1 00:00:00,340 --> 00:00:02,560 Okay 2 00:00:15,140 --> 00:00:16,973 I began my career in the federal 3 00:00:16,973 --> 00:00:19,630 government in 2000 and nine at Hanscom 4 00:00:19,630 --> 00:00:21,852 Air Force Base , working with the Space 5 00:00:21,852 --> 00:00:24,074 Defense program . My family pcs here to 6 00:00:24,074 --> 00:00:27,030 Gunter in 2000 and 10 and I began 7 00:00:27,030 --> 00:00:29,440 working in contracting here . I've held 8 00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:31,920 various roles to include obtaining my 9 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:34,760 contracting officer warren in 2000 and 10 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:37,400 16 . In addition to that , my last 11 00:00:37,400 --> 00:00:40,410 position , I was a branch chief and 12 00:00:40,410 --> 00:00:42,850 supervisor in the acquisitions division 13 00:00:42,860 --> 00:00:46,040 before moving into this role as a 14 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:47,984 promotion to the director of small 15 00:00:47,984 --> 00:00:49,707 business programs here B . S . 16 00:00:54,540 --> 00:00:56,651 So being selected as a small business 17 00:00:56,651 --> 00:01:00,370 director truly is today the highest 18 00:01:00,370 --> 00:01:02,850 achievement I've had in my career . Um 19 00:01:02,850 --> 00:01:05,490 It gives me the opportunity to um 20 00:01:05,490 --> 00:01:08,530 leverage some of the experiences that 21 00:01:08,530 --> 00:01:10,900 I've had as a contract specialist and 22 00:01:10,900 --> 00:01:13,540 as a contracting officer helps me as 23 00:01:13,540 --> 00:01:16,990 well to through having met and being 24 00:01:16,990 --> 00:01:19,470 familiar with some of the um small 25 00:01:19,470 --> 00:01:21,550 business industry partners to 26 00:01:21,550 --> 00:01:23,810 communicate with them . Uh the 27 00:01:23,810 --> 00:01:26,143 requirements that we have here at B . S . 28 00:01:26,143 --> 00:01:28,143 The type of business we do and give 29 00:01:28,143 --> 00:01:30,270 them good solid advice on how to do 30 00:01:30,270 --> 00:01:34,070 business with us as well as um outside 31 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:36,670 of B . S . And the bigger Air Force as 32 00:01:36,670 --> 00:01:37,350 a whole . 33 00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:46,620 Because I have the opportunity to get 34 00:01:46,620 --> 00:01:48,731 to know and interact with some of the 35 00:01:48,731 --> 00:01:50,731 small businesses and then therefore 36 00:01:50,731 --> 00:01:52,731 understanding the capabilities that 37 00:01:52,731 --> 00:01:54,898 they bring . I'm very familiar as well 38 00:01:54,898 --> 00:01:56,731 through my role as a contracting 39 00:01:56,731 --> 00:01:58,620 officer with the programs and the 40 00:01:58,620 --> 00:02:00,970 requirements that we have at B . S . 41 00:02:00,980 --> 00:02:04,080 And so that again helps me to provide 42 00:02:04,090 --> 00:02:06,950 better advice and guidance to companies 43 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:09,262 who are looking to understand how to do 44 00:02:09,262 --> 00:02:11,429 business and get a great understanding 45 00:02:11,429 --> 00:02:13,651 of what it is we need , what we do here 46 00:02:13,651 --> 00:02:14,651 at the Yes , 47 00:02:20,140 --> 00:02:22,362 so the biggest , biggest advice I would 48 00:02:22,362 --> 00:02:24,650 give is to first be prepared , do 49 00:02:24,650 --> 00:02:27,100 research , understand what it is we do 50 00:02:27,100 --> 00:02:29,890 here B . S and what we need and then 51 00:02:29,890 --> 00:02:32,480 tailor your capabilities uh to be able 52 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:35,660 to respond to opportunities that may 53 00:02:35,670 --> 00:02:38,830 present and be within your unique 54 00:02:38,840 --> 00:02:41,970 um your unique area that you can 55 00:02:41,970 --> 00:02:44,210 provide . The other thing that I would 56 00:02:44,210 --> 00:02:46,930 say is um make sure that you are 57 00:02:46,930 --> 00:02:49,670 monitoring the smart guide through the 58 00:02:49,670 --> 00:02:53,350 B S vendor communications page as well 59 00:02:53,350 --> 00:02:55,406 as through the small business office 60 00:02:55,406 --> 00:02:57,910 page to see how opportunities are 61 00:02:57,910 --> 00:02:59,966 available . And of course , reaching 62 00:02:59,966 --> 00:03:02,260 out to me , scheduling an appointment 63 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:04,480 providing me with your capability 64 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:06,900 statement making that introduction , so 65 00:03:06,900 --> 00:03:10,490 that I'm familiar with your company and 66 00:03:10,500 --> 00:03:12,880 what opportunities you are interested 67 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:16,120 in . And then lastly reach out to other 68 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:19,570 industry partners . Look at how you can 69 00:03:19,570 --> 00:03:22,080 possibly make those connections to be 70 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:25,890 in a position to um be able to 71 00:03:25,900 --> 00:03:28,920 do teaming arrangements or um you know , 72 00:03:28,920 --> 00:03:32,390 begin your career in terms of uh 73 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:35,760 supporting the opportunities or taking 74 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:37,704 advantage of opportunities through 75 00:03:37,704 --> 00:03:40,020 teaming . So be prepared , doing 76 00:03:40,020 --> 00:03:43,150 research , reach out , um have your 77 00:03:43,150 --> 00:03:45,460 capability statement ready and be ready 78 00:03:45,460 --> 00:03:48,180 to respond when we do um advertise 79 00:03:48,180 --> 00:03:50,360 opportunities that may fit your unique 80 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:54,040 areas . Yeah , 81 00:03:55,140 --> 00:03:57,700 so the best way to contact me of course 82 00:03:57,700 --> 00:04:00,720 is via email . So my email is yolanda 83 00:04:00,730 --> 00:04:04,070 dot McCain at us dot af dot mail . You 84 00:04:04,070 --> 00:04:06,590 can also reach out to me through the 85 00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:09,010 vendor communications page , where you 86 00:04:09,010 --> 00:04:11,850 can make a request for an appointment . 87 00:04:12,140 --> 00:04:14,440 And as well , you can find that link 88 00:04:14,450 --> 00:04:16,617 through the small business office page 89 00:04:16,617 --> 00:04:16,960 also .