WBC: Business Essentials: The Government: Your Next Customer

According to USA Spending, our government spent 12.2 Billion dollars in 2014 in Utah alone.   Have you ever been interested to know how our government buys goods and services?  Or, how large construction or service contracts are awarded to varying firms?  Well government contracting may just be for you. 

Guest presenters will share their experiences  with government contracting.  The steps the government uses to purchase what it needs, assistance programs, SBA certification programs and how to market to the government.

Who should attend?

Established companies looking to break into contracting.  Companies that would like to partner with already established firms. 

Business owners will be able to learn and apply the following:

• Where to get started
• Resources from the SBA
• Locating contracting opportunities
• Certifications

Panelists:

Linda Rawson

Linda, a talented software engineer, founded DynaGrace Enterprises (formally Sensory Technology Consultants) in 2006 on her belief of doing business honestly for clients, associates and her community.  DynaGrace received their 8(a) status and the company has grown in the realm of government contracting.  In 2014, she started a new endeavor, BigSexyWords, a copywriting service.  She likes to mentor Women and Minority Business Owners and is on the board of SLCircle, a local business networking group.

Jan Quan-Esplin

Jan Quan-Esplin, 44, is the CEO and co-founder of Centeva.  Founded in 2007, Centeva is a technology and professional services firm dedicated to serving the needs of the federal government, not-for-profit organizations, and commercial enterprises.  Through difficult economic and political climates, Jan has guided Centeva to sustained double-digit growth.  Today Centeva is 56 team members strong, has staff located in six states, and is actively engaged in projects such as enterprise system integration for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), strategic PMO services for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and custom software development for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

Born in Vietnam, Jan immigrated to the United States in 1978 at the age of six years old.  She received a BS degree in Biology from the University of Utah and started her professional career as a Biochemist.  But with the example of her father who started from nothing and eventually opened his own restaurant, Jan found it impossible to ignore her own entrepreneurial impulses.  In 2006 Jan left the field of science to start her first business:  Q Clothing, a high-end clothing boutique in SLC.  Jan ran Q Clothing for several years until selling the business in order to co-found Centeva.   

 

Jan is a big proponent of STEM education.  She served as a committee member on the Canyons Education Foundation from 2011-2013 and helped to raise awareness and funding to establish the first STEM curriculum (in the US) for all middle schools throughout the Canyons School District in 2014.  Jan continues to advocate and encourage students to explore the STEM fields by participating in outreach events throughout Utah.


Lile Lavaki, DSB Construction

Lile and Benjamin Lavaki began a small family business in 2001 with the goal to teach their 5 children the value of hard work. Lile Lavaki had a background in Business Management and Accounting and had previously worked in the Planning, Zoning and Building Department, while Benjamin Lavaki had an extensive Concrete & Asphalt Construction background. It made sense for them to start a small construction company. They started out by constructing driveways, RV pads and sidewalks in their own neighborhood with their sons and daughters as their most skilled employees. Lile and Ben remember with fondness the years their teenagers earned their own money for high school activities, lessons, prom dresses, first cars, and school. Together they built a reputation for quality and service and aimed to treat every customer like they were family.

DSB Construction, LLC has grown in size and scope for the past 14 years and has been profitable without incurring substantial debt. Lile and Benjamin Lavaki were consistent in reinvesting profits into equipment, vehicles, tools, and expertise and have progressively performed larger projects. In 2008, Lile Lavaki began to research Government Contracting by attending seminars at the Small Business Administration and the Utah Procurement Technical Assistance Centers. She became well-versed in the requirements for 8(a) small business and Women-Owned small business. Lile compiled and wrote her own application for the 8(a) Business Development program. She had always kept meticulous business and accounting records and the application was approved quickly. DSB Construction was SBA 8(a) certified in November 2010.

DSB Construction has teamed up with various companies performing government construction projects in multiple states. DSB Construction has hired employees in Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico and Nevada and is currently working on several multi-award contracts in these states.

Lile Lavaki runs her business in the same way she lives her life and leads her family, with a goal first and foremost to help people. She believes that as we all help one another, good things will always come around. Lile Lavaki has stayed true to her values of honesty, compliance, and hard work and has led DSB Construction to become a multi-million dollar general contracting company.