DVIDS – News – 1st Annual Hampton Roads Small Business Naval Exhibition

Hampton, Virginia. – Small businesses flocked to the Hampton Roads Convention Center in droves for the first annual Hampton Roads Small Business Navy Expo, held January 18-19. The two-day event facilitated important networking, vendor matching, and educational opportunities among government contractors of all sizes.

Stacey Cooper, deputy director of small business programs at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center (MARMC), spearheaded the event and shared what inspired her to organize the expo.

“We hold an industry day once a year, but this year we wanted to expand it to a two-day event and include speakers and sponsors,” Cooper said. “NAVSEA has rewarded many of our largest contracts, and we wanted small businesses in the region to take advantage of the opportunities the Navy provides.”

The expo attracted over 400 attendees from across the country and provided a platform for both new and established companies to connect directly. Mr. Cooper played a pivotal role in securing sponsorships totaling over $60,000, with Booz Allen Hamilton emerging as the event's platinum sponsor with a $25,000 donation.

“The Hampton Roads Small Business Naval Exposition was a great example of the cooperative spirit between small businesses and the Navy,” said Capt. Jay Young, MARMC commander, who gave opening remarks on the first day of the expo. “This is the platform where innovation and opportunity meet. As we look to the future, events like this will pave the way for stronger partnerships and contribute to the success of our regional businesses.”

A big advocate for small businesses, Cooper highlighted MARMC's tremendous support for local businesses.

“MARMC implemented more than 1,600 activities last year benefiting small and medium-sized businesses in the region, resulting in $252 million in revenue,” Cooper emphasized. “We wanted large contracting companies to expand their operations, give new small businesses an opportunity, and help them grow.”

The great success of the first annual Hampton Roads Small Business Naval Exposition sets the stage for an even richer and more dynamic event next year. Strengthening relationships between small businesses, government contractors, and the Navy will help foster continued collaboration.

MARMC is a field operation under the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) that provides surface ship maintenance, private sector maintenance management and oversight, and fleet technical support to vessels in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region. .