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virtual

2020  SMALL BUSINESS SUMMIT

SPEAKERS

Lani Dawson Arena, President, NHOA & Chief Advocate, DAWSON

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​Ms. Dawson Arena joined DAWSON in May of 2012.  Since July of 2013, she has served as the Director of Advocacy for DAWSON and its parent company, the Hawaiian Native Corporation (HNC). As Director of Advocacy, she directs all government relations activities for HNC and its DAWSON subsidiaries. From May 2012 through December 2019, Ms. Dawson Arena also served as Acting Executive Director of the HNC, responsible for establishing and administering HNC’s programs to benefit Native Hawaiians and directing the activities of the HNC.
Ms. Dawson-Arena has served on the Native Hawaiian Organizations Association (NHOA) Board of Directors since 2012. She also served as the Chair of the NHOA Legislative Committee from 2013-2017. She has been President of the NHOA Board of Directors since August of 2017. Since 2015, she has also served on the Board of Directors and Policy Committee of the Native American Contractors Association (NACA) which advocates regarding Federal contracting issues on behalf of Native Hawaiian Organizations (NHOs), Alaska Native Corporations and Native American Tribes. NHOA is the Hawai`i based organization representing NHOs and NACA is a National organization representing all Native 8(a) organizations. Ms. Dawson-Arena has been working with both organizations to support the Native 8(a) program which has been instrumental in enabling HNC and other NHOs to benefit Native Hawaiians.

DAWSON is a Native Hawaiian-owned small business with more than 25 years’ experience providing innovative and cost-effective solutions to its clients across the globe. DAWSON’s core capabilities include construction, environmental and munitions response, logistics, energy, and information technology/cyber solutions.  HNC is a non-profit organization founded in February 2004 and controlled entirely by Native Hawaiians. HNC is recognized by the U.S. Department of Defense under Federal statutory authority as a NHO certified by the U.S. Small Business Administration and as such is required to use a portion of profits generated by its for-profit subsidiaries to benefit Native Hawaiians.

Prior to joining DAWSON, Ms. Dawson-Arena  was responsible for designing, implementing, and managing the State of California Department of Water Resources (DWR) FloodSAFE Federal Advocacy Program, an initiative to pursue Congressional appropriations and legislation for critical flood control projects. Ms. Dawson Arena was also a senior attorney for DWR responsible for advising DWR management regarding complex human resources matters and representing DWR in administrative labor law hearings. 

Ms. Dawson Arena has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Stanford University and a Juris Doctor from the University of California Los Angeles School of Law. She has over 35 years of experience as an attorney and she is a member of the California State Bar.  Her areas of practice are varied and extensive, and include corporate, labor, flood control, water supply, environmental, real estate, and business. 

​She is a Native Hawaiian and a member of the Dawson family.  Her son has a doctorate in architecture from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and practices architecture in Orange County, California.

Cynthia Almendarez, Business Opportunity Specialist, 8(a) Program, U.S. Small Business Administratio

​Ms. Almendarez has been a Business Opportunity Specialist at SBA for over 20 years.  As a member of the team at the San Francisco Office of Certification and Eligibility, she assists small disadvantaged businesses applying for the 8(a) Business Development Program.  She graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Economics and a minor in Accounting.

Alison Amann, Attorney-Advisor, Office of General Counsel, U.S. Small Business Administration

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​Alison Amann is an Attorney-Advisor in the Office of Procurement Law at the U.S. Small Business Administration. She serves as a legal advisor to senior Agency officials and their staff with respect to the HUBZone program and SBA’s internal contracting procedures. Alison has been a lawyer in SBA’s Office of General Counsel since 2011. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Pennsylvania in 2006 and from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2009.

Bill Barkovic, Modern Workplace Sales Solution Professional, Microsoft

Bill Barkovic is a Modern Workplace Sales Solution Professional at Microsoft.

​Judy Bradt, CEO, Summit Insight

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Judy Bradt, CEO of Summit Insight, brings over 32 years of expertise in Federal business development and strategy to people who want to grow their federal business. She’s an award-winning author, speaker and consultant.

Judy’s clients credit her strategies and training for their millions of dollars in federal wins. She works only with business owners who believe that relationships are the key to Federal contracting…and are ready do the work to get in front of buyers and opportunities before their competition does.

Summit Insight offers a relationship-based “earn-while-you-learn” approach to Federal business development training delivers proven, results-driven programs for people who want to grow their Federal business. Find out more at www.GrowFedBiz.com! ​

The Honorable Representative Judy Chu (CA-27), U.S. House of Representatives

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Judy Chu was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in July 2009. She represents the 27th Congressional District, which includes Pasadena and the west San Gabriel Valley of southern
California.

Rep. Chu currently serves on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over legislation pertaining to taxes, revenues, trade, Social Security, and Medicare.  In that Committee, Rep. Chu is a member of the Subcommittees on Health, Oversight, and Worker and Family Support, giving her purview over healthcare reform, the IRS, and crucial
safety net programs.

She also serves on the House Small Business Committee, which has authority over the Small Business Administration. She is the Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and a member of the Subcommittee on Contracting and Infrastructure.
In 2011, Chu was elected Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus , which advocates for the needs and concerns of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community across the nation. She helps lead the Tri-Caucus, a joint effort with the Congressional Black
Caucus and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

Chu founded and co-chairs the Congressional Creative Rights Caucus , which advocates for the copyright protections of those in the creative industries, such as music, film and visual arts. She also serves in leadership of the House Democratic Caucus as a Member of the Steering and Policy Committee.

