Tinker, businesses network at ‘prime’ event

Published Nov. 13, 2008
By Brandice J. Armstrong
Tinker Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., -- The fourth annual Tinker and the Primes National Business Event Nov. 17 to 19 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 500 nationwide organizations, including small businesses to original equipment manufacturers. The two-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 Al Rich, 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 2008 event will offer briefings, educational sessions, exhibits, and a keynote luncheon featuring the Honorable Sue Payton, assistant secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition as the keynote speaker. Ms. Payton is expected to speak about business trends and what the business community should expect from the Air Force for short and long-term relationships.

"I hope [luncheon attendees] have a better understanding of how Air Force contracting works, how it operates, how to put together solicitations, and meet the Air Force needs in that particular effort," Mr. Rich said.

The event will also offer contracting matchmaking, 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, the TAP event and AfterCareers project, said the two-day business-networking event "focuses on the military and government from a business perspective." Mr. Rich agreed.

"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."

Attendees can also participate in a career fair for the AfterCareers Career Transition Project, a program designed to aid Tinker personnel who are in the process of changing careers due to retirements or military- and civilian-related separations. Last year's event attracted 1,200 attendees.

For more information about the TAP event or to register, go to www.tinkerandtheprimes.com