July 22, 2009

Chamber To Unveil Procurement ‘Dream Team’ at Government Contracts Seminar, Business Matchmaking Event

A dream team of experts assembled by the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce to help businesses land local, state and federal government contracts will be available at a July 27 seminar at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Monroe from 8:45 a.m. to noon.

The experts, Henry Savelli, Michelle Hermelee and Patrick Guidotti, will provide in-depth tips and field questions on how to win government contracts, offering a unique blend of hard-to-find knowledge that will give business owners a competitive edge when navigating the complex world of government procurement.

“Things have dried up for many companies that have been doing business in the private sector, and they are looking to government for new business,” said Michelle Hermelee, founder of Mercerville-based BH SKY Associates and a member of the State Chamber’s team. “We can help.”
For companies hungry to beef up their bottom lines, the government is the place to go. The state government puts out about $2 billion in contracts per year. And an additional $3 million in contracts are issued by the state’s 566 municipalities and 574 school districts. Further raising the stakes is the tens of millions in stimulus money New Jersey is spending over the next few years.

The dream team, known as The Contract Connection, can help all kinds of businesses. Federal, state and local governments put out contracts for a wide variety of goods and services, such as road work, vehicles, concrete, IT consulting; food, uniforms, light bulbs, soap, publishing services and much more.

Monday’s event will feature a business matchmaking session, courtesy of the New Jersey Office of Supplier Diversity and the state Department of Treasury. Small-, minority- and women-owned businesses will have an opportunity to be connected with purchasing officers from state agencies, universities and corporations.

THE Contract Connection team, with a total of 70 years of government contracting knowledge and experience, is:

Henry Savelli, president of Henry Savelli & Associates, who has spent more than 30 years in public procurement. He retired in March 2001 as assistant director of the state Treasury Department’s Division of Purchase and Property, where he directly managed the Purchase Bureau, the organization that awards state contracts. He maintains personal contacts with purchasing directors and agents at all levels of government.

Michelle Hermelee, of BH SKY Associates, has more ten years of business experience procuring and negotiating government contracts with both federal and state agencies. She has in-depth knowledge related to identifying key business opportunities, acquiring term contracts, completing GSA proposals, ensuring contract compliance, negotiating terms and marketing government contracts.

Patrick Guidotti, president and owner of PJG Consulting in Robbinsville, has more than 35 years of state government experience in the areas of procurement, construction, small business certification and economic development. During his tenure in New Jersey government, he held several management positions within the Division of Building & Construction and the Department of Commerce. His current company is a business development and assistance firm specializing in government procurement and construction contracting.

Also, participating in the seminar will be Lorraine Allen, regional director of New Jersey Small Business Development Center at The College of New Jersey and Sandy Davis, director of the state Department of Treasury’s Office of Supplier Diversity.

A special guest will be Larry Allen, president of the Coalition for Government Procurement, the single most effective voice for companies selling in the federal market. The Coalition will be partnering with THE Contract Connection by providing support from Washington.

Registrations are only accepted with payment at www.njchamber.com. Costs are $35 for chamber members and $70 for chamber non-members.