Some of Rep. Chu’s proudest accomplishments in Congress include: introducing and passing a Congressional resolution of regret for the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882; working with President Obama to declare the San Gabriel Mountains a national monument; requiring the Department of Defense to address military hazing; helping entrepreneurs by establishing two new Small Business Development Centers in the San Gabriel Valley; helping small businesses refinance old, expensive real estate loans by reviving the Small Business Administration’s 504 loan refinance program; and requiring HHS to develop minimum standards for sober living homes that provide safe and stable living environments for those recovering from addiction.

Chu was first elected to the Board of Education for Garvey School District in 1985. From there, she was elected to the Monterey Park City Council, where she served as Mayor three times. She then was elected to the State Assembly and then California’s elected tax board, known as the State Board of Equalization. In 2009, she became the first Chinese American woman elected to Congress in history.

​Chu lives with her husband, Michael Eng, in the city of Monterey Park, where they have been residents for over 32 years.

Edward DeLisle, ​Principal and Chair, Government Contracts Group, Offit Kurman

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Edward DeLisle concentrates his practice in the areas of federal contracting, construction law, construction litigation and small business procurement and litigation. He has drafted and negotiated construction contracts, teaming agreements and joint venture agreements for subcontractors, contractors, developers and owners. Ed also actively monitors the progress of his clients’ construction projects in order to safeguard those rights and remedies to which they are entitled. He has litigated, arbitrated and mediated complex construction and procurement cases in various jurisdictions and forums
throughout the area.

​Ed counsels clients in all aspects of small business procurement. He has assisted clients in obtaining certification as small and small disadvantaged businesses at the municipal, state and federal level. He has participated in bid protests involving Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned, HUBZone and 8(a) set-aside contracts and regularly assists with responding to bestvalue procurements at the state and federal level. Ed also assists companies, both foreign and domestic, in international disputes involving the United States Government. He is currently representing clients on matters involving Department of Defense work in Afghanistan and has done similar work for clients in Israel.
Ed has testified before congressional subcommittees and is a frequent lecturer and author on issues of concern to the construction and federal contracting industries. He has presented at the National 8(a) Association Conferences in Anchorage, Alaska; Orlando, FL; and Nashville, TN as well as at the AGC Federal Contractors Conference in Washington, DC. Ed has also spoken at AGC of America’s national conference, where he discussed hot topics in federal government contracts. Ed has also lectured on how to appropriately team on federal projects, the SDVOSB verification process, changes in the SBA’s small business programs, effective project documentation, strategies to obtain payment on construction projects and the legal protections provided by the bond and lien laws of various states.

Ed is a legal content contributor to both GovBizConnect and Onvia.

Kate DePriest, Assistant Counsel to the Inspector General, U.S. Small Business Administration

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​Kate DePriest is an Attorney-Advisor in the Office of Procurement Law at the U.S. Small Business Administration in Washington, DC. She serves as the legal advisor to agency officials and their staff for the Women-Owned Small Business Program. She joined SBA in 2015 as an attorney with the Office of Inspector General before moving to the Office of General Counsel in 2018. 


Jon DeVore, ​Attorney and Shareholder, Birch Horton Bittner & Cherot, P.C.

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​Jon M. DeVore is a life-long Alaskan having lived in Nome, Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau.  Since 2005 he has been a Member of the Birch Horton Bittner and Cherot law firm in Washington, D.C. His legal practice involves the Federal Procurement System, SBA 8(a) program, small business development, business transactions, federal contract issues, GAO bid protest and cases before the SBA Office of Hearings and Appeals, and legislative and administrative advocacy with the State of Alaska and Federal governments. Jon also provides legal advice related to development of natural resources and environmental permitting. Jon is the former Legislative Director and Chief Counsel for U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski.  
He was the District Counsel for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in Alaska for thirteen years.  He was also corporate counsel for Bristol Bay Native Corporation and on the staff of U.S. Senator Ted Stevens and senior legislative assistant to U.S. Senator Frank Murkowski.  Jon also is an adjunct professor teaching government contracts and has been retained as a litigation expert in SBA matters. ​

Kay Doane, Small Business Specialist, NASA Stennis Space Center

Kay Doane is a Small Business Specialist at NASA.

Kenneth Dodds, ​Government Contracting Industry Expert, Live Oak Bank

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​Kenneth Dodds is an Industry Expert at Live Oak Bank in the Government Contracting vertical, providing small business government contractors with access to capital for mobilization and acquisitions, as well as advisory services.  He joined Live Oak Bank after 21 years at the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), where he was a Senior Executive in the Office of Policy, Planning and Liaison responsible for Federal government contracting regulations and policy.  He was the agency representative on the Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the chair of the Small Business Procurement Advisory Council.  
Previously he was the Director of the Office of Government Contracting, responsible for SBA programs and policies including goaling, size standards, size protests, procurement center representatives, subcontracting, certificate of competency, and the women-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small business programs.  He also served as a senior attorney in SBA's Office of General Counsel, where he represented SBA in administrative contract litigation, provided legal advice concerning agency acquisitions, and drafted regulations, and as an Assistant Counsel to the Inspector General.  He received his law degree from the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William & Mary.    ​

Pete Dwyer, Chief Financial Officer, ​Na Ali’i Consulting & Sales LLC

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​Pete Dwyer is the Chief Financial Officer of Na Aliʻi. He has spent over 40 years in the federal contracting sector in a wide range of financial and operations roles, with the last 20 years as a CFO. His experience includes managing all aspects of acquisitions, securing acquisition financing, managing capital restructuring, and implementing financial controls, reporting and oversight for a wide range of companies.
​Pete holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from LaSalle University and an MBA in Finance from Drexel University. He spent eight years as a Visiting/ Adjunct Professor at St. Joseph’s University, teaching Finance courses in both the MBA and Executive MBA programs. 

