GRS-UNALAKLEET Mentor-Protégé Program Workshop - ANCHORAGE

Attend the Summer Mentor-Protégé Workshop hosted by Global Resources Solutions, Inc. (GRS) and Unalakleet Investments, LLC on behalf of Air Force Office of Small Business Programs, in collaboration with the National 8(a) Association. Registration is open to all Current DoD mentors, protégés and potential Mentor-Protégé Participants (Small Business and Large Business), and invited Government Representatives. There are a limited number of seats, so please register as early as you can!

SPEAKERS

Mr. David Sikora – United States Air Force Mentor-Protégé Program

Mr. David Sikora is the Acquisition Program Manager for the Air Force Mentor-Protégé Program. The mission of the Air Force Mentor Protégé program is to develop small businesses through technology transfer that results in small business sources of supply and services for Air Force prime contracts and subcontracts.

Mr. Sikora previously served as the Air Force Small Business Innovative Research / Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) and Technology Transfer Program Manager and Mr. Sikora has a wealth of experience leveraging industry, academia, and private sector research. Before entering government service, He worked as a design/project engineer in the paper machine and environmental equipment industries.

Mr. Sikora received his bachelor’s degree in Engineering Technology from the University of Dayton and his M.B.A. from Wright State University.

Mrs. Michelle Rubie-Smith – President & Chief Financial Officer, Global Resource Solutions, Inc.

Michelle Rubie-Smith is a natural leader with a demonstrated capability to build and motivate teams of professionals. She brings a deep well of experience as a strategic thinker and is skilled at managing ambiguity and adapting to and driving change. Michelle began her career in the public sector, working in personnel security. Since then, she has spent the last 30 years in operations, managing business lines ranging from $20M-$350M. She has held Vice President of Operations positions at large Security Solution providers. She has extensive experience and knowledge in planning, launching, and successfully leading projects and operations that generate competitive advantage. She actively works to deploy new technologies and process improvement tools to achieve business goals. Michelle currently holds a B.A. in International Politics from Georgetown University Walsh School of Foreign Service, an M.B.A. from the University of Maryland, Robert H. Smith School of Business, and has completed the Executive Development Program at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business.

Mr. Shehan Goonewardene – Program Manager, Mentor-Protégé Program, Global Resource Solutions, Inc.

Shehan Goonewardene is the Program Manager for the GRS Mentor-Protégé Program, with over 14 years of specialized experience in the Department of Defense Mentor-Protégé Program, most recently with the Air Force Mentor-Protégé Program (MPP) and the Defense Intelligence Agency MPP. In the past he has managed 5 agreements as part of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Mentor-Protégé Program, 8 agreements with the Defense Intelligence Agency and 4 agreements with Air Force. He was also the Program Manager for the Navy Small Business Office and the Project Coordinator for the DoD OSBP Indian Incentive Program. He was the first program manager in the history of DIA to have received two DoD Nunn-Perry Awards in the same year (2015) & a third award in 2019 under the DIA MPP. Shehan holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with an emphasis on Management and Leadership with 11 years of project development, financial planning and project management experience. Active Top-Secret Clearance managing complex government programs and assignments while providing day-to-day planning and operational oversight of assigned programs. Experience also includes evaluating the operational capabilities and effectiveness of Department of Defense programs and conducted evaluations based on appropriate tasking to assess the reliability, suitability and sustainability of several companies’ abilities to perform projects for government contracts.

Jody King, Assistant Director, APEX Accelerator Alaska

Matthew Fagnani, Board Member, National 8(a) Association

Charles F. Sills, Chief Operating Officer, Federal Procurement Center, Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), U.S. Department of Commerce

Charles Sills is a Senior Advisor on the Boards of the Eurasia Center and the Eurasia Business Coalition, focusing on Energy, Environment, and International Security. He aids in developing the Eurasia Center’s Gulf States Program and moderates conferences on international business opportunities. Sills has significant experience in international industrial and infrastructure initiatives, serving on high-profile projects such as the Danube Basin Environmental Restoration Program and the Japan-U.S. Joint Fund for Social & Economic Development. In National Security, he held positions at the Pentagon, the Defense Intelligence Agency, and NATO. He also worked at Martin Marietta Aerospace, managing strategic business plans and export licensing. Currently, Sills is Executive Vice-President at Trillacorpe Construction, a top-ranking Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, and runs FED/Contracting LLC. His education includes an M.A. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and an A.B. from Princeton University. He is involved with several business and renewable energy organizations, supporting partnerships and government procurement programs.