Kathlyn “Kathy” Adams was born in Baltimore, Maryland. While attending Carver Vocational-Technical High School, at the age of 16, Kathy was chosen to take part in a select group of Carver students that NSA was testing for possible future employment. Twenty four months later, she was entrusted with her security clearance credentials. By the time she graduated from high school, she received full-time job offers from both NSA and the Baltimore City school system. She made the choice that laid the foundation of her career today—she chose NSA. She attained a B.S. in Computer Science and Information Systems from the University of Maryland. Kathy worked at NSA for 7 years prior to becoming a contract employee working for corporations such as GE Aerospace, Computer Science Corporation and TRW.

It was in 1987 that some of her NSA mentors gave her the courage to leave the NSA environment. By 1997 she had reached executive level positions running the Information Technology Services Division of a corporation who she now competes with.

By 2001, she found herself in the most challenging role thus far--President and CEO of her own company, Ross Technologies Inc. named after her son, Ross.

Anthony (Tony) Bell is the Chief of Small Business Programs at the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The mission of USACE is to provide engineering services to the nation for planning, designing, building and operating water resources and other civil works projects; designing and managing the construction of military facilities for the Army and Air Force and providing design and construction management support for other Defense and federal agencies. Tony is responsible for managing the USACE small business program to ensure that small businesses are provided maximum practicable opportunities to participate as prime contractors or subcontractors.

Prior joining USACE, Tony was the Program Manager for the Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization Office at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Tony was named the 2006 Small Business Advocated of the Year by UIDA Business Services. UIDA is a Native American organization dedicated to the economic advancement of Native American Indians.

LTC James A. Blanco serves as the Assistant to the Director, for the Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) at the Pentagon. OSBP is the Army's single point of contact for small business outreach, policy and acquisition integration.

LTC Blanco began his Army career in Berlin, Germany where he served as Platoon Leader and Executive Officer for Headquarters and Service Company, Field Station Berlin. After departing Berlin, he was selected to command Headquarters Company, 20th Corps Materiel Management Center (CMMC) at Ft. Lewis, WA. . In 1994, he was assigned to the Training With Industry Program (TWI) with Super Valu Inc. located in Minneapolis, Minn. His TWI utilization assignment was with the Army Center of Excellence-Subsistence (ACES) at Ft. Lee, Va. where he was advisor to Defense Supply Center, Philadelphia (DSCP) on Army implementation policy and commercial practices. In 1998, LTC Blanco was selected for Advanced Civil Schooling (ACS) earning a Masters of Science in Commercialization and Technology Transfer from the University of Texas (UT) at Austin. Upon graduation from UT, he was assigned to US Army Contracting Command Europe in Wiesbaden, Germany and participated on a variety of contingency operations throughout Eastern Europe and Asia.

His military education includes the Quartermaster Officer Basic and Advanced Courses and the Army Command and General Staff College. He is also Level III Certified in Contracting. His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (with three Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters), and Army Achievement Medal (with three Oak Leaf Clusters). LTC Blanco was selected as the 2000 Secretary of the Army Outstanding Military Contracting Officer.

The Honorable Claude M. Bolton, Jr. became the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology) in January 2002.

He serves as the Army Acquisition Executive, Senior Procurement Executive, and Science Advisor to the Secretary of the Army. Mr. Bolton is the Army’s senior research and development official, and has principal responsibility for all logistics matters. He oversees the Elimination of Chemical Weapons Program, and has oversight and executive authority for the Project and Contracting Office charged with Iraq reconstruction.

A veteran of more than thirty years of distinguished service, Mr. Bolton retired as a major General in the U.S. Air Force.

He hold a Bachelor’s in electrical engineering from the University of Nebraska; a Master’s in management from Troy State University; and a Master’s in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College. He also holds a Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) from England’s Cranfield University

LTG Jim Campbell serves as the Director of the Army Staff where he manages the Army’s day-to-day business in the conduct of long-range planning, resource determination and allocation, the development of Army-wide objectives, the formulation of broad policy guidance, and the supervision and control of Department of the Army activities. LTG Campbell works directly for the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Army.

LTG Campbell has led and commanded Soldiers at every level of the Army. He has taken part in virtually every military action this country has experienced in the past 15 years. Prior to assuming his current duty, LTG Campbell was Commander of the U.S. Army, Pacific, where he was responsible for the training and readiness of over 25,000 soldiers based in Hawaii, Alaska, and Japan.

Jovita Carranza was sworn in Dec. 15, 2006, as Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. President George W. Bush nominated her for the post and she was confirmed by unanimous consent by the U.S. Senate on Dec. 9, 2006.

As Deputy Administrator, Carranza serves as second in command to Administrator Steven C. Preston. She helps to manage an agency with more than 80 field offices across the country and a portfolio of direct and guaranteed business loans, venture capital investments and disaster loans worth almost $80 billion. Carranza currently leads key operational improvement initiatives and projects designed to improve customer response. For her outstanding accomplishments throughout her career, Hispanic Business magazine named her Woman of the Year in 2004.