Michael Fonseca, Pacific General Manager, DAWSON

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Mr. Michael Fonseca joined DAWSON in 2015 and serves as the General Manager for the DAWSON operating companies in Honolulu, with his AOR covering the Pacific Rim.  Part of his operational duties include development and implementation of comprehensive Annual Strategic Planning for the Pacific Region that includes sales, operations, finance, and HR.  In addition to his operational management duties, Mr. Fonseca brings an entrepreneurial spirit and vision to the organization, and perpetuates DAWSON’s core values of Aloha, ‘Ohana, and Kuleana, to our clients, partners, and community.

​Michael proudly supports the activities of DAWSON’s parent company, Hawaiian Native Corporation (HNC), a Native Hawaiian non-profit, and assists the HNC Board in carrying out their mission to benefit the Native Hawaiian community.  Born and raised in Kaneohe, on the island of Oahu, Michael is extremely passionate about giving back to the Native Hawaiian community and enjoys volunteering his time with his family at activities benefiting community and various Native Hawaiian non-profits.  

​​Michael obtained his degree Construction Management and Business Management at Northern Arizona University, before returning to Hawaii to start his career in the Federal construction sector where his construction management focus is in fuels construction, secured construction, general renovation, and environmental projects for various DoD agencies across the Pacific Rim.  

Jason Greenawalt, Executive Vice President, Na Ali’i Consulting & Sales LLC

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​Jason Greenawalt serves as the Executive Vice President for Na Aliʻi and Vice Chair and Treasurer of the Nakupuna Foundation – the majority owner of all Nakupuna Companies.  Jason is responsible for the long-term vision of the Nakupuna Companies and is proud to have been on the ground floor to oversee the growth of the organization from a single firm with a handful of associates to a family of companies with several hundred employees working across the United States. 
Prior to joining Na Aliʻi, Jason spent more than a decade in public service with the Department of the Navy (DON), most recently serving as the Director of Business Operations in the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy for Management – leading efforts to transform the DON’s business operations, streamline business processes, and reduce operating costs – and was responsible for the oversight, portfolio management, and funds certification of nearly 500 defense business systems with an annual cost of nearly $1.2B.  Jason’s other positions with the Navy cut across the enterprise to include serving on the staff of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Fleet Readiness and Logistics (OPNAV N4); first as the lead for Strategic Planning, then as the Chief of Staff for the Energy and Environmental Readiness Division.  His other positions included a variety of roles at both the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) and Commander Navy Installations Command (CNIC). 
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Jason is extraordinarily passionate about supporting the Native Hawaiian community; as a board member of the Nakupuna Foundation, Jason is responsible for community outreach and developing the investment portfolio of the Foundation’s charitable activities.  Jason is a distinguished alumnus of Campbell University and holds a Masters of Public Policy (MPP) from the George Washington University along with executive certifications from the Kennan-Flagler Business School, the Naval Postgraduate School, the Elliott School of International Affairs, and the Federal Executive Institute.  

​Mark Hagedorn, ​Attorney-Advisor, Office of Procurement Law, Office of General Counsel, SBA

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Mark Hagedorn is an Attorney Advisor in the Office of Procurement Law at the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in Washington, DC. He serves as a legal advisor to Agency officials and their staff with respect to the 8(a) Business Development program; the Women-Owned Small Business Concern program; the Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Concern program; the HUBZone program; suspension and debarment matters; and SBA’s internal contracting procedures. Mr. Hagedorn also represents the Agency in matters before SBA’s Office of Hearings and Appeals. He has been a lawyer in SBA’s Office of General Counsel since 2016.

Stephanie Hutch, President, Makai LLC

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​Stephanie Hutch is the Founder and Director of the Kekoa Foundation, a non-profit organization in Hawaii with the primary objective of serving the Native Hawaiian community through STEM initiatives, entrepreneurship, and cultural preservation.  She is also the President of Makai LLC, a small business actively supporting Department of Defense customers and specializing in Command, Control, Computers, Communications, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR).
 
As President of Makai, Stephanie is primarily responsible for providing guidance in developing strategic business plans and setting future organizational objectives. She coordinates directly with senior government and industry leaders to create, build, and foster strategic partnerships.  She serves as a pivotal liaison helping to facilitate technology and knowledge transfers between industry, government, and academia with the objective of strengthening our nation’s national security.
​Stephanie is also a small business advocate in the government contracting community and is actively engaged with numerous professional organizations.  She is currently serving as the Co-Chair of Women in AFCEA International, President of the Hanscom Representatives Association (HRA) and Co-President of the University of Pennsylvania’s Association of Native Alumni (ANA).  In March 2020 she was awarded the prestigious Women’s Appreciation Award from AFCEA International in recognition of her support of women in defense and national security.
 
Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Master’s Certificate in Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contract Management from George Washington University.

