Breaking into federal contracting, and sustaining success requires more than just a certification. Small businesses that strategically sequence their growth from local and state opportunities to federal contracts have a clear competitive edge. This session will unpack a practical roadmap for leveraging certifications (8(a), WOSB, HUBZone, SDVOSB, MBE, and more) alongside targeted contract pursuits to build past performance, strengthen capabilities, and position for long-term wins.

Using the Crawl-Walk-Run-Fly model, our panel will share real-world examples of businesses that started with local government contracts, built strong teaming relationships, and scaled into multimillion-dollar federal opportunities. We’ll explore the evolving federal landscape, including current industry trends, SBA program updates, and high-growth areas like cybersecurity, AI, and infrastructure. Attendees will walk away with actionable strategies to identify the right opportunities, create winning proposals, and manage compliance for sustainable growth whether they’re just starting or ready to graduate to larger contracts.

Discover how to strategically grow your government contracting portfolio starting with local and state opportunities, then scaling to federal success. Learn how to leverage certifications, build past performance, and adapt to market trends to win more contracts.