look for qualified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs) that can perform and deliver results.
Our team made several promising connections with organizations seeking veteran-owned partners and identified potential opportunities that may benefit both SCM and the businesses we support through SCM Consulting.
One of the reasons VETS26 remains such a valuable conference is its ability to bring together the people who influence opportunities. Contracting officers, small business specialists, program managers, procurement leaders, prime contractors, and industry experts were all actively engaged throughout the event. Those conversations create opportunities that simply cannot be replicated through email, LinkedIn, or virtual meetings.
Looking Ahead
In addition to networking, the conference provided valuable educational content covering proposal evaluation, risk mitigation, acquisition trends, and contractor readiness.
One topic that surfaced repeatedly was the growing emphasis on demonstrating real-world capability. Agencies are increasingly looking beyond what is written in a proposal and focusing on whether contractors can clearly demonstrate the knowledge, experience, and resources needed to perform successfully. That message aligns closely with SCM Consulting’s mission of helping businesses build the capability, credibility, and capacity needed for long-term success.
We would like to thank the National Veteran Small Business Coalition (NVSBC) and everyone involved in organizing this year’s event. VETS26 brought together the people, organizations, and ideas that continue to strengthen the veteran business community and create new opportunities for growth.
Over the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing additional lessons learned from VETS26 through our website, newsletter, podcast, and social media channels.
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