Brian Jamison, Technology Solution Professional, Microsoft

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​Brian has been in the Information Technology industry for well over 19 years. His emphasis for the bulk of his career has been in Identity/Access Management, Data Protection, Cybersecurity and Security Intelligence. Mr. Jamison has worked in a wide range of positions, from infrastructure support, development, solution design/architecture and implementation to name a few. As Brian has worked with several of the Top 5 world-wide IT companies, he has gained experience in commercial, Healthcare, Armed Services, Local & State and Federal Government as well as International industries.
 
Currently, Brian serves as a Microsoft Technology Solution Professional (Technical Pre-Sales Role). His primary responsibility is to create compelling, innovative security solutions that drive customer decisions to buy and use Microsoft platforms and cloud services. The solutions Brian’s covers in this role are the Azure security components (Enterprise Mobility & Security suite, Intune, Azure Information Protection, Microsoft Cloud App Security, Azure Active Directory, Azure Advanced Threat Protection, etc).
​In summary, Mr. Jamison has a vast background in the Information Technology industry. That coupled with his military service in the United States Airforce, Brian is well equipped to assist his customers through their Digital transformation journey and beyond.

Stanley S. Jutkowitz, ​Senior Counsel, Seyfarth Shaw LLP

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​Stan Jutkowitz is a Senior Counsel in the Washington D.C. office of Seyfarth Shaw LLP, where enables entrepreneurs and businesspeople to achieve their goals, and excels at solving complex, unconventional business challenges.
 
Entrepreneurs seek to buy and sell companies, and engage in liquidity transactions in the most practical and tax efficient manner. Stan helps clients find a way to achieve their goals with the least possible tax cost. He is both a business attorney and a tax attorney who "stands in the shoes of his clients" to provide direct and cost-effective advice.
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​Stan concentrates his practice on business transactions, tax planning, and counseling on corporate, government contracts and real estate transactions. His experience in business law and transactions includes structuring entities for tax efficiency, and representing clients in mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and other transactions. Having worked on many transactions where parties had conflicting goals, Stan brings a unique ability to find solutions so that all parties of a transaction achieve their goals, while getting the deal done.
 
Stan works across many industries including government contracts, construction, technology, clean energy, real estate and information technology.
 
Stan appreciates the unpredictability of his job. He enjoys the new challenges, new opportunities, and new problems that he faces every day. Clients appreciate Stan's willingness to discuss matters by phone, rather than relying too heavily on email communication.

Philip Kahue, ​Executive Director, Alaka`ina Foundation

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Philip Kahue performs a myriad of duties in the Alaka`ina Foundation Family of Companies as part of the Executive Management Team.  He previously served as President of Ke`aki Technologies, LLC and Kūpono Government Services, LLC.  He currently serves as Executive Director of the Alaka`ina Foundation.  Headquartered in Honolulu, Hawai`i, it is a non-profit Native Hawaiian Organization (NHO) chartered to develop and support leadership and educational programs for the children of Hawai`i.
 
The Alaka`ina Foundation Family of Companies comprises seven for-profit small businesses: Ke`aki Technologies, Laulima Government Solutions, Kūpono Government Services, Kāpili Services, Po`okela Solutions, Kīkaha Solutions, and Pololei Solutions with combined revenue that exceeds $197 million annually, and over 1300 employees in 36 states and 5 overseas locations.  The Foundation has provided over $8.1 Million in grants, charitable donations, scholarships and educational opportunities to children of Hawai`i over the last 11 years.
Mr. Kahue retired in 2005 as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army, with a specialty in healthcare administration.  He began his career as a medical platoon leader in an infantry battalion, and culminated his career as the executive officer to the Dental Corps Chief and Deputy Surgeon General for the U.S. Army.   During this time, he performed a myriad of duties in administrative, operational, and command positions.  Among his many military awards, he also received the General Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award for Health Services Command (now MEDCOM) in 1992, and was inducted into the Order of Military Medical Merit in 2002.  He also earned the Air Assault Badge and Parachutist Badge.
 
He is a volunteer board member with the Native Hawaiian Organization Association, a trade association of NHO 8(a) organizations.  Mr. Kahue is also a volunteer board member with the Hawaii Procurement Institute, a think-tank for procurement strategies for small businesses in Hawaii.  He is also a member of the Executive Committee for the Military Affairs Council of the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii. 
 
Mr. Kahue entered the United States Army in 1984, as a Distinguished Military Graduate from the University of Hawaii.  He received his Bachelor of Arts in Biology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 1984, and a Masters in Healthcare Administration from Baylor University in 1995. 

John Klein, Associate General Counsel for Procurement Law, U.S. Small Business Administration

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​John Klein is the Associate General Counsel for Procurement Law at the U.S. Small Business Administration.  He serves as the principal legal advisor to senior Agency officials and their staffs with respect to the 8(a) Business Development program; the Agency's Government Contracting programs, including the small business set-aside, subcontracting and Certificate of Competency programs; the HUBZone program; the Small Business Innovation Research program; the Size Standards program; the Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business program; the Woman-Owned Small Business program; and SBA’s internal contracting procedures.  
​Mr. Klein has been a lawyer in SBA’s Office of General Counsel since 1983, serving in the Office of Legislation and the Office of General Law before becoming the Associate General Counsel for the Office of Procurement Law in 2000.  He graduated Magna Cum Laude from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1980, and With Distinction from Hofstra University School of Law in 1983.