A native of Chicago, Carranza earned her MBA from the University of Miami (FL).

Selected for his current position as Associate Director in April 2003, Scott is responsible for the overall management of AMC’s command-wide multi-billion dollar Small Business Program. He leads a team of dedicated professionals who optimize small business contracting opportunities in fulfilling AMC’s mission to support America’s Warfighters.

Prior assignments include contracting and acquisition positions with headquarters AMC, the Army Troop Support Command, the Army Intelligence and Security Command, the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research, Development and Acquisition and Project Manager-Soldier.

Scott holds an MBA from Webster University, St. Louis, MO, and an undergraduate degree in Finance & Management from the University of South Carolina. He is a graduate of the Army Management Staff College and is level III certified in Contracting and Program Management.

In 2006, Scott received the Secretary of the Army Small Business Utilization Award and DoD’s Outstanding Small Business Specialist Award.

Margot Dorfman is a visionary leader who has dedicated herself to dramatically advancing the economic and leadership opportunities for women. As a founder and CEO of the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce, Ms. Dorfman has championed opportunities to increase women’s business growth, career and leadership advancement, and has founded WomenO – Women to the Ownership Power, the Women’s Ownership Movement™.

Ms. Dorfman believes that women have established a critical mass of business ownership, education, executive leadership, and political clout which enables us to establish our own path. Through the ownership of the power of this critical mass and the unification of our collective strength, we are moving beyond being just as a sought-after consumer market -- taking our rightful place as the most powerful economic force in America. Through the ownership of our power, we behave differently, establish and invest in new economic platforms, and align our political votes and purchasing power with our own economic and community interest. This shift to ownership of our power and unification of our collective strength marks the beginning of the Women's Ownership Movement™.

Ms. Dorfman has an extensive background in business, business ownership, publishing and nonprofit leadership. She is a sought after speaker on economic, business and women’s issues and regularly provides advice and council to local, regional and national leaders. Her personal goal is to see economic and leadership parity for women in her lifetime.

Ms. Dorfman holds a Master's of Education from Lesley University and a B.S. in Education from Northeastern University. Her corporate experience includes over ten years in executive positions with General Mills and other Fortune 500 firms.

Mrs. Sarah H. Finnicum, assumed duties as the Senior Executive Service Director of Supply and Maintenance, Headquarters, Department of the Army, on 16 January 2007. She is a Department of the Army Civilian with over 25 years of Federal Service. She completed the formal training portion of the AMC Supply Management Intern Program in June 1979 and transferred to the Electronics Materiel Readiness Activity at Vint Hill Farm Station. She served as an item manager during this period before transferring to the Depot System Command in April 1981 serving in a variety of positions-LOGMARS project Officer, inventory Management officer, and distribution facilities specialist.

In November 2002, Mrs. Finnicum became the Assistant G-4 for USAREUR. As the Deputy G-4 for HQUSAREUR, supervised and managed a multi-disciplined staff to support all Army logistics operations and activities within the 94 countries of the European Command footprint. Primary responsibilities included supervising the development of plans and policies that would ensure the levels of materiel readiness necessary to successfully support the GWOT. Additionally, managed command logistics implementing procedures to ensure effective execution to standard and efficient execution within resource allocations. Developed overarching plans of action and milestones to support the commander’s strategic objectives for supporting expeditionary forces and achieving long term theater sustainment. Actively engaged with EUCOM, ARNG, USAR, DLA, AMC, and HQDA to lead the transformation of CSS in Europe. Ensured logistics resource requirements, such as, transportation of soldiers, equipment, and supplies; reset of OIF/OEF equipment; maintenance of Left Behind Equipment, etc. were identified, validated and programmed. Developed logistics strategy to support OIF/OEF deployments and redeployments of all USAREUR units and deployment and redeployment of Army National Guard units to Bosnia and Kosovo.

She is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi.

bd Systems grew from three employees in 1981 to more than 330 in 2006 with nation-wide operations in twenty-three locations. bd Systems’ customers included the U.S. Air Force, NASA and the General Services Administration. bd Systems was a key subcontractor to several of the largest defense contractors, including Lockheed-Martin, TRW (now Northrop Grumman), and Boeing. bd Systems was acquired by Science Applications International Corporation September 8, 2006.

Under Ms. Howard’s watchful eye, bd completed three successful corporate acquisitions, adding NASA scientific support services, Air Force intelligence software, and Geographic Information Systems to bd’s core competencies.

A graduate of the University of Redlands, Ms. Howard is married and is the mother of one son.

The Congresswoman, a strong advocate for many issues and has championed wealth building and economic development, access and delivery of health care, and quality education for all children. The Congresswoman is the first black woman to chair the Standards of Official Conduct (Ethics) Committee and the first black woman to serve on the Ways and Means Committee. She is the mother Mervyn L. Jones,II.

