CALIFORNIA DISABLED VETERANS FACE OPPORTUNITIES

More than 1000 one-to-one Œbusiness matchmaking¹ sessions were accomplished during the 17th Annual ³Keeping the Promise 2008² business expo. From across California, the non-profit Disabled Veterans Business Alliance (DVBE) brought disabled veteran entrepreneurs face-to-face with corporate and government business leaders in Irvine. For two days, April 15-16, hundreds of veteran-owned, and certified DVBE vendor companies met with procurement and supplier diversity professionals seeking contract opportunities for a wide range of goods and services.

DVBE Alliance exists to help veterans become certified, create businesses and secure opportunity. Alliance President Robert Brown, says, ³Our motto is, Šserving together again. The creativity, skills and discipline veterans bring to the workplace are key to realizing their opportunity.² Certified disabled veteran businesses are guaranteed by law contract participation
goals for service to their country.

³KTP 2008² Keynote Speaker, U.S.N. Capt. (Ret.) Jennifer Town, Program Director, Comprehensive Combat & Complex Casualty Care Programs, Naval Medical Center, San Diego, CA, described the challenges and needs of the current generation of America¹s wounded warriors. Luncheon Speaker, California Public Utilities Chairman, John A. Bond, addressed goals and
programs for all DVBE with the regulated utilities industries in California.

Brought to you by sponsors ATT, Lockheed Martin, Sprint, Southwest Gas, Robert Half International, Northrup Grumman, Southern California Edison, Grainger, PG&E, McKesson, Blue Shield, Union Bank, Kaiser Permanente, Genentech, Hilton, American Airlines Sierra Pacific Resources, Pride Industries, Sempra and the CA Department of General Services, ³Keeping the
Promise 2008² also honored those who support disabled veteran programs. Secretary Tom Johnson, California Department of Veterans Affairs, a leader in helping State government understand and meet procurement goals received the John K. Lopez Award for 2008, for his dedicated support and outreach.

The 2008 M. K. Madding Award was presented to Procurement Officer Mr. John Kell at Chuckawalla State Prison for leading the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation in utilization of Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises in 2007. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger strengthened State government DVBE goals by signing SB 115 into law in 2006.

Learn more about DVBE certification by visiting http://www.cadvbe.org or by calling 916-446-3510

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