Christine Lanning, President, Integrated Security Technologies Inc

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​Christine Lanning leads an elite team of security system integrators as President of Integrated Security Technologies, Inc. (IST), a woman-owned, small disadvantaged 8a electrical contractor headquartered in Hawaii.  IST was awarded 2019 Hawaii Business Magazine Top 250 Business and has been a Hawaii Business Magazine’s Best Places to Work since 2013.
​IST’s mission “Leading Hawaii to a Safer Place” reflects Christine’s history of commitment to the local community and the security industry.  She serves on the boards of The Pacific Club, AFCEA Hawaii, ASIS Hawaii, Associated Builders and Contractors, and PSA Security (becoming the first female elected to the Board of Directors for PSA Security Network, North America’s largest electronic security cooperative).  She is also an active member of the Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Council, InfraGard, Honolulu Navy League, and the National Association of Women in Construction.
 
In 2020, Christine became the SBA Leader of the Year for Hawaii and in 2014 she was awarded the ASIS Woman of the Year Award.  Christine holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from University of Hawaii – West Oahu and a Master’s Degree in Information Systems from Hawaii Pacific University.
 
She is a champion for culture building and leadership, believing in Ho’ohui (creating connections and building bridges together).

Adam Lasky, Partner, Seyfarth Shaw LLP

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Adam Lasky is a partner in the Seattle office of Seyfarth Shaw LLP, where he helps clients across the nation navigate and win government contracts. Government contractors nationwide depend on Adam for counsel to minimize and mitigate risks that arise during contract performance, to ensure compliance with regulations, and for vigorous representation in procurement disputes and government contracts litigation. 

​A large part of Adam’s practice focuses on regulatory compliance issues in connection with SBA’s small business and socio-economic government contracting programs. Adam has drafted and negotiated dozens of joint venture agreements under the SBA’s 8(a) and All-Small Mentor Protégé programs. His unique depth of experience with SBA’s mentor-protégé programs and joint ventures provide his clients (large and small) peace of mind that they will end up with a joint venture agreement that not only complies with SBA regulations, but is also tailored to the client’s specific needs and is practical, operationally sound and will reduce potential for disputes between the joint venture partners.

​Adam also regularly represents contractors across a wide variety of industries in bid and size protests before the Government Accountability Office (GAO), U.S. Court of Federal Claims, and the SBA.  Over the past decade, he has protested and defended well over a billion dollars in procurements and contract awards across a wide variety of industries, and has achieved amongst the highest GAO bid protest sustain rates in the nation (over three times the national average). Adam is also the author of several articles and books chapters on bid protests, including "A Practitioner’s Road Map to GAO Bid Protests" and "Roadmap to Bid Protests at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims" (ABA 2010 & 2018), and the bid protests chapter of "Federal Government Construction Contracts" (ABA 2d and 3rd eds.).
 
Adam is a Co-Chair of the American Bar Association Section of Public Contract Law Small Business Committee, Vice-Chair of the Section’s Bid Protest committee, and also a member of the Section’s governing council. 

Don Lionetti, Sales Director – Tribal Government, Gaming and Alaska Native Corporations Vertical, Microsoft

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Don is a 1987 Graduate of Washington State University (WSU) with a Major in Business Administration and Minor in Marketing.  He has served on the WSU Carson College of Business National Board of Advisors for 10 years, chairing the Marketing Advisory Board and served as the Chair of the entire National Board of Advisors.

​Don worked for the Xerox Corporation for 8 years and joined the Microsoft Corporation 18 years ago.  He is currently a Director or Sales, leading a team that provides solutions for Native American Tribal Government, Gaming and Alaska Native organizations encompassing the entire US market.
Don is passionate about technology and helping his Native American clients discover solutions to help tribal government and gaming organizations gain efficiencies and better serve their constituents.

​Don and his wife of 30 years, Julie, reside in Bellevue, WA.  Julie is also a graduate of WSU and is a Corporate Pilot flying out of Boeing Field in Seattle.

Alexander Major, Partner, McCarter & English, LLP

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Mr. Major is a partner and co-leader of the firm’s Government Contracts & Export Controls Practice Group whose practice focuses on federal procurement, cybersecurity liability and risk management, and litigation. A prolific author and thought leader in the area of cybersecurity, his professional experience involves a wide variety of litigation and counseling matters dealing with procurement laws, federal regulations, complex litigation in federal court under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, and bid protest actions. He counsels all sizes of companies on issues relating to compliance with government regulations including, among other things, cybersecurity (NIST, FAR, FedRAMP, and DFARS) requirements, multiple award schedule compliance, domestic preference provisions (Buy American and Trade Agreements Acts), cost accounting, and small business requirements.
A retired U.S. Air Force intelligence officer, Mr. Major also regularly conducts internal investigations to assist companies ensure that they are in full compliance with the law on behalf of Fortune 500 companies and individuals in diverse state and federal civil and criminal proceedings.

Cassandra Martin, Director, Office of Small Business Programs, Defense Health Agency

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​Ms. Cassandra Martin is the Director, Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) for the Defense Health Agency   (DHA) serving as chief advisor to the Director on all small business matters. In this role, she is responsible for   the overall implementation of the agency’s small business procurement program, small business acquisition   policy, strategic initiatives, and guiding small businesses through the process of contracting with the DHA.

Ms. Martin has over 40 years of federal service and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the small business program. She has served for over 36 years in various contract and procurement positions within the   Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Transportation, and Department of Homeland Security/Federal   Emergency Management Agency. 
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Ms. Martin is a member of the DoD Acquisition Professional Community and is a Level III certified Contracting Professional under DAWIA and FAC-C.  She holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business   Management from the University of Phoenix and a Graduate Certificate in Procurement and Contracts Management from the   from the University of Virginia.  

