Tampa Engagement Dinner: September 2025

Registration now open!

NVSBC offers our Engagement Dinner event and keynote speaker for the veteran entrepreneur and federal small business community.  Come join us for the networking, dinner, and guest speaker!  All (NVSBC Members - Non-Members) are welcome to attend if interested in this government contracting focused event. 

This Tampa Engagement Dinner is generously sponsored by Ferguson.

• Location/Special Venue: Ferguson, 302 N Willow Ave, Tampa, FL 33606
• Parking: Venue & Street Parking
• Event POC: Engagement Director, [email protected]

Tampa Engagement Dinner Agenda: 

• 5:30 – 6:00 PM Registration, Networking
• 6:00 – 6:20 PM Call to Order
• Opening Remarks: Janelle Askew, Director of Engagement, NVSBC
• 6:20 – 6:30 PM
• Ferguson Remarks: Cathy Williams, Director, Business Diversity & Holly Jones, Director of Strategic Planning and Development
• 6:30 – 7:00 PM Dinner Served (Buffet)
• 7:00 - 7:10 PM APEX Accelerator Spotlight: Karen Krymski, MPH, CVE, Government Contracting Consultant, Florida APEX Accelerator
• 7:10 – 7:40 PM Around the Room Introductions
• 7:40 - 7:45 PM Introduction of Speaker: Bob Santmyer, CEO/President, PenBay Technology Group LLC & NVSBC Board Member
• 7:45 – 8:15 PM Speaker Presentation + Q&A
• Speaker: Heidi Gerding, Founder of HeiTech Services
• Topic: Lessons from the Field: What Worked, What Didn’t, and What’s Next
• You don't want to miss hearing from one of NVSBC's founding members and a respected and accomplished entrepreneur with more than 25 years of experience in the federal government services industry. Heidi Gerding will share her real-world experience and will give attendees a candid look at business evolution, including exits, pivoting to meet the current administration's needs, and growth tactics for your business. 

• 815 – 830 PM Closing Remarks & Networking

**This event will have limited seating. Please register as soon as you can. Thank you!**

REGISTER