Paul Brennan, Rockland County Director of Purchasing, and Lin Simeti, Program Director, REDC Procurement Technical Assistance Center, were among the panelists at the November 17 program, “How to Make Government Your Customer.”
Local business leaders interested in doing work for government agencies attended “How to Make Government Your Customer” on Thursday, November 17, 2016, in the Lawrence Room of Rosary Hall. The program was sponsored by the Palisades Institute.
The first panel addressing “Steps to Becoming a Government Provider” included: Paul Piperato, Rockland County Clerk; Lin Simeti, Program Director, REDC Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC); and Paul Brennan, Rockland County Director of Purchasing.
Simeti explained that PTACs were started by the Department of Defense to assist small businesses with procurement. “They set up a program to actually help small businesses get through the process and guide them so that they have the opportunity to bid and government has the opportunity to have a wider pool of vendors.” The local PTAC in Pearl River helps businesses with one-on-one counseling, and has a free bid match system to notify businesses of local, state, or federal contracts that may interest them.
Brennan stressed that in the public sector, businesses have the right to see past contracts and pricing so that they are not bidding on contracts “blind.” Among his suggestions: read the entire solicitation, give yourself enough time to fill it out, ask questions, be sure to have the proper insurance, and don’t give up.
A second panel of successful local government contractors spoke about how they have overcome challenges. Those panelists included: Ellie Kassner, President, W.H. Kassner, Inc.; Marcelo Reggiardo, Principal, Alianza, Services, LLC; Nick O’Brien, Vice President, Concept Print; and Harry Campbell, President, Biofeedback Resources International.
The aim of the Palisades Institute of Dominican College is to encourage leaders in business, government, and not-for-profit agencies to integrate the concepts of Leadership, Quality, and Ethics to achieve long-term success.