Joseph McWilliams, Small Business Program Manager/Director of Staff, Air Force Office of Small Business Programs

Joseph McWilliams has over 30 years of experience in various positions to include Nuclear Missile Operations,  Acquisitions/Logistics Program Management at the Air Force Product Center, Air Logistics Command and Headquarters Air Staff, Air Force Small Business Industrial Modernization Office, and Acquisition/Logistics Support on DoD’s largest acquisition program, the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).  He is currently in the Air Force Small Business Program Management Office, Air Force HQ Pentagon.  In his current position as Small Business Program Manager/Resource Manager/Director of Staff for Air Force Small Business Programs, Mr. McWilliams is responsible for providing program oversight for all small business outreach programs. 

Paul Murphy, Senior Data Analyst, Bloomberg Government

Paul Murphy is a Senior Data Analyst at Bloomberg Government.

Chris Porter, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, FCE Benefit Administrators, Inc.

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Chris Porter is Vice President of Sales and Marketing for FCE. In this leadership role, he has successfully expanded the company’s footprint in both the CRP/AbilityOne segment of the federal contractor community and in the for-profit community; to this end, he has strategically cultivated numerous relationships among brokers serving the Fringe-Benefit market. As the Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Chris has a strong work ethic and believes it is very important to maintain a hands on approach for the care and guidance of his clients even after finalization of a service agreement. This means that Chris himself coordinates the significant administrative aspects of plan implementation, thereby ensuring that each client enjoys a seamless transition to FCE Benefits as well as monitoring the clients’ on-going day-to-day Administration. 
​In addition, Chris works extensively with Government Contractors and Consultants relating to the SCA design structure of benefits, funding strategies, communication and education of their employee benefit plans. In particular, Chris is an expert on Health Care Reform and provides guidance to clients regarding how the Affordable Care Act will impact their businesses and how it overlaps the Service Contract Act’s (SCA) many rules and laws
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Chris earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the prestigious Denison University in Granville, Ohio, graduating in 2006.

Ronald Ross, Fellow, National Institute of Standards and Technology

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Ron Ross is a Fellow at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. His focus areas include computer security, systems security engineering, and risk management. Dr. Ross leads the Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) Implementation Project and Systems Security Engineering Project, which includes the development of security and privacy standards and guidelines for the federal government, contractors, and United States critical infrastructure. He also leads the Joint Task Force, an interagency group that includes the Department of Defense, Office of the Director National Intelligence, U.S. Intelligence Community, and the Committee on National Security Systems, with responsibility for developing a Unified Information Security Framework for the federal government and its contractors. Dr. Ross previously served as the Director of the National Information Assurance Partnership, a joint activity of NIST and the National Security Agency. He also supports the U.S. State Department in the international outreach program for cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection. During his twenty-year military career, Dr. Ross served as a White House aide and senior technical advisor to the Department of the Army. Dr. Ross has lectured at many universities and colleges including Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dartmouth College, Pepperdine University, Naval Postgraduate School, Ohio State University, Auburn University, and Hood College. He also gave the Commencement address at George Washington University (School of Engineering). 
Dr. Ross has authored or coauthored many publications on risk management, cybersecurity, systems security engineering, and cyber resiliency. His publications include Federal Information Processing Standards 199 (security categorization) and 200 (security requirements); and Special Publications 800-30 (risk assessments), 800-37 (Risk Management Framework), 800-39 (enterprise risk management), 800-53 (security and privacy controls), 800-53A (security control assessments), 800-160, Volume 1 (systems security engineering), 800-160, Volume 2 (cyber resiliency), 800-171 (protection of Controlled Unclassified Information in nonfederal systems and organizations), 800-172 (enhanced security requirements for advanced cyber-threats) and 800-171A (security assessments for nonfederal systems and organizations).

Dr. Ross has received numerous public and private sector awards including the Presidential Rank Award, Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal for Homeland Security and Law Enforcement, Department of Defense Superior Service Medal, National Security Agency Scientific Achievement Award, Department of Commerce Gold and Silver Medal Awards, Applied Computer Security Associates Distinguished Practitioner Award, GCN Government Executive of the Year Award, Vanguard Chairman’s Award, ICIT Pioneer Award, Government Technology Research Alliance Award, InformationWeek’s Government CIO 50 Award, Billington Cybersecurity Leadership Award, ISACA National Capital Area Conyers Award, ISACA Joseph J. Wasserman Award, AFFIRM President’s Award, Symantec Cyber 7 Award, SC Magazine’s Cyber Security Luminaries Award, (ISC)2 Lynn F. McNulty Tribute Award, CES Government Technology Leadership Award, and 1105 Media Gov30 Award. He has also been recognized three-times as one of the Top 10 Influencers in Government IT Security and is a five-time recipient of the Federal 100 award for his leadership and technical contributions to cybersecurity projects affecting the federal government. Dr. Ross has been inducted into the National Cyber Security Hall of Fame, selected as an (ISC)2 Fellow, and inducted into the Information Systems Security Association Hall of Fame receiving its highest honor of Distinguished Fellow.

​Dr. Ross holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point. He also holds both Masters and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Science from the United States Naval Postgraduate School specializing in artificial intelligence and robotics.


