SI Networking Activities
 and Events

 In 1989 ACT established the Industry Advisory Council (IAC) to bring industry and government executives together to exchange information, support professional development, improve communications, and build partnership and trust, thereby enhancing government's ability to serve the nation.

Annual Conferences  
Executive Leadership Conference October 26-28, Colonial Williamsburg VA
 
Management of Change Conference June 8-10, Norfolk VA

Also other meetings and seminars (usually breakfast or lunches)
You must be a member to attend ACT/IAC events

AFCEA
(The Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association)
Founded in 1946, AFCEA serves as a bridge between government requirements and industry capabilities, representing the top government, industry, and military professionals in the fields of information technology, communications, and intelligence. AFCEA mostly focuses on the DoD community and has chapters in Maryland, DC and Virginia. Each group holds (usually monthly breakfast) events. AFCEA also holds a number of tradeshows and conferences throughout the US and Europe in which SIs attend.

AFFIRM
(Association for Federal Information Resources Management)
AFFIRM holds monthly lunch events which are usually held at George Washington University in DC.

ITAA
(Information Technology Association of America)
Information Technology Association of America (ITAA), the nation’s leading information technology (IT) trade association. ITAA offers a wide assortment of public policy, business development and peer to peer networking programs. ITAA has a Public Sector Market Place Program/Group with a number of related events. Most are breakfast and lunch-type programs.

Market Research
and Consulting Firms

Both have annual Federal and State & Local conferences (half to one full day), along with monthly breakfast meetings that either are agency or single issue focused.

Gartner Group
Gartner Group holds an annual event called The Gartner Government Conference.  This year is it scheduled for May 21-23 2008 in Washington DC.  

Gartner also holds an annual event to where IT manufacturers are able to meet and present to the Government SI and VAR community.  You must pay to be a sponsor in order to attend.

Where to Network
With the Government Systems Integrator Community in 2008

Networking with the Systems Integrators is as important as networking with Government officials.  Hopefully by now you are aware that the majority of the Government IT spending goes through the SI/Professional Services/Solution Provider community.

I am frequently asked by IT developers/manufacturers about good organizations and events to meet and network with the government systems integrators.  So I thought I would put together some lists for you. 

Some of these events and activities are open to the public, some are open only to members of that specific organization, and some require paid sponsorships.  And of course, some are better then others.  Most have sponsorship opportunities, but check them out carefully before signing on.

For those of you that are actively out talking to the SI firms, let me know your thoughts on events and activities that work for you.

See you next month.

Scott Lewis
President
slewis@pspartnerships.com
PS Partnerships
www.pspartnerships.com

Publications and Media Groups