Tinker sets prime event Published Nov. 6, 2009 By Ashley Sprecker Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center Plans and Programs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The fifth annual Tinker and the Primes National Business Event Nov. 16 to 18 is expected to attract its largest crowd yet, officials said. Held at the Sheraton Midwest City Hotel at the Reed Conference Center, officials said they expect 1,500 attendees from nationwide organizations, including small businesses to original equipment manufacturers. The three-day networking event is designed to introduce companies to Tinker Air Force Base and potentially spark a government-contractor relationship. It's a great opportunity to network with outside businesses and community partners," said Cristie Ditzler-Smith, deputy director of the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center Plans and Programs Directorate and Tinker's point-of-contact for the event. "And it allows Air Force officials and leaders to work toward a common understanding of how we might do business together in the future." The 2009 event will offer briefings, educational sessions, exhibits, and a keynote luncheon featuring the Honorable Alan Estevez, principal assistant deputy under secretary of Defense (Logistics and Materiel Readiness) as the keynote speaker. Mr. Estevez is responsible for guiding the transformation of the Department of Defense logistics processes to ensure cost effective, joint logistics support to support the warfighter in the 21st century. The event will also offer marketing to the government and the Primes, in which company representatives can meet with Tinker officials to discuss prerequisites for possible contracts. Dave Burnett, Midwest City Chamber of Commerce director of Economic Development and TAP event, said the three-day business-networking event "focuses on the military and government from a business perspective." We'll talk about possibilities for future workloads and the important business of contracting, as well as how the Air Force does contracting," he said. Mr. Burnett compared the event to a room full of teenagers. He said during their time together, relationships will form. Some will initiate the relationships by communicating and reaching out to others. Some will stand at the outskirts of the room hoping someone else approaches them. The TAP event is no different. "Pursue business, do not wait to be pursued," Mr. Burnett said. "This [event is] a time when people need to toot their own horns. The ones who pursue business form relationships." Liberal leave is authorized, subject to supervisory approval, for employees desiring to attend in other than an official capacity. For more information about the TAP event, including the agenda, go to www.tinkerandtheprimes.com