Michael Scanlon, Senior Vice President, Truist

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​Mike Scanlon is a Senior VP & Relationship Manager in Truist’s Government Contracting Group.  Mike has worked with clients in the government contracting industry for over 25 years and has 35 years of commercial lending experience.  His experience includes developing financing solutions including working capital lines, ESOP financing and acquisition financing.      

​Mike received a B.A. in Finance & Business Administration from the Catholic University of America in Washington DC and an M.B.A. in Finance & Investments from George Washington University.    

Allen Shipes, Managing Director, Bidspeed

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​Mr. Allen Shipes is a Veteran of the United States Air force and has managed Department of Defense aircraft and facilities design projects through various phases of requirements definition, design, test and integration of hardware and software for multiple weapon systems and sub-systems. He has coordinated the capture of over $10.5 Billion dollars of new business and developed, managed and executed multi-million dollar proposals for companies and clients around the world. Mr. Shipes holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma.

John Shoraka, Co-Founder/Managing Director, GovContractPro

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John Shoraka currently serves at the Managing Director of GovContractPros (GCP).  As Managing Director, he assists small business government contractors in all phases of their business lifecycle including navigation of the federal marketplace, business development, certification for and compliance with small business set-aside programs, teaming and mentor-protégé arrangements, and financing and acquisition. GCP, as a core value, works on pro bono basis, supporting various industry associations and conducting outreach to relevant Congressional committees to educate the staff on the benefits of the small business programs and strategies to strengthen them.

​The professional services space to support federal contractors is saturated with companies that seek to make lots of money while driving little to no value. GCP has competitive challenges with clients whose trust has been damaged by unscrupulous actors within the space. The GCP values of “only charging for work we do” and “delivering results” are seemingly intuitive or basic, but in fact are truly differentiating against many competitors.
Since inception, GCP has assisted over 75 companies directly as company clients and 500+ companies through publicly available training and educational presentations.

John Shoraka is the former Associate Administrator of Government Contracting and Business Development at the U.S. Small Business Administration. Shoraka’s knowledge of the government contracting marketplace derives from decades of both infield private sector and public sector practice.

As outgoing Associate Administrator of SBA, Shoraka was responsible for overseeing the federal government’s small business set-aside programs. His responsibilities included the Business Development/8(a) program, HUBZone, WOSB and SDVOSB programs. He was responsible for the Office of Size Standards, the federal government’s small business goaling program as well as the federal government’s small business prime and subcontracting programs.

Shoraka worked closely with the White House, Office of Federal Procurement Policy and Senior Administration officials in crafting best practices for accomplishing small business procurement goals.

Shoraka has deep understanding of the federal government contracting legislative and regulatory landscape. He was responsible for implementing procurement provisions of the Small Business Jobs Act (including the All Small Mentor Protégé Program) as well as the National Defense Authorization Acts of FY13-16 (including sole source authority for the WOSB program). He represented the SBA and the Obama Administration in hearings before Congress, including hearings with the House Small Business Committee, House Armed Services Committee, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

Jordon Sims, Partner, Imperium Global Advisors

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Jordon is a Founding Partner of Imperium Global Advisors and has many years of legislative, political and professional advocacy experience globally. Most recently, he was the Chief of Staff for Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-TX), the senior Republican for the
House Appropriations Committee and the most senior Republican woman in Congress overall. He has also served as a nuclear-trained submarine officer in the U.S. Navy, which included assignments as the foreign liaison for the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS), and Secretary of Defense (SECDEF). Jordon also was selected as a Defense Legislative Fellow, serving as a defense advisor for a senior Member of the House Appropriations Committee, handling all aspects of State and Defense department policy and associated funding. Jordon’s variety of assignments also included work as the Special Advisor to the Director of Naval Nuclear Propulsion (Naval Reactors), in a dual-hatted Department of Defense and Department of Energy role, responsible for all aspects of governmental affairs for the US submarine and
aircraft carrier programs.
Building upon his work with the defense and energy industrial base, Jordon has led global corporate and government relations teams and initiatives across a variety of markets and jurisdictions in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Australia, U.K., E.U., India, and China. His work has spanned the technology, energy, financial services, defense, healthcare, and infrastructure sectors in both government policy and management strategy. He has served as a contributor to the World Economic Forum working groups for developing economies in the areas of long term investment planning and infrastructure development. In addition to this work, he has also served in leadership roles for executive and board
advisement in large global organizations. 

​Jordon has volunteered time for local youth sports in Maryland, remains involved in an advisory role
for the Governor of Maryland’s finance committee and campaign efforts, and serves as Adjunct Faculty for Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies - Information and Knowledge Strategy Program- as the co-lead for “The Future of Work.” 

Jordon has a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Economics from the U.S. Naval Academy, and a Master of Engineering Management (M.E.M.) from Old Dominion University.

​Otis Turner, Business Opportunity Specialist, 8(a) Program, U.S. Small Business Administration

​Otis Turner is Business Opportunity Specialist at the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Franklin Turner, Partner, McCarter & English, LLP

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​Mr. Turner is a partner and co-leader of the firm’s Government Contracts & Export Controls Practice Group. He is an innovative business lawyer with significant experience resolving complex government contracts issues for a broad array of companies – ranging from multinational, multibillion-dollar Fortune 500 corporations in the aerospace, defense, technology, health care and industrial supply sectors to small business intelligence and security services providers.  
Mr. Turner’s multifaceted practice includes assisting companies with comprehensive claims for payment, prosecuting and defending bid protests, conducting internal investigations to ensure his clients’ compliance with federal procurement regulations and related statutes, preparing and submitting mandatory and voluntary disclosures, counseling prime contractors and subcontractors regarding disputes of all types and sizes, defending companies against False Claims Act allegations, counseling companies regarding issues of cost allowability, allocability and reasonableness, designing and implementing comprehensive regulatory compliance programs, and assisting government contractors in connection with mergers and acquisitions due diligence.