Throughout her career, she has received numerous performance awards and citations. Most notably, she was the recipient of the Secretary of the Army Award for significant contributions to the Army Small Business Program.

Ms Lee holds a Master of Science Degree in Contract and Acquisition Management, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration, Virginia State University, Peters

Mr. Maultsby was born in Newark, New Jersey and earned his undergraduate degree from Rutgers University. He has a Masters Degree and is currently pursuing a Ph.D in Education. Mr. Maultsby retired from the US Army as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2001. He is Level III certified in contracting and maintains membership with the Army Acquisition Corps, National Contract Management Association and Rutgers Alumni. He received the 2005 Secretary of Army Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization Award and the 2006 Department of Army Blacks In Government Meritorious Service Award. burg, VA. She is a Level III certified acquisition professional and was recently accepted into the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Policy and Procurement) Senior Leadership Development Program.

Under Ms. McKinney’s leadership, M & M has become an ISO 9001:2000 registered SEI CMMI level II Corporation with an exceptional performance record. In 1999, Ms McKinney was awarded the Howardites Making a Difference award for outstanding achievements in business. In 2006, M & M was awarded the coveted Nunn-Perry Award which recognizes outstanding Mentor-Protégé corporate performance in the DoD community. Also in 2006, Ms McKinney won the VMSDC “Entrepreneur of the Year” award for her dedication and support of other small businesses and community service. Ms. McKinney is an active member of the New Life Anointed Christian Center’s ministry program.

Ms. Monroe holds a Bachelor of Science Degree and Masters Degree; she is certified in Contracts Acquisition Level III and a member of the Army Acquisition Corps.

Ms. Pinson received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science from Howard University. She also received a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. She is a member in good standing of the Maryland Bar Association and the National Contract Management Association.

In 1999, she returned to Germany, and served on the PARC’s Procurement Management Review Team traveling to dangerous war-torn places like Kosovo, Bosnia, Tuzla, and Sarajevo.

In 2001 she managed the Army’s World-Wide Commercial Travel Program Contract for the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, leading over 280 Contracting Officer Representatives.

In 2005, Jackie joined ACA ITEC4 as a Small Business Advisor. She was promoted to Associate Director in July 2006. She resides in Woodbridge, VA with her husband (LTC Victor Burnette, Army), and their three daughters.

Mr. Sakowitz served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Base Operations Support (DCSBOS), at U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) from 1996 - 2002. As the “City Manager” for TRADOC, he was responsible for installation management doctrine, policies, resources, standards and programs. Mr. Sakowitz managed 15 major installations and oversaw mission support to include logistics; engineering; morale, welfare and recreation; military and civilian personnel; provost marshal operations; safety, fire protection and environment; contracting; base realignment and closure; and equal opportunity. He managed a MACOM headquarters staff of 300+ personnel and provided management oversight of: $1.57 billion annual budget; 50+ thousand military and civilians; 2 million acres of land; 160 million square feet of facilities worth $30 billion; $1+ billion contract support and daily base support for 150+ thousand students, active duty, reserves, civilians, and retirees.

Mr. Sakowitz has also served as the Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel and Installation Management, U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM), Fort McPherson, Georgia, where he was responsible for individual and unit personnel readiness, mobilization planning and support, oversight of a $1.3 billion BASOPS budget and management of base support for DOD’s largest major command composed of over 800 thousand soldiers and 30 thousand civilians. He served in that position from March 1996-January 1998.

Mr. Tyler obtained a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla in 1970 and a Master of Arts in Public Administration from the University of Virginia in 1983. He is a registered professional engineer in the state of Virginia as well as a graduate of the Department of Army, Engineer and Scientist Executive Development Program.

In 1992, she was elected to the House of Representatives to represent New York's 12th District. Her district, which encompasses parts of Brooklyn, Queens and the Lower East Side of Manhattan is the only tri-borough district in the New York City congressional delegation. Encompassing many diverse neighborhoods, it is home to a large Latino population, with pockets of Polish communities, and parts of Chinatown.

As a fighter for equal rights of the underrepresented and a proponent of economic opportunity for the working class and poor, Congresswoman Velázquez combines sensibility and compassion as she works to encourage economic development, protect community health and the environment, combat crime and worker abuses, and secure access to affordable housing, quality education and health care for all New York City families.

Although her work on the Small Business Committee and the House Financial Services Committee (where she is the most senior New York Member on its Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity) keeps her busy, Representative Velázquez can often be found close to home, working for the residents of her district.

A respected IT strategist, Ms. Wang actively participates in government, business, and technology organizations. She speaks frequently on technology strategies and policies, as well as entrepreneurship and advancing careers for women and minorities.

Ms. Wang holds a post-graduate degree in computer science from the University of Houston, Texas.