Your FMA Community Report

DECEMBER 2018

Market breakthrough

Landing your first contract with a Fort Meade client

Fort George G. Meade has long been the source of ample business opportunities for government contractors and is currently poised to significantly increase the volume of contracts.

However, in the midst of that robust contracting environment, businesses face one fundamental challenge: Breaking into the Fort Meade market is a demanding and lengthy process.

So we asked some FMA members who are established Fort Meade contractors, for their insights on best practices to land work with agencies and commands at the garrison.

Network, connect & learn

Relationships are core to doing business in the Fort Meade market, so FMA members unanimously urged newcomers to get involved with the community. Attend a variety of events – meetings by FMA, the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) and the Cybersecurity Association of Maryland

as well as information sessions hosted by the small business outreach offices of the National Security Agency, the Defense Information Systems Agency and other Fort Meade tenants. Volunteer to work on industry events or committees, seek out business development luncheons and foster relationships both with agency officials and local businesses.

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Rising Stars and Mentors share rich conversations, fresh insights

Put a young professional and an industry leader together for a simple coffee break and “wonderfully rich conversations” ensue that can help shape lives, careers and a community.

That's the experience of mentors and proteges participating in FMA’s Rising Star Mentorship Program . The program, which kicked off in the fall, allows young professionals to book hour-long, one-on-one conversations with a cross section of FMA board members.

“One of my passions is to listen and understand and ask probing questions,” said Bill Dunahoo, a mentor and President of Praxis Engineering. “I learned that years and years ago from some senior people who mentored me. So I was invigorated by the conversations I had with three Rising Stars.”

The conversations between mentors and Rising Stars have explored a range of topics, including insights about how to develop careers, grow small businesses, and maintain work-life balance amid all that professional advancement. They have covered the history of Fort Meade, the missions of Fort Meade agencies and commands, the evolution and challenges of cyber security, the contracting environment in the Fort Meade Region, and promising contacts or opportunities for individual Rising Stars.

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Education and Workforce Development Initiatives Get FMA Member Support

The FMA’s focus on education an workforce development did not slow down this last year. In fact, our efforts catapulted to new levels with the participation from so many of our FMA members.

The key initiatives included:

• Signature Student Programs: Tech Mania hands-on presentations in the spring and fall for 300 ninth-grade students from the region and STEM Family Night, which showcased STEM-related activities for more than 300 elementary and middle school students — both events were designed to help bolster students’ excitement about a future in STEM.

• STEM Core: This accelerated math program prepares students for STEM-related careers. The FMA expanded the program to the STEM Core Bridge, which prepares 50 students from Forest City Park High School and Digital Harbor High School for college.

• Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) Initiatives: The FMA helped connect the school system with members to ensure STEM career awareness and cyber curriculum are available to students.

• Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation (AAWDC) Military Corp Career Connections (C3): This grant provides effective employment and training assistance to military personnel transitioning out of the service.

Thank you to our FMA members who supported our Education and Workforce Development Initiatives in 2018!

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Thank You to our New & Upgraded Members since July 2018!

New Partners

Parsons - 5 Star Partner

PCI - 5 Star

National Instruments - Patriot Partner

Members Upgraded to Partners

Aronson - Patriot Partner

Vision Technologies - 5 Star Partner

New Members

Edward Jones Investments

Erias Ventures, LLC

Farfield Systems, Inc.

Gear Up, LLC

Inflection Point Law

J Grubb Consulting, LLC

Kito-Taye-Lynn Business Consulting Group, LLC

McCarter & English LLP

Nemphos Braue LLC

PilieroMazza PLLC

RedTrace Technologies

Revere Bank

SysArc, Inc.

Tailored Management Consulting, LLC

The Lap of Luxury

TownePlace Suites Marriott Baltimore BWI

Union Bank & Trust

In Case You Missed It:

President’s Reception | Dec. 12th | Maryland Live Casino Hotel

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Save the Date: January 23, 2019

You are invited to join us on January 23 at for our Key Leader Series, featuring Lt. Gen. Vincent R. Stewart, USMC. The Deputy Director of US Cyber Command will discuss how the agency will fulfill its mission to direct synchronize and coordinate cyberspace planning and operations to defend and advance national security from right here in Fort Meade. Learn what the DoD’s latest Combatant Command may mean for Maryland and your business.

Registration to open soon!

Save the Date: March 7, 2019

FMA Industry Day

March 7, 2019 | 7:30 am - 11:00 am

Westin Baltimore Washington Airport - BWI

Keynote Speaker: Teresa Shea , EVP, IQT Technology, former NSA Director of Signals Intelligence

Industry Panel featuring senior acquisition officials from: U.S. Cyber Command, National Security Agency and

Defense Information Systems Agency

Showcase your company

The Fort Meade Alliance will publish the 11th annual Destination Fort Meade Guide in Spring 2019.

Secure your ad space today to showcase your company to a valued and growing audience throughout the Fort Meade region.

Ad sales close in April 19, 2019. Please contact Kim Horn at 410-864-8991 or [email protected] to secure your ad space today!

Interested in getting more involved in the FMA Foundation?

We are looking for FMA members to join the Backyard BBQ committee!

As a committee member, you will help come up with ideas for the April 25 event, including décor, assist with sponsorships and collecting silent auction items.

If you are interested in joining the committee, please email Rachel Robbins at [email protected].