BEDFORD — Small businesses, defense contractors, and job seekers came together Monday for the Defense Technology, Small Business Expo and Job Fair at the Historic Indiana Limestone Company’s Capitol Ballroom.
The August 12 event, sponsored by EWA and Sigma Defense, ran from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and featured networking, capability presentations, and hiring opportunities for industries tied to Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane. Partners included the Crane Regional Defense Group (CRDG), Defense Innovation Networking Group (D!NG), and the Bedford Chamber of Commerce.
Robert Lanham, Sigma Defense planner/analyst and event sponsor, said attendance met expectations.
Keynote speaker Kaylee Diamond, NSWC Crane deputy for small business, opened the day by emphasizing the importance of connecting smaller companies with Crane’s mission areas. Her pdf presentation can be viewed here.
The expo featured 20 small business presentations, 10 vendor tables from larger companies, and a job fair area for hiring employers. Large-format posters with QR codes lined the venue, enabling attendees to scan and instantly access each participant’s website and capabilities.
Mike MacDonald, Director of Defense Solutions at Sigma Defense LLC, shared his goal for the day.
The event, free to attend thanks to sponsorship, was designed to maintain momentum during the five-month gap between CRDG’s Crane Connect 2 Mission events.