Arveice Washington, Deputy Director, Department of the Navy Office of Small Business Programs

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​Arveice M. Washington has over 18 years of experience in multiple career fields including Program Management and Business & Financial Management.  In April 2018, Ms. Washington began serving as the Deputy Director for The Department of the Navy Office of Small Business Programs.  In this capacity she is responsible for small business acquisition policy and strategic initiatives.
 
Ms. Washington’s previous experience includes serving as the Director of Acquisition and Contracts for the Naval Sea Systems (NAVSEA) Command Program Executive Office for Submarines.  In this capacity she was responsible for directing, prioritizing and coordinating all acquisition initiatives across Team Submarine. 

From 2009 to 2016, Ms. Washington assumed the duties as the Team Submarine Enterprise Wide Contractor Support Services (EWCSS) Manager.  She was the Subject Matter Expert for all matters pertaining to management responsibilities for five support services contracts totaling execution of over $125 million annually and oversight of 600 contractors.  As the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) for the EWCSS contracts, Ms. Washington was responsible for cradle to grave requirements generation, contract award and post-award execution. 
​Prior to her position as the EWCSS Manager, Ms. Washington served as the Business and Financial Manager from 2007 to 2009 for the Undersea Warfare Defensive Systems Program Office.  Responsible for the management and execution of over $100 million Total Obligation Authority, Ms. Washington's expert knowledge of the DOD 5000 and Program Acquisition Life Cycle process led to a successful Milestone B for the Next Generation Countermeasure and successful Gate 3 review for the Anti-Torpedo Torpedo Defensive System. 
 
From 2000 to 2007, Ms. Washington worked for industry supporting various NAVSEA organizations.  Her financial management knowledge coupled with her program management expertise led her through various positions including Financial Manager, Acquisition Manager and ultimately Program Manager. 
 
Ms. Washington has held various leadership roles in Team Submarine including serving as the Navy Enterprise Resource Planning Site Implementation Lead and the COR Certification Manager responsible for serving as the on-site Subject Matter Expert for all COR related responsibilities.  In addition, Ms. Washington completed a nine-month career development opportunity in the Department of Navy Office of Small Business Programs where she was responsible for developing Small Business Advocate training for Deputy Program Manager’s.  All DPM’s across the Navy were required to complete this training.  As a result of her efforts, Ms. Washington was awarded the 2017 Oreta B. Stinson, Small Business Advocate, Department of the Navy Acquisition Excellence Award.
 
Ms. Washington's formal education and training include a Master’s in Business Administration, a Master’s in Financial Management, a DAWIA Level III certification in Program Management, and a DAWIA Level I certification in Financial Management.

​Christine Williams, Managing Partner, Outlook Law LLC

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​Christine V. Williams is an adjunct law professor on Government Contracting at Seattle University School of Law’s Alaska Campus. She is widely recognized for her expertise in the Government Contracting field and speaks nationally several times a year on the subject. Christine has admission to a diversity of courts, including various federal circuit courts of appeals, where she has prevailed, as well as the U.S. Supreme Court. Christine was recognized as one of the top 5 percent of lawyers in the Nation for Government Contracting by the Best Lawyers in America, a peer reviewed and distinguished honor among the nation’s lawyers.  Christine was appointed to the national Regulatory Fairness Board by Administrator McMahon.

Christine concentrates her practice on Government Contracting from counseling on qualifications and administration to disputes and companies in crisis. She is often involved in sensitive internal investigations and frequently interacts with Government agencies when a company faces a tough situation.
She represents clients in defending against federal investigations, including investigations/reports by the Office of the Inspector General, the Department of Justice, and the GAO. Despite having a national practice, as a born and raised Alaskan, she understands unique challenges that may be faced by companies when it comes to Government Contracting on a national or local basis. She represents Alaska Native Corporations as well as Tribal entities on various corporate or sovereign matters. Christine also represents Service Disabled Veterans’ Small Business, HUBZone businesses, Women Owned Small Businesses, and has a strong government contracting practice for companies performing outside of the SBA Programs. She is well known for her ability to articulate complex regulations into practical terms for all businesses.

Christine’s government contracts work involves complex litigation against the government and/or subcontractors, administration of government contracts, initiating and defending against bid protests, and dispute resolution. She also counsels companies on the procurement and administration of government contracts across all agencies. She has especially deep experience in the SBA and Section 8(a) Programs. Prior to Outlook Law, Christine was vice president and general counsel for a large Alaska Native Regional Corporation. She was also partner with Davis Wright Tremaine, Perkins Coie, both international law firms, and an attorney at Patton Boggs.

During her tenure at nationally and internationally recognized firms, Christine practiced with the government contracting and/or construction groups with a secondary focus on white collar for businesses. This breadth and depth of experience has served her clients well, including her Alaska Native Corporation clients, who perform on government contracts throughout the U.S. and globally for a variety of agencies.

Christine is the past president of the Anchorage Association of Women Lawyers. She was appointed by the Alaska Supreme Court to serve on the Court’s Fairness, Diversity, and Equality Committee. Christine is founder and Chair of the Ethics and Compliance Section of the Alaska Bar Association.

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