The 2024 Pacific Defense Contracting Summit & Pacific Tech Conference set out "to connect small businesses with prime contractors," organizers told Pacific Business News.
The event, which attracted more than 400 business leaders, was held from Oct. 28 to Oct. 29 at the Hawaii Convention Center. The Hawaii Technology Development Corp. partnered with the Defense Leadership Forum to put it on.
"The ultimate goal of the event was to help connect businesses with military and government leaders who are seeking new products and services," William Loiry, chairman of the Defense Leadership Forum and this year's conference organizer, told PBN in an email. "We achieved this through general sessions, one-on-one introductions, workshops and breakout sessions, and by providing general networking opportunities."
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Adm. Samuel Paparo were among 75 speakers who "discussed strategies for winning millions in new U.S. Department of Defense and other federal agency contracts," according to the Defense Leadership Forum. Topics spanned from resources for small businesses to opportunities for venture capital funding, and more.
"Throughout the two days, we received very positive feedback from presenters, attendees and exhibitors," Loiry said, adding that there were a total of 15 staff supporting the event.
Matt Noordhoff, supplier diversity specialist at Parsons Corp., told PBN, “I had a good time at the conference. I spoke on a panel about how small businesses can connect with large primes. I think it’s a really valuable experience, and I encourage everyone to attend the next Pacific Defense Contracting Summit.”
The event, backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration, was also "largely funded by sponsorship and exhibitor fees and by attendee registration fees," Loiry said.
The Defense Leadership Forum plans to bring the 2025 Pacific Defense Contracting Summit back to Hawaii, he continued. "We plan to increase the size of the delegations from Australia, Japan and South Korea."
For more information about the Defense Leadership Forum, a public service organization which organizes defense contracting conferences nationwide, visit usdlf.org.
