The Contracting Academy (TCA)
The Contracting Academy (TCA) is an opportunity for businesses to grow their technical knowledge of contracting with Federal Government, State and Local Government, and Government Prime Contractors. The series of workshops will benefit established businesses looking to grow and develop their government sales.
The December 9 TCA will be a full-day virtual program from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Additional details of the 2025 TCA program will be posted to this page.
AGENDA FOR THE DAY
9:00 AM – Opening Remarks – Dr. Gene Manzanet – Senior Director Diverse Business Development, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC)
| Session Time | Title |
| 9:00 AM | Doing Business with the State of Wisconsin – Products and Services |
| Jessica Potter – WisPro Section Chief, Department of Administration-Division of Enterprise Operations, State Bureau of Procurement | |
| 10:00 AM | Doing Business with the State of Wisconsin – Construction, A/E & Related Services |
| Audra Jervey – Enterprise Contract Officer, Division of Facilities Development and Management (DFDM), State of Wisconsin | |
| Matt Klaila – Program and Policy Analyst, Division of Facilities Development and Management (DFDM), State of Wisconsin | |
| 11:00 AM | Selling to Local Governments |
| Brian Pittelli – Buyer, City of Madison | |
| Michelle Kaczmarowski – Procurement & Supplier Development Manager, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) | |
| Peter Patten – Purchasing Manager, Dane County | |
| Suzanne Carter – Purchasing Manager, Milwaukee County Department of Administrative Services | |
| [Moderator] Aina Vilumsons – President-Executive Director, Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI) | |
| Break for Lunch | |
| 1:00 PM | Update on Government Small / Diverse Certifications |
| Alex Ysquierdo, MSc – Director, Department of Administration Supplier Diversity Program | |
| Dontreal Teague – Business Inclusion Program Coordinator, City of Milwaukee | |
| Samuel Jack – Senior Counsel, Husch Blackwell | |
| Shane Mahaffy – Lead Business Opportunity Specialist, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) | |
| [Moderator] Aina Vilumsons – President-Executive Director, Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI) | |
| 2:00 PM | Proposal Management in the Early Days of AI |
| David Zvenyach – Founder, Tandem – CEO, MakeGov | |
| 3:00 PM | Navigating CMMC: Practical Strategies for Defense Contractors and Subcontractors |
| Andrew Green – Chief Business Officer, Strohwig Industries | |
| Jerome Miastkowski – CEO, Aeroplicity | |
| Matthew Frost – Government Contract Specialist, Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI) | |
| Megan McKinney – VP Business Development, CyberNlNES | |
| [Moderator] Aina Vilumsons – President-Executive Director, Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI) | |
CONFIRMED SPEAKERS INCLUDE:
- Suzanne Carter – Purchasing Manager, Milwaukee County Department of Administrative Services
- Andrew Green – Chief Business Officer, Strohwig Industries
- Samuel Jack – Senior Counsel, Husch Blackwell
- Audra Jervey – Enterprise Contract Officer, Division of Facilities Development and Management (DFDM), State of Wisconsin
- Michelle Kaczmarowski – Procurement & Supplier Development Manager, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD)
- Matt Klaila – Program and Policy Analyst, Division of Facilities Development and Management (DFDM), State of Wisconsin
- Shane Mahaffy – Lead Business Opportunity Specialist, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
- Megan McKinney – VP Business Development, CyberNlNES
- Jerome Miastkowski – CEO, Aeroplicity
- Peter Patten – Purchasing Manager, Dane County
- Brian Pittelli – Buyer, City of Madison
- Jessica Potter – WisPro Section Chief, Department of Administration-Division of Enterprise Operations, State Bureau of Procurement
- Dontreal Teague – Business Inclusion Program Coordinator, City of Milwaukee
- Alex Ysquierdo, MSc – Director, Department of Administration Supplier Diversity Program
- David Zvenyach – Founder, Tandem – CEO, MakeGov
- Matthew Frost – Government Contract Specialist, Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI)
- [Moderator] Aina Vilumsons – President-Executive Director, Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI)
The Contracting Academy (TCA) is an opportunity for businesses to grow their technical knowledge of contracting with Federal Government, State and Local Government, and Government Prime Contractors. The series of workshops will benefit established businesses looking to grow and develop their government sales.