Get valuable information on how to best utilize your Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) and your Small Business (SB) certification.

---

If you’re Small Business (SB) or Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) certified, then it’s time to pursue contract opportunities with the State of California! Join us to learn how to find out which agencies buy what you sell, how to connect with SB/DVBE advocates, and elevate your business’s chances of winning a contract.

Workshop Topics Include:

• Cal eProcure profiles
• Keywords and UNSPSCs
• Contract opportunities
• Researching past purchases
• SB/DVBE Advocates
• Reciprocity partners
• Emergency contracting
• Commercially useful function

Meet Your Speaker

---

Diane Lydon currently serves as a Business Outreach Manager for the Office of Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Services in the Procurement Division of the California Department of General Services. In her role, Diane educates business owners on how to do business with the state and the benefits of pursuing state certification. She provides best practices and guidance in finding contract opportunities with the state of California.

Prior to joining Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Services, Diane managed development and delivery of educational training programs for the World Trade Center Northern California. She designed and managed training activities for small to medium-size companies on export fundamentals, markets, supply chain and finance. She collaborated on programs with Small Business Development Centers, Chambers of Commerce, the Small Business Administration and U.S. Commercial Services.

Diane is an experienced leader in business development and has a substantive background in marketing communications. She has a proven record of accomplishments in helping small and diverse businesses successfully connect to markets to achieve brand and business objectives.

The CA Department of General Services Office of Small Business and DVBE Services (CA DGS OSDS) commits to helping small, diverse and disabled veteran businesses thrive. OSDS assists businesses with certification and access to procurement opportunities through outreach, education and advocacy. OSDS also works to ensure the state as a whole and each department and agency meets the goal of spending 25% of contract dollars with California certified small businesses and 3% with disabled veteran business enterprises.

---

This No-Cost Training Event is Co-Hosted by

---

Caltrans manages more than 50,000 miles of California’s highway and freeway lanes, provides inter-city rail services, permits more than 400 public-use airports and special-use hospital heliports, and works with local agencies. Caltrans carries out its mission with six primary programs: Aeronautics, Highway Transportation, Mass Transportation, Transportation Planning, Administration and the Equipment Service Center.

---

Shasta-Cascade SBDC’s mission is to empower now and next-generation entrepreneurs with a prepared, growth mindset – through transformative insights, resources, and guidance.

With unparalleled access to no-cost expertise from entrepreneurs who have seen it all, Shasta-Cascade SBDC provides small businesses with the solutions they seek and the confidence they need to realize their dreams. Shasta-Cascade SBDC is proud to be a part of the greater NorCal SBDC network and work together to support local entrepreneurs and small businesses with the tools and insights to start, grow, and pivot their businesses.

---

Our goal is to provide entrepreneurs and small business owners with engaging and effective services that support you as a person, assist your business to start, grow and get funded, and generate local wealth and opportunity. Our goal is to provide in-depth, substantive, outcome-oriented business services to women (and men) entrepreneurs, both nascent and established business owners, a representative number of whom are socially and economically disadvantaged.

---

NorCal VBOC’s mission is to support veterans, transitioning service members – and their spouses with end-to-end support for long-term business success.

---

The United States Small Business Administration is an independent agency of the United States government that provides support to entrepreneurs and small businesses. The Sacramento District provides help with SBA services including funding programs, counseling, federal contracting certifications, and disaster recovery. We can also connect you to our partner organizations, lenders, and other community groups that help small businesses succeed.

---

This No-Cost Training Event is Hosted by

---

Northern California APEX Accelerator is a government-funded nonprofit formed to help small businesses find, bid on, and win contracts with federal, state, local, and tribal agencies.

---